International Black Sea University

What International Black Sea University does

International Black Sea University (IBSU) is a private higher education institution headquartered in Tbilisi, Georgia, founded in 1995. It serves Georgian domestic students — admitted via the unified national examination system under university code 064 — and international degree-seeking students via a dedicated International Relations Office. The university operates five schools (Business, Law and State Governance, Education/Humanities/Social Sciences, Computer Science and Architecture, and Medicine, the last established in 2023) and offers 80+ accredited programs across bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels, including 26+ delivered in English.

The core academic technology stack is centered on a strategic partnership with MIT's Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship. Through this agreement IBSU provides students and faculty unlimited access to the MIT ORBIT platform (5,000+ MIT-curated articles, 200+ interactive courses), MIT's Universal AI suite spanning AI in Business, Medicine, Technology, Management, and Media, the StartMIT accelerator program, and the Disciplined Entrepreneurship (24 Steps) methodology developed by Bill Aulet. AI-powered teaching tools such as Eship Jetpack and an ORBIT-integrated AI assistant for business plan analysis are embedded directly into entrepreneurship and business curricula. The university is a co-founder of the Global Leaders of the Entrepreneurship Educators Network (GLEEN) alongside MIT and is a member of NISPAcee and ELFA for its Law and State Governance School.

IBSU's revenue model is tuition-driven and recurring on an annual billing cadence. Domestic Georgian students pay 3,190-6,190 GEL per year (medical school at the high end; teacher training at the low end, partially state-funded), while international students pay in USD — Computer Science at $4,900/year (grants up to $1,000) and Medicine at $5,900/year (grants up to $500). Internal grants (25-50% tuition reductions) are available to top-ranked admitted students, gold medal holders, and priority applicants, retainable by maintaining a GPA above 71. Domestic fees can be split into 8 installments. Distribution is direct: Georgian students apply through the national examination system, international students apply via [email protected], and exchange students are sourced from 150+ partner universities under Erasmus+ and bilateral agreements across Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Corporate partnerships (100+ memoranda for the Business School) support internships and the reported 80% graduate employment / 93% Business School employment outcomes that anchor the university's recruitment narrative. Revenue is not publicly disclosed.

Name

International Black Sea University

Legal name

შპს შავი ზღვის საერთაშორისო უნივერსიტეტი

Website

https://ibsu.edu.ge

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

International Black Sea University is a private higher education institution in Tbilisi, Georgia, operating five schools (Business, Law, Computer Science/Architecture, Education/Humanities, Medicine) and 80+ accredited programs across bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels, serving Georgian and international students through an MIT-partnered curriculum and 150+ exchange partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

International & Global Research Universities (Multi-Campus/International Footprint) (EDAHABAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

International Business & Global Management Schools (EDAHAHAJ)

Keywords

• Higher education programs
• University degree programs
• Medical doctor education
• Business school programs
• International student admissions

Headquarters

HQ city

Tbilisi

HQ country

Georgia

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Domestic Student Tuition: IBSU charges tuition fees to Georgian domestic students admitted through national unified examinations. Tuition varies by program, ranging from approximately 3,190 GEL to 6,190 GEL per year depending on the school and program.
2. International Student Tuition: International students pay tuition in USD, with programs such as Computer Science priced at $4,900 per year with grants up to $1,000 available, and Medical programs at $5,900 per year with grants up to $500 available.
3. Internal Grant-funded Tuition Reduction: Students ranked TOP 50 or TOP 51-150 in the university's admission rankings, or holders of gold medals, receive tuition reductions of 25-50% through internal grants funded by the university.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

International Black Sea University is a private higher-education institution in Tbilisi, Georgia, delivering bachelor's, master's, doctoral, and English-language Medical Doctor programs across five schools (Business, Law and State Governance, Education/Humanities/Social Sciences, Computer Science and Architecture, and Medicine). It enrolls Georgian students via the national examination system and international students through a dedicated International Relations Office, with tuition paid annually in GEL (domestic) or USD (international) and supported by merit-based internal grants. Course delivery is on-campus in Tbilisi and supplemented by MIT digital platforms (ORBIT, Universal AI), Erasmus+ exchanges with 150+ partner universities, and 100+ corporate internship agreements.

Product overview

International Black Sea University (IBSU) is a higher education institution offering a comprehensive portfolio of academic programs across five schools: the School of Business, School of Computer Science and Architecture, School of Law and State Governance, School of Education, Humanities and Social Sciences, and Medicine School. The university provides undergraduate (Bachelor's), graduate (Master's), and doctoral degree programs in both Georgian and English languages across disciplines including Business Administration, Computer Science, Law, Medicine, International Relations, Psychology, Journalism, and American Studies. IBSU maintains a strategic partnership with MIT providing access to entrepreneurship platforms and AI education. The institution also offers exchange programs, research centers, and professional development through its various schools and departments.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MIT x IBSU: Technology and Entrepreneurship Center partnership with Massachusetts Institute of Technology providing access to MIT's entrepreneurship ecosystem, ORBIT platform, and startup development programs.

Products and services

• Bachelor's Programs Undergraduate degree programs across multiple disciplines including Business Administration, Computer Science, Law, International Relations, Psychology, Journalism, American Studies, English Philology, Architecture, Graphic Design, and Tourism, available in both Georgian and English languages.
• Master's Programs Graduate-level degree programs providing advanced specialized education in various academic fields, including an internationally accredited double-degree master's program in Computer Science.
• Doctorate Programs Doctoral degree programs in Education Sciences, American Studies, Business Administration, and Computer Science.
• School of Business One of the largest and most in-demand IBSU schools, offering programs in Management, Marketing, Finance, Accounting, Tourism, and Economics at bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels; reports a 93% graduate employment rate with 74% employed in their qualified field.
• School of Computer Science and Architecture School offering Computer Science, Architecture, and Graphic Design programs at undergraduate and graduate levels, including an internationally accredited double degree master's program.
• School of Law and State Governance School providing legal education at bachelor's and master's levels, with programs in Law and Public Administration; holds NISPAcee and ELFA memberships.
• School of Education, Humanities and Social Sciences School offering programs in English Philology, American Studies, International Relations, Journalism, Public Relations, Psychology, and Teacher Training.
• Medicine School Medical school offering an English-language Medical Doctor program consisting of 350 mandatory ECTS credits including integrated courses, preclinical courses, clinical courses, clinical rotation, and clinical skills training.
• Medical Doctor Program English-language Medical Doctor program consisting of 350 mandatory ECTS credits including integrated courses, preclinical courses, clinical courses, clinical rotation, and clinical skills training; tuition is ₾6,190/year for domestic students and $5,900/year for international students (grants up to $500 available).
• Teacher Training Educational Program 60-credit program preparing teachers for primary and secondary English language education, available in English at ₾2,990 per year for domestic students, with ₾2,250 funded by the state.
• International Relations and Exchange Services Services including student exchange programs (Erasmus+, bilateral agreements), international admissions, and partnerships with over 150 universities worldwide.
• University Library Library services providing approximately 18,000 printed and 2,000 digital resources, with access to scientific databases.

Quantifiable outcome

• 80% graduate employment rate across all programs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

44 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIBSU is a strategic partner of MIT through the Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship. IBSU co-founded the Global Leaders of the Entrepreneurship Educators Network (GLEEN) with MIT. The partnership provides IBSU students and faculty unlimited access to MIT ORBIT platform (5,000+ articles, 200+ courses), Universal AI tools, and StartMIT acceleration program. Students can attend fully funded StartMIT programs at MIT's US campus. IBSU also incorporates MIT Disciplined Entrepreneurship methodology and MIT-based certification modules into its curriculum.
• Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences (Netherlands)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerErasmus+ exchange partner offering 3 student slots for autumn semester in Business School (Marketing, Management bachelor's programs).
• University of West Attica (Greece)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerErasmus+ exchange partner with 1 student slot for Business School (Business Administration bachelor's).
• Varna Free University Chernorizets Hrabar (Bulgaria)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerErasmus+ partner with 2 student slots for autumn semester in Computer Science and Architecture School (Architecture bachelor's).
• University College of Enterprise and Administration in Lublin (Poland)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerErasmus+ exchange partner with 1 student slot for Business School (Management bachelor's).
• West Saxon University of Applied Sciences of Zwickau (Germany)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerErasmus+ exchange partner with 2 student slots for Computer Science and Architecture School (Computer Science and Architecture bachelor's).
• Polytechnic Institute of Bragança IPB (Portugal)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerErasmus+ and bilateral exchange partner with multiple student slots across Computer Science and Architecture School for bachelor's and full-year exchanges.
• HTW Dresden (Germany)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerErasmus+ exchange partner with 1 student slot for Computer Science (Computer Science bachelor's).
• Eötvös Loránd University (Hungary)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerErasmus+ partner with 4 student slots for autumn semester in Education, Humanities and Social Sciences School (English Philology bachelor's).
• European Business School ISAG (Portugal)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExchange partner for Business School and Law School (Management, Economics, Public Administration bachelor's).
• Krakow University of Economics (Poland)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerErasmus+ exchange partner with 1 student slot for Business School (Management, Marketing bachelor's).
• Akademia Mazowiecka w Płocku (Poland)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExchange partner for Education, Humanities and Social Sciences School (English Philology, American Studies bachelor's).
• NEWTON University (Czech Republic)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExchange partner for Business School (Management bachelor's) - 2 student slots for spring and autumn semesters.
• Open University of Cyprus (Cyprus)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExchange partner offering 2 student slots for Business School and Computer Science School master's and bachelor's programs.
• Universidad Internacional de Canarias (Spain)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExchange partner with 4 student slots for Education, Humanities and Social Sciences School (English Philology bachelor's) plus internship opportunities.
• Rzeszów University of Technology (Poland)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExchange partner with 2 student slots for Computer Science and Architecture School (Computer Science, Architecture bachelor's) and master's level.
• Mykolas Romeris University (Lithuania)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBilateral exchange partner across all IBSU schools for autumn semester (Law, English Philology, Psychology, Computer Science, Business, Public Administration).
• Algebra Bernays University (Croatia)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExchange partner with 5 student slots for Computer Science and Architecture School (Computer Science bachelor's, spring semester).
• University of Western Brittany (France)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExchange partner for Education, Humanities and Social Sciences School (American Studies bachelor's, autumn semester).
• Kozminski University (Poland)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExchange partner for Business School, Computer Science School, and Law School (Management, Tourism, Law, Computer Science, Business Administration bachelor's and master's).
• Collegium Civitas (Poland)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExchange partner for Education, Humanities and Social Sciences School and Business School (Management, International Relations, Journalism bachelor's).
• Stockholm School of Economics in Riga (Latvia)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExchange partner for Business School (Economics bachelor's, 2 student slots for autumn semester).
• Yerevan Haybusak University (Armenia)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExchange partner for Medicine School (2 student slots for Medicine program).
• Istanbul Aydın University (Turkey)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBilateral exchange partner for Business School and Computer Science School (Computer Science, Architecture, International Relations, Management).
• University of Lodz (Poland)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor bilateral exchange partner with 5 student slots across Business School, Law School, and Education, Humanities and Social Sciences School (Economics, Management, Computer Science, English Philology, International Relations, Law).
• EPHEC University College (Belgium)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExchange partner for Business School (Management, Marketing bachelor's) - both autumn and spring semester placements. Also offers summer school programs.
• Tashkent State University of Law (Uzbekistan)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExchange partner for Law and State Governance School (Criminal Law, International and Comparative Law, Civil and Business Law, State Law - 10 student slots for spring semester).
• Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya University (India)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExchange partner for Business School (Psychology, Management, Journalism bachelor's).
• North American Private University (Tunisia)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExchange partner for Business School (Management, International Relations, Journalism bachelor's and Business Administration master's).
• Metropolitan University Prague (Czech Republic)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExchange partner for Education, Humanities and Social Sciences School and Business School (English Philology, American Studies, Economics bachelor's).
• INSTITUT SUPÉRIEUR DE GESTION (France)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExchange partner for Business School (Management bachelor's).
• Lyfe Institute (France)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBilateral exchange partner for Business School (Tourism - International Hospitality and Restaurant Management, spring semester, 2 student slots).
• University of Groningen (Netherlands)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBilateral exchange partner for Education, Humanities and Social Sciences School (English Philology, International Relations).
• VSB - Technical University of Ostrava (Czech Republic)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBilateral exchange partner for Business School and Computer Science School (Computer Science, Economics).
• Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences (India)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBilateral exchange partner for Computer Science and Architecture School (Computer Science).
• Albstadt-Sigmaringen University (Germany)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBilateral exchange partner.
• Chung-Ang University (South Korea)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBilateral exchange partner.
• CIELS Linguistic Mediators Higher School (Italy)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBilateral exchange partner for Business School (Marketing, Tourism, spring semester, 2 student slots).
• Sapienza University of Rome (Italy)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBilateral exchange partner for Business School (Economics, Finance, Management, spring semester, 2 student slots).
• University of Applied Sciences in Nysa (Poland)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBilateral exchange partner for Education, Humanities and Social Sciences School (English Philology, spring semester).
• DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDAAD provides exchange program opportunities for IBSU students and faculty with German universities.
• Startup Grind GeorgiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Startup Grind Georgia through IBSU's Technology and Entrepreneurship Center. Provides students and aspiring entrepreneurs access to international network, inspirational events, and networking with successful entrepreneurs.
• Network of Institutes and Schools of Public Administration in Central and Eastern Europe (NISPAcee)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIBSU's Law and State Governance School is a member of NISPAcee, which provides networking in public administration education across Central and Eastern Europe and publishes the Journal of Public Administration and Policy.
• European Law Faculties Association (ELFA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIBSU's Law and State Governance School is a member of ELFA (founded 1995), which coordinates legal education reform, joint programs, and publishes the European Journal of Legal Education across European law schools.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Ilia State University: Major public research university in Tbilisi offering multi-discipline bachelor/master/doctoral programs and competing with IBSU for both domestic and international students through English-language tracks.
• Caucasus University: Private Tbilisi university offering business, law, and social science programs in English; directly competes with IBSU's Schools of Business, Law, and Education/Humanities.
• University of Georgia (Tbilisi): Leading private Georgian university with comparable multi-school structure and English-language programs, directly competing with IBSU for international students and domestic tuition-paying enrollees.
• Tbilisi State University: Georgia's oldest and largest public university, competing with IBSU across the same five disciplinary schools and serving as the primary benchmark in the unified national examination rankings.
• Georgian American University (GAU): Private Tbilisi-based university with English-language programs modeled on Western curricula; directly competes with IBSU for international students seeking affordable English-language degrees in Georgia.
• European University Georgia: Private Tbilisi university delivering English-language multi-discipline programs targeting similar domestic and international student segments as IBSU.
• Free University of Tbilisi: Private research-oriented university in Tbilisi with English-language instruction and international partnerships; overlaps with IBSU in computer science, business, and social sciences.

Emerging players

• BAU International University Batumi: International branch-campus model in Georgia affiliated with Bahçeşehir University (Turkey); targets international medical and business students in the same Caucasus market as IBSU.
• Kutaisi International University (KIU): New private Georgian international university focused on STEM and medicine; an emerging international education competitor with English-language positioning similar to IBSU's.

Regional players

• Stockholm School of Economics in Riga: Regional peer in the Baltic/Caucasus corridor offering English-language business programs; listed as an IBSU bilateral exchange partner and represents comparable business-school positioning in internationalisation strategy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ibsu1995
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/IBSuniversity
• Facebookfacebook.com/ibsu1995
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/internationalblackseauniversity
• Instagraminstagram.com/ibsu1995

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about International Black Sea University