Updated: August 25, 2026 | Reading time: 5 min | Written by: StudyTribune Team
Romania offers one of Europe’s more accessible fully funded government scholarships — no tuition fees, a monthly stipend, dormitory accommodation where space allows, and even a free year of Romanian language preparation if you don’t already speak the language. Unlike some European government scholarships that are actually a patchwork of separate university-run schemes, this one is genuinely centralized: one application, one government programme, run jointly by two ministries. Here’s how it actually works.
What Is the Romanian Government Scholarship?
Officially called the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Scholarships for non-EU citizens, and administered jointly by Romania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and Ministry of Education and Research (MER), this programme runs under Government Decision No. 288/1993. It funds full-time Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD study at accredited public universities across Romania, aimed specifically at strengthening Romania’s cultural and diplomatic ties with partner countries across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America.
What It Covers
- No tuition or registration fees
- A monthly stipend for living costs — modest by broader European standards, though Romania remains one of the more affordable EU countries to live in
- Dormitory accommodation, subject to availability — not guaranteed for every recipient
- A free one-year Romanian language preparatory course, for students who don’t already speak Romanian
- Medical assistance covering medical-surgical emergencies and diseases with epidemic potential
- Public transport fares at the same rate as Romanian students, for local and domestic travel
An Important Language Detail Most Guides Skip
Bachelor’s and Master’s applicants can only select programmes taught in Romanian — not English. This is a real practical consideration, not a minor footnote: if you don’t already speak Romanian, the included one-year preparatory course becomes essential, not optional, adding a year to your overall timeline. PhD candidates have more flexibility and can select a programme taught in English or another foreign language set by their specific doctoral school.
Excluded Fields and Applicants
Medicine, Pharmacy, and Dental Medicine are explicitly excluded from this scholarship — these fields aren’t covered regardless of your academic strength elsewhere.
You’re also not eligible if you fall into any of these categories:
- Citizens of Romanian origin or members of historical Romanian communities near Romania (a separate scholarship route exists for this group specifically)
- Individuals who have obtained a form of protection in Romania (refugees, asylum seekers)
- Stateless persons officially residing in Romania
- Members of a diplomatic or consular corps accredited to Romania, or their family members
- Administrative or technical staff of diplomatic missions or consular offices in Romania
- Staff of international organizations based in Romania, or their family members
- Anyone who has already received a Romanian state scholarship for the same cycle of study
Eligibility
- Citizenship of a non-EU country, outside the exclusions above
- A minimum academic score of 7 out of 10 on the Romanian grading scale, or a “Good” equivalent under your own country’s system
- Relevant prior qualification for your intended level (secondary school completion for Bachelor’s, a Bachelor’s degree for Master’s, a Master’s degree for PhD)
- No IELTS requirement, and no stated age limit
Key Dates
Applications for the most recently confirmed cycle opened mid-February 2026 and closed March 31, 2026, with results typically announced around late June based on previous cycles, and the academic year beginning October 1. If you’re reading this after March 2026, that cycle is closed — based on this recurring annual pattern, expect the next cycle to open around February 2027 with a similar end-of-March deadline, though always confirm the exact dates on the official Study in Romania platform.
How to Apply: Step by Step
- Confirm your eligibility, checking specifically that you’re not in one of the seven excluded categories and that your intended field isn’t Medicine, Pharmacy, or Dental Medicine.
- Register on the official Study in Romania platform, available in both English and French.
- Gather your documents, including certified copies of your diploma or degree translated into English or Romanian, academic transcripts, and any other required identification.
- Submit your online application before the March deadline.
- Await results, typically announced around late June, ahead of an October 1 academic year start.
- If selected and you don’t already speak Romanian, prepare for your included one-year Romanian language preparatory course as the first stage of your programme.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Assuming you can study in English at Bachelor’s or Master’s level. Only Romanian-taught programmes are eligible at these levels — factor in the preparatory year if you don’t already speak Romanian.
- Applying for Medicine, Pharmacy, or Dental Medicine. These fields are explicitly excluded, regardless of academic strength.
- Assuming dormitory accommodation is guaranteed. It’s offered subject to availability, not promised to every recipient.
- Missing that this is one centralized application, not a university-specific process — apply through the official MFA/Study in Romania platform, not directly to individual universities.
FAQs
Is the Romanian Government Scholarship the same at every university? Yes — it’s a centralized government programme run by two ministries, not a separate scheme per university. You apply once, and selected candidates are placed at accredited public universities across Romania.
Can I study in English? Only at PhD level, where your doctoral school may offer English or another foreign language. Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes under this scholarship are taught in Romanian.
Does the scholarship cover Medicine or Dentistry? No. Medicine, Pharmacy, and Dental Medicine are explicitly excluded from this programme.
Do I need to already speak Romanian to apply? No — a free one-year Romanian language preparatory course is included for students who don’t already speak the language, though this adds a year to your overall timeline.
Is accommodation guaranteed? No. Dormitory accommodation is offered subject to availability, not guaranteed for every scholar.
What’s the minimum academic requirement? A score of 7 out of 10 on the Romanian grading scale, or a “Good” equivalent under your home country’s grading system.
Do I need IELTS to apply? No IELTS requirement is stated for this scholarship.
When does the next application cycle open? Based on the most recent cycle (opened mid-February 2026, closed March 31, 2026), expect the next cycle to open around February 2027 — confirm exact dates on the official Study in Romania platform.
Related Reading
Strengthen your application with our guides to writing a recommendation letter for a scholarship and a personal statement for scholarship applications. If you’re comparing European destinations more broadly, our roundup of scholarships in Europe covers a wider set of countries and funding types.
Romania’s government scholarship remains one of the more genuinely accessible fully funded routes into the EU — the real trade-off is the Romanian language requirement at Bachelor’s and Master’s level, not the funding itself, so factor that timeline honestly into your planning before you apply.