You don't need to speak Romanian to study here. Here's exactly what English programs exist, which cities offer them, and what you should know before choosing.
The single biggest misconception about studying in Romania is that you need to know Romanian to do it. You don't. Romania has built one of the most extensive English-taught university systems in Eastern Europe, and the selection of programs grows every year. As of 2025, over 300 accredited programs across all major fields run entirely in English at Romanian public and private universities.
This article tells you exactly what's available, which cities have the strongest offerings, what language requirements you face as an applicant, and what to realistically expect once you arrive.
The number is significant. Across accredited Romanian universities, over 300 bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs are delivered in English as of the 2025/2026 academic year. That figure covers state institutions only — it rises when you include private universities with ARACIS accreditation.
Medicine and dentistry have the longest history of English-language instruction. Romanian medical schools started accepting international English-speaking students in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Today, every major medical university in Romania — Cluj, Iași, Bucharest, Timișoara, Craiova, Târgu Mureș — runs full six-year medicine programs in English. These programs have well-established international cohorts, structured support services, and decades of graduate outcomes across Europe, Israel, and the UK.
Beyond medicine, the expansion over the past ten years has been substantial. Computer science, software engineering, and IT programs now run in English at multiple universities. Business administration, international relations, economics, and finance programs operate in English across Bucharest, Cluj, and Timișoara. Architecture, civil engineering, and law programs also have English tracks at several institutions.
The Romanian Ministry of Education maintains a register of accredited programs where language of instruction is listed for each. It's worth checking your specific program there before applying.
Here's where English instruction is well established in Romania as of 2025:
| Field | English programs available | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Medicine (General) | Yes — all major universities | 6-year program, largest international cohorts |
| Dentistry | Yes — most medical universities | 6-year program, very popular with EU/Israeli students |
| Pharmacy | Yes — select universities | 5-year program |
| Nursing / Midwifery | Limited — growing | Check individual institutions |
| Computer Science / IT | Yes — multiple cities | Strong programs in Cluj and Bucharest |
| Engineering | Yes — Bucharest, Timișoara, Cluj | Civil, mechanical, electrical tracks |
| Business / Economics | Yes — widespread | MBA programs also available |
| Architecture | Yes — Bucharest, Cluj | Portfolio entry requirements apply |
| Law | Limited — growing | Primarily at private institutions |
| Veterinary Medicine | Yes — Bucharest, Cluj | 6-year program |
| Arts / Design | Limited | Check program-by-program |
If your field isn't on this list, check directly with universities. New English tracks open every year, and the situation changes faster than any single guide can capture.
Not all cities are equal when it comes to English-taught programs. Here's a practical breakdown:
Cluj is the strongest overall. Babes-Bolyai University (UBB) — the largest university in Romania — runs multiple English-taught programs across faculties including economics, computer science, and social sciences. UMF Cluj (the medical university) has a large and well-regarded English medicine program. The city has the largest international student population in Romania, which means English-speaking social infrastructure is robust. English is widely spoken across campus and in the city center.
Bucharest has the most diverse offering in terms of fields. The University of Bucharest, the Polytechnic University, Carol Davila Medical University, and several private institutions all run English programs. If your field is niche or you want postgraduate options, Bucharest is most likely to have what you need. The city also has the largest job market, which matters if you plan to stay after graduation.
Iași is the top destination for medicine and dentistry. Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy has one of the biggest English-track medicine programs in Romania and a strong track record of graduate outcomes. Alexandru Ioan Cuza University also runs English programs in social sciences and humanities. Living costs in Iași are the lowest of any major student city in Romania.
Timișoara has strong English offerings in engineering and medicine. The Polytechnic University of Timișoara and Victor Babes Medical University both run English programs. The city has a relaxed, multicultural feel — it was European Capital of Culture in 2023 — and the international community is well-integrated.
Craiova is less well-known internationally but has a growing English medicine program at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy. Tuition and living costs are among the lowest in Romania, making it an option worth considering if budget is your primary constraint.
For a full comparison of these cities, read our guide to choosing your city in Romania or explore the cities and fields overview.
To enroll in an English-taught program, you need to prove your English proficiency. Romanian universities accept several forms of evidence:
Requirements vary by institution and program. Always check the specific requirements of your target university. If you did your secondary school in English but have no formal test certificate, most Romanian universities accept a certified letter from your school confirming English-medium instruction. Contact the international admissions office directly if you're unsure — they handle this question regularly.
"We receive a large proportion of students each year who completed their secondary education in English-medium schools in Africa or the Middle East. For these students, a certified letter from the school confirming English instruction is entirely sufficient for admission purposes." — International Admissions Office, UMF Iași, 2024
Inside the classroom, your program runs in English. Lectures, exams, textbooks, and clinical supervision (where applicable) happen in English. That's the deal you sign up for and that's what you get.
Outside the classroom, Romanian is the daily language. Shops, restaurants, public transport, administrative offices — these run in Romanian. In major university cities, younger Romanians and service workers in tourist areas speak functional to good English. But once you leave the city center or deal with older administrative staff, you'll encounter Romanian-only environments.
For medicine students specifically, there's a Romanian language component that deserves attention. Clinical training happens in Romanian hospitals with Romanian-speaking patients. Most medical universities offer a Romanian language course in the first year. You don't need Romanian on day one. But by your third or fourth year, when clinical rotations begin, you need enough Romanian to communicate with patients and staff. This is manageable — students who take the language courses seriously reach a working clinical level within two years.
For non-medicine students, the pressure to learn Romanian is lower. Many students complete their full degree with only basic Romanian survival skills. That said, learning the language improves your daily life considerably and opens doors if you want to stay and work in Romania after graduation.
Two things come up repeatedly from students who haven't done enough research.
First: "I'll be isolated if I don't speak Romanian." This is not how it works in practice. International cohorts in medicine programs at major Romanian universities run to 200 or 300 students per year. Your lectures, study groups, and most social activities happen in English. You build a community of people from dozens of countries who are all in the same position. Isolation happens when you don't make the effort to connect — not because of the language barrier.
Second: "The English-taught programs are lower quality than the Romanian ones." This is also false. The curriculum is the same. The faculty teaching English-track students are the same professors who teach Romanian-track students. The degree you receive does not specify which language track you studied in. For practical purposes, it makes no difference.
"The quality of education in the English-track medicine program is identical to what Romanian students receive. We use the same faculty, the same clinical rotations, and the same examination standards. The only practical difference is the language of instruction in the preclinical years." — Prof. Dr. Mihai Ionescu, Vice-Rector for International Affairs, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, 2025
Explore your options further with our guide to studying medicine in Romania, or get in touch with us through our services page to find programs that match your background. If you're ready to move forward, book a consultation and we'll identify the right programs and universities for you.
Yes. Over 300 accredited programs at Romanian universities are taught entirely in English as of 2025. Medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, engineering, IT, business, and architecture all have English tracks. The selection is widest in Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, Iași, and Timișoara.
Not to complete your degree. Your coursework, exams, and academic life happen in English. You will need basic Romanian for daily life outside campus. Medicine students specifically need to develop functional Romanian for clinical work by their third or fourth year, but all medical universities offer Romanian language courses for this purpose.
Yes. The language of instruction does not affect the recognition of your degree. A degree from an ARACIS-accredited Romanian university carries full EU recognition regardless of whether you studied in English or Romanian. For regulated professions like medicine and dentistry, the EU Professional Qualifications Directive applies equally to both tracks.
Medicine has the most established and widespread English-language programs, with six-year English-track programs at every major medical university in Romania. Computer science, business, and engineering have seen the fastest growth in English program availability over the past five years.
Most universities accept IELTS Academic (6.0+), TOEFL iBT (80+), Cambridge B2/C1/C2, or a certified letter confirming prior education in English. Native English speakers from English-speaking countries typically need no formal test. Requirements vary by university — always check with the specific institution you're applying to.
Your clinical supervisors and fellow students communicate in English throughout clinical training. However, patients in Romanian hospitals speak Romanian, so you'll interact with patients in Romanian during rotations. Medical universities account for this — most provide Romanian language instruction from year one so you reach a functional clinical level by the time rotations begin.
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