Romania is Southeastern Europe’s largest country. Hungary, Serbia, Bulgaria, Ukraine, and the Republic of Moldova surround the country. Although, Romania is not among the “A list” countries for international students; the few studying in Romania can attest that the Romanian education system is good, the tuition fee is affordable, not only that, the living cost is cheap too. If this sounds interesting to you, relax, you will find out more about how to study, work and live in Romania.
While choosing a country to further your education, factors like tuition fees, living costs, and job prospects come into play. Romania, may not be in the league of top countries like the United States, the UK, Canada, and other European countries, nevertheless, the country provides quality teaching across its universities.
Why study in Romania?
• Can study in English, French, German, Romanian, or Hungarian
International students have the luxury to choose a study mode in any Romanian institute. You can study in either English, French, German or Hungarian, in Romania across well over 300-hundred Romanian institutes comprising of more than one hundred government-owned universities and private accredited Higher Education Institutions.
• Affordable cost
Romanian universities offer a very significantly low tuition fee. Also, the living cost is among the cheapest across Europe.
• Opportunity to study and work
International students are allowed to study and work in Romania so long they are officially registered in a Romanian institute of higher education. However, while students are allowed to work studying in Romania, they must make sure that they follow the labor law and apply to jobs that would not clash with their study hours.
How to study in Romania
1. Choose a course
Is your mind made up to study in Romania? Now, it is time to choose your intending study program and university.
2. Contact the university
Check the university website to know the lists of documents to submit. When you click on the study level, the entrance requirements are there. Carefully, check the requirements and be ready to submit them after gathering them.
University Admission Requirements
A certified copy of academic credentials
A certified copy of Higher Education diploma and transcript for admission to Master or Ph.D. studies
A copy of valid passport
Certified copy of the Birth Certificate
A medical certificate
Certified copy of Passport
Language certificate, except the applicants from the countries where the official language is the language of instruction
Two recent photos
Note: All copies of the documents listed above must be in English, French, or Romanian; otherwise, certified copies in one of those languages must be provided.
3. Send your documents
The documents should be sent to the admissions office of the institution or faculty. Within a month, you should get a preliminary admission decision. Each higher education institution will submit an application to the Ministry of Education and Scientific Research for admission to study in Romania.
Usually, the minimum period of processing the application is 30 days, up to 60 days depending on the school. A Letter of Acceptance is issued and forwarded to the higher education institution, as well as, in some situations, the diplomatic post if the Ministry is okay with your application.
4. Wait for the University Acceptance letter
International students planning to study in Romania will be sent a University Acceptance Letter if accepted. To receive this letter, some universities in Romania charge an application processing fee ranging from 100 to 250 euros to get a University Acceptance Letter or admission letter for studies in Romania.
5. Apply for a Romanian student visa
Once you have received the university letter of acceptance, legalize your educational documents from the relevant authorities, after that, apply for a student visa.
Romania study visa requirements
Original passport with two blank pages
2 recent passport photos
Letter of acceptance from Romanian Ministry of education
Proof of payment of tuition fee for one year
Proof of sufficient funds for the entire period specified in the visa (minimum of 2500 Euros)
Criminal record certificate or another document of the same legal value
Medical insurance for the entire period of the visa validity
You’re not a full-time student until you have completed the registration process in Romania. Go straight to your faculty/department to complete the registration process when you arrive in Romania.
Important note: You must report to immigration services for registration to get a residence card if your stay is less than 90 days to obtain the residence card, a file must be prepared and consists of the following:
• Application / Travel documents/ photos / entry visa in Romania (depending on applicant’s citizenship)
• The letter issued by the university and to the Director of the Immigration Police
• The rental agreement/lease (covering the entire period of the current year of study) / notaries declaration (the case of residence in a host family)
• Financial guarantees for one year: bank statement (minimum 2,000 Euros) or equivalent
• Medical certificate
• Proof of payment of the residence card tax
Language requirements
Subject to the mode of instruction in which the specific educational program is accredited to function, the admission examination might be held in Romanian, a national minority language, or a widely spoken international language. This, however, will determine if an applicant will write a language test before applying for admission or be enrolled in a preparatory school in Romania.
If a candidate does not speak either English, French, German, Romanian or Hungarian, when applying for a Romanian language educational program, it means that the candidate must provide a Romanian language certificate. Foreign citizens are required to submit a Romanian language certificate when applying for a Romanian language educational program.
Top Universities in Romania
Transilvania University of Brasov
University of Bucharest
University POLITEHNICA of Bucharest
Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies
Babes-Bolyai University
Technical University of Cluj-Napoca
Gheorghe Asachi Technical University of Iași
The West University of Timişoara.
Cheap Universities in Romania
University of Bucharest (UB)
Babeș-Bolyai University (UBB)
Alexandru Ioan Cuza University (UAIC)
West University of Timișoara (UVT)
Bucharest University of Economic Studies (ASE)
Politehnica University of Bucharest
Are there English programs in Romania?
If you’re particularly interested in studying in the English medium in Romania, there is no issue at all because there are now 280 English-taught programs available at Romanian universities.
On the other hand, there are courses offered in French, German, and Hungarian. Students can, however, enroll in Romanian preparation courses. The following universities organize such:
“Politehnica” University of Bucharest
University of Bucharest
University of Bacau
University of Constanta
University of Craiova
University of Iasi
University of Pitesti
“Oil and Gas” University of Ploiesti
The West University of Timisoara.
Tuition Fees in Romania
Tuition fee ranges from 14,000 RON to 30,000 RON every academic year, depending on the program and institution or your citizenship. Certain programs may be cheaper and others more expensive. Generally, tuition fees for most Romanian universities are affordable, and students can apply for scholarships.
Scholarships to Study in Romania
Getting a scholarship to study in Romania is accessible to international students. There are scholarships based on bilateral co-operation agreements as well as scholarships linked to the government.
There are scholarship opportunities available to eligible students who wish to study at a Romanian university. International students seeking such great opportunities can apply to the listed scholarships in Romania.
1. Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarships and the David L. Boren Scholarship.
European and Non-European students can apply for these scholarships that are awarded annually.
Romanian Scholarships through bilateral co-operation agreements
The Ministry of Education, Research, Sport, and Youth administers Romanian scholarship schemes granted by the Romanian government following current bilateral agreements or unilateral offers made by Romania to other countries.
2. Scholarships according to the external interests of Romania:
Through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in particular for young people from countries with which Romania has not yet perfected international cultural cooperation documents. Another option is through the Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises, Trade and Business Environment, to promote economic and commercial cooperation actions, or through the Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises.
3. Transilvania Academic Scholarship
4. University of Bucharest CEEPUS Program
5. Scholarships to Foreign Citizens by the Ministry of Economy, Energy, and Scholarships offered by the Romanian State to foreign citizens through the MFA.
6. The L’Oréal – UNESCO National scholarship program “For Women in Science”
7. Nicolae Titulescu Scholarships
8. Pârvan and N. Iorga Scholarships
Studying and Working in Romania
Working while studying in Romania is legal and does not require a work permit. Students with a work permit are allowed to work up to four hours each day. You will need to apply for a work permit if you want to work for more than four hours every day. information on the procedure to apply for a work permit in Romania is available on the General Inspectorate for Immigration website.
Stay back after graduation
Do you wish to stay back in Romania after your studies? Good news! International students are permitted to stay for some time after completing their studies. Students from the EU ZONE can stay in Romania as long as they register with the General Inspectorate, following which they can apply for permanent residency after five years of continuous presence.
On the other hand, Non-EU candidates are allowed to stay in the nation for nine months to look for work. Applicants must submit an online application to the General Inspectorate of Immigration.
Conclusion
Studying in Romania is inexpensive; as well as the living expenditures. Romania may not be among the big names for overseas education, but international students studying in Romania can enjoy quality education, work, and study, and if need be, can stay back after graduation.
When you arrive in Romania and have completed your studies, you must apply for a residence visa. It is only available for one year and must be renewed annually.