Romanian Government Scholarships for Foreign Citizens

Who can apply

Citizen of any non-EU country, except: citizens of Romanian origin or Romanian historical communities (covered by separate programmes), anyone with protection status in Romania, stateless persons, diplomatic/consular staff or family accredited to Romania, staff of international organisations based in Romania, and anyone already holding a Romanian state scholarship for the same study cycle
An academic average of at least 7 out of 10 (or a 'Good' equivalent) in the most recently completed level of education
Not eligible for Medicine, Dental Medicine or Pharmacy, which this scholarship does not fund at all
Bachelor's and master's study is in Romanian only, with a funded Romanian-language preparatory year for non-speakers; PhD may be taken in Romanian or in a language set by the doctoral school
PhD applicants need the prior written agreement of a doctoral tutor at the chosen doctoral school before applying, and must also pass an admission interview
Standard programme lengths: bachelor's degree 3-6 years depending on specialisation, master's degree 1 to 2 years, PhD 4 years
Exempt from the compulsory Romanian-language preparatory year if the applicant already holds Romanian study documents, has completed at least 3 consecutive years of study in Romanian, or passes a separate Romanian-language test

A language rule most likely to catch someone off guard

The language rule here is the detail most likely to catch someone off guard: bachelor’s and master’s study funded by this scholarship happens in Romanian only. A funded preparatory year teaches the language first if you don’t already speak it, but if you were picturing an English-taught degree, this isn’t that, except at PhD level, where study can be in Romanian or a language set by the doctoral school. Three separate routes exempt you from that preparatory year: already holding Romanian study documents, having completed at least three consecutive years of study in Romanian, or passing a dedicated Romanian-language test.

One route in, and Romania’s rules are unusually blunt about it

The application channel is unusually strict about itself. Romania’s own rules state that anything sent directly to a ministry registry office, an embassy, or an MFA staff member’s email “will not be taken into consideration,” full stop. The only route in is the Study in Romania online platform, and that’s true even if you have a personal contact at an embassy who offers to help.

PhD applicants clear two extra gates the other levels don’t

PhD applicants have two extra gates the other two levels don’t. First, you need the written agreement of a doctoral tutor, who has to already be a member of your target doctoral school, before you can even submit an application, alongside a detailed research proposal and list of publications. Second, once shortlisted, you also have to pass an admission interview, on top of that written agreement, not instead of it. Get the tutor’s agreement lined up well before any application window opens, since it’s a prerequisite document, not something you can promise to sort out later.

How long each study cycle actually runs

Duration varies by level, and it’s worth knowing before you commit: a bachelor’s degree runs 3 to 6 years depending on your specialisation, a master’s runs 1 to 2 years, and a PhD runs a fixed 4 years. The scholarship funds each up to its standard length, not indefinitely.

A programme dating to 1993, with nothing open right now

The scholarship programme itself traces back to a specific legal basis, Romanian Government Decision No. 288/1993, making this a genuinely long-running scheme rather than a recent initiative. As of this check, though, the most recent round has already closed and no dates for a next one are published, so there’s nothing open to apply to right now. The February-to-March window is the pattern to watch for, not a confirmed date for next year.