If you are an international student considering veterinary medicine and wondering whether Romania belongs on your shortlist, this guide covers everything you need to make an informed decision.
Why Romania for Veterinary Medicine?
Romania has a long and serious tradition in veterinary education. The Bucharest State Veterinary Faculty was founded in 1861, and Cluj-Napoca’s veterinary faculty traces its roots to 1869 – making these among the oldest veterinary institutions in Europe. That history matters: these are not recently established programmes chasing international students, but institutions with over 150 years of veterinary teaching behind them.
Today, Romania has five veterinary faculties spread across its major university cities – Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, Iași, and Timișoara – all of which offer programmes accredited and recognised at the European level. For international students, this means a degree that carries genuine weight across the EU and beyond.
The combination of strong academic tradition, practical-first curriculum, and significantly lower costs than Western Europe is why Romania consistently attracts students from across Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and beyond. To understand more about why Romania is a smart choice for international students overall, visit our Why Romania page.
The Degree: What You Will Earn
Completing veterinary medicine in Romania earns you the title of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) – known in Romanian as Doctor Medic Veterinar (DMV). This is an integrated six-year undergraduate and master’s degree programme worth 360 ECTS credits, structured according to EU sectoral directives for veterinary education.
Duration: 6 years, full-time.
There is currently no graduate-entry veterinary programme in Romania, meaning all students – regardless of prior degrees – enter at the undergraduate level and complete the full six years. This is standard across European veterinary education.
Accreditation and Recognition: Where Can You Work After Graduating?
This is the question that matters most for international students, and the answer is reassuring.
All five Romanian veterinary faculties are members of the European Association of Establishments for Veterinary Education (EAEVE) and are evaluated against European standards. Several hold full EAEVE accreditation; others hold conditional approval – both statuses confirm compliance with EU veterinary education standards.
Within the EU: Because Romanian DVM programmes are benchmarked to the European standard and recognised under EU mutual recognition directives, graduates can apply for licensure in any EU/EEA member state. If you plan to work in Germany, France, the Netherlands, Italy, or any other EU country after graduating, your Romanian DVM is your pathway.
UK: Post-Brexit, UK veterinary degrees are no longer automatically recognised in the EU and vice versa. However, graduates from EAEVE-accredited institutions – including Romanian faculties – may apply to register with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS). Applicants should confirm the latest RCVS requirements directly, as these can change.
Beyond Europe: Recognition in countries outside the EU/EEA (USA, Canada, Australia, Nepal, etc.) depends on each country’s veterinary licensing authority. Many countries evaluate degrees individually rather than through automatic recognition. Students planning to practise outside Europe after graduation should research their home country’s licensing process early – Conachi Academy’s support and guidance team can help you understand what applies to your specific situation.
Where to Study: The Five Veterinary Faculties
Romania’s veterinary programmes are offered across five institutions in four cities.
USAMV Bucharest (University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest) is the country’s oldest and most prestigious veterinary institution, with a Faculty of Veterinary Medicine offering programmes in Romanian, English, and French. Annual tuition for international students in the English-taught programme is approximately €6,030 per year. Bucharest, as Romania’s capital, offers the richest city experience for international students.
USAMV Cluj-Napoca (University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca) has a Faculty of Veterinary Medicine established in 1869, now one of the most popular choices for international students. The six-year programme is available in Romanian, English, and French, with modern facilities including specialised clinics, laboratories, and an emergency animal hospital. Annual tuition for international students is approximately €7,500 per year. Cluj-Napoca is a vibrant university city with a large international student community.
USAMV Iași (University of Life Sciences – formerly known as King Michael I University of Life Sciences) in eastern Romania offers one of the oldest and most respected veterinary programmes, with English and French language options alongside Romanian.
University of Life Sciences “King Mihai I” Timișoara is the western Romania option, EAEVE-approved, with a strong tradition in both small and large animal medicine.
Spiru Haret University Bucharest is the private option, founded in 1990, and the most accessible from an entry requirements perspective, though serious applicants should verify its specific accreditation status carefully.
Conachi Academy works with accredited Romanian universities and can help you identify the right match for your profile, goals, and budget. Explore our university partners for more detail.
Language of Instruction: Do You Need Romanian?
No. All major Romanian veterinary faculties offer their DVM programme in English. Some also offer it in French. You do not need to speak Romanian to complete your degree – your lectures, exams, clinical training, and assessments are all conducted in English.
That said, learning basic Romanian is strongly recommended for daily life, for communicating with patients’ owners in clinical settings, and for building connections with Romanian peers and staff. Conachi Academy helps students prepare for Romanian campus life well before arrival – see our student support resources for more.
Tuition Fees and Cost of Living
Veterinary medicine is one of the higher-cost programmes in Romania for international students, but it remains far more affordable than equivalent programmes in Western Europe.
Tuition fees for English-taught DVM programmes typically range from €4,000 to €8,000 per year, depending on the university. USAMV Bucharest is at the lower end (approximately €6,030), and Cluj-Napoca at around €7,500. Private universities may have different structures.
Cost of living in Romania is low by European standards. Students typically spend between €400 and €700 per month on accommodation, food, transport, and personal expenses, depending on city and lifestyle. Student dormitories are available at most universities and are significantly cheaper than private rentals.
Over six years, the total cost of a Romanian DVM – including tuition and living expenses – is substantially lower than a single year at a veterinary school in the UK, Australia, or the United States. For a full breakdown of what to expect financially, visit our Tuition & Fees page.
Admission Requirements
Entry requirements for the English-taught DVM programme in Romania are consistent across most universities:
- A high school diploma (completed secondary education)
- Strong grades in Biology and Chemistry – these are the two core subjects assessed
- Proof of English language proficiency – typically an IELTS certificate, TOEFL score, or a secondary school diploma where English was the medium of instruction
- A completed application with supporting documents (transcripts, passport copy, photographs)
There is no entrance examination at most Romanian veterinary faculties – admission is merit-based on your secondary school results, particularly in Biology and Chemistry. This is a significant difference from veterinary admissions in the UK or USA, where competitive entrance exams and interviews are standard.
Conachi Academy guides students through the full admissions process. Our How to Apply page outlines every step, and our team handles document preparation, translation, and university liaison on your behalf.
Curriculum: What You Will Study Over Six Years
The Romanian DVM curriculum is structured to build from science foundations through to independent clinical practice over six years.
Years 1–2 establish the scientific foundation: anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, histology, animal nutrition, genetics, microbiology, and veterinary ethics. These years are lecture and laboratory-heavy.
Years 3–4 move into clinical knowledge: pathology, pharmacology, surgery principles, diagnostics, parasitology, and immunology. Students begin working in simulation centres and university laboratories, progressing to supervised work with real animals.
Years 5–6 are clinical years. Students rotate through university clinics and hospitals working with small animals, large animals (cattle, horses, sheep), poultry, exotic animals, and public health veterinary contexts. Many students also complete internships at external veterinary practices, farms, and zoos.
Graduates emerge with experience across a broad range of species – a genuine advantage compared to some Western programmes that focus narrowly on small animal practice.
Dates, Deadlines, and When to Apply
Application windows for Romanian veterinary programmes typically open in May and close in July for the following academic year beginning in October. Specific deadlines vary by university – USAMV Cluj-Napoca, for example, closes applications for English-taught veterinary medicine programmes in late July.
It is strongly advised to begin your application process at least six months before the deadline – document preparation, translation, attestation, and visa processing all take time.
Conachi Academy manages the timeline for you. Check our Dates & Deadlines page for current intake information and contact our team early to avoid missing your window.
Is Veterinary Medicine in Romania Right for You?
Romania is an excellent choice if you are a motivated, science-strong student who wants a rigorous, clinically rich veterinary education at a fraction of the cost of Western European alternatives – and who plans to work in the EU or a country that recognises EU credentials.
It requires commitment: six full years, a new country, a new language around you, and a demanding curriculum. But for the right student, it offers a genuinely exceptional return on that investment – an EU-recognised DVM degree, years of real clinical experience, and a career-ready qualification that opens doors across Europe and beyond.
Conachi Academy has guided international students through the Romanian university admissions process for years. We know what each faculty requires, how to prepare your application correctly, and how to ensure you arrive ready to succeed from day one.
Start by exploring our full range of study programmes or get in touch with our team for personalised guidance on your veterinary medicine application.