Study and find schools in Romania

Studying in Romania

Romania is an EU member state in south-eastern Europe with a long university tradition and a wide choice of bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes recognised across the EU. Romanian, a Romance language, is the main language of instruction, but according to the official Study in Romania portal, programmes are also offered in English, Hungarian, French and German.

The higher-education sector is large. Study in Romania lists 84 public and private higher-education institutions (52 public and 32 private universities) and reports approximately 490,000 students in all cycles in the 2024-25 academic year. Tuition fees and living costs are low by EU standards, which is one of the main reasons international students choose the country.

The education system in Romania

Higher education is coordinated by the Ministry of Education, and universities are autonomous. Quality is evaluated by the national quality assurance agency ARACIS. Romania has been part of the Bologna Process since 1999, so degrees follow the three-cycle model and use ECTS credits (60 credits per year of full-time study):

• Bachelor's degree (licență): 3 years in most fields; 4 years in engineering, law and theology
• Pharmacy: 5 years (300 ECTS); medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine: 6 years (360 ECTS)
• Master's degree: 1 to 2 years (90 to 120 ECTS)
• Doctorate: usually 4 years

The academic year starts in the first week of October and has two semesters of 14 weeks, each followed by an exam period. Graduates automatically receive a free, bilingual (Romanian and English) Diploma Supplement with their degree, which helps with recognition abroad.

The oldest universities date from the 19th century: according to Study in Romania, the University of Iasi was founded in 1860 and the University of Bucharest in 1864. Alongside the public universities there is a sizeable private sector, and foreign students who do not speak Romanian can take a preparatory year in the language.

Admission and recognition

There is no national entrance exam for international students. Each university sets its own admission rules; depending on the programme you may have to sit an admission exam, which is usually held online. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens apply under the same conditions as Romanian citizens.

Applicants from outside the EU follow a procedure set by the Ministry of Education:

• Choose a programme and send an online application to the university with your passport, school-leaving diploma (or bachelor's degree for a master's), transcripts, a medical certificate and, where required, a language certificate
• Have academic documents translated into Romanian, English or French and apostilled (or legalised, for countries outside the Hague Convention)
• If the university accepts the file, it sends it to the Ministry, which takes typically 30 working days to issue a Letter of Acceptance
• Confirm the place and pay the tuition fee; the Letter of Acceptance is needed for the study visa and the residence permit

For a programme taught in Romanian you must present a Romanian language certificate; students who do not yet speak the language can take the preparatory year first. Programmes in English or another language have their own language requirements, set by each university.

Foreign diplomas are recognised by the National Centre for Recognition and Equivalency of Diplomas (CNRED), which is the national authority for recognition of studies completed abroad.

Student visa and residence

EU, EEA and Swiss citizens do not need a visa; they register their residence after arrival. Romania has been a full member of the Schengen Area since 1 January 2025, but students from most other countries need a long-stay study visa (type D), which allows entry to Romania only. The application is made on the e-VISA portal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and then lodged in person at the Romanian embassy or consulate responsible for your country of residence.

According to the General Inspectorate for Immigration (IGI), checked in October 2026, the main documents for a university student are:

• The Letter of Acceptance issued by the Ministry of Education
• Proof of payment of tuition fees for at least one year of study
• Proof of means of support of at least the Romanian minimum gross salary per month for the whole visa period
• A criminal record certificate
• Travel medical insurance with a minimum coverage of EUR 30,000
• Proof of accommodation

Scholarship holders of the Romanian state do not have to show proof of tuition payment or means of support. The visa is valid for 90 days. You must apply for a residence permit for studies at the IGI office in the county where you study at least 30 days before the visa expires; in the main university cities, an online appointment is required.

Costs and scholarships

EU students pay the same tuition fees as Romanian students and can compete for state-funded (fee-free) places. According to Study in Romania, students who are not eligible for state funding normally pay between EUR 2,000 and EUR 10,000 per academic year, depending on the university and the programme. Check the exact fee on the university's own fee page.

Non-EU students can apply for scholarships from the Romanian state, including scholarships of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, scholarships under bilateral agreements and Ministry of Education scholarships for ethnic Romanians abroad. State scholarship holders at bachelor's and master's level study in Romanian, after the preparatory language year if needed.

Living costs are among the lowest in the EU. Study in Romania gives these indicative figures:

• University dormitory: from EUR 80 per month (generally EUR 80 to 300)
• Room in a shared flat: under EUR 250 per month
• Food: EUR 150 to 400 per month
• Bucharest metro monthly pass: 100 lei, or 10 lei with the student discount

Where to study in Romania

Bucharest, the capital, has more than 2 million inhabitants. Examples are the University of Bucharest, founded in 1864, and the Romanian-American University, a private university founded in 1991 and accredited by law in 2002, which also offers programmes taught in English.

Craiova, the main city of the Oltenia region in the south-west, is home to the University of Craiova, established by Law 138 of 1947, with faculties ranging from agronomy and engineering to law, letters and theology. Other major university cities listed on Study in Romania include Cluj-Napoca, Iași, Timișoara, Brașov, Sibiu and Constanța.

Practical life

Health insurance: according to Study in Romania, students under 26 receive free medical care within the public health insurance system; students aged 26 or older pay an annual health insurance contribution of approximately EUR 463. You must register with a family doctor. EU students can use the European Health Insurance Card.

Working while studying: with a residence permit for studies, non-EU students may work up to 6 hours a day without a separate work permit. EU, EEA and Swiss students have no limit on working hours.

Getting around: cities have buses, trolleybuses and trams, and Bucharest has a metro; students receive large discounts on local public transport. Rail, bus and domestic flights connect the main cities. The currency is the Romanian leu (RON).

Frequently asked questions

Can I study in Romania in English?

Yes. Many universities offer bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes in English, and some also teach in French, German or Hungarian. For programmes in Romanian you need a Romanian language certificate or a preparatory language year.

How much are tuition fees in Romania?

EU students pay the same fees as Romanians and can obtain state-funded places. Other students normally pay between EUR 2,000 and EUR 10,000 per academic year, according to Study in Romania.

Do I need a visa to study in Romania?

EU, EEA and Swiss citizens do not. Most other students need a long-stay study visa, applied for through the e-VISA portal with a Letter of Acceptance from the Ministry of Education, and then a residence permit from the IGI.

Can international students work in Romania?

Yes. Non-EU students with a residence permit for studies may work up to 6 hours a day without a work permit; EU students have no limit.

How long does a medical degree take in Romania?

Medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine take 6 years (360 ECTS) and pharmacy 5 years (300 ECTS).