Romanian Government Scholarships (MFA) 2026–2027

The Romanian Government Scholarship is awarded each year by the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, together with the Ministry of Education and Research, to citizens of non-EU countries who want to study at an accredited Romanian public university. It covers Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD studies, with tuition, accommodation support and a monthly scholarship. The 2026–2027 round has closed and the next call has not been published yet.

Overview

Each year, the Romanian Government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, provides a number of scholarships to citizens from non-EU countries. The scholarships are awarded through a competition of files, under the regulations in force, by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Education and Research. The academic year in Romania usually begins on 1 October. Bachelor’s programmes run for 3–6 years depending on the specialisation, master’s programmes for 1, 1.5 or 2 years, and doctoral programmes for 4 years.

Scholarship Benefits

Scholarship holders receive: exemption from the payment of registration fees and any other fees required by application processing, testing for Romanian language skills, the admission contest for doctoral studies and the specific aptitude tests; financing of the tuition expenses for the Romanian language preparatory year; financing of the tuition expenses for the actual studies, but not more than the duration of one university cycle; a monthly scholarship, for students enrolled in the Romanian language preparatory year and for students enrolled in Bachelor’s, Master’s or doctoral studies, for no longer than the duration of the university cycle; and financing of the accommodation expenses in the student dormitories, within the allocated subsidy granted through the budget of the Ministry of Education and Research (accommodation is provided to the extent of available places).

The monthly scholarship amount is set by Romanian Government Decision and is paid in Romanian lei. The amount is not stated on the scholarship portal — check the official MFA information document for the current figure before applying.

What it does NOT cover: the scholarship does not cover the costs of international transport or of domestic transport from the Romanian border crossing point to the university. Visa application costs are borne by the student.

Eligibility Criteria

The scholarship is addressed to foreign citizens from all non-EU countries, with the following exceptions: citizens of Romanian origin or who are part of the Romanian historical communities in the proximity of Romania; citizens who have requested or acquired a form of protection in Romania; stateless persons whose stay on the territory of Romania is officially recognised according to the law; members of the diplomatic and consular corps, or their family members, accredited to Romania; members of the administrative and technical staff of diplomatic missions and consular offices accredited to Romania; staff members of international organisations based in Romania, or their family members; and beneficiaries of a scholarship from the Romanian state for the same cycle of study.

To be eligible, the applicant must submit a complete file, present study documents issued by accredited or recognised education institutions, comply with the enrolment deadline, have good results in education — an average of the study years for the last graduated school of at least 7 (seven), corresponding to the scoring system in Romania, or the “Good” score — and comply with the application submission methodology. Scholarships are NOT awarded in the fields of Medicine, Dental Medicine and Pharmacy.

For Bachelor’s and Master’s studies, students study only in Romanian. Candidates who do not speak Romanian are granted a one-year preparatory year for the study of the Romanian language before the actual university studies. The following are exempt from the preparatory year: those who present Romanian study documents or school records attesting at least three consecutive years of studies in Romanian; those who pass the Romanian language test organised according to the regulations in force; and those who present a certificate of linguistic competence in Romanian, minimum level B1. Doctoral scholarship holders may study in Romanian or in a foreign language set by the doctoral school. For doctoral studies, it is compulsory that, before submitting the application, the candidate obtains the written agreement of the Doctoral Tutor, who must be a member of the doctoral school, and passes the admission interview.

Available Fields

All fields of study at accredited Romanian higher education institutions, except Medicine, Dental Medicine and Pharmacy. Scholarship holders choose from any of the three study cycles: Bachelor’s, Master’s or PhD.

Required Documents

Each candidate creates an account on the Study in Romania platform, fills in the requested data and uploads the following documents: copies of the diplomas obtained (baccalaureate diploma or its equivalent, plus Bachelor’s, Master’s or doctorate degree, if applicable) and their authorised translation into English, French, Spanish or Romanian, if applicable; copies of transcripts of the completed studies and their authorised translation; a copy of the birth certificate (or equivalent document) and the authorised translation; a copy of the first three pages of the valid passport; a Curriculum Vitae in English, French or Romanian; and, for the doctoral cycle, a letter of intent containing the list of scientific works, specialised publications and the detailed description of the proposed research project, as well as the agreement of a tutor who must be a member of the chosen doctoral school (both documents in English, French or Romanian).

Additional documents apply only to candidates in the relevant category: a copy of the proof of name change; a copy of the certificate proving the passing of the baccalaureate, Bachelor’s or Master’s exam, for graduates who do not yet hold the diploma; a copy of the certificate of completion of the Romanian language preparatory year or of linguistic competence; and a copy of the notarised declaration of parental consent for candidates who have not reached the age of 18 by the date of commencement of the courses. All study documents must be apostilled under the Hague Convention or authenticated by the relevant authorities in the home country. Documents must be scanned individually, after the original, in .pdf format. Registration is valid only if the candidate signs the GDPR declaration consenting to the processing of personal data.

Application Process

1. Apply only through the Study in Romania platform at https://scholarships.studyinromania.gov.ro (available in English and French). Applications submitted directly to the registry offices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Ministry of Education and Research, to MFA email addresses, or to diplomatic missions are not taken into consideration.
2. Create an account on the platform, fill in the requested data and upload the documents listed above.
3. Results: the results of the selection process are announced by email to every candidate who applied (around 15 July for the 2026 round).
4. Letter of acceptance: for admitted students, the Ministry of Education and Research issues a “Letter of acceptance for studies in Romania”, which mentions the obligation to complete a Romanian language preparatory year where applicable and the higher education institution(s) where the studies will take place. The original is sent by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the university; students can download a scanned copy. The letter is required to obtain a long-stay visa and for enrolment.
5. Reply and visa: after receiving the letter of acceptance, students send their response (acceptance or refusal of the scholarship) electronically through the platform within the indicated term and, if accepting, request a long study visa. They must then contact the university to find out about the specific enrolment conditions.
6. Enrolment: at enrolment, students present the complete file with the original documents, a copy of the letter of acceptance, the passport (original and copy) with a valid visa or residence permit, and a medical certificate stating fitness for studies and freedom from contagious diseases, with an authorised translation where applicable.

Important Dates

Event	Date
Enrolment opened (2026–27 round)	16 February 2026
Application deadline (2026–27 round)	31 March 2026
Results announced (2026–27 round)	Around 15 July 2026, by email
Academic year starts	Usually 1 October

Applications for the 2026–2027 round closed on 31 March 2026. The next cycle has not been published yet — check the official page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can apply for the Romanian Government Scholarship?

Citizens of all non-EU countries can apply, except for the categories listed in the Eligibility Criteria (for example, citizens of Romanian origin, diplomatic staff and their families, and holders of a Romanian state scholarship for the same cycle). A good academic record is required — an average of at least 7 on the Romanian scale, or “Good”, in the last completed studies.

Can I study in English?

No, not for Bachelor’s or Master’s studies — those are taught only in Romanian, and non-speakers are granted a one-year Romanian language preparatory year first. Doctoral students may study in Romanian or in a foreign language set by the doctoral school.

Which fields are excluded?

Scholarships are not awarded in Medicine, Dental Medicine and Pharmacy. All other fields at accredited Romanian universities are open.

How do I apply?

Only through the Study in Romania platform at scholarships.studyinromania.gov.ro. Applications sent by email, post or through embassies are not considered.

What does the scholarship not cover?

It does not cover international transport or domestic transport from the Romanian border to the university, and visa application costs are borne by the student.

Official source: Study in Romania — Romanian Government Scholarships (MFA)