STUDY IN ROMANIA

RESIDENCE

Studying in Romania requires a Study Visa. That can be obtained at the Romanian Embassy. Renewal of the Study Visa can be obtained on the basis of a certificate issued by the university proving tax payment, proof of residence and means to support oneself.

No late than eight days from arrival in Romania or expiry of their original visa foreign students need to register at the local Police Aliens' Registration Office. The study visa gives the right to stay on the Romanian territory for a period of up to 30 days. This has the posibility of prolonging it for periods of up to 1 year. If the staying in Romania of a foreign student exceeds four months at a university, he/her need to obtain a Provisional Student Card (Legitimatie).

The studies for foreign students are charged with fees that vary with the type and level of the course to be undertaken from 330 EURO to 815 EURO per month as quoted in 2001. The fees are payable for the entire academic year including periods of practical work and must be paid three months in advance. The costs involving the meals in the canteens and lodging in the student's hostels are paid separately.

DAY COURSES (EURO per month in the study year 2000 - 2001)

PART-TIME COURSES

FEES FOR CERTAIN EXAM CATEGORIES (EURO)

ACCOMMODATION

There is the possibility for foreign students to obtain a place in a student hostel if spare places. The students who benefit from scholarships/places through bilateral agreements between states have priority. Usually it is not possible for students to remain in the accommodation during the vacations.

The foreign students can also use the student canteens, regardless of having accommodation in student hostels or not.

STRUCTURE, ACCESS, FINALIZATION

The national education system is made up of public and private education units and institutions.
For students involved in elementary and secondary education programs the monthly fee is 245 EURO.
The national education system comprises the following:

HIGH SCHOOL / UPPER SECONDARY EDUCATION
High school education is structured on branches, fields and streams of training, as follows:

High school studies end with a national baccalaureate exam, diversified according to branch, field, stream of training. The studies may end with a certificate exam attesting the professional competence, different from the "baccalaureate exam".

On passing the baccalaureate exam, the graduate is issued Diploma de bacalaureat. The issuing of the professional competence certificate is independent of the baccalaureate result.
High school graduates without a baccalaureate diploma may be issued Certificat de absolvire (a graduation certificate) and a copy of the registration sheet.

Candidates take the entire baccalaureate exam every time they enlist for it.

VOCATIONAL EDUCATION

Vocational education is organized as day or evening education, in professional or apprentice schools. Gymnasium graduates with a capacity exam certificate may apply for vocational schools.

The repartition of the students admitted into vocational schools is made according to the educational offer of the school, within the 15 basic streams of training. The 15 vocational streams of training are:

Studies in vocational schools last for 2 - 3 years. Vocational school courses end with a graduation exam.
Professional school graduates may enroll for high school education after admission, under conditions established by the present law.

Gymnasium graduates with or without a capacity exam certificate may apply for apprentice schools.
Education in apprentice schools aims at developing a set of mostly practical skills, according to the occupational standards.

Studies in apprentice schools last 1 - 2 years.

Education in apprentice schools ends with a practical exam for the certification of professional qualifications attained.
Vocational education students with a capacity exam certificate may pursue evening, part-time or distance high school education in parallel, after admission, under conditions established by the present law.

POST-HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION

Education is financed by the applicants, physical or legal persons, on the basis of a contract agreed upon with the respective educational institution.

Foreman schools are post-high school institutions.

High school graduates with or without a baccalaureate diploma are entitled to apply for post-high school education.
Post-high school education ends with a graduation exam, the passing of which entitles the graduate to the issueing of a vocational competence certificate.

Post-high school education graduates with a baccalaureate diploma and a graduation certificate may be admitted into university colleges and the exams they have passed during the post high-school training may receive recognition.

DISTANCE LEARNING

Within compulsory education, distance learning (or evening classes) can be organized exceptionally for students whose age surpasses more than two years the average age of the class they are in.

Distance high school education (as well as evening and part-time high school education) may take place, within the conditions of the law, in educational institutions approved by the school inspectorates.

HIGHER EDUCATION

According to the Education Law the teaching activity can be organized in the following forms: daily courses, evening courses, extra-mural courses and distance education courses. Evening and part-time graduate studies last one year longer than day graduate studies. The duration of distance education graduate studies is established by the Government. The graduation certificates or diplomas issued by the higher education institutions state the form of education attended.

In the higher education institutions can also be enrolled foreign students, in accordance with the legal provisions in the field. Foreign citizens studying in Romania and enrolled in the public higher education system are paying tuition fees; the fees are yearly established through Government decision.

From this rule are excepted the students who are granted scholarships by the Romanian state.

"Diploma de bacalaureat" is required for access into higher education.
Graduate studies are open and organized as:

High school graduates with a baccalaureate diploma may apply for graduate studies.

SHORT-TERM GRADUATE STUDIES

Short-term graduate studies last for 3 years, except for the pedagogical university colleges, where studies take 2 years for pedagogical high school graduates (and 3 years for all other high school graduates); they are organized in university colleges, within long-term higher education institutions.

Pedagogical university colleges provide the qualifications necessary for pre-school and elementary school teachers; graduates may also teach a foreign language, Music, Art or Physical Education at gymnasium level.

Short-term graduate studies finalize with "Diploma de absolvire" (graduation diploma).

Graduates with a university college diploma may continue their studies in a long-term higher education institution, within the number of available places; they may study within the initial or a related field.

Candidates who are admitted take the difference exams established by the faculty councils, and they will be placed in the year of study corresponding to their recognized and passed exams.

LONG-TERM GRADUATE STUDIES

Day long-term graduate studies last, according to the field / stream of training, between 4 - 6 years; the length of the studies is established by the Ministry of Education.
Studies end with a degree or diploma exam. Graduates who pass the degree exam are awarded the title of bachelor of the respective field and stream of training.
Graduates without a degree or diploma exam may be issued, on request, a long-term graduate studies certificate and a copy of the academic record.
Graduate studies longer than 4 years end with a diploma exam. Students who pass this exam are awarded the title of graduate (diplomat) of the respective field/stream of training.

The length of graduate studies:

day courses

POST-GRADUATE EDUCATION

Post-graduate education is represented by:

Further specialization studies last 2 or 3 semesters and are carried out within the stream of training of the diploma obtained upon the completion of long-term graduate studies. They end with a dissertation, and graduates are issued a further specialization diploma.

Master studies last 2 - 4 semesters and integrate several streams of training, with the aim of extending candidate's competences. Master studies may be carried out by graduates having a long-term graduate studies diploma, regardless of field or stream of training. They end with a dissertation on which basis the graduates are issued a master diploma.

Doctoral studies may be carried out by graduates having a long-term graduate studies diploma. They end with a public defended thesis and assessed by a commission of specialists.

Post-graduate academic studies schools offer day or part-time programs with a duration of 2 - 4 semesters; their aim is to extend and perfect the competences acquired upon obtaining a long-term graduate studies diploma. Studies end with a dissertation, on which basis the graduates are issued post-graduate academic studies diplomas.

Post-graduate specialization studies may be carried out by graduates having a long-term graduate studies diploma. The duration, the curriculum and the method of finalization of the studies are established by the senate of the respective university. Graduates are issued a post-graduate specialization studies diploma.

Post-graduate perfecting courses may be carried out by graduates having a short or long-term graduate studies diploma. The duration, the study curricula and the method of finalization of the studies are established by the senate of the respective university. Graduates are issued a graduation certificate.

Useful information for foreign students:

If students drop out courses or if errors are noticed in the documents presented upon enrolment, fees are not refundable.

The annual fee includes the length of practice mentioned in the curriculum, as well as medical assistance, in the same conditions offered to Romanian students. Fees must be paid all throughout the academic year; fees for the first three months must be paid on enrolment.

For supplementary fees, foreign students may benefit of accommodation and board at their chosen university. Most Romanian universities have canteens - student restaurants in their own campus. Accommodation is only available after the start of the academic year.

Students who wish to take the exams in English or French must pay a 165 EURO fee for the language test. Candidates who can make official proof of having studied for at least 4 consecutive years in Romanian may apply without a language test.

The student will support any further personal expenses, including accommodation and board.
All fees may support further change.

DISTANCE LEARNING

Within graduate studies, distance learning (as well as evening and part-time studies) may be organized in the institutions that offer day studies. The length of distance graduate studies is established by the Government.

For adult education, open or distance learning institutions and networks provided with modern information and communication technologies may be organized with the approval of the Ministry of Education.

Profiles and specialisations of the public and private higher education institutions
in Romania - 2000

THE NETWORK OF HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS - 2000

Ministry of Education - http://www.edu.ro
ESTIA platform - http://estia.ise.ro
Academia 1 educat - http://www.1educat.ro
Presentation of the Romanian education system in the EURYDICE platform -
http://www.eurydice.org/Eurybase/Application/frameset.asp?country=RO&language=EN
Student Organisations, see the EuroStage database - http://www.eurostage.org

THE PRIVATE EDUCATION SYSTEM

Accredited private education institutions and units are part of the national education network.

Private undergraduate institutions include kindergartens, elementary and gymnasial schools, vocational and apprentice schools, high schools and post-high school institutions.

Private undergraduate education uses curricula similar or alternative to those used in public education, which include compulsory or optional subjects, corresponding to the national standards.

Diplomas and certificates issued by private undergraduate studies institutions are equivalent to those issued by the public institutions if the graduation exams have been taken before commissions legally formed.

Private education students may transfer to other public or private education institutions, with the approval of the respective institution, within the conditions established by the Ministry of Education.

Private education fees are established by each education institution or unit, within the conditions of the law.

ROMANIAN STUDENTS FROM DIASPORA

The current Romanian legislation offers foreign citizens of Romanian origin the possibility to apply for any Romanian higher education institutions, without an admission exam, on the condition of having the necessary qualifications for admission in higher education institutions in their own country.

Every year, the Romanian Government offers a number of 150 scholarships for elementary and secondary education, 350 scholarships for higher education, 25 scholarships for day doctoral studies and 25 scholarships for part-time or evening studies, as well as a supplementary number of 240 monthly scholarships for post-graduate studies.

Scholarship beneficiaries have priority for accommodation in university campuses.

Other 200 candidates may apply for the Romanian education system, without paying fees, on the condition of covering their own living expenses.

The following fields have priority: Philology, Pedagogy, Ecology, Philosophy, History, Economics, Law, Arts and Theology.

Beneficiaries of these facilities must be nominated both by the Ministry of Foreign Affaires and by the Ministry of National Education.

8948 Romanians residing abroad study in Romania, 2984 of which have enrolled for elementary and secondary education, and 5964 for higher education.