Types of Higher Education Institutions 

1 : Universitate : University


2 : Academie : Academy


3 : Colegiu : College

top Pre-Higher Education System

Age of 

entry:6

exit:17

Structure of School System 

Primary : Şcoala Primară (Grades 0 to IV)

Length of program:5

Age level from:6

Age level to:11


Lower Secondary : Gimnaziu (Grades V to VIII)

Length of program:4

Age level from:11

Age level to:15

Certificate/Diploma awarded at end:Certificat de promovare a testelor nationale or, under the Law no.1 /2011, diploma de absolvire which includes Portofoliu personal pentru educatie permanenta


Middle Secondary : High School / Liceu (Grades IX to X)

Length of program:2

Age level from:15

Age level to:17


Senior Secondary : High School / Liceu (Grades XI to XII)

Length of program:2

Age level from:17

Age level to:19

Certificate/Diploma awarded at end:Diploma de Bacalaureat/Atestat (theoritical) or Certificat (vocational) de competente profesionale


Vocational : Liceu de Specialitate (sport & theology/ technology/ military/ public security/ arts/ pedagogy)

Length of program:4

Age level from:15

Age level to:19

Certificate/Diploma awarded at end:Diploma de Bacalaureat + Certificat de competente profesionale


Specialized Tech./Voc. : Scoala Profesionala, SAM (arts and crafts schools)

Length of program:2

Age level from:15

Age level to:17

Certificate/Diploma awarded at end:Certificat de calificare profesionala, nivel I/Portofoliu personal pentru educatie permanenta


Specialized Tech./Voc. : Scoala Post-Liceala

Length of program:3

Age level from:19

Age level to:22

Certificate/Diploma awarded at end:Certificat de competente profesionale

Description of School System 

Compulsory education goes up to grade 10.
Early education (from year 0 to 6) is composed of ante-preschool (from year 0 to 3 year) and preschool (from year 3 to 6).
Children who reach age 6 at the start of the school year enter primary education and the first year is a preparatory year; this is then followed by four years (Grades 1 to 4).
Secondary education is then split into three sections:
1) Four years of lower secondary education, grades 5 to 8;
2) A further two years of compulsory education, grades 9 to 10;
3) An optional two years of secondary education, or the ‘ciclul superior al liceului’ which includes grades 11 to 12 (or an extra year for those taking evening classes).
Both upper cycles of secondary education look at three strands: theoretical, vocational and technological. At the end of the senior secondary cycle, the Bacalaureat diploma is awarded and this is needed to access higher education.
Professional and vocational training can last between 6 months and 3 years and students may enter after either lower secondary or after.

top Higher Education System

Structure 

Higher education in Romania is offered in both public and private higher education institutions. These include universities, academies and colleges organized in specialized departments. In accordance with its objectives, university education comprises: short term higher education offered by university colleges (3 years), long term higher education (4 to 6 years); postgraduate higher education (1 to 2 years) and doctoral studies. Public and private accredited higher education institutions are coordinated by the Ministry of National Education. University autonomy is fully guaranteed. Private higher education is an alternative to public education. It is subject to an accreditation process. Accredited private institutions may obtain state support. Since 2004, the Bologna process has been implemented in Romania.

Laws/Decrees 

Government Decision no. 143 (2013)

Description:Concerns the name of qualifications and titles granted to the graduates of university studies enrolled in the academic years 2008-2009, 2009-2010, 2010-2011


Law no. 1/2011 (2011)

Description:National Education (abrogates the following laws: 84/1995, 128/1997, and the Government Ordinance 10/2009)


Government Decision no. 1175/2006 (2006)

Description:New structure of the first cycle of studies (Bachelor's degree)


Government Decision no. 1424/2006 (2006)

Description:Organization of integrated university study programmes by two and more universities leading to a joint degree


Law 87/2006 approving The Government Emergency Ordinance no. 75/2005 (2006)

Description:Quality assurance in education


Government Decision no. 404/2006 (2006)

Description:Organization of the Master's degree


Government Decision no. 88/2005 (2005)

Description:Licenta studies (first cycle)


Government Decision no. 1169/29.09.2005 modifying Government Decision no. 567/2005 (2005)

Description:Doctoral studies


Government Decision no. 1357/2005 (2005)

Description:National Agency for Qualifications in Higher Education and Partnership between Universities and the Socio-Economic Environment (ACPART)


Law no. 288/2004 (2004)

Description:Implementation of the Bologna Process


Law no. 287/2004 (2004)

Description:University Consortium

Languages of Instruction 

Romanian, English, French, Hungarian, German

Stages of Higher Education 

University level first stage : Diploma de Licenta; Diploma de Inginer; Diploma de urbanist, Diploma de arhitect

Description:The first stage of university-level study comprises short-term (3 years) or long-term degrees (4 to 6 years, according to the field of study).


University level second stage : Diploma de Master; Certificat de atestare a competentelor profesionale

Description:The second stage is composed of diplomas awarded after one to two years of studies which may include research work.


University level third stage : Diploma de Doctor

Description:The Doctorate is the highest postgraduate stage of specialization and lasts for 3 years and there are both scientific and professional Doctorates. Extra-mural courses can also be offered in main foreign languages. Candidates who have passed the examination for the Doctor's degree are awarded the Diploma de Doctor în Stiinţe.


University level fourth stage : Atestat de studii postdoctorale

Description:The second stage is composed of diplomas awarded after one to two years of studies which may include research work.

Training of HE Teachers 

Higher education teachers (asistent, lector/sef de lucrari, conferentiar, profesor) are appointed on a competitive basis from among graduates of higher education institutions who have demonstrated outstanding teaching and research qualities. Possession of a Doctorate is compulsory for all higher education teachers. Teaching staff must hold a Graduate certificate of the Teaching Staff Training Department (Departamentul pentru formarea profesionala a personalului didacdic).

Distance Higher Education 

A National Centre for Open Distance Education has been created in all universities.

Education Exchange Programs 

CEEPUS

Lifelong Learning

TEMPUS

ERASMUS MUNDUS

top Bodies

Governing bodies and other organizations / associations 

Ministerul Educatiei

Role:Management of the national system of education and research (cf. Government Decision no. 223/2005 on the organization and functioning of the Ministry).

Street:Str. Gen. Berthelot 28-30 Sector 1

City:Bucharest

PostCode:010168

www:http://www.edu.ro

Contacts:- Sorin Mihai Cîmpeanu (Head), Job title : Minister
- Gigel Paraschiv (Senior Administrative Officer), Job title : Secretary of State for Higher Education


Agenţia Română de Asigurare a Calităţii în Învăţământul Superior - ARACIS

Role:ARACIS, in the in the field of accreditation, has the following tasks: a) to regularly develop methodology and standards of accreditation for programmes and higher education providers to be approved by the Ministry; b) to assess, upon request or on its own initiative, higher education providers and their programmes, allowing the Ministry to develop legislative provision for the establishment of higher education institutions. In the field of quality assurance, ARACIS has, among others, the following tasks: a) to develop and regularly review national standards and performance indicators to assess and ensure higher education quality; b) to cooperate with the Ministry and ARACIP (the Romanian Agency for Quality Assurance in Pre-University Education) to develop policies and actions to improve higher education quality in Romania; c) to organize consultations with HEIs in order to lay down priorities in the field of quality assurance; d) to develop its own procedures for external quality assessment; e) to conclude agreements for the provision of external quality assessment; f) to cooperate with other similar foreign agencies to develop and implement effective measures to improve higher education quality, etc.

Street:Str. Spiru Haret nr. 12

City:Bucuresti

PostCode:010176

www:http://www.aracis.ro

Contacts:- Iordan Petrescu (Head), Job title : President
- Dorian Cojocaru (Senior Administrative Officer), Job title : Secretary-General


IAU MemberConsiliul Naţional al Rectorilor - CNR

Street:B-dul Mărăşti 59

City:Bucharest

PostCode:011464

Tel:+40(749) 108 315

www:http://www.cnr-romania.ro

Contacts:Mihnea Cosmin Costoiu (Senior Administrative Officer), Job title : Secretary-General

Bodies Responsible for Recognition 

Centrul Naţional de Echivalare şi Recunoaştere a Diplomelor

Recognition for institution:yes

Recognition for profession:yes

Street:Str. Spiru Haret, nr. 12, Sector 1

City:Bucharest

PostCode:010176

www:http://www.cnred.edu.ro

Contacts:- Gianina Chirazi (Head), Job title : Director
- Adrian Iordache (Senior Administrative Officer), Job title : Head of Service

Bodies Responsible for Financial Aid 

Ministerul Educatiei

Grants:no

Loans:no

Street:Str. Gen. Berthelot 28-30 Sector 1

City:Bucharest

PostCode:010168

www:http://www.edu.ro

Bodies Responsible for International Cooperation 

Ministerul Educatiei

Street:Str. Gen. Berthelot 28-30 Sector 1

City:Bucharest

PostCode:010168

www:http://www.edu.ro

top Admission to Higher Education

Secondary School Credentials Required for Non-University Level Admission 

Diplomă de Bacalaureat

Requirement for:All post-secondary schools

Secondary School Credentials Required for University Level Admission 

Diplomă de Bacalaureat

Minimum mark:6

Requirement for:University

Admission Test 

Some institutions may require an admission test / entrance examination.

Foreign Students Admission 

Application to Central Body:Yes

top Recognition of Studies

System of Recognition 

All accredited courses of studies and credentials obtained from a public or private higher education institution are recognized by the State. The National Centre for Equivalence and Recognition of Diplomas is the body responsible for recognizing credentials awarded by overseas bodies and institutions.

Special Provisions for Recognition 

For Access to University Level Studies:For recognition purposes, the following data are taken into consideration: ECTS, level of the diploma, diploma supplement, curriculum.

Multilateral Agreements 

Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education in the European Region - CETS 165 (1999)

Global Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education. Paris, 25 November 2019 (2021)

top Student Life

Social Security/Health Insurance for Home Students 

Is there social security:Yes

Social Security/Health Insurance for Foreign Students 

Is there social security:Yes

Special Travel Concessions 

By Road:Yes

By Rail:Yes

By Air:No

Available to Foreign Students:No

top Credentials

 

Certificat de calificare

Description:High school graduates can take a certification exam qualification, apart from the baccalaureate exam. High school graduates who have acquired formal education, non-formal or informal professional skills can take the certification exam qualification to gain a qualification certificate and descriptive supplement to the Europass certificate format.

Type of institution where credential is offered:Colegiu (College)


Diploma de absolvire a 9 clase

Description:Lower secondary education leaving Diploma awarded after completing a 5-9 programme and successfully passing the Compulsory National Evaluation.


Diplomă de Bacalaureat

Description:Secondary school leaving Diploma awarded after completing a 12 or 13-year programme (evening school) and successfully passing the Examen de Bacalaureat.


Certificat de calificare profesionala

Description:Post-secondary vocational education lasts for 1-3 years, depending on the complexity of the qualification and leads to the award of the Certificat de calificare profesionala.


Diploma de Licenţă

Description:Bologna system: Diploma awarded after 3 years of study and the completion of 180 ECTS, with some exceptions: - Diploma de inginer - 240 ECTS; - Diploma de architect - 360 ECTS; - Diploma de urbanist - 240 ECTS; - 6 years of study for the Bachelor's degree in Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary Medicine - 360 ECTS; - 5 years of study for the Bachelor's degree in Pharmacy - 300 ECTS; - 4 years of study for the Bachelor's degree in general care and midwifery - 240 ECTS.

Credential required for entry:Diplomă de Bacalaureat

Type of institution where credential is offered:Universitate (University)


Diploma de Urbanist

Description:Bologna system: Diploma awarded after 4 years of study and the completion of 240 ECTS for the field of studies of Urban planner

Type of institution where credential is offered:Universitate (University)


Certificat de atestare a competentelor profesionale

Description:Postgraduate university programme ending with a professional skills certification exam.

Credential required for entry:Diploma de Licenţă

Type of institution where credential is offered:Universitate (University)
Academie (Academy)


Diplomă de Master

Description:Second cycle of study in accordance with the Bologna Process (implemented in Romania by Law no. 288/2004). Holders of the Diplomă de Licenţă may continue their training by taking a one to two-year (60-120 ECTS) master programme depending on the field of study.

Entrance exam test at National level:no

Entrance exam test at Institution level:yes

Credential required for entry:Diploma de Licenţă

Type of institution where credential is offered:Universitate (University)
Academie (Academy)


Diplomă de Doctor

Description:Highest degree awarded. Two types of PhD are available: scientific, and professional.

Entrance exam test at Institution level:yes

Credential required for entry:Diploma de Licenţă
Diplomă de Master


Atestat de studii postdoctorale

Description:Postdoctoral programmes are for people who have obtained a Doctorate at most 5 years prior to admission to the postdoctoral programme and want to improve their knowledge at another institution than the one where they obtained their Doctorate. Postdoctoral studies last for one year.

Credential required for entry:Diplomă de Doctor

top Data Provided by

AcademicYear 

From:2019

To:2020

Source 

IAU from the website of the Ministy of Education and Research, May 2020. Bodies updated November 2021.

Updated on 14-05-2020