Government approves tuition figures for 2026-2027

The Ministry of Education and Research announced that the Romanian Government has approved, by decision adopted last week, the tuition figures for the 2026-2027 school and university year. The new provisions target children, pupils and students in Romania, as well as ethnic Romanians abroad, Romanian citizens with permanent residence abroad and foreign citizens admitted under bilateral agreements. Compared to the previous year, the authorities decided to increase the number of places in both pre-university and higher education, in order to respond to legislative changes, demographic evolution and labor market requirements.

• 50,000 more places in 9th grade

The most important change concerns high school education. The number of places for the 9th grade, in the full-time education form, increases by 50,000, as a result of the integration of the former vocational route into the technological high schools, a measure provided for by the new law on pre-university education. Thus, the total number of places for the 9th grade reaches 184,000 places. In addition, the following were approved: 5,000 additional places for the 11th grade, in evening education, first year; 5,000 additional places for the 11th grade, in the dual system, in the day and evening forms; 2,000 additional places for the 9th grade, in the day, evening and reduced attendance forms in special education; 1,500 additional places for the 11th grade in special education.

• All students in compulsory education must have a guaranteed place

According to the ministry, the enrollment figures were established in such a way as to guarantee the inclusion of all children and students in compulsory education in the education system, depending on age and level of development. At the same time, the distribution of places aims to ensure graduates' access to higher levels of education and to maintain a balance between high school and post-secondary education. When establishing the figures for pre-university education, the proposals of the school inspectorates, demographic evolution and the flows of entry and exit from the system were taken into account.

• More places for bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees

In higher education, compared to the 2025-2026 academic year, the Government approved the increase in enrollment figures as follows: 1,781 additional places for bachelor's programs; 502 additional places for master's degrees;

113 additional places for doctoral degrees. The substantiation of these figures was based on the proposals of the National Council for Statistics and Forecasting of Higher Education, on estimates regarding the number of high school graduates with a baccalaureate diploma and on the objectives assumed by Romania within the European Education Area 2021-2030.

• Educational offer, correlated with the labor market

The Ministry emphasizes that the new structure of places aims at a better correlation between the offer of universities and the requirements of employers, in the context in which the adaptation of education to the needs of the economy is becoming a strategic priority at the European level. Through this adjustment, the authorities are trying to increase the relevance of study programs and prepare graduates better adapted to the current demands of the labor market. The Ministry of Education and Research specifies that the tuition figures are maximum and will be applied within the limits of the funding approved for the 2026 budget year. The specific distribution of places by counties and higher education institutions will be established later by order of the minister.