How to study in Romania

Romania is located at the crossroads of Central, Eastern, and South-eastern Europe and its borders are the Black Sea, Bulgaria, Serbia, Hungary, Ukraine and Moldova. Since 2007, Romania is part of the European Union (EU), with over 19,41 million people living here. Of those, about 1.9 million live in Bucharest, its capital and largest city. Other important cities are Cluj-Napoca, Timisoara, Iasi, Constanta and Brasov.

Romania’s Higher Education System 

Higher education is ensured through universities,  academies, and post-university studies schools. In Romania, there are more than one hundred public and private accredited higher education institutions. More than half a million students are in public institutions, of which three-quarters of them are enrolled in bachelor programmes, and about 20% at the master level.

As in many Eastern European countries, many Romanian higher education institutions are specialised in particular subjects. However, there are also larger comprehensive universities.

Romania follows the Bologna scheme, so most of its tertiary level education is made of three cycles: at first a three-year bachelor degree, followed by a two-year master degree, and a three-year doctoral degree (PhD). Nevertheless, some programmes take longer to complete, for example those in engineering fields (four-year programmes), or some combine bachelor and master degrees into an integrated six-year programme (e.g. in medicine and architecture). The academic year in Romania starts in early October.

For more information about the entire education system in Romania, click here.

Romania’s Higher Education System in International Comparison

In the following section you will see how Romanian higher education institutions are performing on the institutional level. Based on the U-Multirank dimensions, the graphic depicts the national average and represents how many of the Romanian institutions are doing better than the average (receiving an ‘A’ (very good) or ‘B’ (good) score), or below the average (receiving a ‘D’ (below average) or ‘E’ (weak) score).

Comparing the performance of Romanian institutions with the global U-Multirank sample shows a strong performance of Romanian institutions in Teaching & Learning and Regional Engagement.

How much does it cost to study in Romania?

Most of the programmes charge tuition fees. The state subsidises a certain percentage of the places at university, which are allocating on the principle of academic achievement. Foreign citizens are equally authorised to profit from this subsidy. Private universities are not entitled to state subsidies; hence, all students at private universities are required to pay fees. The amount of fees is depending on the programme or place of study. The fees are on average between 1.500 - 9.000 € per year. Private institutions of higher education and postgraduate education are especially more expensive, as well as studies of medicine, arts and drama.

Addition of information on fees and financial support

Source: Eurydice 
Reference year(s): 2020/2021

Fees

In this section we highlight the fees for studying in Romania. The fees are shown in the national currency and address all fee types: tuition, enrolment (part- or full-time, etc.), certification, or other administrative costs. Students that are exempt from fees are also described, as well as information on international student fees if they differ.

• There are two main financial statuses for students: state-funded and self-financed. Each year, the government decides on the number of state-funded places. These are awarded to students based on their secondary school performance and the results of the admission procedure. All students pay a registration fee of RON 100-300 once per cycle set by higher education institutions. State-funded students pay only registration fees.
• For fee-paying students, each university senate decides on the level of fees for each programme, which cover tuition, administration, examinations and certification.
• Fees are calculated on the basis of the average number of full-time students and the amount of the state budget. For the first cycle, fees are: RON 4,606 for social science fields; RON 8,061 for engineering and computer systems fields and a maximum of RON 34,550 for arts (film). For the second cycle, fees are: RON 9,213 for social science fields; RON 16,123.33 for engineering and computer systems fields and a maximum of RON 81,522.67 for arts (film).
• International students pay fees. The minimum fee is set by law for each field.

Source: Eurydice - National Student Fees and Support Systems in European Higher Education – 2020/21.

Financial Support

In this section we highlight the financial support system implemented in Romania. The types of support covered in this section include: grants, loans, tax benefits for students' parents (or students themselves) and family allowances.  How these terms are defined, are outlined below:

• Grants are provided in the national currency and are differentiated between merit-based and need-based (or universal, where applicable). All main public financial support that does not need to be paid back is included, with the exception of grants for study abroad (i.e. mobility grants). Information is also presented on the proportion of students (in the short, first and second cycle) who receive grants.
• Loans: information focuses on the existence of a student publicly-subsidised loan system and the percentage of students that take out a loan. Information on the interest rate and modalities for the repayment of loans may also be provided.
• Tax benefit is any tax relief that is granted to parents whose child is a higher education student or to students themselves. The information aims to cover the amount of the tax relief, how it can be claimed and who is eligible to apply.
• Family allowances for students' parents: this part provides information on their amount and the eligible population.
• Need-based grants are awarded based on the financial situation of the student. Grant amounts range between RON 540 and 600 per month, most commonly RON 590/month, and payable for 12 months. The age limit is 35 years (according the Law of National Education no 1/2011). 10.6% of first- and second-cycle full-time students received a need-based grant in 2018/19.
• Merit-based grants take different forms: study bursaries and merit-based scholarships (both most commonly RON 800/month for 12 months) High achievement scholarships (of which one exists per faculty) can reach up to RON 1,200/month for 12 months. 16.2% of first- and second-cycle students received a merit-based grant in 2018/19. There is no age limit for merit-based grant eligibility.
• Only full-time first- and second-cycle students are eligible for grants; part-time students are not eligible.
• No student loans, tax benefits for students' parents or family allowances are in place.

What are the entry requirements for Romanian Universities?

Higher education institutions regulate the access autonomously. Students have to apply directly at the institution of their choice. A general university entrance qualification (Bacalaureat) is a prerequisite for the admission to study at all Romanian higher education institutions.

Foreign students have to recognise their qualification as equivalent by the National Centre for Recognition and Equivalence of Diplomas (CNRED).

More information about access and requirements can be found here.

Most of the Romanian universities offer some of their courses in foreign languages, e.g. in English, Hungarian, French and German. Students in programmes which are taught in Romanian, have to pass a language test. If they do not have adequate Romanian (language) skills, they must complete a preparatory year. Candidates who speak Romanian or study at a private higher education institution can skip this year after having passed the test, or formally prove that they have done their studies in Romania for at least four years consecutively. Students who want to pursue their studies in a foreign language must pay a fee for the language test.

How to get a Scholarship in Romania?

Are you looking for a financial solution or assistance for your studies in Romania? For information regarding scholarships in Romania, please click here.

Do I need a Student Visa for Romania?

EU and EFTA-Citizen do not have to apply for a visa, if they just want to stay up to three month, otherwise they have – like all other citizens – to apply for a visa. In general, students need to have a valid passport and provide evidence of sufficient funds. Students have to be able to pay the tuition fees and fund their stay (250 EUR per month). In addition, it is necessary to submit an apostilled certificate of good conduct and a ‘Letter of acceptance’ (issued by the ministry).

The note of authorization for the study and the necessary documents have to be verified at the consular representation of Romania to receive a permit of residence.

Information on the visa requirements can be found here.

How do Romanian universities fare in U-Multirank?

1. In 2022, U-Multirank presents data on 28 Romanian higher education institutions: both universities and polytechnic institutes.
2. In a global comparison, Romanian institutions are strong in the Teaching & Learning dimension, where almost two third of their indicator scores are above average, i.e. in group ‘A’ or ‘B’. Regional Engagement is another strength of Romanian institutions.
3. The Romanian universities in U-Multirank with the highest number of top positions (‘A’ scores) are Aurel Vlaicu University of Arad (12), Politehnica University of Timisoara (11), University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest (10), and Dunarea de Jos University of Galati (10).

Here you can find the full 2022 country report on Romania.