University of Bucharest
University of Bucharest - Financial Support for Academic Performance (PhD)
Edit ScholarshipUniversity of Bucharest Financial Support for Academic Performance (PhD) covers fee-paying international doctoral students in Romania with strong publishing records. It pays a monthly allowance equal to the Senate-set performance scholarship. Students apply in July of the preceding year.
Overview
The University of Bucharest offers a monthly performance scholarship to its highest-publishing international PhD students. Unlike the Bachelor's and Master's tuition reduction, this award for doctoral students isn't a fee reduction — it's a monthly stipend set at the level of the university performance scholarship, with the exact amount determined by the University Senate each year. The selection criterion is publication output: your research papers must be published in recognized international databases and carry the University of Bucharest affiliation.
The threshold for eligibility is up to 15 percent of fee-paying international doctoral students, making this a genuinely selective award for active researchers. The publication requirements differ by field: Web of Science is required for natural and applied sciences; Web of Science or SCOPUS for social sciences; ISI Thomson Reuters, Elsevier, Scopus, or EBSCO for humanities. In every case, the published papers must list the University of Bucharest as your affiliation — papers published before enrolment at UB or under a different institutional affiliation don't count.
The application timeline mirrors UB's other international scholarships: you apply in July for the following academic year (October to June). The same rule against concurrent scholarships applies — you can't hold this stipend alongside another university or state scholarship. The award is paid monthly during your academic year at UB and is suspended if you spend time abroad on exchange or research visits.
Key Facts at a Glance
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Funding Body | University of Bucharest |
| Host Country | Romania |
| Degree Levels | PhD |
| Value | Monthly stipend equal to the university performance scholarship value (amount set annually by the University Senate) |
| Deadline | Applications submitted in July of the preceding academic year |
| Eligible Nationalities | International fee-paying PhD students (non-EU); dual nationals with Romanian or EU citizenship excluded |
| Official Website | unibuc.ro — International Scholarships |
Eligibility Criteria
Enrolment as a Fee-Paying PhD Student
You must be enrolled in a PhD programme at the University of Bucharest and paying tuition in foreign currency. Students on government-funded or fee-exempt tracks are not eligible for this award.
Publication Record
The core selection criterion is your publication record in recognized international databases, with UB listed as your affiliation. For natural and applied sciences: publications in Web of Science. For social sciences: Web of Science or SCOPUS. For humanities: publications indexed in ISI Thomson Reuters, Elsevier, Scopus, or EBSCO. Papers without the University of Bucharest affiliation listed do not count, regardless of their quality or the database they're in.
Maximum Eligible Pool
The award is limited to up to 15 percent of fee-paying international doctoral students. If more than 15 percent of eligible students qualify by publications, the selection among them is based on the ranking of their publication output.
No Concurrent Scholarships
You cannot hold this monthly stipend simultaneously with another university scholarship or state scholarship. If you're already receiving other institutional funding, you'll need to choose between them.
What the Scholarship Covers
- Monthly stipend equal to the university performance scholarship value, as set by the University Senate for the current academic year
- Paid monthly during the academic year (October through June, maximum 9 months)
- Award suspended during periods spent abroad
How to Apply
- Compile your publication evidence: List all papers published in eligible databases (Web of Science, SCOPUS, ISI Thomson Reuters, Elsevier, EBSCO as applicable to your field) that carry the University of Bucharest as your affiliation. Gather printed or downloaded citations or proof of publication for each.
- Prepare your application documents: Collect the completed application form, your signed statement of no other scholarship, your identity document, your UB transcript, a recommendation letter from a UB professor, and your evidence of publications.
- Submit to BCISS in July: Deliver the complete package to the Office for International Cooperation and Foreign Students (BCISS) during July of the preceding year. Confirm the exact submission dates for the current cycle on unibuc.ro.
- Await the decision: UB reviews applications, verifies publication records, and selects recipients from the top 15 percent of eligible doctoral students. You'll be notified before the academic year begins in October.
Required Documents
- Completed application form
- Signed statement confirming you don't receive another university or state scholarship
- Copy of your identity document (passport)
- Academic transcript from your PhD studies at UB
- Recommendation letter from a University of Bucharest professor or PhD supervisor
- Evidence of publications in eligible databases with UB affiliation listed (citations, DOIs, journal pages, or database printouts)
Key Dates & Deadlines
Applications are submitted to BCISS in July, covering the following academic year (October–June). The precise July window is set and communicated by UB annually. Check unibuc.ro and monitor communications from your faculty or doctoral school for the current year's submission dates.
Tips for a Strong Application
What helps
- Consistently listing the University of Bucharest as your institutional affiliation on all papers submitted during your doctoral studies — this is non-negotiable for eligibility
- Publishing in the highest-ranked databases for your field, since the quality and indexing of your venues affect your position relative to other applicants
- Keeping a running list of your publications with their database indexing and DOIs throughout your studies, so the July application is straightforward to compile
- Working closely with your PhD supervisor to accelerate publication timelines — the more indexed publications you have at application time, the stronger your case
- Checking the current Senate-approved stipend amount before applying, so you can accurately weigh whether the award is worth any tradeoffs with other funding you might hold
Common mistakes to avoid
- Submitting publications that don't list the University of Bucharest as your affiliation — these are excluded regardless of their quality
- Applying using publications in databases not recognized for your field (e.g., using EBSCO for natural sciences when Web of Science is required)
- Missing the July deadline — there are no extensions
- Holding another scholarship without disclosing it
- Neglecting to include the full publication evidence — a list of titles without verification printouts or DOIs may be insufficient
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the monthly stipend under the UB Financial Support for Academic Performance (PhD)?
The amount equals the university performance scholarship value as approved by the University Senate each academic year. This figure changes annually. Check with BCISS or the UB doctoral school before your July application to find the current amount — it's not published on the main scholarship page.
Do preprints or conference papers count for the UB PhD performance scholarship?
Only papers indexed in the specified databases (Web of Science, SCOPUS, ISI Thomson Reuters, Elsevier, EBSCO — depending on your field) count. Preprints, conference abstracts, and non-indexed publications do not qualify, even if they're available online.
Can I include papers I published before enrolling at UB in my PhD?
Papers published before your enrolment at UB — or under a different institutional affiliation — don't count. The requirement is specifically for publications carrying the University of Bucharest affiliation, meaning papers produced during your doctoral studies at UB.
Is the UB PhD performance scholarship available for all doctoral fields?
Yes, but the eligible database differs by field: Web of Science for natural/applied sciences; Web of Science or SCOPUS for social sciences; ISI Thomson Reuters, Elsevier, Scopus, or EBSCO for humanities. Make sure your publications are indexed in the right database for your discipline.
What happens if I go on a research visit abroad while receiving the UB PhD scholarship?
The scholarship is suspended during periods you spend abroad. It resumes when you return to active enrolment at UB. Plan your research visits with this in mind and notify BCISS of any extended time outside Romania.
Can I hold the UB PhD performance scholarship and the Romanian government scholarship at the same time?
No. Both UB's own scholarship and the Romanian government scholarship prohibit concurrent institutional awards. You must choose one if you're eligible for both. The government scholarship covers tuition and provides a stipend; the UB PhD award provides a monthly stipend only. Compare the two carefully.
How is the 15% cap applied if many students qualify?
If more than 15 percent of fee-paying international doctoral students at UB have eligible publications, those with the strongest publication records are selected. The ranking likely considers the number and quality (database tier, journal impact) of eligible publications. The university's academic affairs office manages this ranking.
Where do I submit evidence of my publications?
Include printed or downloaded citations from the relevant database, DOI links, or copies of the journal pages showing your name, affiliation, and publication details. Submit these as part of your July application package to BCISS.