Total Study Costs

Complete guide based on “What are the total costs of studying and living in Romania?”. Figures reproduced from the PDF are planning estimates, not guaranteed current quotes. Previously checked official guidance is noted where it differs.

If you’re comparing study abroad destinations in Europe, Romania can look refreshingly affordable. In many cases, it is. But tuition rarely tells you what you’ll actually spend.

The real cost of studying and living in Romania includes university fees, accommodation, food, utilities, transport, medical insurance and, for some international students, visa and residence costs. Your budget will also change depending on where you live and whether you choose a dormitory, shared flat or private apartment.

So before deciding Romania is “cheap,” build the full picture.

How much are tuition fees in Romania for international students?

Romania’s official Study in Romania portal says tuition fees range from around €400 to almost €9,000 per year, depending on the field of study and whether the student is from the EU or outside the EU.

That range is wide for a reason. The PDF gives programme-listing examples of annual non-EU tuition of €1,980 for Finance and Banking at West University of Timișoara, and €2,500 per year for an English-taught Political Science bachelor’s at the University of Bucharest. These examples are reproduced from the PDF; confirm the fee for your intake with the university.

EU students are admitted under the same general tuition conditions as Romanian students and may compete for state-funded places if they meet the required academic threshold.

If you’re choosing a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, or study abroad programme, check the exact programme rather than relying on a national average. Medicine, engineering, business and humanities may have very different fees. The same applies to classes in English and other foreign-language programmes.

The practical rule is simple: compare programme costs, not country averages.

How much does student accommodation cost in Romania?

Housing is where many student budgets either hold together or quietly fall apart. The official Study in Romania accommodation guide puts university dormitories at roughly €80-€300 per month, depending on the institution, city, and type of accommodation.

For students looking at private housing, the newer official living-cost guide says a room in a shared apartment can cost under €250 per month, while a whole apartment in major university cities may cost roughly €400-€650 per month.

If you rent privately, remember the upfront cost too. Study in Romania says landlords will typically request a security deposit of around one month’s rent.

For an international student trying to control study abroad programme costs, choosing a dorm or flat-share rather than living alone can make a substantial difference over ten or twelve months.

What should you budget for living costs in Romania?

The Study in Romania cost guide cited by the PDF gives the following monthly estimates:

• Food: €150-€400.
• Gas and electricity: €80-€150.
• Phone and internet: €20-€60.
• Medical insurance: from around €40.
• Local public transport: €20-€60 before eligible student discounts.
• Entertainment: around €100-€200.

The same government-backed portal also publishes an approximate overall living-cost figure of €600 per month, although its newer category-by-category estimates show why actual spending can vary significantly.

That difference is worth noticing. Cost guides are planning tools, not promises.

A student living in a university dorm and cooking most meals may stay close to the lower end. Someone renting a private apartment in Bucharest or Cluj-Napoca, eating out regularly and travelling frequently, will spend much more.

Is Romania cheaper than other EU countries for international students?

Romania can be one of the more affordable study abroad destinations in the EU, particularly when tuition and living costs are considered together. But it isn’t automatically the cheapest option for every student.

The following comparison preserves the figures and qualifications in the PDF. These national guides use different assumptions and dates; confirm current fees and city-specific living costs before making a decision.

• Romania: Tuition can range from around €400 to almost €9,000 per year, while the official national study portal gives an indicative overall living-cost figure of around €600 per month. Romania can be particularly attractive when students secure university housing and choose programmes at the lower end of the tuition range.
• Poland: Tuition for many fee-paying international students is generally around €2,000-€6,000 per year, while official estimates put student living costs at roughly €330-€430 per month. This makes Poland a close competitor to Romania for students focused on affordability.
• Germany: Many public universities charge no tuition for bachelor’s and many master’s programmes, although students usually pay a semester contribution. The PDF uses about €300 per semester and around €990 per month in living costs. In the official DAAD guidance checked for this website, contributions range from €70-€430 per semester and living costs from €900-€1,200 per month; tuition exceptions apply. Lower tuition does not always mean a lower total annual budget.
• France: At public institutions, qualifying EU/EEA/Swiss students pay €178 per year for a bachelor’s degree and €255 for a master’s degree in 2026-2027. For many non-EU students, public-university tuition is higher. The PDF cites Campus France’s recommendation of around €600-€800 per month for accommodation, food, and transport, with higher costs possible in Paris; confirm a current city-specific budget.
• The Netherlands: For qualifying EU/EEA students, the statutory tuition fee for 2026-2027 is €2,694 per year. Non-EU students typically face much higher tuition, with average bachelor’s fees of €9,000-€20,000 per year and master’s fees of €12,000-€30,000. The PDF gives living costs of around €1,000-€1,500 per month; confirm current housing and daily expenses.

Romania’s advantage is often the combination of moderate tuition and comparatively manageable living costs. Germany or France may offer lower public-university tuition for certain students, while Poland can compete closely on day-to-day expenses. The Netherlands generally requires a significantly larger budget, especially for non-EU students.

Cost should still be only one part of the decision. Compare the language of instruction, programme quality, university reputation, scholarship options, visa conditions and graduate career prospects alongside the numbers.

Don’t forget Romania student visa and arrival costs

For many non-EU students, a Romania student visa is part of the financial equation from the beginning.

Romania’s General Inspectorate for Immigration lists the long-stay visa fee at €300. Applicants also need to meet immigration requirements relating to matters such as tuition payment, financial means, accommodation, and medical insurance, depending on their circumstances. Exemptions can apply; confirm the requirements for your application with IGI or the Romanian diplomatic mission.

After arrival, students who require a residence permit must complete the relevant residence process. Immigration requirements can change, so always verify the current rules with Romania’s General Inspectorate for Immigration or the Romanian diplomatic mission handling your application.

And leave space in your budget for the less glamorous expenses: flights, certified translations, document authentication, application fees, rental deposits and the first supermarket trip after moving into an empty room. They add up.

Can scholarships make studying in Romania cheaper?

Potentially, yes. Romania’s MFA scholarship programme for eligible non-EU citizens covers tuition fees, provides monthly financial aid, and finances student-dormitory accommodation within the available subsidy and subject to available places.

Scholarship deadlines will not necessarily be the same in future years, which is why scholarship planning should start early. The official 2026 application window ran from 16 February to 31 March 2026 and is closed; check the official platform for a future intake.

Students should also check university-specific scholarships and financial aid, as eligibility may depend on nationality, academic performance, programme, and study level.

The MFA scheme excludes medicine, dental medicine and pharmacy. Bachelor’s and master’s studies under the scheme are in Romanian; a preparatory language year may be granted. PhD study can allow a foreign language determined by the doctoral school.

One caution: never build your financial plan around a scholarship you haven’t yet secured.

So, what is the total cost of studying and living in Romania?

There isn’t one honest number, and that’s actually the most useful answer. Think of university selection as an investment decision. Your real budget should include:

Annual tuition + 10-12 months of living expenses + accommodation deposits + visa/residence costs + travel and setup expenses + an emergency buffer.

Include rent in your monthly living budget once, and keep deposits and other upfront expenses separate.

Romania can offer a competitive study abroad budget, particularly for international students who secure university accommodation and choose their programme carefully. But Poland may compete closely on living costs, Germany can offer lower tuition at many public universities, France heavily subsidises certain public degrees, and the Netherlands generally requires a much larger budget.

What matters more is the combination: cost, programme quality, language of instruction, scholarship eligibility, university reputation, visa conditions and career prospects after graduation.

Before applying, shortlist at least three universities and calculate the full first-year cost for each one.

Planning to study in Romania? Compare your programme fees, housing options, scholarship eligibility, and visa requirements before you apply, and build your budget around the total cost rather than just the tuition fee advertised on the university website.

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Official sources: Romanian tuition · Living costs · Accommodation · Polish tuition · Polish living costs · Germany · France · Dutch tuition · IGI · MFA scholarships.