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 education-providing organizations that carry out teaching activities based on study programs authorized to operate provisionally/accredited under the law, for initial and continuous university-level training, programs that operate on the principle of quality and aligning the educational offer with the labor market.

The national system of higher education includes all accredited institutions of higher education. An institution of higher education authorized to operate provisionally, in accordance with current legal procedures, becomes part of the national system of higher education 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 in nature, and are apolitical. Institutions of higher education are legal entities under public law or, as applicable, 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 specializations/university study programs per union
• structure of public and private institutions of higher education accredited or authorized to operate provisionally, with:
  • fields of undergraduate university studies and specializations/study programs accredited or authorized to operate provisionally,
  • geographical locations for activity,
  • number of transferable study credits for each university study program,
  • form of education and language of instruction,
  • maximum number of students that can be enrolled

The mission of higher education is to generate and transfer knowledge to society both through initial and continuous university-level training, for personal development, professional integration of the individual, and satisfying the competence needs of the socioeconomic environment, as well as through scientific research, development, innovation, and technological transfer, through individual and collective creation, in the fields of science, engineering, arts, literature, by ensuring performance and physical and sports development, and by capitalizing on and disseminating 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 freedom of national and international mobility for students, teachers, and researchers;

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

l) the principle of student-centered education.

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, usually, by a minimum of 3 weeks of exams.
• The structure of the academic year is approved by the university senate.
• When allocating transferable study credits for a semester, a minimum period of 17 weeks is considered.
• The university senate of each higher education institution annually approves, at least 3 months before the start of the academic year, the regulations regarding students' professional activity, as well as the calendar of educational activities specific to the academic study semesters.