Universities & Tuition — Romania
Updated July 20, 2026
Top Universities in Romania for International Students
Romania has become an increasingly popular destination for international students, particularly for medical education, offering EU-recognized degrees at costs significantly lower than Western Europe. Below is a detailed breakdown of leading institutions.
Note: Rankings, tuition fees, and program details change frequently. Always verify current figures directly with university international offices and official Romanian Ministry of Education sources before making decisions.
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1. University of Bucharest (Universitatea din București)
- City: Bucharest
- Global Ranking: Approx. 801-1000 (QS World University Rankings 2024)
- Renowned For: Humanities, law, social sciences, mathematics, and natural sciences; oldest and most prestigious comprehensive university in Romania
- Annual Tuition (International Students):
- Humanities/Social Sciences: ~2,000-3,000 EUR (~2,150-3,200 USD)
- Sciences: ~3,000-4,000 EUR (~3,200-4,300 USD)
- Language of Instruction: Romanian (primary); select English-taught programs at Master's level
- International Student Percentage: ~8-10%
- Notable Scholarships: Romanian Government Scholarships (for non-EU students via bilateral agreements); Erasmus+ funding
- Acceptance Difficulty: Moderate; competitive for top programs like Law
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2. Babeș-Bolyai University (UBB)
- City: Cluj-Napoca
- Global Ranking: Approx. 701-750 (QS 2024) — consistently Romania's top-ranked university
- Renowned For: Largest university in Romania; strong in sciences, business, psychology, and multilingual education (Romanian, Hungarian, German lines)
- Annual Tuition (International Students):
- Bachelor's: ~2,000-3,500 EUR (~2,150-3,750 USD)
- Master's: ~2,500-4,000 EUR (~2,700-4,300 USD)
- Language of Instruction: Romanian, English, French, German, Hungarian (varies by program)
- International Student Percentage: ~10-12%
- Notable Scholarships: UBB Excellence Scholarships; Erasmus+; Romanian State Scholarships for Diaspora
- Acceptance Difficulty: Moderate; internationally regarded as Romania's most academically rigorous institution
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3. "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy
- City: Bucharest
- Global Ranking: Not consistently ranked globally (specialized medical institution); regionally top-tier for medicine
- Renowned For: Medicine, dentistry, pharmacy — most prestigious medical school in Romania
- Annual Tuition (International Students):
- Medicine (English program): ~7,000-9,000 EUR (~7,500-9,700 USD)
- Dentistry: ~7,000-8,000 EUR (~7,500-8,600 USD)
- Pharmacy: ~5,000-6,000 EUR (~5,400-6,500 USD)
- Language of Instruction: Romanian and English (dedicated English-language tracks for internationals)
- International Student Percentage: ~25-30% (very high due to English-taught medicine programs)
- Notable Scholarships: Limited institutional scholarships; some Romanian Government Scholarships for non-EU applicants; merit-based tuition reductions rare
- Acceptance Difficulty: High for Medicine; requires strong biology/chemistry background and entrance exam performance
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4. "Iuliu Hațieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy
- City: Cluj-Napoca
- Global Ranking: Not globally ranked independently; strong regional medical reputation
- Renowned For: Medicine, dentistry, pharmacy — particularly popular among international students from Germany, France, Israel, and the UK
- Annual Tuition (International Students):
- Medicine: ~6,500-8,500 EUR (~7,000-9,100 USD)
- Dentistry: ~7,000-8,000 EUR (~7,500-8,600 USD)
- Language of Instruction: English (dedicated international program), Romanian, French
- International Student Percentage: ~30-35% (one of the highest in Romania)
- Notable Scholarships: Limited; occasional tuition waivers for top-performing students in later years
- Acceptance Difficulty: High; competitive entrance exam (biology/chemistry), popular alternative to Western European medical schools with lower fees
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5. Politehnica University of Bucharest (Universitatea Politehnica din București)
- City: Bucharest
- Global Ranking: Approx. 1000+ range (QS); strong in engineering-specific rankings
- Renowned For: Engineering, computer science, robotics, and technical sciences — Romania's leading technical university
- Annual Tuition (International Students):
- Bachelor's: ~2,500-3,500 EUR (~2,700-3,750 USD)
- Master's: ~3,000-4,000 EUR (~3,200-4,300 USD)
- Language of Instruction: Romanian; growing number of English-taught programs (especially Master's in engineering/IT)
- International Student Percentage: ~5-8%
- Notable Scholarships: Erasmus+; Romanian Government Scholarships; some faculty-specific merit scholarships
- Acceptance Difficulty: Moderate; competitive for Computer Science and Automation programs
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6. Alexandru Ioan Cuza University (UAIC)
- City: Iași
- Global Ranking: Approx. 801-1000 (QS 2024)
- Renowned For: Second-oldest university in Romania; strong in law, economics, computer science, and philosophy
- Annual Tuition (International Students):
- Bachelor's: ~2,000-3,000 EUR (~2,150-3,200 USD)
- Master's: ~2,200-3,200 EUR (~2,350-3,450 USD)
- Language of Instruction: Romanian; select English-taught Master's programs
- International Student Percentage: ~6-8%
- Notable Scholarships: UAIC merit scholarships; Erasmus+; Romanian State Scholarships (bilateral agreements)
- Acceptance Difficulty: Low-to-moderate; generally accessible, good value option
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7. West University of Timișoara (Universitatea de Vest din Timișoara)
- City: Timișoara
- Global Ranking: Approx. 1000+ (QS); regionally strong reputation
- Renowned For: Economics, law, computer science, and a multicultural student environment (Timișoara is known as a diverse, Western-facing city)
- Annual Tuition (International Students):
- Bachelor's: ~2,000-2,800 EUR (~2,150-3,000 USD)
- Master's: ~2,200-3,000 EUR (~2,350-3,200 USD)
- Language of Instruction: Romanian; some English and German-taught programs
- International Student Percentage: ~7-9%
- Notable Scholarships: Erasmus+; Romanian Government Scholarships; university merit awards
- Acceptance Difficulty: Low-to-moderate; considered accessible with good quality of life for international students
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8. Transilvania University of Brașov
- City: Brașov
- Global Ranking: Approx. 1200+ (QS); not top-tier globally but well-regarded domestically
- Renowned For: Engineering (especially automotive/mechanical), forestry, and a growing medicine program; scenic location popular with international students
- Annual Tuition (International Students):
- Engineering: ~2,200-3,000 EUR (~2,350-3,200 USD)
- Medicine (English program): ~6,000-7,000 EUR (~6,500-7,500 USD)
- Language of Instruction: Romanian; English-taught Medicine and select engineering Master's programs
- International Student Percentage: ~5-7%
- Notable Scholarships: Limited institutional scholarships; Erasmus+ available
- Acceptance Difficulty: Low-to-moderate; considered one of the more accessible options, especially for engineering
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Summary Comparison Table
| University | City | Best For | Tuition Range (EUR/year) | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Bucharest | Bucharest | Humanities/Sciences | 2,000-4,000 | Moderate |
| Babeș-Bolyai | Cluj-Napoca | Overall/Multilingual | 2,000-4,000 | Moderate |
| Carol Davila | Bucharest | Medicine | 5,000-9,000 | High |
| Iuliu Hațieganu | Cluj-Napoca | Medicine | 6,500-8,500 | High |
| Politehnica Bucharest | Bucharest | Engineering/IT | 2,500-4,000 | Moderate |
| Al. I. Cuza | Iași | Law/Economics/CS | 2,000-3,200 | Low-Moderate |
| West University Timișoara | Timișoara | Economics/Multicultural | 2,000-3,000 | Low-Moderate |
| Transilvania Brașov | Brașov | Engineering/Medicine | 2,200-7,000 | Low-Moderate |
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Key Practical Considerations
- Currency Note: Romania uses the RON (Leu) domestically, but international tuition is almost universally quoted and paid in EUR. USD conversions fluctuate with exchange rates (approximate rate used above: 1 EUR ≈ 1.07-1.08 USD).
- Cost of Living: Beyond tuition, budget approximately 300-500 EUR/month for accommodation, food, and expenses — significantly lower than Western Europe.
- Medical Programs: Romania is a top EU destination for affordable, English-taught medical degrees recognized across the EU, attracting large numbers of students from Germany, Israel, France, Sweden, and increasingly the UK and India.
- Entrance Exams: Medicine and Dentistry programs typically require entrance exams (biology/chemistry-based); other fields often admit based on high school records/diplomas.
- Residence Permits: Non-EU students need a student visa (long-stay D/SC visa) and must register for a residence permit within Romania after arrival.
Recommendation: Confirm exact tuition, ranking, and scholarship details directly through each university's international student office and the Romanian Ministry of Education (edu.ro) or Study in Romania portal, as figures are updated annually and can vary by faculty/specialization.
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More about immigrating to Romania
Immigration laws, costs, and policies change frequently. This guide is AI-researched for information only and is not legal advice. Always verify with official government sources and licensed immigration professionals before making decisions.