Studying Medicine in Romania
The most affordable EU member state for English-taught medical education. 11 universities. No entrance exam at most institutions. EU Directive recognised degrees. From €5,000 per year.
At a glance
The Romania Advantage
- EU member state — EU Directive 2005/36/EC listed degrees — automatic recognition across all 27 EU member states
- Most affordable EU member state for English-taught medicine — from €5,000/year
- No entrance exam at most universities — admission based on grades and file evaluation
- 11 universities — most offer Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmacy in English
- Large established Indian student community — particularly in Iași, Oradea, and Craiova
- All WHO listed, GMC eligible, ECFMG eligible
- NMC India approved — major universities
- Romanian Government Scholarship available at all public universities
- Tuition varies widely — €5,000 to €10,000/year depending on university
- Romanian language required for clinical patient interaction — English is sufficient for curriculum
- Quality gap between universities — Oradea, Iași, Craiova score significantly higher than Arad, Târgu Mureș, Timișoara
- Some universities have limited international infrastructure compared to Hungary or Czech Republic
- Private universities (Vasile Goldiș Arad, Titu Maiorescu) score lower and are not eligible for Romanian Government Scholarship
- Route.doctor scores reflect practical international student criteria — check the scores carefully before choosing
Every English-taught programme — ranked by route.doctor score
All 11 universities in our Romania database, sorted by evaluation score.
| University | City | Degrees | Score | Tuition/year | Exam |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Oradea | Oradea | Medicine | 4.190 | €5,000 | No |
| Grigore T. Popa University Iași | Iași | Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy | 4.075 | €8,500 | No |
| UMF Craiova | Craiova | Medicine, Dentistry | 3.997 | €4,500 | No |
| Iuliu Hațieganu University Cluj-Napoca | Cluj-Napoca | Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy | 3.760 | €10,000 | No |
| Ovidius University Constanța | Constanța | Medicine, Dentistry | 3.730 | €7,500 | No |
| Carol Davila University Bucharest | Bucharest | Medicine, Dentistry | 3.670 | €8,500–10,000 | No |
| UMFST Târgu Mureș | Târgu Mureș | Medicine, Dentistry | 3.445 | €8,500 | No |
| Victor Babeș University Timișoara | Timișoara | Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy | 3.405 | €7,500 | No |
| Banat University Vet Medicine Timișoara | Timișoara | Veterinary Medicine | 3.065 | €7,000 | Yes (exam) |
| Vasile Goldiș Western University Arad | Arad | Medicine | 3.000 | €9,500 | No |
| Titu Maiorescu University Bucharest | Bucharest | Medicine, Dentistry | 2.985 | €7,000–9,000 | Yes (in-person) |
SCORE ACCURACY IS CRITICAL: These are verified route.doctor evaluation scores. Oradea (4.190) and Iași (4.075) score significantly higher than Arad (3.000) and Titu Maiorescu (2.985). There is a meaningful quality gap within the Romanian cohort. Tuition fees approximate — verify with university.
Why Oradea, Iași, and Craiova score so highly
Why Oradea
Highest-scoring Romanian university. Lowest English-taught medicine tuition in Romania — and among the lowest in all of Europe. No entrance exam. ~300 GMC-registered graduates documented. Oradea is a compact, manageable western Romanian city with low living costs. EU Directive Annex V listed. NMC India approved.
Consideration
Medicine only — no dentistry or pharmacy. Smaller city — limited cosmopolitan student environment compared to Bucharest or Cluj.
Why Iași
Romania's oldest medical university. Strong recognition profile across all criteria. Large Indian student community — well-established. Multiple degrees available in English. Iași is cited as one of Romania's most affordable major cities. EU Directive listed. NMC India approved.
Consideration
Tuition at €8,500/year — higher than Oradea and Craiova. Iași is in eastern Romania — less connected internationally than Bucharest.
Why Craiova
Strong score with very low tuition. No entrance exam. EU Directive listed. NMC India approved. Craiova is a mid-size southern Romanian city with low living costs.
Consideration
Lower international profile than Oradea or Iași. Craiova is a regional rather than national university city.
Cost of studying in Romania
Tuition fees by university
| University | Annual tuition |
|---|---|
| UMF Craiova | €4,500 |
| University of Oradea | ~€5,000 |
| Banat University Vet Medicine Timișoara | €7,000 |
| Titu Maiorescu Bucharest (private) | €7,000–9,000 |
| Ovidius University Constanța | €7,500 |
| Victor Babeș University Timișoara | €7,500 |
| Grigore T. Popa Iași | €8,500 |
| UMFST Târgu Mureș | €8,500 |
| Carol Davila Bucharest | €8,500–10,000 |
| Vasile Goldiș Arad (private) | €9,500 |
| Iuliu Hațieganu Cluj-Napoca | €10,000 |
Romanian Government Scholarship: Public universities are eligible for full scholarships covering tuition waiver, accommodation, and a monthly stipend. Private universities (Vasile Goldiș, Titu Maiorescu) are not eligible.
Cost of living by city
| City | Monthly budget | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bucharest | €500–€700 | Capital, most expensive |
| Cluj-Napoca | €450–€650 | Student city, moderate |
| Iași | €350–€500 | Very affordable |
| Constanța | €350–€500 | Black Sea coast |
| Timișoara | €350–€500 | Affordable western city |
| Craiova | €350–€450 | Southern Romania, affordable |
| Oradea | €350–€450 | Most affordable major city |
| Târgu Mureș | €300–€450 | Small, very affordable |
| Arad | €350–€500 | Western Romania |
Monthly budget breakdown (Oradea example)
| Category | Monthly cost |
|---|---|
| Accommodation | €150–€250 |
| Food (self-catering) | €100–€150 |
| Transport | €15–€25 |
| Mobile and utilities | €30–€50 |
| Personal and social | €50–€80 |
| Total | €345–€555 |
Total 6-year investment
At Oradea (cheapest): tuition ~€30,000 + living ~€29,000 = ~€59,000 total.
At Iuliu Hațieganu Cluj (most expensive public): tuition €60,000 + living ~€40,000 = ~€100,000.
Romania offers the lowest total investment for an EU Directive listed medical degree in Europe.
Admission requirements
No entrance exam — how it works
Most Romanian medical universities do not require a written entrance exam. Admission is based on secondary school grades (typically the final school examination — Baccalaureate equivalent), an English language assessment (usually an interview or test), and academic transcripts. This makes Romania accessible to students who have not achieved IMAT scores or who want to avoid written exam preparation.
Applications are typically open February to August for September intake. Deadlines are more flexible than Czech or Hungarian universities. Non-EU students must pay the first year tuition in full to obtain their student visa (Type D).
Documents typically required
Romanian Government Scholarship
Public Romanian universities offer full scholarships to international students who apply through the Romanian Government Scholarship Programme. These include tuition waiver, accommodation, and a monthly stipend. Applications typically open December–March for September intake. Competition is limited — many applicants receive them. Private universities (Vasile Goldiș, Titu Maiorescu) are not eligible.
Student visa and residence
No visa required. Register at the local Inspectoratul pentru Imigrări within 90 days. Obtain a certificate of registration. EHIC covers healthcare. Open right to study and work.
Long-stay visa for study (Type D) required. Apply at Romanian consulate with university acceptance letter. Non-EU students must pay the full first year tuition upfront to obtain the visa. After arrival apply for temporary residence permit within 90 days.
Apply for visa 2–3 months before arrival. Romanian visa processing typically 2–4 weeks. Permit processing 1–2 months — you may study while waiting.
Life in Romania
Romanian is a Romance language — closer to Italian, French, and Spanish than Slavic languages. English widely spoken at all medical universities and increasingly among younger Romanians. Clinical years require Romanian for patient interaction — most universities provide language courses. Romanian is considered one of the more accessible Eastern European languages for Romance language speakers.
Romania is generally safe for international students. University cities have established international communities. Standard urban awareness applies in Bucharest. Oradea, Iași, and Craiova are relaxed and student-friendly. Crime affecting students is low.
EU students use EHIC for public healthcare. Non-EU students require private health insurance (CNAS card via university). University clinics provide student health services. Healthcare quality in Romania is developing — private clinics in major cities are affordable and good quality.
Predominantly Orthodox Christian with significant religious holidays. Warm and hospitable culture. Excellent and very affordable food. Halal food increasingly available in all university cities with growing Muslim student communities — particularly in Iași, Oradea, and Bucharest. Strong café culture.
Continental climate with warm summers (25–32°C) and cold winters (−5°C to 0°C). Constanța has the most pleasant climate — Black Sea coast. Cluj-Napoca and Brașov are in the Carpathians — excellent skiing nearby. Snowfall in most cities November through March.
Rail network (CFR) connects all university cities. Budget flights from Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, Iași, Timișoara, and Constanța to European hubs. Bucharest has a metro system. Student transport passes in all cities. Uber and Bolt (very affordable) widely available.
Practical guides for every university city in Romania
Carol Davila, Titu Maiorescu
Capital. Largest city. Most connected. Historic architecture.
Grigore T. Popa University
Romania's oldest medical university. Very affordable. Large Indian community.
Iuliu Hațieganu University
Cultural capital. Student city. QS ranked. Vibrant nightlife.
University of Oradea
Most affordable. Compact. Western Romania. Near Hungarian border.
UMF Craiova
Southern Romania. Affordable. Good clinical hospital. Growing city.
Ovidius University
Black Sea coast. Best climate. Beach access. Relaxed atmosphere.
Victor Babeș, Banat Vet
European Capital of Culture 2023. Beautiful architecture. Western Romania.
UMFST
Small, affordable. Central Transylvania. Multicultural city.
Vasile Goldiș University
Western Romania. Near Hungarian border. Private university only.