How I Secured a Fully Funded Bachelor's at ASE Bucharest, Romania Through the Romanian Government Scholarship

My name is Annissa Madina, and I’m from Indonesia. Before ending up where I am now, studying International Business and Economics at ASE Bucharest, I actually completed a D3 diploma in Physiotherapy back home.

I know. It’s a bit of an unusual path.

I chose Physiotherapy when I was still quite young, before I really knew what I wanted from life. I gave it everything I had, graduated with a 3.8 GPA, but somewhere along the way, I started to realize that the field didn’t quite fit who I was becoming.

What changed things for me was working. During my studies, I got involved in projects connected to FIFA and FIBA, large-scale international events that put me right in the middle of coordination, logistics, and management work. I found myself genuinely energized by it in a way I hadn’t felt in a classroom. That’s when I understood: my interests had quietly shifted toward business, and I needed to follow that.

So I did.

Romanian Government Scholarship Details

I’m a recipient of the Romanian Government Scholarship, administered by ARICE, the Romanian Agency for Investments and Foreign Trade.

It’s a small, selective program. Around 40 scholarships are awarded globally each cycle, which makes it genuinely competitive. For me, receiving it wasn’t just a financial opportunity. It was validation that taking a non-linear path doesn’t disqualify you. Sometimes it’s exactly what makes you stand out.

Were You Offered Any Other Scholarships?

Yes. Before this, I had a scholarship offer in Turkey through my former high school.

I turned it down, and at the time, I wasn’t entirely sure I’d made the right decision. But the honest reason was that I didn’t feel ready. I was too young, and moving abroad alone felt overwhelming rather than exciting. Looking back, I think I needed that time. It let me grow into someone who could eventually take on something like this with much more clarity and confidence.

Educational Background

High school GPA between 8.5 and 9.0, and a 3.8 out of 4.0 for my D3 in Physiotherapy.

But I’d be doing myself a disservice if I only talked about grades. The years I spent working alongside my studies, building real professional experience, navigating international environments, and learning to be responsible for things that actually mattered, shaped me just as much as any exam result. Probably more.

How Did You Prepare to Apply to ASE Bucharest?

Once I decided to pursue a new academic direction, I spent considerable time researching programs that genuinely aligned with where I wanted to go professionally. I looked into ASE’s International Business and Economics program specifically, what the curriculum covered, what the student experience looked like, and whether it was a real fit rather than just an available option.

I wanted to make sure I was choosing this, not just chasing a scholarship.

How Did You Find Information About Romanian Government Scholarship and ASE Bucharest?

Through Instagram, actually. I came across the account of Perhimpunan Mahasiswa Indonesia di Romania, the Indonesian Student Association in Romania, and that’s where I first learned about the Romanian Government Scholarship and what studying at ASE could look like.

It’s a good reminder that sometimes the most useful information comes from people who’ve already walked the path. Student communities, especially diaspora ones, tend to share things that official websites don’t: the real logistics, the honest experiences, the things worth knowing before you apply.

Did You Take Any Standardized Tests? If So, How Did You Prepare for Them?

No standardized tests were required for this scholarship or program. No TOEFL, IELTS, SAT, GRE, or GMAT.

The selection process focused primarily on academic records and supporting documentation, which honestly felt more meaningful than a test score. If standardized testing has been a barrier for you in other applications, it’s worth knowing that not every program requires it.

How Did You Prepare to Apply for the Romanian Government Scholarship?

This is the part I want to be honest about, because I think people underestimate it.

ARICE isn’t your typical scholarship application. Beyond academic records and a personal statement, you need official recommendations from embassies, consulates, professional associations, employers, or cultural organizations with ties to Romania. These aren’t just reference letters. They require real coordination, follow-up, and sometimes working through ARICE representatives to get things properly verified.

It was the most administratively demanding thing I’ve done. There were moments where I genuinely wasn’t sure it was going to come together. But it did, and going through that process taught me something about persistence that no coursework has.

If you’re planning to apply: start early, be patient, and don’t underestimate the logistics.

How is Your Experience at ASE Bucharest?

Genuinely good. The university environment is welcoming, and I’ve found both lecturers and fellow students to be more supportive than I expected. There’s a warmth to it that I didn’t necessarily anticipate coming in.

Living in Romania has also been its own kind of education, navigating a new culture, meeting people from across the world, figuring out how to build a life somewhere completely unfamiliar. It stretches you in ways that staying comfortable never would.

How Do You Rate Ase Academically?

High. The lecturers take their subject matter seriously, and the institution genuinely tries to support students, not just academically, but as people. I’ve felt that consideration throughout my time here.

How Does ASE Bucharest Support International Students?

ASE handles international students well. The support structures are in place and functional, and you won’t feel left to figure everything out alone. For students coming from outside Europe, especially, that kind of institutional support makes a real difference in those first few months of adjustment.

Are Your Classes Conducted in English or Romanian?

Romanian. Entirely.

Would Potential Students Have Any Problems Not Knowing Romanian?

It can be a challenge at first, I won’t pretend otherwise. If you arrive with no Romanian, there’s a real adjustment period.

But “impossible” isn’t the right word. Language is learnable. And honestly, picking up Romanian became one of the more meaningful parts of my experience here. It changed how I connected with people and how I understood the place I was actually living in. It takes commitment, but it’s worth it.

What Do You Think Made Your Application Stand Out?

I think it was the combination of strong academics and real professional experience, and the story that connected them.

My pivot from healthcare to business wasn’t a weakness. It was a narrative. It showed self-awareness, adaptability, and a willingness to start over in pursuit of something that genuinely fit. The FIFA and FIBA work added specificity; it wasn’t vague “leadership experience,” it was tangible, international, and unusual for someone my age.

Committees remember stories. Make sure yours has one.

Looking Back, Would You Have Done Anything Differently During Your Time in the Program?

Started earlier. With everything, the research, the document preparation, the outreach.

Not because I did it wrong, but because more time always means less pressure and more options. If you’re reading this while still in the early stages of thinking about applying, that’s exactly the right time to start.

What Advice Would You Give Those Looking to Apply for a Similar Scholarship?

Know what your strongest cards are, and play them confidently.

Not everyone has a perfect GPA. Not everyone has extensive work experience. But you don’t need everything; you need to know which parts of your story are genuinely compelling and build your application around those.

For the ARICE Scholarship specifically: don’t let the process intimidate you out of applying. Yes, it’s more work than most scholarships. Yes, the documentation is demanding. But the fact that it’s difficult is also why it’s worth pursuing; fewer people make it through, which means the ones who do are taken seriously.

Be persistent. Be organized. And give yourself enough credit to try.