:quality(80)/business-review.eu/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Solar-1-scaled.jpg)
Upgrade Education study: Romanian students awarded EUR 1.2 million study abroad scholarships for 2025-2026 – business-review.eu
Scholarship systems: differences between the US and Europe chart the path for international students
In a fragmented global education landscape, access to funding depends heavily on the region of choice. In the United States, where annual costs can exceed USD 80,000, scholarships are often conditional on extracurricular performance, whether athletic or artistic. There are also scholarships based on financial criteria, which can cover full expenses, but the number remains very small.
Europe is proposing a different model: more accessible scholarships, awarded in cases of high financial need and/or exceptional academic performance. Scholarships vary, can start at EUR 100-200, and can go up to as much as EUR 15,000 – so they cover the full tuition fees.
Since its launch in 2017, Upgrade Education has counselled over 1,000 Romanian students, achieving a success rate of over 80%. In its eight years of operation, the company has facilitated scholarships totalling EUR 5.5 million, and by 2026 it expects to have EUR 1.5 million in scholarships accepted.
“Admission to prestigious international universities is not just about academic results, it requires a well-constructed strategy and careful preparation for each stage. This is why we work individually with each student, analysing their potential and directing them to the right institutions. We go through specific requirements and documents so that we turn aspirations into concrete results and support ambitious and deserving young people to realize their potential and step confidently into elite academic environments,” says Tinu Bosinceanu, founder of Upgrade Education and Harvard graduate.
From wish to reality: how Romanian students get to top universities
The road to an elite university starts with a well-thought-out strategy. Knowing the scholarship systems and the particularities of each country is essential, and this is where Upgrade Education consultants come in. They analyze each student’s academic profile in detail – from academic performance and family finances to geographical preferences and career ambitions.
Based on this information, the consultants build a personalized portfolio of 8-12 universities, tailored to their real chances of admission and scholarship. Students are then guided step by step: choosing programs, preparing for tests such as SAT or IELTS, writing and refining essays, right through to mock interviews. It’s all designed as a complete training to turn an aspiration into a real academic opportunity.
Europe dominates top favourites, but the American dream remains
In 2025, Europe remains the favourite destination for Romanian students, who have directed 60% of their applications to European universities. Countries such as the Netherlands, Spain and Italy are attracting more and more young people thanks to their English-language programs and academic prestige. Among the institutions targeted are TU Delft and Eindhoven University of Technology (Netherlands) for engineering, Bocconi University (Italy) for finance and economics, IE and Esade (Spain) for business and Sciences Po (France) for political science.
The UK remains on the radar of Romanian high school students, with universities such as University College London, University of Warwick, King’s College London and London School of Economics at the top of the list.
The United States remains a premium destination: in 2025, more than 50 Romanian students were accepted to American universities, a significant number of them to the Ivy League or other top 100 institutions worldwide. Moreover, the share of top offers has increased from 46.67% in 2024 to 53.85% in 2025 – a testament to the appetite of young Romanians for academic excellence, despite the challenges of the admissions process.
Upgrade Education is an EdTech start-up that offers customized programs for admissions preparation, career guidance, SAT preparation, Creative Writing or any other specific exam required by the top 150 universities worldwide, in Europe, UK and USA. Launched in 2017, the company attracted a first round of investment of around EUR 350,000 at the end of 2021, with the objective to digitize the personalized advising process through an internationally validated platform. Upgrade Education has supported over 1,000 Romanian students to be admitted to prestigious universities, achieving a success rate of over 80%.
We use cookies for keeping our website reliable and secure, personalising content and ads, providing social media features and to analyse how our website is used.
