Education in Moldova
Moldova, a small Eastern European country, runs a post-Soviet education system with Romanian (also called Moldovan) as the main language of instruction and Russian used by a significant minority. Literacy is near-universal, the country is EU-aspiring and Bologna-aligned, and — notably — Moldova offers English-taught programs, including in medicine, that attract international students.
Structure & stages
General education spans:
- Primary (grades 1–4)Ages ~6/7–10
- Gymnasium (grades 5–9)Completing the compulsory cycle
- Lyceum (grades 10–12)General or vocational, leading to the Baccalaureate
Compulsory education & enrolment
Education is compulsory to age 16 (through gymnasium/grade 9, with most continuing). Public education is free, and the school year runs September to June.
Public schools
Most students attend free public schools, taught in Romanian or Russian. The system retains Soviet-era strengths in mathematics and the sciences and has been modernizing since independence.
Private & international schools
Moldova has a small private and international-school sector, concentrated in Chișinău.
Curriculum & language of instruction
The curriculum covers Romanian (or Russian) language and literature, mathematics, the sciences, history, and foreign languages (English increasingly emphasized).
Exams & qualifications
Students take the Baccalaureate (Bacalaureat) at the end of the lyceum — the school-leaving examination used for university admission.
Higher education
Higher education includes Moldova State University, the Technical University of Moldova, and medical and economic universities, among others. The system is Bologna-aligned, and several universities — particularly in medicine — enroll international students in English-taught programs.
Studying in Moldova from abroad
Moldova is a growing destination for international students, especially in medicine:
- English-taught medicineMoldovan medical universities offer English-medium programs that attract students from India, the Middle East, and elsewhere
- Cost & recognitionTuition and living costs are low, and the system is Bologna-aligned
- VisaInternational students obtain a student visa; confirm accreditation and licensing pathways directly
Special education & support
Moldova has been developing inclusive education, integrating students with disabilities into mainstream schools with support, alongside special schools.
Homeschooling
Homeschooling is uncommon in Moldova; education is overwhelmingly school-based.
Costs & funding
Public general education is free. Private and international schools charge tuition. University students may hold state-funded places or pay fees; international (including medical) programs charge tuition. The currency is the Moldovan Leu (MDL).
Key facts for families
- LanguagesRomanian (Moldovan) and Russian
- Structure4 + 5 + 3
- CompulsoryTo age 16
- University entryVia the Baccalaureate
- Higher edMoldova State University; English-taught medicine draws international students
- School yearSeptember to June
Where to verify the details
This guide is a starting point, not the final authority. For current details: