Imagine this: you cleared your FSc, your family has already told every relative, and your bags are half packed for Europe. Then your pharmacy admission letter arrives, and every lecture of the course is in French. It sounds like a joke, but it happens to students who assume that pharmacy, just like MBBS in Romania, is automatically taught in English.
Here is the plot twist: Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Bucharest, one of Romania’s most famous medical universities, offers no English path for pharmacy at all. The good news is that Romania is still one of the most affordable places in Europe to become a pharmacist. You get a five-year, 300-credit degree built on EU standards, with tuition of around €6,000 to €10,000 a year at the universities we shortlist. You just need to know which doors actually open in English.
That is exactly what this guide gives you. It ranks the three best pharmacy universities in Romania for international students, breaks down the real costs, and answers the questions Pakistani students ask most. Read it before you pay a single fee.
Last updated: October 2026. Fees and teaching languages are based on each university’s published admission information. They change every year, so always confirm the current figures before applying.
Is Pharmacy Taught in English in Romania? The Plot Twist Most Students Miss
Ask around and you will hear the same names again and again: Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Bucharest and Iuliu Hațieganu University in Cluj-Napoca. Both are excellent for medicine. For pharmacy, though, only one of them teaches in English.
Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy
BucharestIts English-taught modules are Medicine and Dentistry. Pharmacy has no English path: it is offered in French and Romanian, at about €10,000 a year.
FRENCH / ROMANIANIuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy
Cluj-NapocaMedicine and Dental Medicine run in English and French, and pharmacy is also offered in English, at about €10,000 a year.
ENGLISHThis does not make Carol Davila a bad university. It simply means it is the wrong shortlist for a student who wants pharmacy in English. Programmes and languages can change from year to year, so always confirm the current offer with your education consultant before applying.
How We Ranked the Best Pharmacy Universities in Romania
We looked at what matters most to a student coming from Pakistan: whether pharmacy is really taught in English to non-EU students, how transparent the fees are, how established the faculty is, and how realistic the city is for daily life and budget. Here is the shortlist at a glance, with the universities that do not teach pharmacy in English included for comparison.
| University | City | Pharmacy language for non-EU students | Programme | Approx. tuition per year (2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grigore T. Popa | Iași | English | 5 years, 300 ECTS | €8,000 |
| Victor Babeș | Timișoara | English | 5 years, 300 ECTS | €8,000 |
| Ovidius | Constanța | Romanian (no English path for pharmacy) | 5 years | About €6,000 |
| Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy | Bucharest | French and Romanian (no English path for pharmacy) | 5 years | About €10,000 |
| Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy | Cluj-Napoca | English | 5 years, 300 ECTS | About €10,000 |
Fees and language options change every year. Confirm the current figures and teaching language with the university or your education consultant before applying.
No. 1Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iași
Iași earns the top spot because it combines history, clear pricing, and a pharmacy faculty that international students have been joining for years. The medical school traces its roots to 1879, making it one of the oldest in Romania, and pharmacy there costs €8,000 a year for fee-paying international students.
Admission goes through the university’s online international platform, where you upload your documents and take an online interview, so you can apply without travelling first. Iași is also one of the larger student cities in Romania, which usually means more student housing options and a bigger international community.
Keep in mind that English-taught places are limited, so apply early, and check the language of instruction for your intake. Over five years, tuition alone comes to roughly €40,000.
No. 2Victor Babeș University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timișoara
Timișoara is the newest English-taught pharmacy programme on our list, and that is part of its appeal. The university launched Pharmacy in English in 2023, and the programme details are unusually clear: a five-year programme of 300 ECTS credits, a pharmacist bachelor degree at the end, 50 fee-paying places for non-EU citizens, and a tuition fee of €8,000 per year when it was announced. Non-EU candidates have been admitted to the English programme in the 2025–26 cycle and again in July 2026.
The curriculum is practical. Learning outcomes include designing and manufacturing medicines, analysing and controlling medicines and food supplements, and advising on health products, so graduates are prepared for more than the pharmacy counter. Timișoara itself is a lively, student-friendly city in western Romania.
One honest warning: a programme needs a minimum number of students to run. In September 2023, the English pharmacy course did not reach that minimum, and applicants were offered the French programme as their second option. Apply in the main session and keep a backup. Five years of tuition at €8,000 comes to roughly €40,000.
No. 3Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca
Cluj-Napoca is one of Romania’s best-known student cities, and Iuliu Hațieganu is a name many Pakistani families already recognise from medicine and dental medicine. Pharmacy is also offered in English here, which makes it a strong third option for students who want an English-taught degree.
The trade-off is cost. At about €10,000 a year, it is the most expensive of our three English-taught picks, and five years of tuition comes to roughly €50,000. English places are limited, so confirm the language of instruction and current fees for your intake before you apply.
Budget optionOvidius University, Constanța
Ovidius is the budget pick. Constanța is a coastal city on the Black Sea, with a quieter and generally lower-cost lifestyle than Bucharest or Cluj. Pharmacy there costs about €6,000 a year, so it can be noticeably cheaper than the other universities on this list. Over five years, that works out to roughly €30,000 in tuition.
It is listed as a budget option, not as an English-taught one. At Ovidius, Medicine (and Dental Medicine in some years) is offered in English, but pharmacy is taught in Romanian. That means Romanian-taught study usually needs Romanian language proficiency (around B1) or a preparatory year, which adds time and cost.
If you are comfortable with that, Ovidius is a strong value option for a student who wants a seaside city and a smaller budget.
How Much Does It Cost to Study Pharmacy in Romania?
Tuition is the biggest line in the budget, and the three universities sit in a fairly tight range. This chart compares yearly tuition so you can see the spread at a glance.
Tuition is not the whole bill. Plan for confirmation and language-test fees (Timișoara, for example, charged a €300 place-confirmation fee and a €50 English test fee in 2024–25), the visa and residence permit, health insurance, accommodation, food, books, flights, and document attestation and translation. Living costs in Romania are generally much lower than in Western Europe, which is a big part of why so many Pakistani families choose to study in Romania.
See which Romanian universities charge the least for medicine.
Not sure which pharmacy university fits you?
Tell the team at Global Migration Advisors your marks, budget, and goals. We will confirm the teaching language and current fees for each university, so you never land in a French-taught surprise.
Who Can Apply? Admission Requirements for Pharmacy in Romania
Requirements differ slightly by university, but most ask for the same core documents. Students who study in Romania from Pakistan usually apply with a science background, typically FSc Pre-Medical or equivalent with strong marks in Biology and Chemistry.
Certificates and transcripts are first verified by your education board, then attested by IBCC, and then by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (HEC attests degrees where required), and translated where required. Many universities rank applicants on their file and may add an online interview or an English test, and a B2 level in English is a common benchmark. Attestation mistakes are the number one cause of delays, so start early.
How to Apply for Pharmacy in Romania from Pakistan: 6 Steps
Six short steps, in the right order, keep your application out of trouble.
- Step 1Confirm the language
Check that pharmacy is taught in English for your intake.
- Step 2Attest your documents
Get certificates verified by your board first, then IBCC, then the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and translate where required.
- Step 3Apply online
Submit your application and complete any English test or interview.
- Step 4Secure your place
Pay the confirmation fee and receive your Letter of Acceptance from the Ministry of Education.
- Step 5Apply for your visa
Apply at the Romanian embassy with your acceptance letter, tuition proof, funds, and insurance.
- Step 6Get your residence permit
Apply at least 30 days before your visa’s right to stay expires.
Pharmacy or MBBS in Romania? The Numbers at Iași
If you are torn between becoming a pharmacist and a doctor, the fees at Iași make the difference concrete: medicine is €9,000 a year over six years, and pharmacy is €8,000 a year over five.
That is a gap of about €14,000 in tuition, plus one fewer year of living costs, for a career that is just as respected. Pharmacy suits students who love chemistry, medicines, and laboratory or industry work, while MBBS suits those who want direct clinical care of patients. If medicine is your goal, read our guide to MBBS in Romania, or see how MBBS in Romania from Pakistan works, from admission to visa.
Prefer clinical medicine? Compare the top medical universities Pakistani students shortlist.
Can You Work as a Pharmacist After Studying in Romania?
A Romanian pharmacy degree is a five-year programme of 300 credits, built on the framework that governs the pharmacist profession across the EU. That gives graduates a credible base for working in Europe, subject to each country’s licensing rules and language requirements, as well as in community pharmacies, hospitals, pharmaceutical manufacturing, quality control, and regulatory work.
If you plan to practise in Pakistan, check registration and equivalence requirements with the Pharmacy Council of Pakistan and HEC before you choose a university. Rules can change, so verify the current process first and treat licensing as part of the decision from day one.
3 Myths About Studying Pharmacy in Romania
Before you start, let us clear up the three things students get wrong most often.
Carol Davila has no English path for pharmacy, which is taught in both French and Romanian. Always check the language of your own intake.
It is its own five-year career, from designing and manufacturing medicines to quality control and community or hospital practice.
Confirmation fees, language tests, visa, insurance, and attestation all add up. Budget for them from day one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which are the best pharmacy universities in Romania for international students?
For English-taught pharmacy, our shortlist is Grigore T. Popa in Iași, Victor Babeș in Timișoara and Iuliu Hațieganu in Cluj-Napoca. Ovidius in Constanța is a budget option, but its pharmacy course is taught in Romanian. Carol Davila is strong for medicine, but it has no English path for pharmacy.
Is pharmacy taught in English in Romania?
Yes, at some universities, such as Iași, Timișoara and Cluj-Napoca. Others teach pharmacy to international students in French or Romanian, so always confirm the language for your intake year.
How much does it cost to study pharmacy in Romania?
Tuition at our shortlisted universities ranges from about €6,000 to €10,000 a year: Iași and Timișoara are around €8,000, Cluj-Napoca is about €10,000, and Ovidius is about €6,000. Add living, visa, and insurance costs, and confirm current fees before you apply.
Is a Romanian pharmacy degree valid in Pakistan?
Graduates generally need to meet the registration and equivalence requirements set in Pakistan. Check them with the Pharmacy Council of Pakistan and HEC before you choose a university, because rules can change.
Is pharmacy cheaper than MBBS in Romania?
Usually, yes. At Iași, pharmacy costs €8,000 a year for five years (€40,000), while medicine costs €9,000 a year for six (€54,000), a difference of about €14,000 in total tuition.
When should I apply?
As early as possible. Universities run admission sessions between spring and September, English places are limited, and visa processing takes time once you receive your Letter of Acceptance.
Final Thoughts
Choosing a pharmacy university is about more than a ranking. The right choice is the one that teaches in English, fits your budget, and leads to a licence you can actually use. Iași, Timișoara, and Cluj-Napoca give Pakistani students three realistic English-taught ways into Europe’s pharmacy profession, with Constanța as a budget option in Romanian, as long as you verify the language, the fees, and your registration path before you pay.
Whichever university you choose, start early, keep a backup option, and work with professional study abroad consultants for Romania who can confirm every detail and guide your admission, documents, and visa from start to finish.
