CATALOGUE OF DOCTORAL STUDY FIELDS

Brochure of Doctoral Studies within IOSUD-ULBS

Guide for Doctoral Students at IOSUD-ULBS

About doctoral studies in Romania

In Romania, doctoral studies represent the third cycle of university studies. The purpose of this cycle is to develop competent human resources in scientific research and prepare them for the highly skilled labor market. Consisting of research training for research, development, and innovation, they constitute professional research experience. After defending the doctoral thesis, the title of doctor is awarded. Doctoral studies lead to a Level 8 qualification in the European Qualifications Framework for Lifelong Learning (EQF) and the National Qualifications Framework for Higher Education (CNCIS).

Doctoral studies are regulated by Law No. 199/2023 on Higher Education, as amended and supplemented, as well as by the Framework Regulation on Doctoral Studies, which was approved by Order No. 3020/2024 of the Ministry of Education, as amended and supplemented. Doctoral programs are organized within doctoral schools (Article 61, Paragraph 2 of Law No. 199/2023) and fall under two categories: scientific and professional doctorates (Article 61, Paragraph 6 of Law No. 199/2023). Doctoral studies are organized as full-time (with scholarship) or part-time (without scholarship) education. The duration of the program is usually four years. Only graduates with a master's degree or its equivalent are eligible to participate in the doctoral program admission process. The total number of transferable credits acquired in the bachelor's and master's degree programs must be at least 300 (Art. 57 of L.E.N. 199/2023, as amended by OUG. 72/2023 and Art. 66 of L.E.N. 199/2023).

Doctoral students are assisted by an Academic Guidance and Integrity Committee in completing their doctoral studies. Members of the academic guidance and integrity committee may be part of the doctoral supervisor's research team, other persons affiliated with the doctoral school, or teaching and research staff not affiliated with it. At least one member of this committee is from outside the higher education institution.

The doctoral program consists of: 

a) The training program based on advanced academic studies

The training program based on advanced university studies is a tool for enriching the knowledge of the doctoral student and helps them to carry out their individual scientific research or applied research/artistic creation program in good conditions and to acquire advanced skills specific to the doctoral university studies cycle. Within the training program based on advanced university studies, doctoral students participate in the first year of doctoral studies in activities within 4-8 doctoral study disciplines. Completing and passing the subjects in the advanced university studies-based training program leads to the award of 30 transferable credits established at doctoral school level. In the case of doctoral programs in the field of Medicine, the advanced university studies-based training program totals 60 transferable credits.

b) The individual program of scientific research or applied research/artistic creation.

The main objective of the individual scientific research or applied research/artistic creation program is for the doctoral student to write their doctoral thesis and disseminate their research results. The doctoral supervisor is responsible for the structure, content, implementation, and organization of this program. The individual scientific research or applied research/artistic creation program requires the doctoral student to participate in one or more scientific projects established by the doctoral supervisor. In order to ensure a coherent scientific or applied research/artistic creation path for the doctoral student, the following are planned within the individual scientific research or applied research/artistic creation program at least 4 oral presentations in front of the doctoral supervisor and the academic guidance and integrity committee, each based on a written report by the doctoral student (of which at least one is the scientific research or applied research/artistic creation project).

The completion of doctoral studies, regardless of the type of doctoral program pursued, is achieved through the public defense of the doctoral thesis. The doctoral thesis is defended in a public session before an evaluation committee made up of specialists in the field, from Romania or abroad.

Following the public defense of the thesis, the evaluation committee proposes whether or not to award the scientific title of "Doctor."

After the public defense of the doctoral thesis, the file with the documents certifying the completion of the doctorate is sent to the National Council for the Accreditation of Academic Titles, Diplomas, and Certificates within the Ministry of Education and Research in Bucharest in order to issue a favorable opinion regarding compliance with the administrative procedure carried out at the IOSUD level and compliance with the minimum criteria for awarding the doctoral degree. Based on the approval of the CNATDCU, IOSUD issues the decision to award the doctoral degree, signed by the rector of ULBS, and prepares and issues the doctoral degree.

Admission to doctoral programs for foreign citizens

For foreign citizens who wish to enroll in doctoral studies at IOSUD-ULBS, the admission process is regulated by OMEN No. 3473/2017 regarding the approval of the Methodology for the admission and schooling of foreign citizens and Order No. 3693/ 2024 approving the Framework Methodology for the organisation of admission to higher education in short-term, bachelor's, master's and doctoral university study cycles.

The legalized required documents, translated into Romanian/English, are:

a) birth certificate - copy and legalized translation;
b) copy of the document certifying permanent residence abroad;
c) copy of passport;
d) Application for the issuance of the letter of acceptance for studies, provided in Annex No. 2, completed in all sections;
e) copy and certified translation of the high school diploma or its equivalent, authenticated by the relevant authorities in the issuing country;
f) a copy and certified translation of the bachelor's degree or its equivalent, authenticated by the relevant authorities in the issuing country;
g) a copy and certified translation of the master's degree or its equivalent, authenticated by the relevant authorities in the issuing country;
h) a copy and certified translation of the certificate attesting to the passing of the bachelor's degree exam, for graduates of the current year;
i) transcripts/diploma supplements - copies and certified translations, related to the studies completed;
j) certificate of completion of the Romanian language year or language proficiency certificate, as applicable, in accordance with Articles 5 and 6 of Order No. 3693/2024;
k) medical certificate (in an internationally recognized language) certifying that the person applying for studies does not suffer from contagious diseases or other conditions incompatible with the future profession.

Candidates shall submit their files directly to the accredited or provisionally authorized higher education institutions of their choice. Higher education institutions shall evaluate the files in accordance with the regulations in force and shall communicate to the MEC – DGRIAE the list of persons proposed for the issuance of the letter of acceptance. The MEC shall send the letters of acceptance to the higher education institution and, where appropriate, to the diplomatic missions.

Tuition fees
Foreign citizens who have obtained recognition of their studies for the purpose of enrolling in a doctoral program will pay or not pay fees, according to the decision of the Ministry of Education and Research in Bucharest, as recorded in the Distribution Order.

In accordance with the provisions of Law 316/12. 07.2006, "as of the date of Romania's accession to the European Union, citizens of European Union member states shall have access to all forms and levels of education under the same conditions as those provided by law for Romanian citizens, including with regard to tuition fees."

The minimum amount of tuition fees and the conditions for payment of studies on one's own foreign currency account for foreign citizens from countries that are not members of the European Union, as well as those that are not part of the European Economic Area and the Swiss Confederation, are stipulated in GEO No. 22/29 August 2009.