Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy (Iași)

Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Iași is one of Romania's oldest medical training institutions: the medical faculty of the University of Iași was founded in 1879, giving the institution well over 140 years of educational tradition. Today it is organized into four faculties — in addition to Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmacy, there is also a Faculty of Medical Bioengineering, which is a distinctive feature among Romanian medical universities. Around 10,400 students are enrolled, with roughly a quarter coming from abroad — from 64 countries, according to the university.

Languages and International Profile

Instruction is offered in Romanian, English, and French. There is no German-language track in Iași, so the English-language program is the relevant option for you. The international proportion here is notably higher than at many other locations, which shapes daily life: lecture halls bring together fellow students from Western and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa. The university received accreditation status from the World Federation for Medical Education in 2020 and became a full member of the European University Association in 2022. Neither of these says anything about the quality of individual courses, but they do indicate that the institution aligns its procedures with international standards.

Eastern Romania as a Location

Iași is located in the far east of the country, just a few kilometers from the Prut River and thus from the border with the Republic of Moldova. The city was for centuries the capital of the Principality of Moldavia and remains the cultural center of the region to this day, home to several universities and a correspondingly large student population. For you, this means: a vibrant student life, a moderate price level — but also a peripheral location. From Germany, Iași is farther than Cluj or Timișoara, and anyone who wants to travel home regularly should realistically plan out travel times in advance. Unlike Transylvania or the Banat, there is no established German-speaking minority community here to connect with in everyday life. The Moldavia region is more distinctly Romanian than the west of the country, and that can be an advantage if you genuinely want to learn the language.

Clinical Training

Clinical training takes place at the city's hospitals, most notably at the historic Sfântul Spiridon Hospital, which has close ties to the university. As everywhere in Romania: instruction runs in English, ward rounds run in Romanian. Without the language course that is part of the curriculum from the start, you will remain a spectator rather than a participant during the clinical years.

Admission Without an Entrance Exam

Iași does not require a written entrance exam from international applicants. Selection is based on your school grades plus an online interview, which counts as an elimination criterion and is conducted in English. The entire process runs online. You can apply before receiving your final school-leaving certificate, but you must then submit it by the applicable deadline. For the 2026 intake, the application deadline for international candidates was at the end of May, interviews took place in June, and the first installment of tuition fees was due at the beginning of July. Applicants who do not pay on time forfeit their place, which is then passed on to the next candidate.

Costs

For 2026, the university lists 9,000 euros per academic year for Medicine, 9,000 euros for Dentistry, and 8,000 euros for Pharmacy, with a non-refundable processing fee of 200 euros on top. For living expenses, Iași is below the level of Cluj: market analyses for the second quarter of 2026 showed an average rent of around 450 euros for a two-room apartment, proportionally less when shared. University dormitory places are cheaper but limited.

Six Years, 360 ECTS

Medicine in Iași takes six years and is completed with 360 ECTS credits. The first years are pre-clinical, covering anatomy, biochemistry, and physiology; the second half of the program focuses on clinical rotations, including internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics, and gynecology. The language of instruction in the international program is English, with Romanian as a mandatory subject because you will need it on the wards. The program concludes with the Romanian final examination.

Returning to Germany

Because Romania has been an EU member since 2007, Directive 2005/36/EC applies to medical degrees: the degree is automatically recognized in Germany, and no equivalency review of your studies is required. You apply for the Approbation (medical license) at the responsible state authority, and two points remain to be addressed: proof of general German language proficiency and, depending on the federal state, a specialist language examination. Also factor in processing times, which can vary considerably between authorities. Anyone planning to transfer to a German university after one or two years should be aware that this depends on credit recognition by the target university and the availability of places in higher semesters, and is by no means standard.

A University City in the East

Iași is very much a university city: several institutions share the city, and the audience in cafés, libraries, and parks skews accordingly young. The old town with the Cultural Palace and the Orthodox monasteries is easy to explore on foot, and the price level is lower than in Cluj or Bucharest.

Housing and Getting There

Students live in dormitories or privately in shared apartments; most international students organize themselves through their year-group networks. There is no established German-speaking community like in the Banat or Transylvania — your reference group will be the international cohort. Iași Airport is one of the country's fastest-growing and is served by low-cost airlines connecting to destinations in Western and Central Europe. Direct routes change seasonally, so check the specific connections for your home airport before calculating travel costs.

Do I need to take an entrance exam?

No. Iași selects international applicants based on school grades and an online interview in English. The interview is, however, an elimination criterion — it is not merely a formality. There is no written exam in biology or chemistry.

How high are the tuition fees?

For 2026, the university lists 9,000 euros per year for Medicine and Dentistry, and 8,000 euros for Pharmacy. A non-refundable processing fee of 200 euros is added on top. A significant portion of the annual fee is already due at the time of place confirmation in summer.

Can I study in German or French in Iași?

Not in German. The university is accredited for Romanian, English, and French. For applicants from Germany, the English-language program is therefore the practical option in practice, unless you speak French at a good level.

How do I get from Germany to Iași?

Via Iași Airport, which is served by low-cost airlines connecting to European destinations. The city is located in the far east of Romania, near the border with the Republic of Moldova, so the journey is longer than to Cluj or Timișoara. Check current routes before budgeting fixed travel costs.

Is the degree valid in Germany?

Yes, Romania is an EU member and the medical degree is automatically recognized under Directive 2005/36/EC. For the Approbation you will still need to submit an application to the responsible state authority and provide the required language documentation, including a specialist language examination in many federal states.