Scholarships offered by the Ministry of Education for pupils and students in 2026. How young people can get money from the state

Scholarships for pupils and students will also be awarded in 2026, depending on the criteria that have been decided for this school year. Regarding students, the amounts for social scholarships were supplemented by 60 million euros, after the European Commission approved the funding in December. The amount of the scholarship will not be increased, but the money reaches about 40,000 students. What are the main scholarships awarded by the state and what is their value, both for pupils and students, we present to you in the article.

How many types of scholarships does ME offer for pupils and students in 2026

Students in pre-university state education can benefit from the following scholarships:

  • merit scholarship (in the amount of 450 lei/month)
  • social grant (300 lei/month) –
  • technology grant (300 lei/month)
  • scholarship to support the school reintegration of minor mothers (700 lei/month).

Students, on the other hand, can benefit from three types of scholarship:

  • doctoral scholarship (worth 3700 lei/month)
  • scholarship (2,165 lei/month)
  • social grant (925 lei/month)

Scholarships are awarded only for the months in which there is teaching activity and only to budget students.

The criteria for granting scholarships for students

1. Merit scholarship

This scholarship is only valid for students in middle school, high school or vocational education. According to the regulation established by government decision, it is granted as follows:

  • the first 15% of the students of each class, who have general averages for the previous school year greater than or equal to 9.00 (for students in the 5th grade, the average of the first two courses of the current school year will be taken into account; for the students of the 9th grade, the admission average in high school and professional education will be taken into account)
  • additional to the 15%, to students who have the same average as the last beneficiary established by applying the percentage (15%)
  • to students from each 9th grade who were admitted to high school without taking the National Assessment exam, based on obtaining, during secondary school, a first prize at the national stage of the school Olympiads organized and financed by the Ministry of Education and Research or a first, second or third prize at international competitions recognized by the Ministry of Education and Research.

2. Social scholarship (valid including for primary school students)

This type of scholarship is awarded:

  • students from families that achieve an average net income per family member, subject to taxation, for the last 12 months prior to the request, less than 50% of the net minimum wage in the economy;
  • students with one or both deceased parents and students on whom a special protection measure was instituted, namely placement/emergency placement;
  • students with deficiencies/functional impairments caused by diseases, disorders or disorders of the structures and functions of the body, framed according to the legislation in force;
  • students with oncological and/or chronic conditions attending school, for a period longer than 4 weeks, in the “Hospital School” or at home;
  • students returning after schooling from the “Hospital School” in the educational unit where they were previously enrolled;
  • students from families that benefit from the minimum inclusion income according to Law no. 196/2016 regarding the minimum inclusion income.

In order to receive the social scholarship, students must meet two conditions:

  • to have passed in all subjects
  • to have obtained an average of 10 in behavior or the qualification “very good” in behavior at the end of the previous school year.

Social scholarships are also granted during the school holidays, with the exception of: students who did not pass the school year, those who are correct in more than one discipline and have accumulated more than 20 unexcused absences/year, those who repeat the school year for reasons other than medical.

3. Technological scholarship

It is awarded to students in technological and professional education, at the proposal of the director. In order to benefit from it, students need to have obtained an average of 10 in behavior at the end of the previous school year. Those who repeat a year lose the scholarship, except for those who have medical reasons or who decide to switch from high school to professional education.

4. Scholarship for the reintegration of minor mothers

This type of scholarship is given to students who have become mothers but are returning to school after giving birth and is a form of support to prevent school dropouts. Young mothers can benefit from the scholarship until the end of compulsory education courses, even if they turn 18 in the meantime.

Scholarship recipient students who accumulate at least 60 unexcused absences in a month do not receive the scholarship for that month.

Scholarship criteria for students

1. Doctoral scholarship

It is awarded to doctoral students enrolled in doctoral university study programs, organized with funding from the state budget, in the form of full-time education, regardless of the year of study.

2. Scholarship

Starting with the academic year 2025-2026, it is granted only to students enrolled in places financed from the state budget, both in bachelor’s and master’s programs.

For students enrolled on fee-paying places, universities have the freedom to grant scholarships from their own funds.

3. Social scholarship

The following students receive this type of scholarship, in the form of support:

a) students orphaned by one or both parents, students who come from single-parent families or students who come from placement centers and who do not earn income above the ceiling for granting the social scholarship;

b) students with serious medical conditions

c) students whose family did not, in the 12 months before the start of the semester/academic year, have an average net monthly income per family member higher than the minimum net basic salary for the economy.