Student Housing in Romania: University Dormitories (Cămine) and Private Rent
Fee figures: catalogue of 6 October 2026.
In Romania most students who move away from home live in university dormitories (cămine), run by the universities themselves. They are cheap by European standards, but places are limited and each university decides who gets one. The alternative is the private market, which costs much more. In this guide euro amounts use the rate of 19 October 2026, 1 EUR = 5.33 RON.
Who rents to students
- Universities. Each public university, and some private ones, has its own dormitories, usually grouped in a student campus. You apply to your own university, not to a city-wide organisation.
- Private landlords and agencies. Flats and rooms on the open market, often shared with other students.
Study in Romania, the Ministry of Education portal, advises non-EU students to check with their university whether it can offer a dormitory place and, if not, to find a private rental. You need the address settled early, because proof of accommodation is required for the visa and the residence permit.
Prices: what universities charge in 2026/27
Each university's senate sets dormitory fees per bed per month, and they depend on the building, the number of beds in the room and your status. Foreign students who pay their own tuition usually pay more than Romanian students. At Babeș-Bolyai, EU and EEA students pay the Romanian rate; at other universities, ask which category applies to you.
| University | Romanian students | Self-funded foreign students |
|---|---|---|
| Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca | 158–268 lei (about €30–€50) | 398–572 lei (about €75–€107) |
| Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca | 210–550 lei (about €39–€103) | 370–720 lei (about €69–€135) |
| University of Bacău | 245–585 lei (about €46–€110) | 375–585 lei (about €70–€110) |
These are rates for a bed in a shared room; single rooms cost more where they exist. Some students pay nothing: children of education staff, orphans, students from care and Romanian state scholarship holders are among the categories with free or reduced places at these universities. Babeș-Bolyai quotes its rates before VAT, which students housed for their studies do not pay.
How to apply
- Read your university's accommodation rules (regulament de cazare) as soon as you are admitted. They set the dates, the documents and how places are shared out.
- Apply through your faculty or the university's accommodation office, by the deadline. Each university sets its own allocation criteria in these rules.
- Non-EU students: ask the international office whether places are reserved for foreign students, and ask for a certificate of accommodation for the visa.
- Accept the place and pay as instructed; fees are set per month.
Demand is high in the large university cities, so do not count on a place in your first year. Apply even if you also look privately.
The private market
Rent on the open market is much higher than dormitory fees. There is no official rent index for students, so compare listings and ask your university's student organisations for advice.
- Sign a written rental contract in your name. IGI asks for proof that you have the right to use your home when you apply for the residence permit.
- Agree in writing on the deposit, on who pays utilities and internet, and on the notice period.
- Never pay a deposit before you have seen the room, or had it shown by video, and signed a contract.
Paperwork for the residence permit
When you apply for your residence permit at the General Inspectorate for Immigration (IGI), you show proof of accommodation: for example a dormitory certificate from the university or a rental contract. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens staying more than three months register their residence with IGI and also give an address. See student visa for Romania.
Scams
Fake landlords ask for money before you can see the flat or sign. Use the university's own channels for dormitories and be careful with offers that look too cheap. Read finding student housing in Europe without being scammed.
Tips
- Apply for a dormitory the moment you are admitted, and keep to the faculty's deadlines.
- Compare dormitory fees between universities in the same city: in Cluj-Napoca, for example, the two universities above charge different rates.
- Budget for food, transport and a few months of rent on top of your tuition. See how much it costs to study in Romania.
Where to look next
- How much it costs to study in Romania
- How to get into a university in Romania
- Student visa for Romania
- Document recognition for Romania
- Scholarships and student jobs in Romania
- Cities and programmes in Romania
Official sources
- Study in Romania: Admission procedures: accommodation and visa steps
- Babeș-Bolyai University: accommodation fees 2026/27 (in Romanian)
- Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy: dormitory fees 2026/27 (in Romanian)
- University of Bacău: dormitory fees 2026/27 (in Romanian)
- IGI: Studies: residence permit documents
Always check current information on the official website of the university before you apply.