How to Study in Romania for International Students

Known for its well-developed and historically advanced universities, Romania is a great study destination for international students. Since the education system is flexible, you can choose from Romanian, German, Hungarian, and English as the medium of instruction. Enjoy low tuition fees and quality facilities while indulging in the many natural wonders of Romania!

When it comes to the choices that are available, Romania currently has 73 universities, from which 46 universities are a part of the public sector and 27 universities are private institutions.

Suppose you’re not just looking for any school but a well-performing school. In that case, the top universities in Romania you should definitely check out are Bucharest University of Economic Studies, Babes Bolyai University, and Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest.

Being able to study in Romania as an international student starts with planning ahead of time, as the process of researching your institution, filling out forms, and completing your paperwork can take a vast amount of time. In this article, you will find out the application process to study in Romania, along with information on tuition, language requirements, and visa applications. So, let’s dig in!

1. Cost of Studying in Romania

When choosing a university, you also need to consider the tuition fees and your budget. Before applying to a university in Romania, it’s best to have a general knowledge of the tuition fees there. The annual tuition fees for international undergraduate students range from 1,500 RON to 55,900 RON, while for master’s degree studies, the yearly tuition fees are between 1,500 RON and 55,900 RON.

Cost of Studying in Public Universities in Romania

To give you an idea of how much it costs to study in Romania, here are the tuition fees in these public and private universities:

Institution Bachelor’s International Tuition Fee Master’s International Tuition Fee
National University of Music Bucharest 22,200 RON 22,200 RON
George Enescu National University of Arts 18,600 RON - 33,200 RON 18,600 RON - 33,200 RON
Iasi University of Life Sciences 13,300 RON 13,300 RON
Aurel Vlaicu University of Arad 9,742 RON - 18,600 RON 9,742 RON - 18,600 RON
King Michael I University of Life Sciences 12,000 RON 13,300 RON - 15,800 RON
University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest 14,800 RON 14,800 RON
Ion Mincu University of Architecture and Urban Planning 17,300 RON 17,300 RON
National University of Political Studies and Public Administration 9,742 RON 9,742 RON
Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara 36,900 RON
1 December 1918 University of Alba Iulia 13,300 RON 9,742 RON - 13,300 RON
Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy 14,800 RON - 36,900 RON 12,300 RON
Petroleum-Gas University of Ploiesti 13,300 RON 13,300 RON
Vasile Alecsandri University of Bacau 10,900 RON - 13,300 RON 10,900 RON - 13,300 RON
Valahia University of Targoviste 11,400 RON - 20,700 RON 11,400 RON - 20,700 RON
Technical University of Civil Engineering, Bucharest 12,000 RON 12,000 RON
University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca 14,800 RON 14,800 RON
Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu 11,100 RON - 34,600 RON 11,100 RON - 34,600 RON
Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy 36,900 RON
Alexandru Ioan Cuza University 10,200 RON - 12,400 RON 11,100 RON - 13,300 RON
Ovidius University of Constanta 10,900 RON - 24,600 RON 12,300 RON - 18,700 RON
Dunarea de Jos University of Galati 9,750 RON - 33,300 RON 9,750 RON - 33,300 RON
University of Craiova 14,800 RON - 49,200 RON 14,800 RON - 49,200 RON
Gheorghe Asachi Technical University of Iasi 12,000 RON - 17,300 RON 15,500 RON - 17,300 RON
Technical University of Cluj-Napoca 9,750 RON - 18,600 RON 9,750 RON - 18,600 RON
Transylvania University of Brasov 9,840 RON - 33,300 RON 9,840 RON - 33,300 RON
Bucharest University of Economic Studies 13,300 RON 17,800 RON
University POLITEHNICA of Bucharest 4,000 RON - 4,500 RON 5,000 RON - 5,500 RON
Polytechnic University of Timisoara 9,700 RON - 15,500 RON 9,700 RON - 15,500 RON
Constanta Maritime University 13,700 RON 13,700 RON
University of Pitesti 12,900 RON - 44,100 RON 12,900 RON - 44,100 RON
University of Bucharest 9,700 RON - 12,300 RON 9,700 RON - 14,700 RON
Babes Bolyai University 12,900 RON - 55,900 RON 12,900 RON - 55,900 RON

Cost of Studying in Private Universities in Romania

Institution Bachelor’s International Tuition Fee Master’s International Tuition Fee
Danubius University of Galati 12,300 RON 14,300 RON
Romanian-American University 13,300 RON - 16,800 RON 14,300 RON - 23,200 RON
Bioterra University Bucharest 12,500 RON - 19,900 RON 6,960 RON - 7,950 RON
Institute for Business Administration in Bucharest 25,800 RON - 44,200 RON
Partium Christian University 1,500 RON - 4,900 RON 2,100 RON - 2,400 RON
Sapientia Hungarian University of Transylvania 1,500 RON - 4,400 RON 1,500 RON - 2,700 RON
Dimitrie Cantemir Christian University 9,800 RON 9,800 RON

If you’re looking for the most affordable universities in Romania, check out the Cheap Universities in Romania!

Besides tuition fees, you also need to consider other expenses like books, accommodation, and living expenses.

2. Requirements to Study in Romania for International Students

Once you have an idea of how much tuition fees are to study in Romania, it’s time to consider preparing the paperwork to apply to those universities. Academic institutions have varying admission requirements, but the ones you should always prepare in advance are your academic records, such as a transcript of records or diploma from a previous academic level, and travel documents, such as your passport and visa.

Some institutions that offer master’s programs might also ask for a statement of purpose, a curriculum vitae or résumé, and letters of recommendation. There are also degree programs where you need to take an admissions test before you can apply. Besides these, universities might also require you to submit proof of language proficiency.

In Romania, English is the main language of instruction. An academic institution in Romania may require non-native English speakers to prove language proficiency by taking standardized English tests, such as the International English Language Testing System also known as IELTS, and the Test Of English as a Foreign Language or TOEFL. You can also check out if your target university is accepting a Duolingo English Test score because some universities in Romania are accepting Duolingo scores. When you take any of these tests, note that you’ll need to get at least the required minimum score to qualify for your preferred university.

To give you an idea, here are some universities in Romania and their required minimum scores for each program level.

Alexandru Ioan Cuza University

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree

Gheorghe Asachi Technical University of Iasi

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree

Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy

Bachelor’s degree

Typically, you can find information about language requirements on the admissions requirements page of the university. You can also check out if the university has a dedicated language requirements page for international students.

Application Procedure to Study in Romania

The specific admission process may vary depending on the university. The good news is that most institutions in Romania have online applications available on their websites, like Bucharest University of Economic Studies and Babes Bolyai University. To help you with this, we also compiled the official websites and admission pages of some of the top institutions in Romania.

Bucharest University of Economic Studies

Babes Bolyai University

Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest

Make sure to gather all the information you need for the admission process. As you apply to these institutions, expect that they may ask for additional requirements depending on your nationality, degree, or program. So, it’s best to keep your lines active.

After completing your academic and language requirements, it’s time to apply!

The admission process in Romania differs from one university to another, so it’s best to contact your chosen school beforehand. Please note that the admission process for international students may take some time, so be sure to know the application dates and apply early.

The application process may take weeks or months, depending on your timing, nationality, degree, and other factors. To make the most of your application, make sure to completely follow the admission steps and submit the necessary requirements to ensure that you’ll be accepted to your chosen university in Romania.

The key to being admitted to your chosen school will depend on your punctuality and the quality of your application. So make sure to complete the requirements beforehand and follow the steps in applying. After this, you’ll wait for a week or a month for the results.

4. Visa Application for International Students in Romania

Now that you’re accepted into your chosen institution, it’s time to apply for a student visa in Romania. A student visa is an essential document for studying abroad. It’s an important government document that you need to present before going to Romania as an international student.

In this section, let’s briefly discuss the requirements needed and how you can apply for a student visa in Romania. If you’re going to stay here for your studies, you will need to obtain a Long-stay Visa.

To start your student visa application in Romania, you will need to present the following:

  1. Valid passport
  2. 2 recently taken photographs
  3. Acceptance letter from universities
  4. Proof of sufficient funds
  5. Proof of payment of tuition fees
  6. Police Clearance Certificate (PCC)
  7. Travel medical insurance
  8. Proof of accommodation

Kindly take note that these requirements may vary depending on your nationality. So, please expect that may ask for additional requirements. Moreover, you will be required to pay a student visa application fee. The visa application fee in Romania is 592 RON.

After preparing your requirements and application fees, it’s time to apply for a student visa! The first steps in getting your student visa are:

  1. Obtain your Letter of Acceptance from the Ministry of Education of Romania.
  2. Prepare the documents you need for the visa application.
  3. Submit the requirements at the embassy or consulate of Romania in your country of residence.
  4. After a processing period of two days to two months, you may acquire your visa at the embassy or consulate.

For more information regarding the specific steps in applying for a student visa, visit or contact the nearest embassy or consulate in your home country. They are the ones responsible for processing your student visa application.

That’s it! After getting your student visa, you can now officially study in Romania. Make sure to book a flight early, before your classes start, so that you’ll have ample time to explore and familiarize yourself in your new place!