Second-cycle programmes

7.Higher education

7.3Second-cycle programmes

Last update: 18 March 2025

Master's studies correspond to 90-120 ECTS credits, 30 credits for each semester (1,5 to 2 study years). The type and contents of the Master's study programmes, as well as the number of ECTS credits, are established by the organising institutions in such a way that the total cumulative duration of the studies at cycle I (Bachelor) and cycle II (Master) is at least 300 ECTS credits.

In the case of part-time and distance education, the duration of Master's programmes is one semester longer compared to the duration of full-time studies. The number of ECTS credits and the content of the Master's programme are the same for all forms of education (full-time, part-time and distance). The total number of ECTS credits is distributed proportionally by years and semesters of studies.

Integrated higher education studies (cycles I and II) refer to the higher education ISCED level 7, and are organised in the fields of medicine and pharmacy, veterinary medicine, and architecture.

Integrated higher education studies are organised only in full-time format. The cumulative duration will correspond to at least 300 ECTS credits.

The diploma issued upon completion of integrated higher studies (cycles I and II) is equivalent to the Master's diploma.

Branches of study

According to the Education Code, the Master's programmes refer to the higher education 7 ISCED level (European Qualification Framework) and are aligned with level 7 of the National Qualifications Framework (NQF). At the end of the programme, university students are awarded a Master's Degree Diploma in a respective study field (fields).

The higher education institution must offer an individualised Master's programme within the professional training field, which will contain at least 20% specialised courses (or modules), different from other Master's programmes in the same field. Classification of broad fields of studies and professional training fields is established by the Government Decision no. 412 of 12.06.2024 regarding the “Nomenclature for professional training fields and specialties of higher education”:

The ten different fields of education based on the international ISCED classification are:

01 Education:
02 Arts and humanities
03 Social sciences, journalism and information
04 Business, administration and law
05 Natural sciences, mathematics and statistics
06 Information and communication technologies (ICTs)
07 Engineering, manufacturing and construction
08 Agriculture, forestry, fisheries and veterinary
09 Health
10 Services

Master's higher studies (cycle II) offer:

deepening programmes, which ensure the development of skills in a specialty in the field of professional training studied in the cycle I (Bachelor);
interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary programmes, which ensure the development of specific transversal skills in two or more fields of professional training;
complementary programmes, which supplement the competences obtained in cycle I (Bachelor), to expand the area of professional insertion.

Master's studies are carried out through two types of programmes:

scientific Master's degree, mainly oriented towards the training of scientific research skills and whose purpose is the production of scientific knowledge;
professional Master's degree, aimed at consolidating professional skills in one (or more) professional training field and which can form a basis for a professional career, thus ensuring the continuation of undergraduate studies and access to the labor market.

The length of Master's programmes is 90-120 ECTS credits, 30 ECTS credits for each semester. The duration of studies is 1.5 to 2 academic years.

The type and contents of the Master's study programmes, as well as the number of ECTS credits, are established by the organising institutions in such a way that the total cumulative duration of the studies at cycle I (Bachelor) and cycle II (Master) is at least 300 ECTS credits.

Integrated higher education studies (cycles I and II) refer to the higher education ISCED level 7, are aligned to the level 7 of the NQF, and are organised in the fields of medicine and pharmacy, veterinary medicine, and architecture. The diploma issued upon completion of integrated higher studies is equivalent to the Master's diploma.

The cumulative duration of Integrated higher education studies (cycles I and II) will correspond to at least 300 ECTS credits and are organised only in full-time format.

The following branches of studies are aligned to international and European Union regulations: medicine and pharmacy; veterinary medicine; architecture. The Master's studies have a length that varies according to the field:

300 ECTS (4.5 years) – for stomatology and pharmacy.
360 ECTS (5 years) – for health (general medicine) and veterinary medicine.

The integrated higher education programmes in the field of health end with the mandatory defence of thesis and, at the decision of the institution, the graduation exam. The diploma of integrated higher studies (Bachelor and Master) in the field of health is issued after the completion of these programmes. This diploma confers the right to participate in the admission competition to residency studies and doctoral higher education programmes.

Admission requirements

All individuals, holders of a Bachelor's degree (diploma de studii superioare de licenţă) or a recognized equivalent document can participate in the admission competition for Master's higher studies (cycle II).

Admission to public and private higher education institutions is organised only for accredited or provisionally authorised study programmes.

The requirements for the organisation of the admission competition are established in the Regulation regarding the organisation and conduct of higher master's studies - cycle II, approved by the Government in 2022.

Master's studies can be offered in the following funding formats:

financed from the state budget, within the limits set annually by the Government;
with tuition fees;
with mixed financing.

The maximum number of course places is determined within the limit of registration capacity established by accreditation or provisional authorisation of the respective study programmes. The government establishes each year the state admission command (number of students per study programme) with funding from the state budget and without tuition fees.

Citizens of the Republic of Moldova can benefit from the right of access to higher education financed from the state budget (without tuition fees) only once per each cycle of higher education.

Higher education institutions inform candidates about admission methodology and educational offer, by displaying on the institutional web page the following information:

Master's programmes to which admission is organised;
number of places budgeted by the state and those with study fees, offered for each Master's programme;
admission calendar (basic session and additional sessions), dates of presentation of original documents, dates of displaying intermediate and final results;
institutional admission methodology, including specific criteria for the electronic submission of the file for the admission competition to the Master's degree programmes offered;
necessary conditions and documents for registration in the admission competition;
teaching languages of the Master's programmes;
study fees, etc.

Candidates have the right to register for the admission competition simultaneously at one or more higher education institutions, in various fields of Master's programmes. After the completion of the admission procedures, the student can only be enrolled in a single Master's programme within a single higher education institution. The candidate who succeeded in the admission competition will be enrolled as a student only after submitting the original documents within the set deadline.

Admission facilities:

Admission outside the competition (within the limits of the budgetary funded places) for: holders of a Bachelor's degree (diploma de studii superioare de licenţă) with a general average grade of at least 9.01 (A) in the same field of study.

Preconditions for enrolment:

Gathering 30 ECTS credits in relevant fundamental and specialised subjects is compulsory for those candidates, who applied for a different Master's programme than their initial training at the Bachelor programme (I cycle). This minimum 30 ECTS credits requirement serves as a prerequisite for enrollment in their chosen Master's programme.

This initial curricular minimum can be obtained outside the core programme, as well as through optional courses within the Bachelor's programme. Additionally, it can be partially or fully accumulated by transferring ECTS credits earned from relevant courses within the Bachelor's programme. Exceptionally, this curricular minimum can also be accumulated during Master's studies in an additional semester – 30 ECTS credits, organised preliminarily with tuition fees.

The methodology for accumulating the curricular minimum is developed by the university, at the department and faculty level, and is published on the official web page of the higher education institution.

Recognition of studies completed abroad:

Higher education institutions have a procedure for recognition and equivalence of periods of study abroad for people applying for studies in their educational programmes. The methodology for recognition and equivalence of periods of study abroad is established by the Ministry of Education and Research.

Recognition of professional competences:

Individuals, with at least one year of professional experience in the field of the Master's programme and who continue to work in the relevant field, are awarded the set number of ECTS credits, based on the skills assessment by the responsible university department, in accordance with a methodology approved by the faculty and published on the official web page of the higher education institution.

Curriculum

Higher education institutions are autonomous in deciding on the content of Master's study programmes. The quality of the respective programmes is ensured at the respective faculty and department levels.

However, the Regulation regarding the organisation and conduct of higher Master's studies - cycle II, approved by the Government in 2022, establishes several requirements for the development and implementation of the Master's programmes. The regulation states that a Master's studies programme should be individualised within the professional training field and must contain at least 20% specialised courses (or modules), different from other Master's programmes in the same field. The Master's higher studies programme does not contain subjects taught in the first cycle - Bachelor's degree. Internships must constitute 8-12% of the total number of ECTS credits allocated to the Master's programme.

The scientific Master's programme includes core courses, providing fundamental and advanced knowledge in the field, comprising approximately 40% of the total ECTS credits, and about 25% of specialised courses or modules for practical and complementary training.

The professional Master's programme follows a similar structure, focusing on specialised modules and practical training essential for integrating graduates into the job market.

The allocation of classroom (face-to-face) hours versus individual study hours is determined by the higher education institution based on the type of Master's programme and the specifics of each course (or module). Generally, for full-time education, the ratio is approximately one hour of classroom instruction to 2-3 hours of individual study. For part-time and distance learning, the ratio typically increases up to 4 hours of individual study to one hour of classroom instruction.

The study programmes are subject to provisional operation authorisation and accreditation. After obtaining accreditation, at least once every 5 years, the study programmes and higher education institutions are subject to periodic external evaluation, with a view to re-accreditation.

Linguistic variants

Master's degree studies are primarily conducted in Romanian. However, certain programmes provide courses in internationally recognised languages such as English, French, German, and Russian, based on the capacities of the higher education institutions.

Teaching methods

Teachers are free to choose their own teaching methods and must describe them previously in the curriculum of the course.

The core content of the course is organised into different types of activities: lectures for a large number of students, small group activities (seminars, practical and laboratory work, case studies, group projects), individual study, etc. Institutional regulations set the number of students in academic groups – usually between 15 and 25.

There is a growing trend towards utilizing new technologies and interactive methods in Master’s programmes. Universities actively promote the adoption of innovative teaching approaches such as student-centred, problem-based, research-oriented, and ICT-enhanced methods. Lecturers employ multimedia tools, interactive software, and online resources to enhance learning experiences. Specialised training sessions, both at institutional and national levels, support educators in integrating these modern methods into their teaching practices.

E-learning technologies are being increasingly integrated into curriculum delivery. Many institutions require course materials to be accessible via online learning platforms as a standard for teacher promotion and academic advancement.

The recommended (mandatory and additional) bibliography, necessary for acquiring the course is indicated in the course curriculum. Students have free of charge access to teaching materials from university libraries.

Master's study programmes involve alternating periods of academic study with practical work experience. The internship is a mandatory part of the Master's programme and is carried out based on the contract concluded between the higher education institution, the student and the structure that offers the internship (company, institution, etc.).

Progression of students

Students are promoted from one stage of the Master's programme to the next based on successful completion of required courses, fulfilment of ECTS credit requirements, and compliance with institutional regulations.

Full-time students must earn a minimum of 40 ECTS credits per academic year to advance. Part-time and distance education students must complete at least 65% of planned ECTS credits annually to progress. Failure to meet these requirements may result in expulsion unless the remaining credits are completed during the current enrolment year. Students may have two repeated attempts to pass failed exams and an additional attempt under a special decision of the faculty-level quality assurance committee.

Master's studies correspond to a number of 90-120 ECTS credits, 30 credits for each semester (1.5 to 2 study years). The duration of Master's programmes in part-time and distance education is longer by one semester compared to the duration of studies in full-time education. In this case, the total number of ECTS credits is distributed proportionally by years and semesters of studies.

An additional semester to the Master's programme (with tuition fee) is organised for students who must accumulate a minimum of 30 ECTS credits, required as a prerequisite for enrollment. Students who fail to accumulate this minimum within the designated timeframe, lose their student status and are subsequently expelled.

A student facing expulsion due to academic failure has the option to request a repeat of the semester or academic year. This involves the payment of tuition fees for ungraded courses.

In the case of integrated studies (cycles I and II), their cumulative duration will correspond to at least 300 ECTS credits. For the integrated higher education studies in the field of health – 4-6 years for programmes of 240-360 ECTS credits.

The terms and conditions of the final evaluation are approved by the higher education institution, following the basic requirements stipulated in the Regulation regarding the organisation and conduct of higher Master's studies - cycle II, approved by the government.

Master's theses and projects are defended publicly, in front of the evaluation commissions established by the rector of the higher education institution. The Master's theses evaluation committees are made up of at least 5 scientific and teaching staff, but may also include employer representatives.

If the Master's thesis or Master's project is written in a language other than Romanian, it is accompanied by a summary written in Romanian.

Students may have two repeated attempts (bearing the costs of the examination) to defend the Master's thesis (or project), if they failed it in the scheduled session. For the repeated defence, the student requests the reconfirmation of the theme of the Master's thesis (or project).

If the students failed in the third attempt to defend the Master's thesis (or project), they will be issued a certificate of completion of the Master's programme and the respective academic certificate.

Employability

Student internships represent a mandatory form of training at the Master’s degree studies. The internships help to obtain both general and specific competencies in their professional field and facilitate graduate access to the labour market. The internships must constitute on average 10% of the total number of ECTS credits assigned to the Master's programme. The allocation of ECTS credits for internships is determined by the higher education institution based on the type of Master's programme and the field of study – with 1-2 ECTS credits for a full week of internship.

The terms and conditions of the internship are regulated by the Ministry of Education and Research through the Framework Regulation regarding Internships in higher education, adopted in 2014. Higher education institutions develop institutional regulations on internships. Students can have internships in the public or private sector, within the country or abroad, provided that this activity is included in the relevant Master's study programme.

Most higher education institutions include employers in the evaluation committees for the final assessment of Master's studies (cycle II).

Higher education institutions are increasingly setting up University Career Guidance Centres. They combine student counselling and legal services for students with various trainings delivered by teachers or relevant professionals with key qualifications from the university, as well as other institutions and organisations. The University Career Guidance Centres:

facilitate work placement according to the partnership agreements;
organise Labour Fairs to familiarise future specialists, university graduates, with companies, which can become potential employers;
intermediate the assignment of students to internships;
intermediate the employment of students and recent graduates;
develop analyses and research on the professional and social integration of students, etc.

Graduates of the "Medicine" study programmes can be employed within the limits of the functions established by the Ministry of Health. Graduates of the "Pharmacy" and "Dentistry" study programmes have the right to independent practice.

Student assessment

Each university develops its own regulation of the procedures and methods for students' assessment. However, ministerial regulation [CG1] establishes basic requirements in this field.

The evaluation of the learning outcomes is done with grades from "10" to "1". The maximum grade "10" is awarded for outstanding results. The continuous assessment can also be done through “admitted" and "rejected" qualifications.

The grading scale recommended in the European Transferable Credit System (A, B, C, D, E, FX, and F) applies to completing the diploma supplement and facilitating academic mobility.

Continuous evaluation is done during seminars, practical and laboratory works. The grades obtained in the continuous evaluation are recorded in the register of the academic group.

Periodic evaluations: during a semester, at relatively equal time intervals, one or two periodic assessments are organised, which aim to estimate the student's intermediate success situation. The grades obtained are recorded in the register of the academic group.

Evaluations at the end of each semesters, at the completion of the course, are scheduled in exam sessions, according to the university studies calendar. During this exams session, an assessment test can only be taken once.

The student prepares a year thesis or a research project, according with the programme of studies. The defence of research projects (year theses) is organised before the start of the exams session. The committee composed of at least two teachers, set up at the level of the university department, assesses the research projects (year theses).

The student can take one exam in one day, and the interval between two exams must be at least two days. In the case of distance learning, exam sessions can be organised in a more compact manner.The results of the semester evaluation are recorded in the report cards.

The methods of assessing students – written/oral/combined exams, computer-assisted assessment, reports, practical work, laboratory work, case studies, essays, projects/theses, portfolios, etc. The weight and relative importance of the different evaluation stages and methods are taken into account.

The student who obtained a grade of less than 5 in an assessment test, or was absent at an exam is admitted to the following exams.Two sessions for retaking failed exams will be scheduled each year. Students are allowed two attempts to retake failed exams, with an additional attempt granted under a special decision by the faculty-level quality assurance committee.

The preparation and defense of Master's theses or projects are based on institutional regulations. Specific requirements are set at the department and chair levels and approved by the university Senate.

Master's theses and projects are public documents and are also produced in digital format. In the arts field, Master's theses may take the form of performances, films, artworks, or other accepted formats, accompanied by a digital recording of the artistic creation. Master's theses defences are usually organised in a public defence event.

Certification

Master's studies (cycle I) conclude with the issuance of higher education Master's Diploma (Diplomă de studii superioare de master), according to the models approved by the Ministry of Education and Research. Diplomas are accompanied by supplements drawn up based on the Europass model/European standard model. The diploma supplement is written in Romanian and English.

The name of the Master's programme is indicated in the Master's Diploma. Depending on the completed Master's programme, the following types of diplomas are issued:

MS - for scientific Master's programmes and

MP - for professional Master's programmes.

If the student failed on the third attempt to defend the Master's thesis (or project), they will be issued a certificate of completion of the Master's programme and the respective academic certificate.

In the case of joint higher education programmes, the following diplomas can be issued:

a) joint diploma, in addition to one or more national diplomas;

b) joint diploma, issued by the institutions that offer the joint study programme, without issuing the national diploma;

c) one or more national diplomas, accompanied by a certificate attesting the qualification awarded jointly.

Joint diplomas and certificates are perfected in the communication languages established within the partnership and in English.

The assessment, grading and certification of qualifications by educational level, as well as documents certifying qualifications by educational level, is described by the National Register of Qualifications.

Eurydice

Moldova

7.3Second-cycle programmes

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