General information about the higher education system in the country
Higher education in the Republic of Moldova is carried out in two streams: academic and advanced professional. It is structured in three cycles:
- Cycle I - Bachelor studies (ISCED level 6), with a duration of 3 to 4 years, corresponding to 60 credits per year of study.
- Cycle II - Master studies (ISCED level 7), with a duration of 1 to 2 years, corresponding to a number of 90-120 credits.
- Cycle III - Doctoral studies (ISCED level 8), with a duration of 3 years, corresponding to 180 credits. In the 1st and the 2nd cycles of higher studies, integrated higher studies can be organized in the following fields, regulated by international law: medicine and pharmacy; veterinary medicine; architecture.
The research, development and innovation activities are carried out within the higher doctoral and postdoctoral studies.
Moldova joined the Bologna Process in May 2005. Once the process started, the country has assumed responsibilities and actively involved into the process of reforming and modernizing higher education and bringing it closer to European standards. A series of reforms that were implemented led to approaching Moldovan higher education system to the European one. The European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) was one of the first changes introduced in all Moldovan Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). After adopting the new Education Code in 2014, several changes have been introduced in higher education in Moldova aimed at modernising the system and aligning it with European standards. These changes include the development of new university curricula, the organisation of the internal and external quality evaluation and monitoring system, by establishing the National Agency for Quality Assurance in Professional Education (ANACEC).
Currently, there are 21 higher education institutions in the Republic of Moldova: 13 public and 8 private. At the beginning of the 2023/24 academic year, out of the total number of students (about 56.500), 64.6% were enrolled in full-time education, and 35.4% in part-time studies. Out of the total number of students enrolled in higher education, 74.4% are in bachelor's higher education programmes, cycle I, 16.9% - master's higher education programmes, cycle II and 8.7% ‒ integrated higher education programmes. The gender distribution of higher education students reveals a preponderance of women (59,1%). Women formed a majority among students in all study programs, the rate of women being higher in integrated higher studies (71,7%) and among master's students (63,6%), lower in the case of bachelor's higher studies (56,6%).
Socially inclusive higher education is at the core of the Ministry of Education and Research, which requires providing opportunities and support for individuals from all parts of society. In order to ensure the inclusion of higher education, 15% of the state budget places are provided annually for young people from socially vulnerable backgrounds.
Source: https://statistica.gov.md/ro/activitatea-institutiilor-de-invatamant-su…-
9454_60853.html (Accessed 30.09.3024)
Information on recent policy updates, major reforms and related news
Recent developments in Moldova’s higher education sector reflect a comprehensive reform agenda aimed at improving quality, relevance, equity and efficiency, with implementation continuing into 2025. A key milestone was the adoption of the “Education 2030” Development Strategy and its Implementation Programme for 2023–2025 (Government Decision No. 114/2023), which sets the overall direction for the education system. The strategy focuses on developing a high-quality, inclusive and sustainable education system, strengthening links with labour market needs, ensuring well-qualified and motivated teaching staff, promoting lifelong learning and advancing digitalisation and innovation. It also emphasises the involvement of wider society, including civil society and development partners, in supporting education reforms.
These strategic objectives build on earlier structural reforms, notably the Higher Education Modernisation Reform (Government Decision No. 485/2022), which led to a significant consolidation of institutions. This included mergers between major universities and research institutes, aimed at improving system efficiency, strengthening research capacity and optimising the use of resources.
Further reforms in 2023 focused on governance and financing. The updated funding methodology for public higher education institutions (Government Decision No. 700/2023) introduced performance-based elements, linking funding to the number of equivalent students and institutional results aligned with public policy objectives. This reform aims to strengthen university autonomy, improve accountability and ensure more efficient use of public resources. At the same time, targeted measures were introduced to address labour market needs, such as increasing the attractiveness of pedagogical studies through the doubling of student scholarships (Government Decision No. 949/2023).
Building on this framework, ongoing reforms continue to prioritise quality enhancement and system modernisation. Efforts focus on strengthening quality assurance mechanisms, improving accreditation procedures and reinforcing internal quality management practices to ensure consistent academic standards across institutions. Reforms also emphasise the updating of study programmes and teaching approaches, with a stronger focus on skills development and graduate employability in line with labour market demands. Governance and institutional efficiency remain key areas of attention, with measures aimed at improving transparency, accountability and the overall functioning of higher education institutions. At the same time, digitalisation is an important cross-cutting priority, supporting the integration of digital tools and learning environments to modernise teaching and learning processes. Internationalisation continues to play a significant role, with Moldovan higher education institutions actively participating in Erasmus+ and other international initiatives that contribute to mobility, capacity building and knowledge exchange.
By 2025, developments are characterised by the continued implementation and consolidation of these previously established reforms, rather than the introduction of new standalone policy measures. The overall focus remains on strengthening system performance, improving quality and ensuring closer alignment between higher education and societal and economic needs.
Information about relevant projects and initiatives
N | Project name | Objectives | Length of project | Keywords | Links |
1 | Erasmus+ ICM, CBHE, Jean Monnet projects | Erasmus+ Programme offers to Moldovan HEIs the possibility to establish partnerships with HEIs from EU and elaborate mobility programs, programs of international cooperation for capacity building and staff development in European countries. | 2014-2020; 2021-2027 | Academic mobility, international cooperation, capacity building, European Union | |
2 | Higher Education Project, World Bank | Component 1. The improvement of quality assurance mechanisms Component 2. Improving orientation towards the labor market through specific interventions | 2020-2025 | Higher education, labor market, quality assurance |
Other relevant links
National Erasmus+ Office in Moldova: http://erasmusplus.md/en
Ministry of Education and Research of the Republic of Moldova: https://mec.gov.md/en
Delegation of European Union to the Republic of Moldova: https://www.eeas.europa.eu/delegations
/moldova_en
EDUCATION CODE OF THE REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA No. 152 dated July 17, 2014: https://mecc.gov.md
/sites/default/files/education_code_final_version_0.pdf