Cheapest Universities in Romania with Tuition Fees
Romania is a European country with its capital as Bucharest which is also the largest city. Romania is a developing nation with a high-income economy thriving on services, automobiles, and Tourism ( Bran castle, Manaia black sea, Denube delta, etc). Education is very affordable in the higher education system.
- West University of Timișoara
Year of establishment – 1962
Location – Timis
Average Tuition Fees – $250
Website – https://www.ri.uvt.ro
This is a government-owned university. Established in 1962, ranked among the top 5 best universities in Romania, for research-oriented and educational purposes. They have about 11 faculties and various departments for undergraduates and postgraduate levels.
- Alexandru Ioan Cuza University
Year of establishment – 1860
Location – lasi
Average Tuition Fees – $300
Website – https://www.uaic.ro
This is also a government-owned oldest university, affordable, and among the top best universities. There are 15 faculties and a special Center for the European language. There are various courses available for both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
- Babeș-Bolyai University
Year of establishment – 1981
Location – Cluj-Napoca
Average Tuition Fees – $500
Website – https://www.ubbcluj.ro
This is a government-owned university, also among the best in the country known for the research and quality of education offered to its students. The university has 21 faculties and various departments.
- Aurel Vlaicu University of Arad
Year of establishment – 1992
Location – Arad
Average Tuition Fees – $600
Website – https://www.uav.ro
This is a government-owned university that specializes in science, engineering, and technology. There are 9 faculties including engineering, design, humanities, education, social sciences, theology, tourism and environmental protection, theology, and economic sciences.
- University of Bucharest
Year of establishment – 1864
Location – Bucharest
Average Tuition Fees – $2,200
Website – https://www.unibuc.ro
This is also a government-owned university and one of the oldest public universities in Romania, among top best universities in the country and the best 700 in the world. It was formerly the Saint Sava Academy since 1694.
Studying in Romania on a budget — what the fees above actually mean
Tuition is only one line in the budget, and on its own it is a poor guide to whether you can afford to study in Romania. A country with low tuition and high living costs can end up more expensive than one with higher tuition and cheap accommodation. Work out the total annual cost before you compare anywhere.
How to check a tuition figure before you rely on it
Fee figures on any website — including this one — go out of date. Universities revise tuition annually, and governments change policy. Before you rely on a number:
- Open the university’s own website and find the fees page for international or non-national students. That is the only figure that counts.
- Check the academic year the figure applies to. A 2023 fee table tells you very little about what you will pay in 2026/2027.
- Confirm whether the price is per year, per semester or per credit. Per-credit pricing is common and makes cheap-looking programmes expensive.
- Check whether international students pay a different rate. In many systems local and EU students pay far less than everyone else.
- Email the admissions office and keep the reply. A written quote protects you.
A live example of why this matters: Norway’s public universities were free for everyone until 2023, when parliament introduced cost-covering fees for non-EU/EEA students — and non-European enrolment fell by roughly 80% within two years. In June 2025 the government proposed letting institutions set their own fees again, including at zero, from August 2026. Anyone relying on a five-year-old “tuition-free” article would have got it badly wrong in both directions.
Entry route: Romania is in the Schengen area, so you will apply for a national long-stay student visa (type D) at the embassy or an accredited visa centre in Abuja or Lagos, not a short-stay Schengen visa. Expect to show an admission letter, proof of funds in a blocked or verifiable account, health insurance and accommodation. A major advantage: once you hold a residence permit you can travel across the Schengen area.
Language of instruction: most degree programmes in Romania are taught in the local language, with a smaller selection available in English — usually at postgraduate level. Check the language of instruction for your specific programme before anything else, because this single detail rules out more applicants than tuition cost does. Where an English-taught programme exists, ask whether an IELTS or TOEFL waiver applies to Nigerian degree holders.
Build a realistic total-cost budget
Before applying to any institution in Romania, price all of the following. Applicants routinely underestimate the second half of this list:
- Tuition for international students, for the correct academic year
- Application and acceptance fees, which are usually non-refundable
- Accommodation — on-campus versus private rent can differ enormously
- Living costs — food, transport, data, utilities
- Health insurance, which is compulsory in most study destinations
- Visa or permit fees, plus biometrics and courier charges
- Flights, and a return flight if the visa requires proof of one
- Proof of funds — money you must show you hold, on top of what you actually spend
- Document costs — transcripts, notarisation, apostille, translation, courier
- The naira exchange rate, and how a further depreciation would affect year two
How to bring the cost down honestly
- Apply for scholarships in parallel, not afterwards. Most funding deadlines fall before or alongside admission deadlines, not after.
- Look at government scholarships from Romania itself. Many countries fund international students directly, and these are often less competitive than the famous named awards.
- Ask about assistantships and tuition waivers at postgraduate level. Teaching or research assistantships can cut or eliminate tuition.
- Ask about fee instalments. Many institutions allow termly payment, which matters when you are converting naira.
- Check student work rights on your visa — how many hours, and whether you may work at all. Never plan a budget that depends on illegal work.
- Compare smaller cities. Rent outside the capital is often the single biggest saving available.
A warning about agents
No agent can guarantee you admission or a visa. If someone promises either in exchange for money, walk away. Legitimate agents are paid by institutions, publish their registration details, and will never ask you to send money to a personal account. Apply directly to the university wherever you can — almost every institution accepts direct applications, and it is free or cheaper.
Frequently asked questions
Can Nigerians study in Romania?
Yes. Nigerian students are admitted to institutions in Romania subject to meeting the academic entry requirements, the language requirement and the immigration rules set out above.
Is the cheapest university the best choice?
Not automatically. Check that the institution is recognised by the national regulator in Romania and, if you plan to return home or move on, that its degrees are accepted where you intend to work. A cheap degree from an unrecognised institution costs you everything.
Do I need IELTS to study in Romania?
It depends on the programme and the institution. Where teaching is in English, many institutions waive the test for applicants whose previous degree was taught in English — which covers most Nigerian graduates. Always confirm in writing before paying for a test.
How much money do I need to show?
That is set by the immigration authorities, not the university, and it changes. Check the official government source for Romania shortly before you apply, because the figure is usually updated annually.
Can I work while studying?
Some countries permit limited part-time work on a student visa and some do not. Confirm the rule for your specific visa type, and treat any earnings as a supplement rather than the basis of your budget.
Related guides
- International scholarships for Nigerians
- Best scholarships for Nigerians and Africans
- More study-abroad and scholarship guides
Tuition fees, visa rules and proof-of-funds thresholds change every year. Always confirm the current figures on the official university and government websites for Romania before you apply or pay anything.