Medicine in Romania in French or English: admission and costs

Romania is one of the few European destinations where you can study medicine in French, and one of the most affordable for a medicine programme in English. A European degree, moderate fees, a low cost of living: it is a serious option for Tunisian baccalaureate holders who want to become doctors, dentists or pharmacists. Here is how medicine in Romania works: admission, costs and recognition.

Why study medicine in Romania?

• A European degree of Doctor of Medicine, after 6 years of study.

• Programmes in French at some universities, and in English at most of the major faculties.

• Tuition fees well below those of Western Europe.

• A low cost of living, especially outside Bucharest.

• Accessible admission: often based on the application file, sometimes with an exam or an interview.

• A Maghreb community already present in several university cities.

The main medical universities

The public universities of medicine and pharmacy best known to international students are located in:

• Bucharest (Carol Davila);

• Cluj-Napoca (Iuliu Hațieganu);

• Iași (Grigore T. Popa);

• Timișoara (Victor Babeș);

• Târgu Mureș, Craiova, Oradea, Constanța…

The range of programmes in French is more limited than the range in English: check each year which universities open a French-taught programme and how many places are offered.

Programmes offered

• General medicine (6 years);

• Dental medicine (6 years);

• Pharmacy (5 years);

• sometimes nursing, physiotherapy or nutrition.

Admission for Tunisian students

Students from outside the European Union follow a specific procedure:

1. Application file submitted to the university: baccalaureate and transcripts (in particular in biology, chemistry, physics), passport, medical certificate, language certificate if you have one.

2. Assessment: depending on the university, selection based on the application file (baccalaureate grades), a written exam (biology, chemistry) or an interview.

3. Letter of acceptance to studies issued by the Romanian Ministry of Education, after validation by the university. This is the key document for the visa.

4. Study visa from the Romanian embassy.

5. Enrolment on arrival and residence permit.

Applications are generally made in spring and early summer for an October start. Places for non-EU students are limited in the most popular programmes: apply early.

Language

• Programmes in French or English: a language certificate may be required (DELF/DALF, TCF, IELTS, TOEFL…), or a test organised by the university.

• Programmes in Romanian: a preparatory year of Romanian is compulsory if you do not have a certificate.

Even in French or English, learning Romanian is strongly recommended for hospital placements and everyday life.

How much does medicine in Romania cost?

• Tuition fees: set in euros by the State for non-EU students, with amounts that vary by university and programme, in the order of a few thousand euros per year.

• Application fees and fees for the letter of acceptance.

• Everyday living: allow on average €400 to €700 per month, more in Bucharest and Cluj.

Over 6 years, the total budget remains among the most affordable in Europe for medicine.

Recognition of the degree

The Romanian medical degree is a European degree. To practise:

• in Tunisia: you must obtain an equivalence under the Tunisian rules in force;

• elsewhere in Europe: automatic recognition between EU countries applies first of all to European citizens; for non-Europeans, national procedures apply.

See our guide Equivalence of the Tunisian diploma abroad.

Living in Romania

Lively university cities, affordable housing (university residence or flat-share), cheap transport: student life there is pleasant. Winters are cold, especially in Transylvania (Cluj, Târgu Mureș).

Comparing with other destinations

• Medicine in Italy (IMAT): public, fees based on income, selective exam.

• Medicine in Belgium: in French, entrance exam.

• Hungary and Poland: in English, higher fees.

Typical timeline

1. Winter – spring of the final year of secondary school: choice of universities and of the programme language, preparation of documents.

2. Spring – early summer: submission of applications to universities, possible exams or interviews.

3. Summer: letter of acceptance to studies from the ministry, after validation by the university.

4. Summer – early autumn: study visa at the embassy, payment of first-year fees.

5. October: start of the academic year, enrolment, residence permit.

Obtaining the letter of acceptance and the visa can take a long time: submit your application as soon as applications open.

Choosing the right university

• Language: French or English depending on your profile and where you plan to practise.

• Places available for non-EU students in your programme.

• Admission method: application file, exam or interview.

• City: Bucharest and Cluj are more expensive; Iași, Craiova or Oradea are more affordable.

• University hospitals for clinical placements.

Documents to prepare in Tunisia

• transcripts and baccalaureate diploma, translated and legalised or apostilled;

• translated birth certificate;

• valid passport;

• medical certificate;

• passport photos;

• language certificate (French or English) if you have one.

Succeeding in the first years

The first years of medicine in Romania are demanding, particularly in anatomy, biochemistry and physiology. Work regularly from the start, form study groups with other students and learn Romanian gradually so you are ready for hospital placements.

Key takeaway: Romania lets you study medicine in French or English at a moderate cost. Apply early, follow up on the ministry's letter of acceptance and check the equivalence requirements for practising.

Our support

Worldwide Studies helps you choose the university and the programme language, prepare the application and any exam, follow up on the ministry's letter of acceptance and obtain the visa.

👉 Fees and places change every year: talk to an adviser to find out which universities are open this year and your chances.