Romanian Government Scholarships 2026-2027 for International Students

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Romania offers fully funded scholarships each year to non-EU citizens seeking to pursue bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral studies at its public universities. Administered jointly by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and the Ministry of Education and Research (MER), this government scholarship covers tuition fees, university accommodation, and a monthly stipend — with no age limit and no IELTS requirement. Established under Government Decision No. 288/1993, the program aims to strengthen Romania’s cultural and diplomatic ties with partner countries across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Latin America and beyond. The application deadline for the 2026-2027 academic year is March 31, 2026, and the online platform is available in English and French.

A State-Level Program Rooted in Cultural Diplomacy

The program’s official name is “Ministry of Foreign Affairs Scholarships for non-EU citizens.” It is not a university-level initiative but a centralized government scheme coordinated by two ministries. The MFA handles diplomatic coordination and candidate selection. The MER manages university placement and issues the Letter of Acceptance for Studies in Romania. The technical platform is operated by UEFISCDI, Romania’s national agency for higher education and research funding.

The stated purpose is twofold: to promote the Romanian language and culture internationally, and to deepen diplomatic relationships with partner nations. This explains why bachelor’s and master’s programs are taught exclusively in Romanian, with a free preparatory language year offered to non-speakers. Doctoral studies, however, may be conducted in a foreign language as defined by the relevant doctoral school.

The program covers all accredited public universities across Romania — in Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, Iași, Timișoara, and other university cities. Applicants indicate their preferences during the application, but final placement depends on available seats.

Study Levels, Duration, and Eligible Fields

The scholarship funds three full university cycles, from undergraduate to doctoral level. Here is a breakdown by level:

PhD applicants must secure the written agreement of a thesis supervisor who is a member of the chosen doctoral school and pass an admission interview before submitting their online application. This requirement is non-negotiable: without this prior agreement, the application file will be considered incomplete.

All fields of study are eligible with one notable exception: medicine, dentistry, and pharmacy are explicitly excluded from the program. Covered fields include architecture, visual arts, Romanian culture and civilization, journalism, political science, engineering, education sciences, social sciences and humanities, technical studies, oil and gas, agricultural sciences, and veterinary medicine.

What the Scholarship Actually Covers

The financial package breaks down into several components. Monthly stipend amounts, paid in Romanian lei (RON), are confirmed by multiple concordant official sources including Romanian embassy announcements:

Beyond these elements, scholarship holders receive medical assistance covering medical-surgical emergencies and diseases with endemic-epidemic potential, as well as public transport fares equal to those of Romanian students for local transit and domestic travel (bus, train, metro, river transport).

The monthly stipends may seem modest by European standards. However, Romania remains one of the most affordable countries in the European Union. According to the official Study in Romania portal, the average monthly student budget is approximately €600, broken down as follows: dormitory accommodation (€60-85), food (€100-300), phone and internet (€20-40), public transport (€10-30), and leisure. The stipend therefore covers a portion of living expenses, with the remainder to be funded from personal savings.

What the scholarship does not cover: international travel costs (airfare), transportation from the Romanian border crossing point to the university, food, and personal expenses. Applicants should be financially prepared to cover these costs.

Benefits are maintained during the academic year and official holidays for bachelor’s and master’s students, but not during summer holidays (unless mandatory academic activities are scheduled). Doctoral students receive benefits throughout the full calendar year. After completing studies lasting at least one year, benefits are extended for an additional 30 days.

Eligibility Criteria: Who Can Apply?

The program is open to all citizens of non-EU countries, with no restrictive list of nationalities. Students from over 121 countries currently study in Romania through this scheme. The eligibility conditions are as follows:

The overall grade point average from the most recently completed degree must reach a minimum of 7 out of 10 (Romanian grading system) or the equivalent grade of “Good” in the applicant’s home country system. Academic documents must come from accredited and recognized institutions. The application file must be complete and submitted within the deadline.

Notably, the official portal FAQ confirms there is no age limit for applicants. Some third-party websites mention caps of 35 for bachelor’s/master’s and 45 for PhD, but this information appears outdated and no longer features in the current regulations.

Seven categories of individuals are excluded from the program: citizens of Romanian origin or members of historical Romanian communities (eligible for other specific programs), individuals who have obtained a form of protection in Romania (refugees, asylum seekers), stateless persons officially residing in Romania, diplomatic and consular staff accredited in Romania and their families, administrative staff of diplomatic missions, members of international organizations based in Romania and their families, and individuals already receiving a Romanian state scholarship for the same study cycle.

The Romanian Language Preparatory Year: A Key Step

Since bachelor’s and master’s programs are taught exclusively in Romanian, the program includes a free Romanian language preparatory year lasting one year (2 semesters of 14 weeks each). This year is fully funded: tuition covered and monthly stipend of €65 maintained. The curriculum includes general Romanian vocabulary as well as technical vocabulary specific to the student’s future field of study (sciences, engineering, humanities, economics, etc.).

Three situations allow exemption from this preparatory year. First, presenting documents proving at least 3 consecutive years of study in Romanian within Romania’s national education system. Second, passing the Romanian language test organized by universities. Third, presenting a Romanian language proficiency certificate at minimum B1 level.

Doctoral candidates who have chosen to pursue their research in a foreign language defined by the doctoral school are automatically exempt from the preparatory year. This is particularly relevant for candidates targeting a PhD, as some doctoral schools offer programs in English or French.

Required Documents and Application Procedure

Applications are submitted exclusively online through the official portal: scholarships.studyinromania.gov.ro. No applications sent by mail, email, or submitted directly to the MFA, MER, or embassies will be accepted. The platform is available in English and French.

Here is the complete list of mandatory documents, to be scanned individually from originals in PDF format:

• Copies of degrees obtained (high school diploma, bachelor’s, master’s depending on the target level) with certified translation into English, French, Spanish, or Romanian
• Copies of complete academic transcripts with certified translation
• Copy of birth certificate or equivalent document with certified translation
• Copy of the first 3 pages of a valid passport
• Curriculum Vitae written in English, French, or Romanian

For doctoral applicants, two additional documents are mandatory: a letter of intent detailing scientific work, publications, and the proposed research project, as well as the written agreement from the chosen thesis supervisor — both in English, French, or Romanian.

Additional documents may be required depending on the situation: proof of name change, baccalaureate success certificate (if the diploma has not yet been issued), Romanian language certificate, or a notarized parental consent declaration for underage applicants.

Essential requirement: all academic documents must be apostilled in accordance with the Hague Convention, or authenticated by the competent authorities in the country of origin (ministry of education, embassy). This administrative step can take several weeks — starting early is strongly recommended.

The procedure follows five steps: create an account on the platform, fill in the online form (personal information, academic background, preferred fields of study), upload required documents in PDF, sign the GDPR consent, then submit the application. Once submitted, the application can no longer be modified. Only one application per program is allowed.

2026-2027 Timeline and Post-Selection Steps

Results are communicated individually by email. Selected candidates must reply by email to accept or decline the offer within the given timeframe. A prompt refusal allows another candidate to be selected. The scholarship cannot be suspended or deferred to the following academic year.

Upon acceptance, the student must apply for a long-stay study visa through the e-Visa portal (eviza.mae.ro) and contact the host university for enrollment requirements. The MER then issues a “Letter of Acceptance for Studies in Romania”, sent to the university and downloadable by the student. If the candidate’s university choice cannot be honored, the MER may propose an alternative in the same field — subsequent transfer requests will not be considered.

At university enrollment, the student must present original documents, a medical certificate confirming fitness for studies and absence of contagious diseases (with translation), and a valid passport with study visa.

Maintaining the Scholarship and Grounds for Termination

The scholarship is not a permanent entitlement. It ceases automatically if the student loses their student status, and benefits are withdrawn in six specific cases: attendance falling below the minimum percentage required by the institution, failure to obtain the minimum number of ECTS credits for progression to the next year, expulsion, change of field of study, breach of the study contract or institutional regulations, or a written request from the student themselves.

Reinstatement is only possible for the first two grounds (attendance and insufficient credits), provided the student meets the requirements the following year and does not exceed the total duration of the study cycle. For all other grounds, the loss is permanent.

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