Academic Calendar

Intakes & Application Timelines in Romania

Plan your application strategy with our guide to Romania's university intake periods, application deadlines, and critical timelines for international students.

Romania Academic Calendar

2027-28 intake

Annual Intake Periods

Autumn Intake (The main intake. Classes start in September or October.)

Application period (At POLITEHNICA Bucharest, applications run between February and July.)

Autumn 2027 start

Classes start in autumn 2027. UMF Targu Mures (University of Medicine and Pharmacy) has set its summer 2027 admission exam for 13 to 26 July 2027. Other universities will share their dates on their own websites.

Classes start in autumn. In 2026-27 they started between 14 September and 5 October 2026, by university.

Intake Periods

Intakes in Romania

An intake is when new students start. Romania has one main intake, in autumn.

Main intake

Autumn Intake

Mid-September to early October

Key Information

In 2026-27, classes started on 14 September 2026 at UMF Targu Mures.
Babes-Bolyai University started teaching on 28 September 2026.
Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy started teaching on 5 October 2026.
Almost every bachelor's, master's and PhD programme starts in autumn.

Application Period

Between February and July at POLITEHNICA Bucharest

Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy took medicine applications from 1 April to 6 July 2026.

Tip

Plan for the autumn start. Apply early, in your university's application dates, so the Letter of Acceptance and visa are ready in time.

Critical Timelines

Key Steps and Dates

The order of steps from choosing a programme to your first class.

Before the application dates

Choose and prepare

Pick programmes. Get an apostille (an official stamp from your own government that shows a paper is real) on your study papers.

Key Tasks

• Check the language of teaching.
• Get certified translations (signed and stamped by an approved translator) into Romanian, English or French.

During your university's application dates

Apply

Apply online and pay the application fee for each programme.

Key Tasks

• Upload scans of your papers.
• Attend any interview or test.

After admission

Confirm and pay

Confirm your place. After admission, pay one year of tuition fees within 20 days at POLITEHNICA Bucharest.

Key Tasks

• Pay the tuition fee (the money for your course).
• Keep the receipt for the visa.

Usually about 30 working days (weekdays)

Letter of Acceptance to Studies (LoA)

The Ministry of Education checks your papers and gives you this letter. You need it for the visa.

Key Tasks

• Wait for the letter from your university.

The General Inspectorate for Immigration (IGI) answers within 30 days, up to 15 more days if needed

Visa

Apply for your long-stay visa for studies (D/SD) on e-Viza, Romania's online visa website. Then go to your appointment at the Romanian embassy that serves your country.

Key Tasks

• Book your embassy visit on e-Viza after your file is marked Valid.
• Bring all papers in original and copy.

Before classes start

Arrive

Sign up at your university. Within 30 days after you arrive in Romania, apply for your residence permit, the card that lets you live in Romania as a student.

Key Tasks

• Ask your university for a student certificate (a paper that says you study there).
• Book your IGI appointment.

Important

Check the dates for your exact programme. Each university sets its own.

Academic Structure

The Romanian Academic Year

Universities use two semesters (two halves of the school year), each with teaching weeks and an exam session. Example: Babes-Bolyai University, 2026-27.

Two semesters

The usual system at Romanian universities. Dates shown are Babes-Bolyai University's, 2026-27.

Key Dates

Semester I teaching

28 September to 20 December 2026, then 4 to 17 January 2027

Winter exam session

18 January to 7 February 2027

Semester II teaching

22 February to 2 May 2027, then 10 May to 6 June 2027

Summer exam session

7 to 27 June 2027

Summer holiday

2 August to 3 October 2027

Academic Structure

A full-time year is about 60 ECTS credits (the European way of counting study work).

Study blocks (UMF Targu Mures)

Some medical universities teach in short blocks, with exams after each block.

Key Dates

Block I teaching

14 September to 1 November 2026

Exam session 1

2 to 15 November 2026

Academic Structure

Check the calendar for your course.

Special Academic Periods & Considerations

Beyond the standard academic calendar, there are several special periods and features to be aware of

Second-chance exams

At Babes-Bolyai University: 15 to 21 February 2027 and 5 to 11 July 2027.

Holidays

At Babes-Bolyai University: Christmas 21 December 2026 to 2 January 2027; Easter 3 to 9 May 2027.

Internship

At Babes-Bolyai University: 12 July to 1 August 2027, for courses that have one.

Student Tip

Use the calendar of your own university. Medical universities often use different dates.

Application Planning

Timeline by Student Type

The main steps are the same for all levels. Some students have one extra step.

Application Process	Undergraduate Students	Graduate Students	International Students
Ministry review for the Letter of Acceptance	Usually about 30 working days (weekdays)	Usually about 30 working days (weekdays)	Usually about 30 working days (weekdays)
Extra step	Medicine: the university's own calendar, sometimes an interview	PhD: a teacher must first agree to guide you. Then you take the university's PhD entry exam.	Preparatory year (one year of Romanian language before your course), if your course is in Romanian and you do not speak it.
Visa decision	IGI answers within 30 days, up to 15 more days if needed	IGI answers within 30 days, up to 15 more days if needed	IGI answers within 30 days, up to 15 more days if needed