Deputy Minister of Education and Science, Nodar Surguladze and Director of National Examination Center, Maia Miminoshvili held a briefing on the beginning of Graduate Record Examinations.

6,587 candidates of MA degree will pass Graduate Record Examination on July 7 and 8. Registration will begin at 14:00 p.m. , exam will start at 15:00 p.m.

In order to continue studying at MA program of any accredited higher educational institution, passing Graduate Record Examination is compulsory; candidates will pass an exam in specialty at higher educational institution.

Candidates of MA degree will be enrolled according to the results of both exams - Graduate Record Examination and exam in specialty. The state grant will be allocated according to the result in Graduate Record Examination.

By the initiative of the Government of Georgia, new enrolment model for MA programs was introduced in 2009. This enabled to allocate funds for MA programs according to the Graduate Record Examinations.

11 directions will be financed (business and economics, humanitarian, social, law, engineering, education and pedagogic, natural sciences, agrarian, mathematics and IT, art and health care) in 2010 according to the Graduate Record Examinations. Natural sciences, as well as agrarian field, humanitarian and educational directions are considered as priority fields at this level.

Around 900 students received state grants in 2009.