Romania – One of the World’s Top Destination for Students

Romania ranks as one of the world’s top destinations for students in 2023, according to a recent study.

A recent survey by the renowned Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), which specializes in the analysis and rating of higher education institutions worldwide, further supports the fact that Europe is still one of the most popular destinations for students.

The UK, which is home to some of the most esteemed academic institutions in the world, and London, in particular, remain the most popular locations, followed by other cities like Munich, Zurich, Berlin, and Paris. However, the expense of living in the top 2023 student cities is surprising. Romania has four cities in the list of the top 140 worldwide for students with friendly living costs: Cluj-Napoca, Timisoara, Bucharest, and Iasi.

Cluj Napoca, Timisoara, Bucharest and Iasi are the top cities for Romanian students to apply to after graduation from high school or even after graduating from primary school because they have excellent teachers who can contribute to the academic development of the student. Their educational institutions prevent high-quality education and a wide range of profiles.

According to Business Review, studying in Europe has traditionally been seen as a method to realize one’s full potential through a high level of education, more excellent job prospects, higher salaries, and excellent living conditions. Even though certain European nations provide a higher standard of living overall, the cost of living is an essential factor to consider.

EUROSTAT data show that Romania has the lowest cost of living among the EU Member States, with prices for consumer goods and services 44% lower than the EU average. Romania offers accessible tuition in a wide variety of public and private study programmes, many of which are also provided in English and French, for all levels of higher education, including bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees. Romania is also reasonable in terms of living expenses.

Romania includes many benefits regarding studies, such as scholarships:

• scholarships offered annually by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• scholarships based on Romania’s bilateral or multilateral intergovernmental agreements;
• scholarships offered by the Ministry of Economy, aimed at promoting economic and commercial cooperation actions;
• scholarships offered by the Ministry of Education, granted for top academic results while studying in Romania;
• other specific and occasional scholarships.

Most prestigious Romanian universities maintain relationships with other educational institutions inside and outside of the EU, which broadens the options for non-EU citizens to gain knowledge and experience at the start of their professional careers. Most of them have programs for exchange students, in which international students interested in studying in Romania can apply and experience the Romanian education system for a while. More than that, most Romanian universities provide their students with an internationally recognized diploma upon graduation.

The negative side of the view is that many students move to foreign countries after graduating from Romania to find a better living. Even though Romania is one of the countries with low living costs, the salaries in Romania aren’t high either. After graduating from college, the salary of an employee without experience is standard, and many students cannot even support themselves.