Scholarships and Student Financial Aid in Romania

State scholarships for Romanian and EU students

If you study on a state-subsidized place at a public Romanian university as a Romanian or other EU/EEA citizen, you can apply for a government scholarship (bursa) on top of free tuition. Romania runs several types: social scholarships for students from low-income families, merit scholarships for high academic performance, and dedicated scholarships for master's and doctoral researchers.

For the 2025-2026 academic year, the minimum social scholarship for university students stood at 925 lei a month (roughly 185 EUR), with master's students on didactic programs eligible for 2,165 lei and doctoral students for 3,700 lei, according to Digi24 . Scholarships pay out only during teaching periods, not during summer or winter breaks. Merit scholarship amounts and eligibility bands are set by each university within its own budget, so check your faculty's scholarship regulation once enrolled.

To keep a merit scholarship, you generally need to maintain a strong grade average and pass every exam within the normal session, since most universities reassess scholarship eligibility each semester. Missing a subsidized place does not automatically disqualify you from applying for a social scholarship if you meet the income criteria, the two schemes run on separate rules at most universities. Private university students on a fee-paying place generally fall outside the national state bursa scheme, which applies to state-subsidized places at public universities, so check your specific university's own aid programs instead.

Romanian Government Scholarships for non-EU students

Non-EU students can apply for a fully funded scholarship from Romania's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, covering tuition, a monthly stipend, dormitory accommodation, medical assistance and local transport, per the official Study in Romania scholarship portal . Stipends run 65 EUR a month for bachelor's students, 75 EUR for master's students and 85 EUR for doctoral students, with a funded Romanian-language preparatory year if you do not speak Romanian yet.

Eligibility requires a strong academic record, typically an average of at least 7 out of 10, or the equivalent good grade, in your most recently completed level of education. You can choose any field except Medicine, Pharmacy and Dental Medicine, which the scheme excludes. Since this program targets non-EU citizens, it does not apply if you already hold an EU, EEA or Swiss passport, but it matters if you are a European student with dual or non-EU citizenship, or advising a non-EU peer.

University-specific scholarships

Beyond national schemes, individual Romanian universities run their own scholarship funds for high-achieving or need-based students, including international applicants on fee-paying places. Amounts and rules differ by faculty, so check the scholarship or financial aid section of your target university's international office page directly before you commit to a fee-paying place. These range from small one-off travel grants for conference attendance to full tuition waivers for top-ranked incoming students, and eligibility criteria differ sharply between a large public university and a smaller private one.

Other ways to fund your studies

• Erasmus+ mobility grants, if you study part of your degree in Romania through an exchange from another EU university

• Part-time work: EU students work under the same rules as Romanian students, non-EU students can work up to 4 hours a day without a separate work permit during their studies

• Reduced dorm and canteen fees for scholarship holders, on top of the cash stipend

• Private foundations and companies in Romania sometimes fund sector-specific scholarships, particularly in engineering, IT and business, advertised through university career offices

Documents you need to apply

For the Ministry of Foreign Affairs scholarship, you submit your application through the Study in Romania scholarship platform with your academic transcripts, a copy of your passport, a motivation letter and, for returning applicants, proof of your current enrollment status. For university-level scholarships as an EU student, your faculty's student affairs office typically asks for your latest grade transcript and, for social scholarships, official proof of household income.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Missing the scholarship platform deadline, which does not reopen until the next academic year

• Assuming a merit scholarship carries over automatically each semester without checking your updated grade average

• Applying for the non-EU government scholarship as an EU citizen, which the scheme does not accept

• Forgetting to renew proof of income each year for a social scholarship

How to apply

For the Ministry of Foreign Affairs scholarship, applications open through the Study in Romania scholarship platform, with a strict submission window each year. For state grants as an EU student, you apply through your university's student affairs office once enrolled, using the previous semester's grades or income documentation as evidence. Confirm current deadlines directly on the relevant portal, since they shift slightly each year. Set a calendar reminder well before the scholarship platform opens, since some non-EU government rounds close within a few weeks of opening, and late submissions are not accepted regardless of how strong your academic record looks. Keep your bank details and student ID updated with your faculty's finance office, since scholarship payments run through direct transfer and delays often come down to outdated account information.