Why Romania?
What made you choose Romania as your study destination?
When I graduated from high school, I started looking for a country that could offer me a strong, rigorous, and internationally respected medical education. Romania immediately stood out to me because of its strong reputation for medical education in Europe and the international recognition of its medical degrees.
One of the things that particularly attracted me was the early exposure to clinical and practical training. In Romania, medical students begin gaining practical experience from the first year, rather than waiting until the later years of their studies. I believe this early exposure is extremely valuable because it allows students to gradually develop not only their medical knowledge, but also the confidence, communication skills, and practical mindset needed to become competent physicians.
Another important factor was the opportunities that come with graduating with a European medical degree, which can open professional pathways in different countries and provide greater flexibility for the future.
Beyond academics, I was also genuinely drawn to Romania itself. Its rich history and culture, shaped by the meeting of Eastern and Western Europe, make it a particularly fascinating place to live and study. At the same time, Romania’s diverse landscapes, mountains, historic cities, and natural beauty offer students the opportunity to explore, travel, and experience something beyond university life.
So, for me, choosing Romania was not simply about choosing where to study medicine. It was about choosing a place where I could receive a solid medical education while experiencing a new culture, challenging myself, and growing both professionally and personally.
How has your experience in Romania been so far?
Tell us about your studies, daily life, and what stands out most to you. (In what ways has this experience supported your
academic or professional growth?)
When I first came to Romania, I expected starting a new life in a foreign country to be much more difficult. What I did not expect was how warmly I would be welcomed. I was genuinely surprised by the kindness, respect, and generosity of the Romanian people, especially towards foreigners.
Perhaps this is something I appreciate on a deeper level because I come from Iraq. I have always believed that nations that have experienced hardship, struggled through difficult chapters of their history, and repeatedly found the strength to rebuild themselves often develop a particular sense of humanity, compassion, and solidarity. In many ways, I have found this reflected in the Romanian people. Their kindness is something I have experienced personally, countless times.
Whenever I found myself unsure of how to do something, trying to find a particular place, or simply navigating an unfamiliar situation, there was almost always someone willing to stop and help me—often a complete stranger. Those small moments may seem insignificant, but for someone building a new life in a foreign country, they mean everything. Romania did not simply make me feel like a visitor; it gradually made me feel that I belonged.
Romania’s strong reputation for education has also created a truly international environment. Over the years, I have had the privilege of meeting students from many different countries, as well as wonderful Romanian students. Some of these friendships have grown far beyond university life. They have become an essential part of my journey—people I trust, people I celebrate with, people I turn to in difficult moments. In many ways, they have become my second family.
And now, after four years in Romania, I can honestly say that something has changed inside me. Whenever I board a plane to return to Iraq, I feel something I never expected to feel: I feel that I am leaving home, even though I am going to my homeland.
I think that feeling says more than anything else about what Romania has become to me.
I came here as a student looking for an education and a future.
I stayed long enough to build friendships, memories, and a life.
And somewhere along the way, Romania stopped being simply the country where I study—it became home.
What do you think about your study programme, instructors (teachers, staff), and university facilities?
How do they compare with what you expected before coming here?
When I was accepted to study in Romania, I honestly expected the relationship between students and professors to be rather formal perhaps distant, strict, and limited to the classroom. But Romania surprised me once again.
From the very beginning, I discovered that our professors, the Dean, and the university leadership were not only educators, but people who genuinely cared about their students. They were approachable, attentive to our concerns, and always willing to make the effort to ensure that we understood what we were being taught.
One of the things that touched me most was the way we are treated in the hospitals. We are sometimes addressed as “Doctor”, not simply as students, but as a recognition of the professionals we are becoming. To me, that small word carries a powerful message: we are being trusted with a future responsibility, and we are being encouraged to grow into it.
I have also had the privilege of learning from some truly exceptional professors, especially my Anatomy professors at the Faculty of Medicine of Lucian Blaga University. I have learned from their knowledge and experience, but perhaps even more importantly, from their character their patience, kindness, professionalism, and the way they treat students with respect. They have shown me not only what I should know as a future doctor, but also what kind of doctor I would like to become.
The closeness of our Dean and university leadership to the students has also given me something that is difficult to teach in a classroom: confidence. Knowing that our concerns are heard, that our problems matter, and that there are people willing to stand beside us creates a sense of strength and belonging.
My professors have continuously encouraged and supported me, and that support has played an important role in my development not only academically, but also as a person and as a future physician.
Another aspect I deeply appreciate is the university’s commitment to its international students. Through the International Relations Office, we have dedicated support for the challenges that come with studying and living in another country. They do not treat international students as numbers; they make an effort to know us personally, often remembering us by name.
They also create opportunities for international students to connect beyond the classroom through cultural events, trips, dinners, and activities that bring students from different backgrounds together. These experiences have helped turn a university into something much more meaningful: a community.
For me, the greatest strength of my university is not simply its buildings, laboratories, or facilities. It is the people behind them.
Because the true measure of an educational institution is not only what it teaches you, but how it makes you feel while you are learning, how much it believes in you, and how it helps you become the person you aspire to be.
And in that sense, I can say that my university has given me much more than a medical education it has given me the confidence to become a doctor, and the example of the kind of human being I want to be when I finally wear that white coat.
What have you learned in Romania — academically, professionally, or personally?
What’s something valuable you can truly say “I learned that in Romania”?
I have learned a great deal in Romania, but perhaps the most important lesson is that university life is not defined by lectures and examinations alone. It is also about the people, experiences, and memories we create.
One of the most valuable things I have learned is to be open-minded. My international friends come from many different countries and cultures, and being around them has taught me to see things from different perspectives, respect differences, and understand that there is not always only one way of looking at the world.
I believe this will also make me a better doctor, because every patient comes from a different background and deserves to be understood and respected.
If there is one lesson I would carry with me from Romania, it is this:
Education gives you knowledge, but the people you meet and the cultures you experience teach you how to see the world.
What do you enjoy most about living in Romania?
(It could be about the culture, people, food, cities, or your university experience)
What I enjoy most about living in Romania is that life here goes far beyond studying medicine. It is a place where you can learn, lead, build friendships, and truly experience life.
I genuinely enjoy student life at my university, especially through organizations such as Sibiu Medical Students' Organization (OSM), where students have the opportunity to volunteer, organize events, workshops, conferences, and humanitarian activities. These experiences have taught me that volunteering and social work are not about having a title or having fun; they are about taking responsibility, bringing people together, and turning an idea into something meaningful.
And perhaps what I enjoy most is simply being with my friends. We come from different parts of the world, with different cultures and stories, yet somehow we have become a little family far away from home.
I also love that there is always something happening throughout the year cultural celebrations, festivals, concerts, and different entertainment events across the city. There is always an opportunity to meet people, discover something new, and create another memory.
And then there is the beauty of Romania itself. Its mountains and landscapes give you the chance to escape from your books, go hiking or camping, explore new places, and discover the country beyond the university walls.
I think that is what makes the experience so special for me. Romania has given me a life where education is not confined to a classroom. Every person I meet, every place I discover, and every experience I live becomes part of the education I carry with me.
And that is why Romania has become more than a country where I study medicine. It has become a place where I am learning how to live, how to lead, and how to become the person I aspire to be.
Do you have any advice for future international students considering studying in Romania?
What would you say to someone thinking about studying in Romania?
My advice is simple: move forward, and do not be afraid.
Don’t allow fear of the unknown to stand between you and your ambitions. Romania can be an excellent choice academically, socially, and professionally. Its European education can open the door to many valuable opportunities around the world after graduation.
Romania is also a country that brings people together. Standing at the crossroads between East and West, it feels close to everyone, regardless of where they come from or what culture they carry. It welcomes differences, embraces diversity, and gives you the chance to build a life far beyond the classroom.
And believe me, many of the challenges you fear before coming will be much easier than you imagine, while the opportunities and experiences will be far greater than you expect.
So when you come, come prepared to give this journey everything you have. Come ready to begin a new chapter one that will enrich you academically, shape you personally, and leave you with memories that will stay with you for life.
Do not come simply to earn a degree.
Come to discover yourself, to challenge yourself, and to become more than the person you were when you arrived.
I will be waiting for you on this journey, and I look forward to welcoming you among us.
The road is waiting. Take the first step.