Key dates
Official dates for the 2027–2028 cycle have not yet been published. The following are expected windows based on the programme's recurring annual pattern — confirm exact dates on the official portal once the call opens.
The application, step by step
Before anything else: get your passport
The application requires uploaded copies of your passport (biographical pages 1–3). If your passport is expired, not yet issued, or processing, you cannot submit a complete application. If your country has slow passport processing, start this months in advance. An expired or missing passport is one of the most common reasons for automatic disqualification.
If applying for PhD: secure a supervisor first
PhD applicants must upload a written agreement from a doctoral tutor who is a member of their chosen Romanian doctoral school. This letter must be obtained before submission — the portal does not offer a way to add it later. The MFA provides no matchmaking help. You need to identify a professor whose research aligns with yours, email them directly (in English is fine), explain your research proposal, and get a signed agreement. Plan for this to take 2–8 weeks. Start in December or early January at the latest.
Prepare and apostille your documents
All academic documents (diplomas and transcripts) must be apostilled or legalized before submission. This takes time and varies by country:
- Hague Convention countries: Apostille from the competent authority in the country that issued the document (usually the Ministry of Education or a notary). This is relatively straightforward but takes days to weeks.
- Non-Hague countries: Multi-step legalization — documents are authenticated by your home Ministry of Foreign Affairs, then by the Romanian embassy in your country, and sometimes further by the Romanian MFA after arrival. This process takes weeks to months. Research your country's specific requirements early.
- Translations: Apostilled documents in languages other than English, French, Spanish, or Romanian must also be translated by an authorized (sworn) translator. Machine translation is not accepted. Budget €20–60 per document page depending on your country.
Get your medical certificate (within 30 days of submission)
The medical certificate confirming no contagious disease must be issued within one month of the date you submit your application. Do not get it in December and submit in March — it will be out of the valid window. Schedule this for the last 2–3 weeks before you plan to submit, but allow time to get it translated if needed.
Register on the scholarship portal and complete the form
The portal is expected to open in mid-February 2027 (exact date to be confirmed — official dates not yet published). Create your account at scholarships.studyinromania.gov.ro and fill in your personal and academic information. Key points:
- Only one application per cycle. You cannot submit two or make changes after submission.
- Select two universities in order of preference from the portal's searchable list of accredited public universities. Research both carefully — you cannot revise this choice.
- All documents must be uploaded as PDF files. Prepare them before logging into the portal — there's no "save and return" safety net if you lose your session mid-upload.
- Double-check everything before hitting submit. Incomplete applications are automatically disqualified, and no documents can be added after the March 31 deadline.
Wait for results and check your portal account
Results are posted directly in your scholarship portal account. You will (usually) also receive an email notification, but portal accounts should be checked directly. Log in at least weekly from July onwards. If selected, you must confirm your acceptance through the portal.
If you're selected: what happens next
You will be given a deadline to confirm. Missing the confirmation window means losing your place. The scholarship cannot be deferred to the following year.
Reach out to the international office at your assigned university about enrollment procedures, dormitory availability, and any pre-arrival requirements. Do this as soon as you confirm acceptance — dorm rooms go quickly.
After the MFA awards the scholarship, the Ministry of Education issues a formal Letter of Acceptance for you. This letter is required for the visa application.
Apply at the Romanian embassy or consulate in your home country. Scholarship holders are exempt from: the consular fee, proving financial means, and certain other standard requirements. The visa process itself typically takes 2–4 weeks, but embassy appointment availability varies widely by country. Book your appointment as soon as you have the Letter of Acceptance.
After arriving, you must apply for a temporary residence permit at the regional Immigration Inspectorate (IGI) within 30 days before your student visa expires. See the IGI official studies page for current procedures. The residence permit covers your full study duration and is renewed before expiry at no cost to scholarship holders.
How selection works (and what nobody tells you)
The official minimum requirement is a 7/10 academic average. Beyond that, the MFA does not publish the specific criteria used to rank and select candidates. There is no public information on whether GPA is the primary factor, whether certain nationalities or fields are prioritized, or whether there are country-level quotas. This is a genuine information gap, and applicants who expect a transparent scoring rubric will not find one.
What is known from historical patterns: the programme awards approximately 85 scholarships per year across all levels and countries. Applications have increased significantly in recent cycles — the 2025–2026 round attracted enough applicants that official results were delayed. Competition is real, and a 7/10 average is the floor, not the competitive benchmark.
There is no interview for bachelor's and master's applicants. PhD applicants do need to pass an admission interview at the doctoral school — the details of this are determined by the doctoral school itself, not the MFA.