Studying medicine in Romania is popular because of its affordable tuition fees and the possibility to study at accredited European universities. Every year, a large number of international students apply for a visa from the embassy of this country in order to pursue their medical studies in Romania. After graduation, the future that awaits these international students is the possibility of employment in the major cities of Romania with low costs of living and studying.
Medical Studies in Romania
Due to the significant increase in the number of applicants for medical studies in Romania as well as residence in this country, you may need to do some preliminary research and learn about the best medical schools in Romania beforehand.
In the list below, you can see the major reasons for studying medicine in Romania:
- The MD or DMD qualifications you receive are recognized worldwide.
- Admission requirements are fewer than in western countries.
- Education fees and living expenses are quite affordable.
- You can study in English, French, or Romanian.
- There is a wide range of medical universities to choose from.
- There is less competition to enter compared to countries like the UK.
Advantages of Medical Studies in Romania
Studying in Romania is a relatively easy way for international students to pursue medical education overseas because this country is both a member of the Bologna agreement as well as the credence of the degrees obtained from the universities of medical sciences in Romania compared to other countries. This country with its exam-free admission is one of the most sought-after destinations for those interested in continuing their medical studies in Romania.
Romania is a neighbor of countries like Ukraine and Serbia, and people who learn the language of this country will eventually have a good career in any of these places. Another reason for choosing Romania for studying and living is the country’s currency called Leu, which is much cheaper than the Euro. The language of the people of this country is Romanian, which has its roots in the Italian language, and another good news is that this country also gives visas to people applying for a Romanian language course, which has a low cost of 2000€ (Euro).
Medical universities in Romania offer a global reputation, modern facilities, and excellent opportunities for extracurricular activities. In addition, international students will get to enjoy the rich local culture and appreciate the country’s low tuition and cost of living. Therefore, Romania rightly attracts hundreds of medical students from all over the world. While the quality of medical studies in Romania provides excellent value for money, this European country has much more to offer international students for a full 6-year of residency.
Work Permit after Medical Studies in Romania
The possibility of getting a Romanian work permit after graduation is another reason why many international applicants immigrate to this country in order to obtain residence and a Romanian passport. Medical students in Romania can stay in this country after graduation to look for work in clinics and hospitals and obtain residency. Doctors in Romania can make anything from 250€ to 1500€ depending on their qualifications.
Medical graduates who set their goal to work outside of Romania can easily find jobs in the European Union, English-speaking countries, as well as many Asian countries.
How to Study Medicine in Romania
The rules and conditions of medical studies in Romania are such that students from all over the world are welcome. While EU and non-EU students are free to apply to study medicine in Romania in English, French, or Romanian, only EU or EEA students can sit the entrance exam in Romanian and receive a full Romania Government scholarship. In general, however, not having to sit for an entrance exam for studying medicine in Romania is a major attraction for international students.
To study medicine in Romania, as a general rule, if English, French, or Romanian is not the student’s mother tongue or if they have not completed their previous studies in a relevant language, they need to present an internationally recognized certificate in the chosen language.
Some medical schools in Romania may require an entrance interview in order to gauge the students’ level of language proficiency – at least B2 – motivation, level of preparation for medical studies in Romania, etc., while others may organize an entrance exam in biology and chemistry.
Requirements to Study Medicine in Romania
Applicants who want to immigrate to this country and pursue their medical studies in Romania first need to know as much as they can about the university of their choice and then check the required documents and conditions for admission to that university. The requirements to study medicine in Romania and get admission are generally as follows:
- Presentation of the latest educational qualifications with a 12-year diploma + translation
- Providing a language certificate if required
- Writing a valid letter of motivation for studying
- Submitting a letter of financial capability
- Travel insurance
Medical Studies in Romania in English
Studying medicine in English in Romania, one of the oldest countries in Europe offers international students an excellent quality education, rich cultural heritage, affordable tuition, and living costs, as well as worldwide degree recognition.
Medical studies in Romania in English are in the form of 6 years of general medicine, which include 3 years of pre-clinical courses and then 3 years of clinical studies. There are 2 medical schools in Romania that currently offer medical studies in Romania in English:
- Iasi University of Medicine and Pharmacy
- University of Cluj-Napoca
Studying medicine in Romania is an attractive choice for many international students due to the reasonable tuition fees and the cost of living in Europe.
Best Medical Schools in Romania for International Students
The following are the best medical schools in Romania with their location:
| University | City |
| Bucharest State University | Bucharest |
| Carol Davila Medical University | Bucharest |
| Cluj-Napoca University of Medical Sciences | Cluj-Napoca |
| Victor Babes Medical University | Timisoara |
The Medical University of Cluj-Napoca also called the University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca is a continuation of the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, which was founded in 1919 in Cluj as part of the University of Cluj. With more than 850 professors and researchers, Cluj-Napoca Medical University offers long-term (5-6 years), short-term (3-4 years), and several postgraduate programs organized in 5 faculties.
In the table below, we discuss the names of the courses along with their length and the language of study:
| Course | Language of study | length |
| General Medicine | Romanian, English, and French | 6 years |
| General Dentistry | Romanian, English, and French | 6 years |
| Pharmacy | Romanian, English, and French | 5 years |
| Nursing | Romanian, English, and French | 4 years |
| Midwifery | Romanian, English, and French | 4 years |
| Radiology and Medical Imaging | Romanian, English, and French | 3 years |
| Laboratory Science | Romanian, English, and French | 3 years |
| Rehabilitation | Romanian, English, and French | 3 years |
| Dental Technician | Romanian, English, and French | 3 years |
| Dental Hygiene | Romanian, English, and French | 3 years |
| Nutrition and Diet | Romanian, English, and French | 3 years |
Carol Davila University of Medicine in Bucharest was founded in 1857 under the name of the National School of Medicine and Pharmacy by the French immigrant doctor Carol Davila. This place is also known as the first medical university in Romania.
In 1869, a new department of this faculty was established in Bucharest, which includes 3 colleges for medical studies in Romania, and the first graduates from this university date back to 1888. The following are the colleges and faculties of this prestigious medical university in Romania:
- Faculty of Medicine (in English and Romanian)
- Faculty of Dentistry (in Romanian)
- Faculty of Pharmacy (in Romanian)
Cost of Studying Medicine in Romania
It was mentioned before that one of the main reasons for choosing Romania to study medicine is the low cost of medical studies in Romania compared to other European countries. The average costs are as follows:
- Medicine: 8000 to 8500€ (Euro) per year
- Dentistry: 8000 to 8500€ (Euro) per year
- Pharmacy: 7500 to 8500€ (Euro) per year
The costs of medical studies in Romania will vary based on your field of study, the type of university, and the length of your studies. In order to keep the costs of medical education in Romania low, most of the applicants want to study in public universities of this country as studying medicine in private universities in Romania will come with a higher cost.
International students can study medicine, dentistry, or pharmacy in Romania in English, French or Romanian. Most medical universities in Romania have undergraduate programs in English, French, and Romanian and postgraduate courses as well as preparatory training programs. Medical studies in Romania will be relatively cheap for international students. The costs include:
- residence
- Food
- Education fees
- Entertainment expenses
Taking all these things into account, students won’t need more than €400 to €700 (Euros) per month in order to pursue their medical studies in Romania, although depending on the living standards of each person, these costs may vary. What is obvious is that the schools that teach medicine in Romania offer high-quality medical education at very reasonable prices.
Medical scholarships in Romania
One of the best advantages of Medical studies in Romania is the possibility of being granted various scholarships. The conditions for receiving these scholarships can be different depending on your level of education. The good news is that it is much more likely to offer scholarships to those who intend to pursue medical studies in Romania.
Receiving these scholarships is completely based on academic merit. To receive a scholarship, you must send your resume to the university in question to be reviewed by the relevant professors. In addition to very good grades, you should also have an IELTS score of at least 7 and have written many ISI papers. The provision of medical scholarships in Romania is in the form of a percentage, and depending on the level of the student, it can vary.
You can use the Erasmus+ program to find out about the conditions and documents required to receive these scholarships and can choose your desired financial aid through this program. Most of the scholarships in Romania are for European students, but there are also suitable scholarships reserved for non-European applicants. The number of scholarships offered is different every year.
Types of Medical Scholarships in Romania
Romanian university scholarships can be classified into several different groups:
- Scholarships provided for bilateral or multilateral intergovernmental agreements.
- Scholarships awarded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to talented students. This scholarship is especially applicable to those students whose country of origin has no signed official cooperation agreements with Romania.
- Scholarships awarded by the Ministry of Economy to talented students. The purpose of providing these scholarships is to promote commercial and economic activities.
- Scholarships awarded by the Romanian Ministry of Education to elite students. This scholarship is for people who have brilliant academic records.
- Scholarships for universities, the number of which is determined by the management, and the conditions for receiving them are different depending on the university.
In order to be granted these scholarships, you must have studied at least one semester in the universities of this country and then, depending on the type of scholarship you have chosen, provide the required documents. Note that most of these scholarships for medical studies in Romania include an interview.
Final Word
Medicine is one of the most popular fields of study in Romania and attracts hundreds of international medical students to study in Romanian medical schools every year. The quality of medical studies in Romania is very high and students can choose their language of study from Romanian, English, or French. University fees and living costs in Romania are lower than in other European countries, and degrees from Romanian medical universities are highly valued everywhere in the world.
