Education
General information about high education system
Organization of the year of study
General information about high education system
In Moldova education is considered to be a national priority, the entire educational system being protected by the Constitution, the Law of Education, governmental decisions and orders of the Ministry of Education.
These legislative acts laid the foundation for the reform of the Moldovan system of education, focused mainly on the issues of reconstruction and modernization of the higher education system in compliance with principles and requirements of the Bologna Declaration.
The Republic of Moldova became member of the Bologna Process in May, 2005.
According to the amendments made to the current Law on Education, from the 1st of September 2005, higher education studies are based on 2 main cycles: I cycle - Licentiate (the duration of studies being 3 - 4 years) and the II cycle - Master (with the duration of 1 to 2 years).
Starting with the 2005-2006 academic year the I cycle - Licentiate has been introduced in all higher education institutions.
The II cycle was introduced in all HEIs from 2008-2009 academic year.
Doctoral studies have not been yet changed as to the Bologna Process. Doctoral Studies are regulated by the Science and Innovation Code and the Law of Education. These programmes include compulsory theoretical and practical courses provided in accordance with main fields of science. Theoretical courses comprise approximately 20 % of the programme (Foreign Languages, Computer Science and a fundamental discipline dealing with the research field) and the other 80 % deal with the individual scientific research.
The official implementation of the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) by all higher education institutions was stipulated in the amendments made to he current Law on Education in 2005.
A Guide on the implementation of the Credit Transfer System was elaborated in 2006.
The methodology of the credit system calculation envisages the use of 60 credits for one academic year. The ECTS system is used for both credit transfer and accumulation.
Since 2005 the Diploma Supplement is issued to each graduate automatically and free of charge, in the Romanian and English Languages.
The national model of the Diploma Supplement meets all European requirements. The Diploma Supplement is issued to graduates of the Licentiate and Master Programmes. Higher Education in Moldova is provided by universities, academies, institutes. The network of higher education institutions comprises 34 institutions, including 19 public, subordinated to the Ministry of Education and some other sector ministries and 15 private higher education institutions.
According official data, in 2011 there were about 103,9 thousand students in Moldova, including 84,946 (81,71%) in public and 19.010 (18,29%) in private HEIs. 72,1% of them are full -time students, 27,9% are part- time students. There are about 3.161 foreign student in HEIs of the Republic of Moldova. 84,500 of the whole number of students study in the Romanian language (78,4%), Russian is the language of instruction for 21.000 students (19,52%), for 1,400 students the language of instruction is English and for 0,8% of the whole number of students the languages of instruction are: Ukranian, Bulgarian, Gagauzian or French. According to official data 28,400 graduated HEIs in 2010.
Organization of the year of study
The academic year starts on the 1st of September. Each year is divided into two semesters. Each semester lasts fourteen weeks. Students have a summer holiday, a Christmas holiday, an Easter holiday and a holiday at the end of the first semester.
Examination takes place at the end of each semester. It may be oral or written. A re-examination period is scheduled before the beginning of the new academic year.
Classes are held from Monday to Friday.
The Moldovan higher education system provides full-time courses, part- time courses and distance learning. The part-time and distance learning courses may be only provided by higher education institutions that organize full time courses. The programs of such courses as usually one academic year longer than the full time courses programs.
Concerning certificates, there is a wide range of academic graduate and post-graduate diplomas and distinctions that one can obtain after studying in Moldova:
- Certificat de studii - A certificate awarded to students who have completed their studies in higher education, but have failed to get their degree.
- Diplomă de licenţă – Diploma of Licentiate (equivalent to Bachelor )
- Diplomă de magistru/master - Master Diploma.
- Diplomă de doctor - Doctoral Diploma (Ph.D.). This is the higher academic degree awarded in all domains of competition of 3 years of study and research. It follows the first academic degree (or master's degree) and requires the passing of examinations and the submission of a thesis. The holder of a doctoral diploma is granted the Ph.D. title in the respective field of science or arts.
- Doctor habilitat – the highest scientific degree awarded by higher education institutions to Moldovan and foreign prominent figures in science, technology and culture.
Admission to higher education is for graduates from high schools (lyceums), colleges and graduates from the higher education institutions. The studies may be of full-time or part-time attendance.
In the Republic of Moldova all citizens, irrespective of their nationality, gender, social origin, religion, places of residence, are guaranteed equal access to higher education. Admission to the higher education institutions is based on competition.
The admission is provided according to the Regulation on Admission approved by the Ministry of Education. The process of admission is not centralized. Each institution appoints an admission Committee consisting of representatives of the teaching staff and the officials.
The admission period is July-August for the citizens of the Republic of Moldova and August-October for foreigners.
International students willing to study in Moldova can apply to the chosen university, in order to receive the Letter of Acceptance.
The following application documents are requested:
1. Application form;
2. Certified copy of the Baccalaureate Diploma or equivalent - for undergraduate studies;
3. Certified copy of the graduation certificate - for graduate applicants or PhD;
4. Academic record translated into Romanian, English or French;
5. Language certificate;
6. Certified copy of the Birth Certificate;
7. Certified copy of the passport;
8. Legal record;
9. Medical certificate.
The application forms are available on the universities` web sites. The application form, study documents (in certified copies only), have to be mailed to the chosen university in order to receive the Acceptance Letter. The institutions may issue the Acceptance Letter in at least 2 months from the date of receiving the complete files. The official documents have to be submitted personally, in original, when applying/arriving in Moldova.
Before coming to Moldova, the international students should have their documents endorsed to the Moldovan embassies in their own countries; then, they should obtain a valid visa for studying in Moldova.
Deadline: The application file must be sent to Moldova by the 1st of September (for undergraduate and graduate studies), but there is no deadline for PhD applicants.
Admission to higher education institutions is based on the selection of application files. For applying to study architecture, arts, and sports, international students are required to present their portfolio. International students have to prove good knowledge of the languages of instruction (Romanian, English or French).
Usually, international students study Romanian during the preparatory/foundation year. The candidates who speak Romanian can skip the preparatory year after having passed a test of Romanian language. The candidates, who can formally prove that they have studied Romanian, do not need to pass the test.
The foreigners can apply for pursuing their studies at the following state and private accredited universities:
1. Universitatea de Stat din Moldova/ Moldova State University
mun. Chişinău, str. A. Mateevici, 60, tel. 57-74-01, 57-74-03, 57-74-09 rector@usm.md; www.usm.md
2. Universitatea Tehnică a Moldovei/Technical University of Moldova
mun. Chişinău, bd. Ştefan cel Mare, 168, tel. 27-78-61, 23-54-00, 23-54-08 extrel@adm.utm.md; www.utm.md
3. Academia de Studii Economice din Moldova/Moldova Academy of Economic Studies. anticamera@ase.md
mun. Chişinău, str. Mitropolit G. Bănulescu-Bodoni, 61, tel. 22-41-28, 22-45-58; www.ase.md
4. Universitatea de Stat de Medicină şi Farmacie "Nicolae Testemiţanu"/State Medical and Pharmaceutical University "NicolaeTestemiţeanu rector@usmf.md
mun. Chişinău, bd. Ştefan cel Mare, 165, tel. 24-34-08, 24-17-48, 24-24-11; http://www.usmf.md/
5. Universitatea Agrară de Stat din Moldova/State Agrarian University of Moldova
mun. Chişinău, str. Mirceşti, 44, tel.31-22-58, 31-22-76, 43-24-90 anticamera@uasm.md; http://www.uasm.md/
6. Universitatea Pedagogică de Stat "Ion Creangă"/"Ion Creanga" Pedagogical State University
mun. Chişinău, str. Ion Creangă, 1, tel. 74-33-38, 74-54-14 creangaups@yahoo.com; http://www.upsc.md/
7. Universitatea de Stat din Tiraspol (cu sediul în mun. Chişinău)/Tiraspol State University
mun. Chişinău, str.Iablocikin, 5, tel. 75-49-42, 75-49-24, 75-49-15 ustiraspol@gmail.com; http://www.ust.md/
8. Academia de Administrare Publică pe lîngă Preşedintele Republicii Moldova
mun. Chişinău, str. Ialoveni, 100, tel. 72-38-30; http://aap.gov.md/
9. Academia "Ştefan cel Mare"/ "Ştefan cel Mare" Academy
mun. Chişinău, str. Asachi, 21, tel. 73-59-03, 73.89.94 academia@mai.gov.md; http://academy.police.md/
10. Universitatea de Stat de Educaţie Fizică şi Sport/Sport and Phisical Education State University.
mun. Chişinău, str. Alba Iulia, 75, tel. 74-79-58 nipes@yandex.ru; http://www.usefs.md/
11. Academia de Muzică, Teatru şi Arte Plastice/ Academy of Music, Theatre and Fine Arts of Republic of Moldova
mun. Chişinău, str. A. Mateevici, 111, tel. 22-19-49, 23-82-14 anticamera.amtap@hmail.com; http://www.amtap.md/
12. Academia Militară a Forţelor Armate "Alexandru cel Bun"
mun. Chişinău, str. Haltei 23, tel. 54-51-60, 54-51-54 imfa@army.md; http://www.academy.army.md/
13. Institutul Relaţii Internaţionale din Moldova/International Relation Institute of Moldova
mun. Chişinău, str. A. Puşkin, 54, tel. 21-09-62, 21-07-88 irim-moldova@mail.md; http://irim.md/new/index.php
14. Universitatea de Stat "Alecu Russo" din Bălţi/State University "A. Russo", Bălţi
mun. Bălţi, str. Puşkin, 38, tel. (0-231) 2-30-66 , 2-35-70, 2-80-71, 2-44-8825 rectorat@usb.md; http://www.usb.md/
15. Universitatea de Stat "Bogdan Petriceicu Haşdeu"/"Bogdan Petriceicu Haşdeu” State University.
or. Cahul str. Independenţei, 1, tel. 0(239)2-24-81, 3-36-44 usc_cahul@mail.md; http://www.usch.md/
16. Universitatea de Stat din Comrat/Comrat State University
or. Comrat, str. Galaţan, 17, tel. (0-238) 2-43-45, 2-40-91 kdu_91@mail.ru; http://www.kdu.md/
1. Universitatea Liberă Internaţională din Moldova/Free International University of Moldova ulim@ulim.md
mun. Chişinău, str. Vlaicu Pîrcălab, 52, tel. 22-00-29, 23-70-99; www.ulim.md
2. Universitatea Cooperatist - Comercială din Moldova/Moldova Comercial-Cooperatist University
mun. Chişinău, bd. Gagarin, 8, tel. 27-02-03, 54-91-24 rectorat@uccm.md; http://www.uccm.md/
3. Institutul Internaţional de Management "IMI-NOVA"/"IMI-NOVA" International Institute of Management
mun. Chişinău, str. Hristo Botev, 9/1, tel. 56-85-36 imi-nova@mail.ru; http://www.imi-nova.md/#/Home
4. Universitatea de Studii Europene din Moldova/European Studies Moldova University
(mun. Chişinău, str. Alexei Mateevici, 60, tel. 24-50-40 usem_80@mail.ru; http://www.usem.md/
5. Institutul Nistrean de Economie şi Drept/Dnestrean Institute of Economy and Law
mun. Bălţi, str. Ştefan cel Mare, 82, tel. (0-231) 2-93-16 nistrean@rambler.ru
6. Universitatea "Perspectiva - INT"/"Perspectiva - INT" University
mun. Chişinău, str. Alba Iulia, 75, tel. 74-79-58 university@perspectiva.md; http://perspectiva.md/ro/index.php
7. Universitatea "Şcoala Antropologică Superioară"/”Higher Anthropological School” University
mun. Chişinău, str.Zimbrului, 10-A , tel. 43-83-42 stratum2004@mail.ru; http://www.ant.md/
8. Universitatea de Studii Politice şi Economice Europene/Political, Economical and European Studies University
mun. Chişinău, bd. Ştefan cel Mare 200. Tel. 74 94 86 uspee@mail.md; http://www.uspee.md/
9. Academia de Transporturi, Informatică şi Comunicaţii/Academy of Transport, Informatics and Communication
mun. Chişinău, str.Munceşti, 121"A", tel. 73-84-63, 78-50-29 atic@mtc.md; http://www.aticmd.md/
10. Universitatea Slavonă/Slavonic University
mun. Chişinău, str. Florilor, 28/1, tel. 43-03-81, 43-03-80, 43-03-82 l surm@meganet.md; http://www.surm.md/
Source: http://www.edu.gov.md/ro/studii-cetateni/
