Study in Romania for Tunisians: scholarship, admission and visa

Study in Romania for Tunisians: where to start

Studying in Romania is still a little-known option for Tunisians, even though the country is an EU member and, since 1 January 2025, a full member of the Schengen Area. The Romanian state publishes its own admission procedures for non-EU students on the official Study in Romania portal.

This guide sums up what we checked on official pages on 23 October 2026. Where something is not officially published, we mark it "to be confirmed".

Opporiva is a free information service. We never apply on your behalf, and we cannot guarantee admission, a scholarship or a visa.

Source: Study in Romania — Study visa rules and procedures · checked 23 Oct 2026

Two routes: the Romanian state scholarship or direct admission

A Tunisian student has two main ways in.

• The Romanian Government scholarship, awarded every year by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) together with the Ministry of Education and Research through a file-based competition. It covers tuition and pays a monthly allowance, but bachelor's and master's studies must be in Romanian.
• Direct admission to a Romanian university at your own expense. You choose a programme (including in English or French where the university offers one), apply to the university, and the Ministry of Education then issues a letter of acceptance.

Both routes lead to the same long-stay study visa, and you can prepare the scholarship while shortlisting fee-paying programmes as a plan B.

Source: Study in Romania — Admission procedures for EU and non-EU students · checked 23 Oct 2026

Romanian Government scholarship: who can apply?

According to the official programme page, the scholarship is open to citizens of all non-EU countries, with a few exceptions (people of Romanian origin covered by other schemes, people who have requested or obtained protection in Romania, diplomatic staff accredited to Romania and their families, people who already hold a Romanian scholarship for the same cycle, and others). Tunisia is not named, but because the call is open to all non-EU countries, Tunisians are eligible in principle.

Published conditions:

• an average over the years of the last completed level of study of at least 7 out of 10 (Romanian scale), or a "Good" grade where grades are given as descriptors; how a Tunisian average out of 20 converts is not stated: to be confirmed;
• a complete file, submitted on time and following the official method;
• diplomas issued by institutions recognised in their country.

The programme does not fund medicine, dental medicine or pharmacy. The official FAQ states there is no age limit.

On language, bachelor's and master's studies are taught only in Romanian. Students who do not speak Romanian first take a Romanian-language preparatory year, funded by the scholarship. At PhD level you can choose Romanian or a foreign language set by the doctoral school, and you must obtain a supervisor's written agreement before applying, then pass the admission interview.

The scholarship includes a waiver of registration and exam fees, tuition funding (preparatory year, then the study cycle), a monthly allowance and accommodation costs in student halls, covered within the allocated subsidy and subject to available places. The amount, set by government decision and paid in lei according to the Study in Romania portal, is not stated on the pages we checked: to be confirmed. International travel is not covered. The programme page leaves the visa steps and costs to the scholarship holder, while the IGI says Romanian State scholarship holders are exempt from consular fees and the residence permit fee: to be confirmed with the Romanian mission.

Source: Study in Romania — Romanian Government (MFA) scholarships: programme information · checked 23 Oct 2026

Scholarship timeline and application file

The latest published round (2026) ran online from 16 February to 31 March 2026, with results sent by email around 15 July 2026. The timeline for the next round, for the 2027 intake, had not been published as of 23 October 2026: to be confirmed. The 2026 round opened in mid-February, so preparing your file now leaves you ready if the next one opens at a similar time, but only the official dates count.

Applications go only through the official platform (scholarships.studyinromania.gov.ro), available in English and French. Files sent by email or handed in at a ministry or embassy are not considered.

Required documents:

• copies of diplomas (baccalaureate, then bachelor's or master's where relevant) with a certified translation into English, French, Spanish or Romanian if needed;
• transcripts, with a certified translation if needed;
• birth certificate, with a certified translation if needed;
• the first three pages of a valid passport;
• a CV in English, French or Romanian;
• for a PhD: a letter of intent, list of publications, detailed research proposal and the supervisor's agreement;
• depending on your situation: a certificate of passing if the diploma has not been issued yet, notarised parental consent if you are under 18, proof of a change of name.

Study documents must be apostilled or authenticated by the authorities of the issuing country. Tunisia is a party to the Hague Apostille Convention (in force for Tunisia since 30 March 2018 according to the HCCH, and Romania did not object to its accession). Each document is scanned separately as a PDF.

Source: Study in Romania — Romanian Government (MFA) scholarships: programme information · checked 23 Oct 2026

Direct admission to a Romanian university (without a scholarship)

If you fund your own studies, the official procedure for non-EU students follows these steps:

• choose a programme and a university on the Study in Romania portal;
• prepare a digital file: passport, birth certificate, diploma (baccalaureate, or bachelor's for a master's), transcripts, medical certificate, proof of permanent address abroad or national ID, and a language certificate if the programme requires one (a Romanian-taught programme requires a Romanian language certificate);
• have documents translated into Romanian, English or French by a certified translator, and apostilled;
• apply to the university, usually online, and sit an admission exam if required;
• after a positive decision by the university, the file goes to the Ministry of Education and Research, which typically takes about 30 working days;
• confirm your place, pay tuition if applicable, and receive the letter of acceptance.

The letter is valid only for the institution concerned, for the stated cycle, starting from the stated academic year. You need it for the visa.

Tuition fees for non-EU students are not listed on the pages we checked: to be confirmed directly with each university. The fee range shown on the portal is for EU citizens. Deadlines also depend on each university: to be confirmed.

Source: Study in Romania — Admission procedures for EU and non-EU students · checked 23 Oct 2026

Study visa and residence permit in Romania

Tunisians coming for a multi-year degree need a long-stay (type D) study visa. You fill in the application online on the Romanian MFA's e-Visa portal and then lodge it at an appointment with the Romanian diplomatic or consular mission responsible for your country of residence (list on mae.ro). Note that, according to the official portal, this visa lets you enter Romania only; it does not give you the right to travel or reside in other Schengen or EU countries.

Documents listed by the official portal (admission procedures page):

• two recent 3 x 4 cm colour photos and a passport valid for at least 3 months beyond the visa and issued within the last 10 years;
• the letter of acceptance for studies;
• for non-scholarship students: proof of tuition payment (for at least one year, according to the IGI) and proof of means of support for the whole visa period;
• a criminal record certificate;
• medical insurance covering the visa period;
• proof of accommodation;
• a language certificate if the programme requires one; the IGI also asks for parental consent for a minor.

According to the General Inspectorate for Immigration (IGI), the required means of support are at least the national minimum gross wage for each month covered by the visa; the amount in lei at the time you apply is to be confirmed. The travel insurance must provide at least EUR 30,000 of cover. The visa fee amount is to be confirmed with the Romanian mission.

Once in Romania, since the visa is limited to 90 days, you apply to the IGI for a residence permit for studies at least 30 days before the visa expires. In major university cities (Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, Iași, Timișoara and others), online appointments are mandatory.

Source: Study in Romania — Study visa rules and procedures · checked 23 Oct 2026

Can you work while studying in Romania?

Yes, within limits. According to the official portal, a non-EU student holding a residence permit for studies can work up to 6 hours a day without a separate work permit; the IGI specifies an individual part-time employment contract. Beyond that, you need a work permit. Another page of the portal mentions one even for part-time work, so check with the IGI before signing a contract.

After graduation, the IGI says the right of residence for studies can be extended by 9 months to look for a job or start a business.

Do not count on a student job for your visa file: proof of means is required before you leave.

Source: Study in Romania — Working in Romania as a student · checked 23 Oct 2026

Our advice for preparing your plan

• Choose your route early: if you are aiming for the scholarship, start learning Romanian in advance even though a preparatory year is planned; if you are aiming for a fee-paying programme in English or French, compare fees and degree recognition.
• Start certified translations and apostilles several weeks before applications open.
• Be wary of intermediaries who promise admission or a visa for a fee: you apply for the scholarship directly on the official platform, and the programme pages mention no application fee.
• If your Tunisian university has exchange agreements with Romanian universities, ask its international relations office about a mobility semester. For a mobility longer than 90 days (Erasmus+, for example), the official portal points to a long-stay visa for other purposes (D/AS), not the study visa.
• Check every date and amount on the official page right before you apply.

Source: Opporiva editorial team · checked 23 Oct 2026