Types of post-university studies

The post-university programs offered by the Romanian educational system are: 

• Postgraduate study programs for professional training of adults.
• Postdoctoral study programs.
• Residency postgraduate study programs.
• Professional training programs for adults.

Higher education institutions can carry out professional training programs for adults, different from those provided above, for students who have not completed short-term university studies, bachelor's, master's or doctorate.

• but only for level 5, according to the provisions of art. 21 para. (2) from Government Ordinance no. 129/2000 regarding professional training of adults, approved with amendments and additions by Law no. 375/2002, republished, with subsequent amendments and additions.

The specific workload, for carrying out the activities described in the curriculum of a postgraduate study program, is measured in accordance with the European Credit System Transferable (ECTS) and is expressed in transferable study credits. 

1. Advanced research postdoctoral study programs:

• are programs intended for people who obtained a Doctor of Science degree no more than 5 years before admission to the postdoctoral program or who participated and obtained the certificate of excellence in the "Marie Sklodowska Curie" competitions organized by the European Commission, regardless of the moment when they acquired the doctorate title.
• ensures the institutional framework for the development of research after the completion of doctoral university studies.
• have a duration of at least one year.
• they can be organized with public or private funding.

Postdoctoral study programs are conducted within a doctoral school, based on the research plan proposed by the postdoctoral researcher and approved by the doctoral school council. 

Postdoctoral programs can also be organized within research and development units. 

Admission to postdoctoral study programs is based on the methodology developed by the host institution, in accordance with the legislation in force. 

Upon completion of the postdoctoral program, IOSUD or the host institution awards a certificate of postdoctoral studies.

2. Postgraduate professional training programs for adults

Continuing professional training and development, professional conversion and re-conversion or personal development can be ensured through adult vocational training postgraduate study programs. 

The methodology-framework for the organization and implementation of postgraduate professional training programs for adults, as well as their types, is approved by order of the Minister of Education, at the proposal of NQA (ANC) and Romanian Agency for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ARACIS). 

Postgraduate professional training programs for adults can be organized with a fee or with funding from other sources.

Graduates with at least a bachelor's degree or equivalent are entitled to participate in postgraduate training and professional development programmes.

Upon completion of adult professional training postgraduate study programs, higher education institutions issue qualification certificates, respectively certificates of professional skills or partial qualification through micro-certification. 

3. Residency represents the specific form of postgraduate education for licensed graduates of medicine, dentistry/stomatology and pharmacy study programs 

It provides the necessary training to obtain one of the medical, dental and pharmaceutical specialties for the healthcare network.

The organization and financing of the residency is regulated by specific normative acts, after consultation with the accredited higher education institutions and with the faculties that have accredited medical, dental and pharmacy study programs.

4. The professional training programs for adults are organized in the areas of transversal competences and are completed with the attestation of transversal competences. 

The certificate of studies issued is called a certificate of attestation of transversal skills.

It ends with a certification exam of the skills required for a qualification/occupation.

Types of diplomas

On completion of the postdoctoral programmes, the postdoctoral researcher receives a postdoctoral certificate.

On completion of the postgraduate training and professional development programmes, the organising institution issues a qualification certificates, respectively certificates of professional skills or partial qualification through micro-certification.

Upon completion of the professional training programs for adults, the organizing institution issues a cross-skills attestation certificate.