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Study in Romania

Higher Education Structure in Romania

Study In Romania

Romania is one of the most easterly constituent countries of the European Union. The Romanian landscape is notable for its natural beauty, with majestic mountains and ancient castles sharing space with the River Danube, which flows across the country. The Black Sea is located in the southeastern part of the country and many health and vacation resorts are located on its beaches. The modern Romanian economy is highly developed and driven by large companies in the engineering and energy sectors. 

Romania is home to almost 19 million people; its capital and largest city is Bucharest. It has a unique location at the junction of Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe. It has a tradition of excellence in higher education across several disciplines; its reputation as a destination for University students is further enhanced by the relatively low cost of tuition and living in most of its cities. Therefore, many international students move to Romania to study for the return on their educational investment.

The Perks of Studying in Romania

Romania is highly ranked on several important indices for students and residents. Some highlights include:

  • The country is ranked #45 in the world in the US News “Best Countries for Education” report.
  • The country is ranked #31 in the world in the “Safest Countries in the World” ranking by the World Population Review.
  • The country is ranked #47 in the world by GDP per capita (PPP).
  • The country is ranked #55 in the world according to the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business report.

Higher Education Framework in Romania

There are several kinds of Higher Education Institutions in Romania:

  • Academic and Research Universities
  • Study Academies
  • Institutes of the Arts
  • Higher Studies Schools and Teacher Training Institutes
  • Professional and Technical Training Colleges
  • Adult and Continuing Education Institutions

Academic Universities offer several education programs leading to the award of Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD degrees. They are structured into Faculties that provide education in different disciplines. They may also have internal Research Centres and Institutes for specialised work in cutting-edge disciplines. Seats at these Universities may be state-funded or full fee paying; the relative number of each is determined by the University Board, though the number of state-funded seats is determined by the Romanian Government.

Professional Institutes and Colleges

 offer courses leading to practical training in several disciplines that are popular in the job market. They are designed to produce graduates who are technically sound and ready to begin contributing to the industry in their chosen field of specialisation.

Certificate Programs

Short-term courses are mostly offered by Academic Universities in Romania. These certificate degrees do not have the same recognition or resume value as full-time degrees, but they can be useful in some cases. For example, certificate programs in cybersecurity, the Romanian language, and technical innovations in agriculture are popular choices for short-term international students in Romania and can help in upgrading professional qualifications without spending the full amount necessary to undergo a three-year Bachelor's program or a two-year postgraduate course.

Undergraduate Programs

Bachelor's degree programs in Romanian Universities last three years (six semesters) in most disciplines, including pure and applied sciences, humanities, economics, and political science. Engineering and technical studies have undergraduate courses that last four years. Finally, medicine, dentistry, veterinary studies, and architecture have integrated first cycle courses that last twelve semesters.

Applicants to Bachelor's programs in Romania must hold a high school secondary certificate or diploma. In cases where the medium of instruction for the chosen course is Romanian, the student must submit evidence of proficiency in the language, by means of test scores.

Postgraduate Programs

Master's programs at Romanian Universities are intended to enhance the skills of students in several specialised areas of research and education. They last between two and four semesters. Student assessments are carried out through a mixture of regular examinations and a thesis defense at the end of the course of study, though some purely academic Master's programs in Romania may dispense with the research portion of the program. The dissertation interview panel consists of at least three members with Doctoral degrees.

Doctoral Programs

Romania is renowned for the quality of research output from its universities, particularly in the fields of Engineering and Medicine. Doctoral students form a very important part of the research output. Most PhD degree programs in Romania take 3 to 4 years to complete. The first part of the degree involves completing a small number of compulsory courses, mostly related to research methodology. After this, students are expected to contact a potential research supervisor and create a thesis plan. The application process involves submission of a thesis plan and a detailed CV.

Popular Disciplines available in Romania

The country has various universities that offer approximately all the disciplines of study. Some of the popular disciplines available in Romania are-

Electrical EngineeringMedicine and SurgeryAgriculture and Forestry
Law and JurisprudenceAutomotive EngineeringInformation Management Systems
Information TechnologyIndustrial DesignMusic Performance - Instrumental
Culinary Business ManagementDevelopment EconomicsAccounting
Political ScienceEuropean StudiesMechanical Engineering
DentistryDigital MarketingNuclear Power and Safety

Popular Cities with Most number of Universities in Romania

Here are some popular cities that have the most universities in Romania.

The Name of the City No. of Universities 
Bucharest27
Cluj Napoca10
Iasi8
Timișoara5
Constanta4
Sibiu4
Oradia4
Arad2
Craiova2
Galati2
Bacau2

Average Monthly Expenses in Romania for International Students

The lowest tuition fees for undergraduate programs in Romania are 2,000 Euros per year, though there is a large variation based on the course in which the student is enrolled. Degree programs in architecture and medicine are associated with tuition fees in excess of 8,000 Euros per year. In general, Master's degree programs have tuition fees that are at least 50% higher than those for Bachelor's courses in associated disciplines.

Most Universities in Romania provide accommodation in dormitories or Halls of Residence on campus. The cost of these is much lower than the rent paid by students in most other European countries. For example, students at most Romanian Universities can access dormitory accommodation at a price between 150 and 250 Euros per month. Students may also opt for private accommodation, but this is typically twice the price of University housing.

Other living costs include food, transport, medical insurance, personal items, and study materials. These usually add up to 300-400 Euros per month. Overall, Romania is a relatively low-cost international student option.

Students' Visa Requirements

International applicants who are not from the European Economic Area or from a list of eight visa-free countries (including Canada, the United States, and Japan), must apply for a long-term student visa before joining a University course in Romania. The application must be submitted at the nearest Romanian Embassy or Consulate in the candidate’s country of residence.

The visa application may take between a week and two months to process, depending on the number of pending applications. Students are encouraged to apply three months in advance of the estimated date of travel to Romania.

After the student reaches Romania, he or she must apply for a Residence Permit; which can be extended beyond the period of validity of the student visa to cover the entire duration of the course in which the student is enrolled. This document is essential to applying for part-time work in any city in Romania.

Here is the list of documents students need to have to apply for a student visa in Romania.
  • Visa Application Form.
  • Valid Passport.
  • Passport Photos.
  • Letter of Acceptance from a Romanian educational institution.
  • Proof of Sufficient Funds.
  • Health Insurance.
  • Visa Fee Payment.
  • Academic Transcripts and Certificates.
  • Statement of Purpose (motivation letter).
  • Proof of Accommodation in Romania.
  • Flight Itinerary.
  • Proof of Language Proficiency (if applicable).
  • Birth Certificate.
  • Police Clearance Certificate (if required).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

The application fee payable for candidates who wish to apply for a Romanian Student Visa is 120 Euros. The amount must be paid through bank transfer to the Embassy or Consulate at which the application is submitted. This amount is not refundable; even if the application is rejected, no portion of the fee is returned.

During the process of application for a Romanian student visa, candidates must submit two identical photographs of themselves looking directly at the camera. These must be recent (taken within the previous six months). The expression on the face must be neutral, and the face and shoulders should cover at least 75% of the area of the photograph. The background must be a light solid colour; white or light grey are preferred.

A Romanian Student Visa application may be rejected if there is a mismatch between the data in the application form and the documents submitted, if the travel insurance is not valid for the period of validity of the visa, if the funding and accommodation proofs are insufficient, or if there is a serious offence like a criminal record. In most cases, the reason given for rejection by the Embassy is easy to understand, and the applicant can pay the visa fees and apply again, being careful to make no errors during the application filling and submission process. However, if the student does not agree with the reason given, he or she can demand a review of the decision. This appeal must be filed within 30 days of receipt of the rejection with the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, after paying the review fee.

Students with long term Romanian visas are allowed to work part time (4 hours per day) without having to apply for a separate employment permit. In such a case, the Residence Permit is used to secure part time employment. During vacation periods in summer and winter, international students can work full time if they wish to. Many part time jobs are available on University premises, and the University Careers Office always assists international students with the search and application process for part time employment.