The stipend: what it is, what it buys
The monthly stipend is set by Romanian government regulation and has remained relatively stable for several years. It is paid in Romanian lei (RON), and the euro equivalents below reflect approximate current exchange rates — small fluctuations happen, but the ballpark figures hold.
To put this in perspective: a basic monthly grocery shop for one person in Romania costs roughly €80–120. The entire monthly stipend covers, at best, one month of food — and nothing else. Transport, phone, toiletries, clothing, and any social life come from your own money. This is not a criticism of the programme; it's information you need before deciding whether you can afford to accept it.
Full list of what the scholarship covers
What is not covered
No meal plan or food allowance is provided. Groceries and eating out come entirely from your own pocket.
Flights to and from Romania are your expense. The scholarship also does not cover the cost of travel from the Romanian border to your university city.
City bus or tram passes, taxis, and any other local transport are your responsibility. Monthly transit passes cost around €10–20 in most Romanian cities.
If your university cannot provide a dorm room, private accommodation starts at around €100/month in cheaper cities and €200–400/month in Bucharest or Cluj-Napoca.
Students aged 26 or older must pay a monthly health insurance contribution, roughly €15–30. This is not mentioned on the official scholarship page.
Clothing, toiletries, phone plans, textbooks, and social activities are all self-funded. Budget €50–100/month minimum for these.
Real monthly living costs by city
These figures assume the scholarship dormitory is available. If you need private housing, add approximately €150–400/month to each estimate. All figures are approximate and based on a student lifestyle — shared accommodation, cooking most meals, limited eating out.
The gap between the €65–85 stipend and these monthly figures is what you need to cover from personal savings, family support, or part-time income.
Part-time work: what the scholarship allows
This is information the official scholarship portal does not mention anywhere, but it matters enormously for financial planning. Romanian law permits foreign students — including scholarship holders — to work part-time without requiring a separate work permit, as long as the working hours do not exceed 4 hours per day.
In practice, students commonly work in hospitality, customer service, and call centers (particularly for international companies operating in Romania). Monthly earnings from 4-hour-per-day work typically range from €100 to €300 depending on the job and city.
Working more than 4 hours per day requires a separate work permit, which involves a more complicated process and employer sponsorship. For a part-time job of up to 4 hours daily, no additional permit is needed beyond your student residence permit.
The scholarship is not a one-time award. It is renewed each academic year, conditionally. To retain it, you must earn the required 60 academic credits per year. Failing to meet this credit requirement leads to suspension of the scholarship. Working excessively at the expense of your studies puts your scholarship at risk.