Higher education is organized in universities, academies of studies, institutes, schools of higher studies, hereinafter referred to as institutions of higher education or universities, which have obtained provisional authorization to operate or accreditation.

Institutions of higher education are educational provider organizations that carry out educational activities based on study programs authorized to operate provisionally/accredited under the law, for initial and continuing university-level training, programs that operate on the principle of quality and matching the educational offer with the labor market.

The national higher education system includes all accredited institutions of higher education. An institution of higher education authorized to operate provisionally, according to the legal procedures in force, becomes part of the national higher education system only after accreditation. For more information you can also access the website of the Romanian Agency for Quality Assurance in Higher Education - www.aracis.ro .

Institutions of higher education can be public, private or denominational. These institutions have legal personality, are nonprofit and are apolitical. Institutions of higher education are legal entities under public law or, as the case may be, legal entities under private law and of public utility.

University autonomy is guaranteed by the Constitution. Academic freedom is guaranteed by law. Public accountability is also regulated for any institution of higher education, public or private.

Through an annual government decision, the following are validated:

• Nomenclature of fields and undergraduate/specialization/study programs per union
• the structure of accredited or provisionally authorized institutions of higher education, public or private, with:
  • fields of undergraduate studies and accredited or provisionally authorized specializations/study programs,
  • geographical locations of operation,
  • number of transferable study credits for each undergraduate study program,
  • form of education and language of instruction,
  • maximum number of students who can be enrolled

The mission of higher education is to generate and transfer knowledge to society both through initial and continuing training at university level, in order to develop the individual, facilitate professional insertion, and meet the competence needs of the socio-economic environment, as well as through scientific research, development, innovation and technology transfer, through individual and collective creation, in the fields of science, engineering sciences, arts, literature, by ensuring physical and sports performance and development, as well as the valorization and dissemination of their results. All these are carried out in compliance with the following principles:

a) the principle of university autonomy;

b) the principle of academic freedom;

c) the principle of public accountability;

d) the principle of quality assurance;

e) the principle of equity;

f) the principle of managerial and financial efficiency;

g) the principle of transparency;

h) the principle of respecting the rights and freedoms of students and academic staff;

i) the principle of independence from ideologies, religions and political doctrines;

j) the principle of national and international mobility freedom for students, teaching staff and researchers;

k) the principle of consulting social partners in decision-making;

l) the principle of student-centered education.

The structure of the academic year (according to Law no. 1/2011 – art. 136)

• The academic year usually begins on the first working day of October, includes two semesters and ends on September 30 of the following calendar year.
• A semester usually lasts 14 weeks of teaching activities followed, as a rule, by a minimum of 3 weeks of exams.
• The structure of the academic year is approved by the university senate.
• In the awarding of transferable study credits in a semester, a period of at least 17 weeks is considered.
• The university senate of each institution of higher education annually approves, at least 3 months before the beginning of the academic year, the regulations regarding the professional activity of students, as well as the calendar of educational activities specific to academic semesters of study.