The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) announced the results of the selection of students from countries outside the European Union who will benefit from scholarships offered by the Romanian state, through the MAE, for studies starting with the 2024-2025 academic year.

According to a press release sent to AGERPRES on Tuesday, this year, MAE received an unprecedented number of applications – 81,914, from candidates from 160 countries, on five continents, „an aspect that highlights the growing interest, globally, of students for the educational opportunities offered by Romanian universities”.

Applications were submitted exclusively online, on the StudyinRomania platform (www.studyinromania.gov.ro), between January 16 and March 16, 2024.

In the selection process, criteria related to academic excellence, geographical diversity and gender balance, as well as Romania’s foreign policy objectives in relation to the countries of origin regarding the candidates, were considered.

Thus, 500 scholarship beneficiaries will study in prestigious university centers from all over the country (Brasov, Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, Constanta, Craiova, Iasi, Sibiu, Timisoara and others) and will prepare in a wide range of fields, such as international relations, engineering, information technology, agronomy, law, performing arts, philology, economics, business administration and education sciences, according to the quoted source.

In accordance with Romania’s foreign policy objectives, interests and priorities, the MAE is engaged in a constant effort to strengthen the instrument for granting scholarships for foreign students from outside the European Union, which aims at both long-term development and deepening of bilateral relations with the countries of origin in the case of students, as well as the more efficient promotion of Romanian higher education institutions worldwide.

„This successful program is part of a broader approach by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to promote education in the spirit of intercultural understanding, knowledge and respect for fundamental human rights, as a way to combat intolerance. The program will contribute not only to a more efficient promotion of the Romanian higher education institutions worldwide, but especially in the creation of bridges between Romania and the countries of origin of the students,” stated the state secretary for inter-institutional relations Janina Sitaru.

The program is carried out in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and with the support of the Executive Unit for the Financing of Higher Education, Research, Development and Innovation (UEFISCDI) within the Ministry of Education, which developed and manages the StudyinRomania IT platform.

AGERPRES