Study in Romania

EU-recognised degrees with established medicine and engineering faculties

Romania has a long history of educating international students, particularly in medicine, dentistry, and engineering, with a growing number of programmes taught fully in English and a lower cost of living than Western Europe.

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Main intake: Autumn mainMain intake
Status: EU member stateStatus
Teaching languages: Romanian / EnglishTeaching languages
Application route: University directApplication route

Country overview

Studying in Romania

Romania is an EU member state with a Bologna-structured higher-education system of accredited public and private universities, long known for hosting international students in medicine, dentistry, and engineering. Non-EU admission can involve both the university's own decision and, in relevant cases, Ministry of Education acceptance documentation — the two are not the same thing.

Tuition and living costs are generally lower than in Western Europe: official 2026 EU study guidance puts a broad non-EU tuition average around €2,000–€5,000/year and a practical student budget around €600–€900/month, though specialised programmes (medicine, dentistry) and city of study change both figures materially.

Non-EU students normally travel on a long-stay visa for studies and then obtain or extend temporary residence through the General Inspectorate for Immigration (IGI) — admission by itself grants no residence. Rules, fees, and processing times change, so always verify current details with the university and the competent Romanian authority.

Capital: Bucharest
Currency: Romanian leu (RON) / EUR
Popular cities: Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, Iași, Timișoara
Main intake: Autumn (Sep/Oct); some Spring options
Teaching languages: Romanian, English, and some French/German/Hungarian programmes
Application route: Directly to the university; Ministry acceptance for relevant non-EU cases

Why study here

Reasons students choose Romania

EU-recognised degrees

Romanian universities follow the Bologna Process, so bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees are recognised across the EU.

Established medicine and engineering

A long track record of hosting international students in medicine, dentistry, and technical fields, often with English-taught tracks.

Lower overall cost

A broad non-EU tuition guidance of roughly €2,000–€5,000/year and living costs around €600–€900/month, both lower than much of Western Europe.

Growing English-taught offer

An increasing number of bachelor's and master's programmes are taught fully in English, alongside Romanian, French, German, and Hungarian tracks.

Manageable work rights

Student status generally allows work up to 4 hours/day without a separate work authorisation, provided study remains the main purpose.

Education system

How the system is structured

Romanian higher education follows the Bologna three-cycle structure (bachelor's, master's, doctoral), delivered through accredited public and private universities. Validate any specific provider or programme against Romanian quality-assurance authorities (ARACIS) and Study in Romania before relying on it.

Public universities

Host the majority of international students, with strong reputations in medicine, engineering, and sciences.

Bologna structure & ECTS

Bachelor's is commonly 3–4 years, master's 1–2, and doctorate 3–5; regulated or long-cycle fields (e.g. medicine) can differ. Degrees use the ECTS credit system for EU-wide transfer and recognition.

Grading scale

A 1–10 numerical grading scale is typically used, converted by the receiving institution when needed.

Recognition is two-layered for non-EU applicants

The university makes the academic admission decision; in relevant non-EU cases, separate Ministry of Education acceptance documentation is also required before the study-visa stage.

Application routes

Pathways by study level

Requirements differ by level. Use the tabs to see typical entry expectations for each pathway.

Undergraduate degree

Bachelor's

Bachelor's programmes are offered in Romanian and, increasingly, fully in English, particularly in medicine, engineering, and business.

Typical duration: 3–4 years (medicine and related fields typically longer)

Typical entry requirements

Completed secondary education meeting the institution's academic threshold
Language proof (English or Romanian, depending on the programme)
Programme-specific entrance exams for some fields (e.g. medicine)

Detailed guidance

Key pathways explained

These sections go deeper on pathways that need extra care. Always confirm the specifics with the university and the relevant authority.

Visa, financial proof, and residence overview

This is a general overview of the route many non-EU students follow. Amounts, forms, and procedures change — always confirm with IGI and the Romanian embassy/consulate before relying on any figure here.

Before you travel

Secure university admission, plus Ministry of Education acceptance documentation for relevant non-EU cases.
Prove financial support meeting the IGI minimum-gross-salary-per-month formula, with clear ownership and source of funds.
Arrange health insurance covering entry and, separately, your residence period.
Apply for the long-stay visa for studies at the Romanian embassy or consulate in your home country.

After you arrive

Register and obtain or extend temporary residence through the General Inspectorate for Immigration (IGI) — admission alone does not grant residence.
Maintain your registered address and keep enrolment evidence current, since renewal depends on ongoing study and continued IGI conditions.
Track residence expiry separately from your academic calendar; renewal can require re-proving funds, insurance, and accommodation.

Work and post-study

Student status generally allows work up to 4 hours/day without a separate work authorisation, as long as study remains your main purpose.
After graduation, remaining in Romania depends on qualifying under the current job-search, employment, or business provisions — it is not automatic.
Family members who wish to join you use a separate family-reunification route with their own sponsor, funds, and housing requirements.

Qualification requirements

What qualifications you typically need

Typical qualification requirements by study level in Romania
Study level	Typical requirement
Bachelor's	Completed secondary education meeting the institution's academic threshold, plus language proof; some fields require an entrance exam.
Master's	A relevant bachelor's degree with competitive grades and language proof for the teaching language.
Doctoral	A relevant master's degree, a supervisor or doctoral-programme place, and required language ability.

Language requirements

Proving your language ability

Language requirements depend on whether the programme is taught in English, Romanian, or another language such as French, German, or Hungarian. There is no single nationally mandated English-test score — confirm the exact accepted tests and minimum results with the specific university.

English-taught programmes

IELTS Academic

Commonly accepted for English-taught programmes; minimum scores vary by institution and are set by the university, not a national rule.

TOEFL iBT

Accepted by many universities as an alternative to IELTS.

Medium-of-instruction exemption

Some universities accept prior English-medium study in place of a test — verify rather than assume.

Local-language programmes

Romanian language proof

Required for Romanian-taught programmes; some universities offer a preparatory Romanian-language year for international students.

Never assume one English-test score is accepted nationally — each university sets its own requirement.
Requirements and accepted tests differ by university and programme — always verify directly.

Application process

A typical application, step by step

Shortlist accredited programmes
Use Study in Romania and accredited-institution sources, then the exact university admissions page — do not rely on a commercial listing as proof of accreditation.
Check entry requirements
Confirm academic prerequisites, language proof, and any entrance exams for your chosen programme; international deadlines can precede general intake dates.
Prepare and submit documents
Gather transcripts, language results, and identification documents, then apply directly to the university under its international-admission process.
Complete Ministry acceptance where relevant
For relevant non-EU cases, Ministry of Education acceptance documentation is required before the study-visa stage — this is separate from the university's own admission decision.
Receive an offer
Await the university's decision and any conditional requirements before accepting; note acceptance deadlines, deposits, and tuition/enrolment deadlines.
Arrange visa/residence steps
Non-EU applicants should begin the long-stay visa process promptly once an offer (and Ministry acceptance, where applicable) is confirmed.

Visa process

Student visa overview

Check your citizenship status
EU/EEA/Swiss citizens generally do not need a student visa or residence permit in the same way as non-EU applicants, though registration formalities may still apply.
Non-EU: apply for a long-stay visa for studies
Non-EU/international students typically apply for Romania's long-stay visa for studies through the Romanian embassy or consulate in their home country.
Meet the financial-proof formula
The General Inspectorate for Immigration (IGI) requires means of support at least equal to the minimum gross national salary per month for the visa period — this is a formula tied to the current salary figure, not a fixed amount, so re-check it close to application.
Prepare supporting documents
Commonly includes the university/Ministry acceptance evidence, passport, financial proof and source of funds, accommodation evidence, and health insurance, though the competent authority's personalised checklist always wins.
Obtain/extend temporary residence after arrival
Admission alone grants no residence — non-EU students must register and obtain or extend temporary residence through IGI within the applicable timeline.
Verify current rules officially
Visa and residence requirements, fees, and processing times change — always confirm the current process with the Romanian embassy/consulate or IGI directly.

This is general guidance, not legal or admissions advice. Immigration rules, financial requirements, deadlines, and admission criteria for Romania can change at any time and vary by university. Always verify the current requirements with the official government authorities and the specific university before you apply.

Required documents

Documents you are likely to need

Academic transcripts & certificates
Secondary or prior higher-education transcripts, degree certificates, grading scale, and Diploma Supplement where available.
Language test results
IELTS/TOEFL for English-taught programmes, or Romanian proficiency proof (or preparatory-year enrolment) for Romanian-taught programmes.
Passport
Valid for the duration of study and travel.
University acceptance letter
Official confirmation of admission from the institution.
Ministry of Education acceptance documentationIf applicable
Required for relevant non-EU cases, separate from the university's admission decision.
Proof of funds
Evidence meeting the IGI minimum-gross-salary formula, with ownership/source of funds shown, not just a temporary deposit.
Health insurance
Required as part of the visa/residence route; entry-stage and post-arrival coverage are assessed separately.
Motivation letter, CV & recommendationsIf applicable
Commonly required for master's and doctoral applications, and should be consistent with your visa evidence.

Study categories

Popular fields of study

Medicine & health sciences

Medicine
Dentistry
Pharmacy
Veterinary Medicine

Engineering & technology

Mechanical Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Civil Engineering
Petroleum Engineering

Business & economics

Business Administration
Economics
International Relations
Finance

IT & computer science

Software Engineering
Data Science
Information Systems
Cybersecurity

Sciences & humanities

Biology
Chemistry
Law
Modern Languages

Costs and funding

Budgeting your studies

Tuition and living costs in Romania are generally lower than in Western Europe, but vary by city, institution, and field. The figures below reflect official 2026 EU study guidance and are qualitative planning ranges — always confirm current amounts with the university and the immigration authority.

Tuition

Bachelor's / master's (broad non-EU range): ≈ €2,000–€5,000/year
Medicine & dentistry: Typically higher

Living costs

Practical student budget: ≈ €600–€900/month
Legal financial-proof minimum: Minimum gross national salary/month (formula)
Accommodation: Lower than Western Europe

Funding & scholarships

Romanian state scholarships

Published through the official Study in Romania scholarship platform; eligibility and deadlines vary by nationality and field.

Erasmus+ and university schemes

Some institutions offer merit-based reductions or scholarships; availability should be checked directly with the university.

Lower overall cost of study

The relatively low tuition and living-cost range can itself reduce the funding gap compared with other EU destinations.

Application timeline

Planning your year

12–18 months before

Assess eligibility

Verify programme accreditation via Study in Romania and ARACIS
Check qualification recognition and language route
Plan finances against the IGI formula

9–12 months before

Prepare

Sit language tests where required
Gather and legalise/translate documents
Research Romanian state and university scholarships

6–9 months before

Apply

Apply directly to the university
Sit entrance exams/interviews for competitive fields
Track offer, deposit, and enrolment deadlines

3–6 months before

Ministry & visa filing

Complete Ministry of Education acceptance where relevant
Prove funds and arrange health insurance
Apply for the long-stay visa for studies

1–3 months before

Arrival prep

Arrange accommodation and travel
Prepare original academic documents for enrolment
Plan IGI residence registration after arrival

Avoid these

Common mistakes to avoid

Using a commercial listing as proof of programme accreditation instead of Study in Romania and ARACIS.
Assuming all programmes are taught in English without checking the specific programme's language.
Treating the university's admission decision as equivalent to Ministry of Education acceptance for non-EU visa purposes.
Hard-coding the IGI financial-proof amount instead of tracking it as a minimum-gross-salary formula that changes.
Assuming unrestricted work rights instead of the actual 4-hours/day limit tied to student status.
Assuming graduation automatically allows continued residence — post-study status requires qualifying under current job-search/employment/business provisions.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Do EU citizens need a visa to study in Romania?

EU/EEA/Swiss citizens generally do not need a student visa in the same way as non-EU applicants, though local registration formalities may still apply. Always confirm current rules officially.

Is Romania known for medicine programmes?

Yes — Romania has a long history of hosting international students in medicine, dentistry, and related fields, with many programmes now taught in English.

How is the financial-proof amount for the visa calculated?

The General Inspectorate for Immigration (IGI) requires funds at least equal to the minimum gross national salary per month for the visa period. This is a formula tied to a figure that changes, not a fixed number — re-check it close to your application.

How many hours can I work as a student?

Student status generally allows work up to 4 hours per day without a separate work authorisation, provided your studies remain the main purpose of your stay. Verify the current rule before relying on it.

Does graduating let me stay and work in Romania automatically?

No. You must qualify under the job-search, employment, or business provisions in force at the time — graduation does not by itself create an automatic right to work or permanent residence.

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