Romania Proposes 300 Lei Social Scholarship for 2026-2027, Payments Limited to School Terms

Romania's Ministry of Education is proposing a monthly social scholarship of 300 lei for the 2026-2027 academic year. A key change in the draft methodology is that the scholarship will only be paid during school terms, not during vacation periods. This adjustment aims to align scholarship payments with the active school year.

The proposed changes, outlined in a draft modification of Government Decision no. 732/2025, also set the technological scholarship at 300 lei per month, while the merit scholarship remains at 450 lei. The Ministry of Education has submitted this draft for approval, and it is not yet a definitive regulation until a government decision is adopted and published.

Eligibility for the social scholarship is broad. It is intended for students attending full-time pre-university education, including primary, gimnazial, liceal, and professional levels, as well as dual education. For students from low-income families, the net average income per family member must be less than 50% of the net minimum wage. In 2026, this threshold would be approximately 1,349.5 lei, based on a net minimum wage of 2,699 lei.

Beyond financial criteria, the social scholarship also caters to students who have lost one or both parents, those under special protection measures like foster care, and students with certain medical conditions. The draft clarifies that for medical eligibility, specific documentation is required, and a general disability certificate or medical certificate issued under different criteria will not suffice. Students with oncological or chronic conditions attending "Hospital School" or home-based education for over four weeks are also eligible, as are those returning to their school after such periods.