The National Alliance of Student Organizations in Romania calls for fee-paying students to be eligible for social scholarships, including through European funds

The National Alliance of Student Organizations in Romania (ANOSR) is calling on the Government and the Ministry of Education and Research to allow students enrolled in fee-paying places to receive social scholarships. The request was made on Monday during the ministry’s Social Dialogue Commission meeting, amid discussions on a draft regulation concerning the awarding of scholarships and other forms of financial support for students.

The draft regulation stipulates that universities involved in projects financed through the Education and Employment Programme 2021–2027 may pay social scholarships both from state budget funds and from their own revenues. The measure is linked to the increase, for the 2026–2027 academic year, of the scholarship and social protection fund through European funds from the European Social Fund Plus.

ANOSR argues, however, that current support remains insufficient in light of rising living costs. The organization also called in February for fee-paying students to be included in the mechanism for scholarships financed through European funds, but the proposal was rejected.

Students are calling for the reintroduction of the possibility for those enrolled on a fee-paying basis to receive financial support from the state budget, in addition to the social scholarships granted through the Education and Employment Programme. ANOSR believes this solution would provide permanent support and more equitable access to higher education.