Life in the country

Though the Romanian culture and lifestyle share some similarities with other east European countries, it is largely unique and provides an enriching experience. Romanians are warm, intelligent, and passionate as people. Street violence and car crime are barely visible in everyday society and are nowhere near as significant as Western Europe, although a few cities in Romania do cities pose problems for walking late at night. Whilst one should always take basic precautions, you are unlikely to encounter any sense of feeling unsafe in populated areas. This is partly because Romanian society is still a strong and cohesive community force with deep family and faith values.

Attitude and etiquette of the local people:

The basic etiquette that is followed by Romanians include the following:

• It is impolite to yawn without covering your mouth.
• When a person sneezes, Romanians often respond with ‘Sanatate’ (Good health) or ‘Noroc’ (Good luck).
• It is polite to not offer one’s seat to an elderly person. Romanians may offer their hand to help an elderly person get out of their seat, offer an arm for them to walk, and hold or open doors for them.
• Many Romanian men are taught to show chivalry to women, this includes opening doors and allowing them to enter. Older men may also kiss a woman’s hand when offering a greeting, although this is becoming outdated.
• Romanians remove their hats before entering buildings.
• It is impolite to chew gum or keep your hands in your pockets while speaking to someone of a higher status.
• People are expected to dress neatly within a professional setting to show respect to the person they are meeting. Older Romanians may dress more conservatively, ensuring their legs and shoulders are covered.
• It is common, and even polite, to fight over who is paying the bill.

Language & Culture

Romanian culture is rich and has an interesting position as the melting pot of the culture of the Balkans, Central Europe, and Eastern Europe. From the arts to cuisine, Romania has a ton to offer in terms of culture. The country also has an intriguing history which students of the humanities courses will find especially exciting. Many students will be interested in learning Romanian, which is the official language of the country, as well as Moldova, the second most commonly spoken language.

Romania is the ninth largest wine producer in the world. Romanian food consists of meat-heavy meals supported by vegetable side dishes. “Borsch” is a typical Romanian lunch, which is a hearty cabbage soup with bran.

Driving laws:

Visitors riding or driving in Romania should have reached the minimum age requirement laid down for residents of Romania.

Rules of the road:

• Drive on the right, overtake on the left. 
• Priority must always be given to ambulances, fire engines, trams, and marching columns.
• The use of the horn is prohibited in towns between 22:00pm and 06:00 am. At night, flashing lights are used instead of horns.
• Wearing seat belts is compulsory both in the front and back seats.
• Children under 12 years of age are not allowed to travel on the front seats of cars.

Major cities with varied course options.

More than just Dracula and medieval towns, Romania is a great country to consider for your study abroad experience. The qualifications provided therein are recognized around the whole of Europe, thanks to the fact that most Romanian universities align their programs with the Bologna System. Alongside a high-quality education, Romania can offer lower study and accommodation fees, the world's third-fastest Internet service, and education programs that are taught in a variety of foreign languages.

Some of the top universities in Romania are:

• Transilvania University of Brasov
• University of Bucharest
• University POLITEHNICA of Bucharest
• Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies
• Babes-Bolyai University
• Technical University of Cluj-Napoca
• Alexandru Ioan Cuza University
• Gheorghe Asachi Technical University of IaÈ™i
• West University of TimiÅŸoara
• Politehnica University of TimiÅŸoara

 Part-time and post-study work opportunities.

Part-time jobs are one form of employment that students can avail. With part-time jobs, students can work on a part-time basis of a certain number of hours a week while pursuing their studies. In Romania the working hours are less than 30 to 35 hours per week, thus students can get ample amount of time to focus on their studies. In order to join as a part-time employee, the students first have to research the appropriate jobs that cater to their needs and timings. With a workweek spanning over 10 – 30 hours, job positions can be occupied for as long as one is a student. Student jobs form an attractive option for students that wish to improve their employability skills in connection to their academic profile.

There are an ample amount of opportunities that students can avail. Romania has a large number of NGOs (non-governmental organizations/associations/foundations) with activities covering all areas of education, sustainable development, disabilities, and the environment. These organizations require volunteers to develop their activities and be useful to the community. This is a great way for students to meet friends, get some hands-on work experience, and give service back to the community.

‘Work While Study’ Option in Romania

In Romania, students are quickly hired for part-time jobs. Students are expected to submit their CV and a functional cover letter when applying for part-time vacancies. Students can search for jobs on various web portals or they can look for vacancies by taking the help of their university information center.

Part-time Jobs in Romania for International Students

There are various part-time opportunities for International students studying in Romania. The most common jobs include working in a call center. Students also work at gas stations, malls, IT offices, restaurants, and English tutors. The chances of getting well-paid jobs are high for those who fluently speak Romanian.

Internships in Romania 

Various organizations in Romania offer effective internships to eligible students. The internship will help students in getting work experience and acquiring contacts within the industry. Some of these are paid internships while others are training-based unpaid internships. 

Volunteering

A number of international students also prefer to work voluntarily in their free time. In Romania, NGOs are set up in every field covering education, environment, health, and disabilities. Students can gain hands-on work experience as well as community interaction through volunteer work.

Work Permit

Once a student completes a degree course from a Romanian University, he/she can look for a career-oriented job provided he/she possesses a valid work permit. To obtain a work permit the student will have to first look for a relevant job. If the employer is content with the students qualification and skills, and if no other EU employee suits the job requirement then the employer can recommend the student for the. Moreover, it is not easy to switch jobs for an international applicant, if they do so the applicant has to apply for a different work permit.