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Database Student-Parent Cost by Country
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Romania

I. A Brief Description of the Romanian Higher Education System

Romanian higher education underwent rapid changes in the 1990’s. Admissions at the initial level of tertiary education are based on entrance examinations. Each institution establishes its own requirements for each major study area. The examinations are developed and graded by the individual faculties. The rector of the institution is responsible for this process and authorizes the admission of students. The number of students to be admitted in a given year is decided by the institution in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Research (MoER).

Table 1.
Growth of Public Higher Education Enrollments, 1989-2001.

 

Year

1989/90

1991/92

1993/94

1995/96

1997/98

1999/00

2000/01

Students
Enrolled

164,525

215,226

250,087

250,836

249,857

310,285

322,129

Sources: Educational System in Romania'99, National Resource Centre for Vocational Guidance, Bucharest, 2000; Romanian National Commission for Statistics, 2000.

Enrollments in the public sector increased greatly between 1990 and 1995 and again between 1998 and 2001, as shown in Table 1. Public higher education continues to grow, albeit less quickly than in the 1990 to 1995 period, especially due to the development of master’s and doctorate post-graduate programs.

Enrollments also grew rapidly in the much newer private sector of higher education, which at the end of the 2000-2001 academic year was enrolling nearly one-third of all Romanian higher education students (although the rate of growth in the private sector, as shown in Table 2, appears to be slowing). Admission procedures in private higher education are the responsibility of the institution, and as a rule are less selective than those in the public sector.

The university enrollment rate for the 18-25-age cohort was 27 percent in 1996. Including all public and private post-secondary education (non-university sector, open and distance higher education in addition to the university sector), the enrollment rate was approximately 40 percent.

Table 2.
Enrollments in Private Higher Education 1989-2001.

Year

1992-93

1994-95

1996-97

1998-99

1999-00

2000-01

Students enrolled

85,000

114,500

93,343

129,947

130,492

139,339

Sources: Romanian National Commission for Statistics, 2000; National Council for Evaluation and Academic Accreditation Database, 2001.

Starting with budget year 1999, basic public financing–including staff salaries, building maintenance, etc.—is based on the allocated student numbers and specific training costs, differentiated by field of study. Because the governmental allocation is based on the number of students permitted, or allocated, not on the number admitted, there is little incentive for institutions to inflate student numbers for financial reasons--except for fee paying students. In addition to basic financing, the Ministry of National Education allocates funds to universities for complementary financing on a competitive basis. These funds are intended for investment, for covering the costs of the teaching and research equipment and also for some development and academic and scientific research projects.

Basic financing covers the enrollments of students who have been competitively admitted within the allotted fee-free, state-supported education scheme. Allocations under this scheme are made by the Ministry of Education on the basis of the recommendations coming from the National Council of Higher Education Funding (CNFIS), a consultancy body set up in 1994, comprising representatives of the academic community with expertise in university management. The Council debates and recommends to the Ministry of Education the criteria for the funding of enrollments in the fee-free scheme, both in the undergraduate and postgraduate programs.

Analyses carried out at the beginning of the year 2000 by the government and representatives of university management confirm the validity of the financing principles and formula proposed by CNFIS. Most universities seemed able to manage their financial resources obtained from the budget and from their own activities in a way that allowed them to close the previous financial year in acceptable conditions. (Mihai Korka, "Strategy and Action in the Reform of Education in Romania", Universitas, 2000, p.73-74)

The Government has empowered the Ministry of Education to formulate its policy for allocating grants and other forms of material support to students and for managing the funds allotted to this purpose. Therefore, although student financial assistance is not part of the higher education financing scheme as such, the funds pertaining to it are carried in the budgets of the universities. Budgetary allocations for scholarships and other awards for undergraduates account for almost 20 per cent of the total current expenses of the Romanian universities in the last ten years. Because the basic needs of the institutions (e.g. salaries and utilities) and the needs of the students (e.g., hostels, canteens, and undergraduate financial assistance) are carried in the same budget, there is some institutional discretion and flexibility in the management of these funds. (Mihai Korka, "Strategy and Action in the Reform of Education in Romania", Universitas, 2000, p.76)

Student financial support granted by the state consists of:

  1. Study grants, including merit scholarships, study scholarships, and grants-in-aid. The first two categories are awarded based on student achievement; the last category is awarded based on the student’s social status. As of the 1994-1995 academic year, postgraduate scholarships were also granted. Fellowships for the doctoral degree were introduced in 1996;
  2. Subsidies for social services: student residence halls, canteens, and athletics fields and facilities;
  3. Free medical assistance in the student health care network and other health care units;
  4. Price and tariff reductions (The White Book Of the Education Reform, 12/1998; <www.edu.ro/cartealb.htm>)

Table 3
Student Enrollment in Public and Private
Higher Education by Field of Study, 1999-2000

 

Public Higher Education

Private Higher Education

Total

Technical fields

81,035

539

81,574

Agriculture

39,757

4,026

43,783

Economics

55,016

50,711

105,727

Law

17,227

45,828

63,055

Humanities and Natural Sci.

92,313

26,058

118,371

Medical Fields

30,111

2,116

32,227

Arts

6,670

1,214

7,884

Total

322,192

130,429

452,621

Source: Romanian National Commission for Statistics, 2000.

II. Estimated Expenses of Higher Education

Estimated higher educational expenses borne by parents and students are shown in Table 4.

Table 4
Higher Education Expenses Borne by Parents and Students in Romania,
First Degree, Academic Year 1998-99

[National currency converted to $ US by 1999 Purchasing Power Parity $1= 13,169 lei (<www.kappa.ro>)]

a

Public

Private

a

Low
Public

Moderate Public

Fee-Paying
Public

Low
Private

High
Private

Tuition*

0

0

5,267,600*
(US$400)*

3,292,250
(US$250)*

6,584,500
(US$500)*

Books & Other Educational Expenses

0

0

0

158,028
(US$12)

316,056
(US$24)

Subtotal Costs of Instruction

a

a

5,267,600*
(US$400)*

3,450,278
(US$262)

6,900,556
(US$524)

Lodging**

0

2,765,490
(US$210)

4,609,150
(US$350)

0

4,609,150
(US$350)

Food

1,975,350
(US$150)

2,633,800
(US$200)

3,292,250
(US$250)

2,633,800
(US$200)

3,950,700
(US$300)

Transportation*

120,101
(US$9.12)

120,101
(US$9.12)

120,101
(US$9.12)

120,101
(US$9.12)

120,101
(US$9.12)

Other Personal Expenses

1,316,900
(US$100)

1,580,280
(US$120)

2,633,800
(US$200)

2,633,800
(US$200)

2,633,800
(US$200)

Subtotal Cost of student living

3,412,351
(US$259.1)

7,099,672
(US$539.1)

10,655,301
(US$809.1)

5,387,701
(US$409.1)

11,313,750
(US$859.1)

Total

a

3,412,351
(US$259.1)

7,099,672
(US$539)

15,922,901*
(US$1209.1)*

8,837,979
(US$671.1)

18,214,206
(US$1,383)

*Transportation is subsidized for public higher education students.
**Lodging (dormitories) and meals are also subsidized for public higher education students living in the dormitories.
 Tuition*: most public fee-paying programs have both an entrance and an exit, or license, fee, averaging about 400$. (http://ubcluj.ro/admitere/taxe1.html)

Medical care is also subsidized by the State for public higher education students.

Low Public: living at home with parents.
Moderate Public: living in dormitory or shared apartment.
High public: living as an "independent adult", in addition to one-time fee paid in fee-paying public system;
Low Private: low private tuition, and living at home with parents.
High Private: high private tuition, living in dormitory or shared apartment.

 

References

Dinca, G., Damian R., 1997, Financing of Higher Education in Romania, "Alternative" Edition;

Mihailescu, I., 1996, The System of Higher Education in Romania, "Alternative" Edition;

The White Book Of the Education Reform, 12/1998; www.edu.ro/cartealb.htm;

EdInvest, 2000, Investment Opportunities in Private Education in Romania;
www.unibuc.ro/booklet/academic.html;
(http://ubcluj.ro/admitere/taxe1.html)

Mihai Korka, "Strategy and Action in the Reform of Education in Romania", Phare Universitas, Paideia Publishing House, Bucharest, 2000.

 

GF/DBJ 11/21/01

 
 

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