University of Bucharest - Financial Support for Nationals of Developing Countries

Overview

The University of Bucharest reserves a small set of financial support slots specifically for students from developing countries who are paying tuition in foreign currency. If you're from a developing country, you've been enrolled at UB for at least a year, and your grade average from that year was 7.0 or above, you may qualify for a 50 percent tuition fee reduction for the following academic year. Up to 10 students receive this support annually across all faculties.

The programme sits alongside UB's academic performance scholarship but is distinct in its selection basis. While the academic performance scholarship ranks students within their specialization by grades alone, the developing-countries scholarship has a fixed national pool of up to 10 awards distributed across all eligible developing-country students at the university. The 7.0 average requirement is a threshold — meeting it qualifies you, but the final selection among qualified applicants is still competitive given the small number of awards.

The application process is simple and mirrors the academic performance scholarship exactly: completed form, signed statement of no other scholarship, identity document, UB transcript, and a professor recommendation letter — all submitted to BCISS in July. If you hold any other university or state scholarship, you cannot receive this award simultaneously. The same July timeline applies, and the award covers a maximum of nine months (October to June).

Key Facts at a Glance

Eligibility Criteria

Country of Origin

You must be a citizen of a country classified as a developing country under internationally recognized criteria. If you're unsure whether your country qualifies, check the UN or World Bank classification lists, or contact BCISS directly before investing time in the application.

Tuition Payment Status

You must be paying tuition in foreign currency at the University of Bucharest. Students who study under government-to-government agreements or who receive fee exemptions under other programmes are not in the same category as fee-paying students for this purpose.

Enrolment and Academic Record

You must already be enrolled at UB and have completed at least one academic year there. Your grade average from the previous year at UB must be at least 7.0 out of 10. Grades from your home country institution or a previous university don't substitute for a UB grade record.

No Concurrent Scholarships

You cannot hold this support simultaneously with another university scholarship or state scholarship. Disclose any other scholarships you receive when applying.

What the Scholarship Covers

• 50% reduction of your annual tuition fee for the following academic year
• Coverage for a maximum of nine months (October through June)
• Applied to the tuition charged in foreign currency

How to Apply

1. Confirm developing-country status: Verify that your country is recognized as a developing country under international criteria. If there's any ambiguity, contact BCISS at the University of Bucharest to clarify before preparing your documents.
2. Check your academic record: Confirm that your grade average from the previous year at UB is at least 7.0 out of 10. If it's lower, you don't meet the threshold.
3. Prepare your documents: Complete the application form, draft a statement confirming you don't hold another scholarship, gather your UB transcript, obtain a recommendation letter from a UB professor, and copy your identity document.
4. Submit to BCISS in July: Deliver your complete application package to the Office for International Cooperation and Foreign Students (BCISS) during July. The exact dates are published by UB each year — check unibuc.ro.
5. Await the decision: UB reviews all applications and selects up to 10 students from developing countries. You'll be notified of the outcome before the start of the following academic year.

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 studies at the University of Bucharest (showing 7.0+ average)
• Recommendation letter from a University of Bucharest professor

Key Dates & Deadlines

Applications are submitted in July each year for the following academic year (October–June). The exact July submission window is set annually by UB. Monitor unibuc.ro and communications from BCISS to confirm the current year's dates. The deadline is firm — late applications are not accepted.

Tips for a Strong Application

What helps

• Maintaining a grade average well above the 7.0 minimum, since all qualifying applicants compete for only 10 awards across the whole university
• Obtaining a recommendation letter that's specific and substantive — a brief or formulaic letter won't differentiate you from other candidates
• Submitting early in July rather than at the last minute, to ensure administrative processing doesn't catch you out
• Confirming your developing-country status with BCISS before submitting, rather than assuming your country qualifies
• Being transparent about any other financial support you receive — undisclosed concurrent scholarships can result in revocation

Common mistakes to avoid

• Applying in your first year at UB — you need at least one completed year with a UB transcript before you're eligible
• Missing the July deadline — there are no extensions
• Submitting incomplete documents — all five required items are mandatory
• Holding another scholarship without disclosing it in your signed statement
• Assuming you'll automatically receive the award because your average is above 7.0 — with up to 10 awards for the entire university, the competition is real even among qualified applicants

Frequently Asked Questions

How many awards does UB give under the Financial Support for Nationals of Developing Countries each year?

Up to 10 awards are granted per year, distributed across all eligible developing-country students at the University of Bucharest at all levels — Bachelor's, Master's, and PhD. This is a very small pool, so meeting the minimum 7.0 average is necessary but not sufficient on its own.

Can PhD students at UB apply for the Developing Countries scholarship?

Yes. The programme covers Bachelor's, Master's, and PhD students at the University of Bucharest who are citizens of developing countries paying tuition in foreign currency and who have completed at least one year at UB with a minimum 7.0 average.

What is the minimum grade average required for the UB Developing Countries scholarship?

You need a minimum average of 7.0 out of 10 from your previous year of study at the University of Bucharest specifically. Grades from other institutions don't count.

Can I receive both the UB Academic Performance scholarship and the Developing Countries scholarship?

No. Both programmes prohibit holding multiple scholarships simultaneously. You must choose one if you qualify for both.

Does the scholarship cover dormitory accommodation at UB?

No. This scholarship covers only the 50% tuition fee reduction. If you need accommodation support, that would require a separate application or arrangement through UB's housing office.

Is a recommendation letter from any UB professor acceptable?

Yes, any University of Bucharest professor can write the recommendation. Ideally, choose someone who knows your academic work directly — a supervisor, thesis advisor, or professor whose course you've taken and performed well in.

If I qualify as a citizen of a developing country, can I also apply under the Academic Performance scholarship?

Yes, you can apply to both programmes, but you can only hold one at a time. If selected for both, you'll need to declare which one you accept. It's worth applying to both to maximize your chances of receiving at least one.

Does this scholarship apply to tuition fees billed in Romanian lei?

The programme targets students paying tuition in foreign currency. If your fees are billed in lei under a specific government agreement, you may not fall within the eligible category — contact BCISS to clarify your specific payment arrangement.