Frequently Asked Questions

The official scholarship FAQ states there is no age limit. Multiple scholarship aggregator websites claim a cap of 35 years for bachelor's/master's and 45 years for PhD, but this information is outdated and contradicted by the official portal. There is no age restriction in the current programme rules. If you encounter a source claiming otherwise, it is not accurate for the current cycle.

It depends on the specifics of your ancestry. Persons of Romanian ethnic origin (ethnic Romanians or members of "historical Romanian communities") are explicitly excluded from the MFA scholarship. They are directed to a separate, dedicated scholarship programme. If you are from Moldova, Ukraine's Bucovina region, Serbia, or similar areas with historical Romanian communities, check whether this exclusion applies to you before applying to the MFA programme.

Yes. The exclusion is citizenship-based, not residence-based. A Pakistani citizen living in Germany is eligible. A German citizen living in Pakistan is not. What matters is the citizenship on your passport, not where you currently live.

No. Medicine, Dental Medicine, and Pharmacy are explicitly excluded from this scholarship at all levels — bachelor's, master's, and PhD. If you want to study these fields in Romania, you would need to apply and pay tuition through the standard international student admission process.

No Romanian is required to apply or win the scholarship. If you don't speak Romanian, you'll be enrolled in a free one-year preparatory language course before your degree programme begins. The preparatory year is fully covered — tuition, stipend, and dormitory (subject to availability) all apply during that year.

No. Bachelor's and master's programmes under this scholarship are taught in Romanian only. Some Romanian universities do offer English-medium programmes for paying international students, but those are separate from the MFA scholarship track. Under this scholarship, you will study in Romanian — either after the preparatory year or directly if you already have the language skills.

It depends on the specific doctoral school. PhD programmes under this scholarship can be conducted in Romanian or another language (typically English), but only if the doctoral school has approved that language for its programmes. This varies by institution, department, and supervisor. Confirm with the doctoral school directly before applying — and ideally, have a supervisor who works in English if that is your preference.

The official materials don't address this, but the experience varies widely. Romanian is a Romance language, which makes it significantly easier to learn for speakers of French, Spanish, Italian, or Portuguese. For speakers of Arabic, Chinese, Urdu, or other non-Latin-script languages, one year is achievable but requires consistent, intensive effort. Students who treat the preparatory year seriously — attending all classes, practicing outside class — generally reach functional proficiency. Those who don't often struggle in their first year of the degree. There is no official pass/fail data published.

No. Once submitted, the application is locked. No documents can be added after the March 31 deadline. Applications with missing or incomplete documentation are automatically disqualified with no appeal. Review everything carefully before clicking submit.

You select two Romanian public universities in order of preference within a single application. You cannot submit two separate applications. The MFA uses your ordered preferences when assigning you to a university.

The MFA does not publish a detailed selection rubric. The 7/10 minimum is stated clearly, but the weighting of GPA, field of study, nationality, or other factors is not disclosed. This is a genuine information gap. Based on what's known, the programme is competitive — approximately 85 awards per year across all countries and levels. A 7/10 is the minimum requirement, not a competitive benchmark.

The MFA provides no assistance with this. You need to independently search the websites of Romanian universities' doctoral schools in your field, identify faculty whose research aligns with yours, and contact them by email. A specific, targeted email with a clear description of your research proposal works best. Plan 6–8 weeks for this process — professors may be slow to respond, and you may need to contact several before finding someone willing to take you on. Do not start this in February.

No, not by itself. The €65/month stipend covers approximately 10–15% of realistic monthly living costs in Romania. Even in the most affordable cities, you need €300–400/month to cover food, transport, and basic personal expenses. Students typically supplement the stipend through part-time work (up to 4 hours/day without a work permit) or personal savings. Budget for the full monthly cost — not just the parts the scholarship covers.

No. Dormitory is included in the scholarship "subject to availability." Some universities consistently have dorm space for scholarship students; others frequently cannot provide it. There is no central data on which universities have better availability. Contact your assigned university's international office as soon as you confirm acceptance to ask about dormitory. If unavailable, private rooms start at around €100/month in cheaper cities and €200–400/month in Bucharest and Cluj-Napoca.

Yes. Romanian law allows foreign students — including scholarship holders — to work up to 4 hours per day without requiring a separate work permit. This is in addition to your student residence permit. Income from part-time work typically ranges €100–300/month. Be mindful that failing to maintain 60 academic credits per year results in scholarship suspension, so balance work commitments accordingly.

Students under 26 are typically covered through the university's student health insurance arrangement with Romania's national health system. Students aged 26 and older must pay a small monthly health insurance contribution — approximately €15–30/month — to access the same system. This cost is not mentioned on the official scholarship page but is a real expense to plan for.

Results are expected around mid-July 2027 for the 2027–2028 cycle (exact date to be confirmed — official dates not yet published). For reference, results have been officially delayed in multiple recent cycles (2023–2024 and 2025–2026) due to high application volumes. Late July or even early August is a realistic expectation. Results are posted in your scholarship portal account — not only by email. Check your account directly from mid-July onwards rather than waiting for an email notification.

No. The scholarship cannot be deferred to the following academic year. If you are selected but cannot attend for any reason, you forfeit the award for that cycle and would need to apply again the following year.

After the MFA awards the scholarship, the Ministry of Education issues a Letter of Acceptance. You take this letter to the Romanian embassy or consulate in your home country to apply for a Type D (long-stay student) visa. As a scholarship holder, you are exempt from the consular fee and from proving financial means. The visa itself typically takes 2–4 weeks to process, but embassy appointment availability varies widely — book your appointment as early as possible after results come out. Given that results often come in late July and the academic year starts in October, the timeline is tight.

The scholarship is effectively renewed for each academic year of the programme, conditional on academic performance. You must earn a minimum of 60 academic credits per year to maintain it. Failing to meet this requirement leads to scholarship suspension. The scholarship is not renewed if you violate Romanian law or your university's regulations.

No, not for up to 4 hours per day. Romanian law allows foreign students to work a maximum of 4 hours per day without a separate work permit. Your student residence permit is sufficient. Working more than 4 hours per day requires a separate work authorization from the employer and authorities — a significantly more complicated process.