To Study in Romania as an international student, can be extremely exciting and at the same time somehow challenging. Yet many international students opt to study in Romania as they have found out about all the pros of studying at a Romanian public university! From top ranked and well-known universities to majestic mountains, Romania has a lot to offer. Most of the international students may find themselves in the capital of Romania (Bucharest), however, unlike other countries, you can also find yourself in every other city of Romania.
How to study in Romania
In order to make the process of choosing and applying for Romanian universities easier and without challenges for you, we suggest you read the article completely as it is supposed to provide you with detailed and fruitful information about studying in Romania as an international student. They will definitely come in handy! Initially, we will start with the introduction of Romania.
Get to Know More about Romania!
Seven UNESCO Heritage Sites, cool and sunny beaches, great university cities and Dracula! The latter was a joke, however if you are into vampires, Transylvania is home to the fictional Count Dracula stories. What else do you possibly want from a country?! Align all of these with a low cost of living and affordable tuition fees and you will have one of the most lovable and unique student life in Romania.
Romania is a country in South-East Europe whose borders are the Black Sea, Bulgaria, Serbia, Hungary, Ukraine and Moldova. Since 2007, Romania has become part of the European Union (EU) with over 19.41 million inhabitants. Some other important cities in Romania aside Bucharest are Cluj-Napoca, Iași, Timișoara and Brașov. Moreover, Europe’s second longest river, the Danube, ends here in Romania in the Danube Delta.
It is safe to say that nowadays, more and more international students opt to enrich their life experience by studying in Romania. In this section, we highlight the best reasons to study in Romania for international students.
Why Should I Study in Romania?
Here is the question that you may encounter while you are searching to find the best country and university in the world. “Why should I study in Romania?” The answer is pretty obvious. First of all, Romanian universities and degrees are highly regarded and appreciated throughout Europe and all over the world and you get the chance to study at top ranked universities in Romania.
Since the educational system in Romania follows the Bologna scheme, therefore most of its tertiary level education consists of three different cycles: Bachelor (three or four years), Master (two years) and Ph.D. (three years). However, your field of study definitely affects the duration of your studies.
For example, the undergraduate course for engineering courses is a four-year program, and for some other courses, such as medicine and architecture, bachelor and master’s degrees are combined into an integrated six-year program. Now, let us give you a few tips about why you should continue your undergraduate study in Romania, as well as your master’s and Ph.D.
- Romanian universities are top ranked and offer high quality educations
- All Romanian universities and degrees are internationally recognized
- Tuition fees and cost of living in Romania are amongst the most affordable ones in Europe
- You will be studying in a multicultural university where you can find friends from all over the world
- Studying in Romanian universities increases your career opportunities
Study and Living Expenses in Romania
Like living and studying anywhere else in the world, your expenses in Romania are divided into two different parts: living expenses and tuition fees. with the difference that both of these costs are much more affordable in Romania than in other European countries.
Therefore, in order to budget your finances in advance, it is better to get detailed information about these expenses. And don’t forget that Romania does have a good number of scholarships on offer. Here’s a roughshod run-down of Romania’s living and studying expenses.
How Much Does It Cost to Study in Romania?
University tuition fees include various items. The cost of studying in Romania to bear in mind include tuition, enrolment fees (part-time or full-time), certification and other administrative costs. For tuition fees, it largely depends on what you’re studying and where you come from. University tuition fees and your way of payment differ according to your country of origin.
Generally speaking, tuition fees in Romania are much more affordable than any other EU countries (minimum fees of 7.500 Euro/year in medicine, compared to 38.000 Euro/year for the same specialty in the UK). Also note that the sort of degree you wish to pursue affects the amount of tuition. Of course, tuition fees in a private university are higher than in a public university. The tuition fees in Romanian public universities usually varies between 2700 and 9700 Euros per year.
If you are also looking for various Romania Government scholarships for studying in this country, this section of the article provides interesting information for you.
Scholarships and Financial Supports in Romania
Regarding financial support and scholarships, you should know that scholarships are usually awarded to you after the first year of study and the amount granted to students will depend on your academic performance and grades at the end of an academic year. Moreover, usually every university in Romania offers several European Union Erasmus Scholarships that allow you the mobility from 3 to 12 months to universities in other countries.
Here are different kinds of support which are outlined below:
- Loan: student loans? They don’t really exist in Romania. Bank loans? You may find these much easier. Therefore, here you should rely on your pre-existing money or your family support.
- Grants: Grants are differentiated between merit-based and need-based, and the amount is also provided based on the national currency. Need-based grants are awarded to the students based on their financial situation and range between 540 and 600 RON per month. Merit-based grants are around 800 RON per month and there’s no age limit here.
Another part of your expenses in Romania is cost of living.
How about the cost of living in Romania?
The cost of living in Romania is much more affordable than in other European countries, however your monthly amount of your expenses varies depending on your lifestyle and area of residence. Your cost of living in Romania usually ranges between 1,725.6 and 2,200.7 Euros per month, without rent. Of course, keep in mind that your living expenses as an international student are usually higher in the first month than the months to follow. As you have to pay the application fee for the residence permit, medical insurance and basic necessities.
As an international student, you are able to both study and work in Romania, you just need a valid residence permit. If you are an EU/EEA student, there’s no time limit on working. However, if you are non-EU citizen, you are permitted to work up to just 4 hours a day. If you desire to permanently work in Romania, you have to apply for a work permit.
Having all these things in mind, here comes the most important question. Who should apply for a visa to study in Romania!
Do I need a student visa to study in Romania?
Whether or not you need a visa to study in Romania depends only on which country you are from. Students from these countries do not need a visa to study in Romania:
- Students from EU/EEA country
- Canada
- Croatia
- Japan
- Moldova
- South Korea
- Switzerland
- the United States
- Serbia
If you are from any other country, you have to obtain a student visa to study in Romania. Applying for a visa to study in Romania can only be obtained through the Romanian embassy or consulate in your country. In general, in order to obtain a residence permit, you have to extend your visa. If you need to get a student visa for studying in Romania, you have to prepare the following documents:
- Valid passport and two passport-sized photos
- Acceptance letter from university
- Proof of finances
- Proof of your place of residence
- Health insurance
These are the most important and necessary documents that you need to obtain a student visa in Romania. Of course, don’t forget that depending on the country you are from, you may need more specific documents. Be sure to consult our experts in this field to guide you in detail.
If you’re considering pursuing a degree in Romania, then you should first choose your language of study. As you may know, you can study in Romania in English, as well as other languages such as Romanian, French and even German. In which language do you choose to continue your undergraduate study in Romania?
Language Barrier to Study in Romania for International Students
The official language in Romania is Romanian and all public universities offer different programs in Romanian. However, it’s very common for universities to offer programs in more than one language. That is considered one of the most important reasons for international students to choose Romanian universities. As you can easily benefit from high-quality education with low tuition fees and study in English simultaneously.
If you intend to continue your studies in a non-native language, you must provide evidence of your language proficiency. For instance, if you are not fluent in Romanian but intend to continue your studies in Romanian, some universities in Romania offer you the opportunity to participate in a one-year preparatory course in which you learn Romanian.
Now that you have decided to continue your studies in Romania, it is better to prepare the necessary documents for admission to Romanian universities. As with most universities in Europe, the followings are amongst the necessary documents:
- A high-school diploma(upper secondary education diploma) for bachelor degree programs
- A bachelor degree for master degree programs
- Certified copy of your academic records
- Certified copy of your birth certificate(translated in Romanian)
- A Certificate of recognition(for students from EU, EEA and switzerland) of the studies or acceptance letter(for non-EU students)
Now you’ve got all the necessary documents for admission to Romanian universities. Now, let us give you a few tips about student life in Romania.
Student Life in Romania
As for student life in Romania, you will not usually face any particular problem and you will experience a unique and unforgettable student life. First of all, to budget your finances in advance, let yourself have a fixed monthly budget and make this a priority in your life. Although Romania is considered among the most affordable countries in Europe and you won’t encounter any financial problems there, simplicity puts you one step ahead in your life.
Besides, if you are a non-EU citizen you can work up to four hours a day without a work permit. This way you can easily cover up some of your expenses. However, if you are an EU citizen, you don’t face any restrictions for both study and work in Romania. Moreover, after you have lived in Romania with a temporary residence permit for at least five years, then you can easily apply for a Romanian long-term residence. On a more personal note, if you want to find a perfect job and climb up the ladder to success, just master the Romanian language.
Many international students opt to study in Romania. Not only because of the perfect job opportunities after graduation, but also because the student life means student clubs and pubs after school. Just in case! Be careful not to encounter Dracula on your nights wandering in the city. What about you? Do you feel like packing already?! Destination? Romania!
Choose the language of your study, find on-campus accommodation for less than 200 Euro a month, work simultaneously with your study and study at the high ranked and popular universities, what else could you possibly want more? Romania has it all! that’s why many international students opt to study in Romania. This was our comprehensive guide about studying in Romania for international students. Still have a question, ask us in the comments.
Is It the Right Choice to Study in Romania in English?
Hopefully, the objective analysis of all these aspects before committing to make such a big step to study in Romania will help you decide the best way to guarantee your future life. By the way, you’re not on your own in this challenging and complicated path. We are here to help you choose the most appropriate university and major. We will take care of your application process while you just focus on spending unforgettable time with your friends and family. A single call should suffice, or you can just fill out the form below and send it to us.
