The Romanian Student is an editorial podcast hosted on the STUDENTV media channel, created to reflect the authentic experiences of Romanian students studying in universities across different countries.
The podcast explores topics such as admission processes, academic adaptation, financial management, cultural differences and personal growth, offering a realistic perspective on what it truly means to start a student life abroad.
Each episode is designed as a structured conversation focused on clarity, transparency and relevance. Audio production is carefully handled to ensure a clean listening experience and a professional editorial standard.
Beyond storytelling, the project aims to offer orientation, confidence and useful guidance for students considering international studies, while also building a community around shared challenges and experiences.
An editorial article built from real voices of Romanian students in the diaspora, exploring motivations, stereotypes, pressure to succeed and solidarity abroad.
Read full articleInstagram carousel concept that visualises four common stereotypes about Romanian students abroad and includes their own responses.
Read descriptionA community survey turned into qualitative content, collecting honest answers from Romanian students about their first shocks and discoveries abroad.
Read reportA set of Instagram formats (carousel, quote, infographic, reminder) about challenges, stereotypes and campaigns for Romanian students in the diaspora.
View Instagram conceptsArticle – Publishable on a blog or alongside a carousel post
What it is like to be a Romanian student in another country: between stereotypes and reality
Introduction
For thousands of young Romanians, becoming a student in another country means more than a simple academic step – it is the beginning of a personal adventure, a leap into an unknown reality where freedom comes together with cultural, social, and emotional challenges. Alongside university studies, many quickly discover that they also have to learn the “language of reality” – how the host society functions, how Romanians are perceived, what is actually true from what they had heard before leaving.
This article reflects a synthesis of these experiences, based on hundreds of discussions among Romanian students in the diaspora within the GCRS communities, and aims to balance the myths and realities of student life abroad.
Why do Romanian students leave?
The motivations are multiple: the quality of education, more student-friendly systems, international recognition of degrees, the opportunity to study in a diverse environment, but also the hope for better professional opportunities. For some, leaving is a form of freedom. For others, a form of survival.
Sometimes, however, the dream is built on an idealized image – “everything is better there.”
Reality, as we will see below, is often more nuanced.
Expectations vs. reality
Many start their journey with the idea that “everything works better abroad.” And yes, it is true: bureaucracy is more efficient, professors more open, campuses more modern. But no one tells you how hard it can be not to understand a joke, not to know how to ask for help, or how lonely you can feel among polite people.
Reality comes with bills, part-time jobs, self-doubt, with the daily question: “did I really make the right choice?”
Stereotypes that follow you
Romanians are seen in many different ways, depending on the country. In the Netherlands, for example, some students told us how professors or colleagues make jokes about “Romanians who steal.” In France, they are seen as serious workers, but “with an Eastern accent.” In Germany, one student told us he was asked twice “to prove” that he was admitted on merit, not through “fraud.”
These stereotypes may seem insignificant, but their repetition leads to mistrust, self-shame, and withdrawal. Some begin to hide their nationality, others assert it stubbornly. Either way, it does not go unnoticed.
Adaptation: do we hide or affirm that we are Romanian?
Every student finds their own way to adapt. Some choose to speak only English and avoid mentioning Romania. Others, on the contrary, wear traditional clothing at cultural events and get involved in Romanian student organizations.
We have met students who created Instagram pages with advice for other Romanians, who wrote articles or made podcasts about life in the diaspora. All of these are ways to rebuild Romania’s image beyond prejudice.
The reality behind the beautiful pictures
Instagram shows student life abroad as a continuous vacation: coffees on campus, trips, smiles. In reality, many Romanians work 20–30 hours a week to pay their rent. They carry their laptop from one free Wi-Fi spot to another. They learn to cook cheaply, to repair clothes, to share rent with 4–5 roommates in a small apartment.
“There are moments when you enjoy every second, and moments when you cry in the shower because you cannot take it anymore,” a student from Malmö told us.
Jobs, volunteering, activism
Many Romanian students do not limit themselves to studying. They get involved. They become mentors for colleagues, volunteers in associations, initiators of projects. They are part of change.
Within GCRS, for example, we have had projects in which students organized information campaigns, counseling sessions for high school students, as well as journalistic activities, translations, or graphic design for our networks. These contributions are often invisible in official systems, but they make a huge difference for other students.
The pressure “to succeed”
A recurring theme is the burden of not failing. “I left with borrowed money. If I do not succeed, I have destroyed everything.” These thoughts are common, especially when the student becomes the “success story” of the family, the high school, the community.
This pressure sometimes leads to exhaustion, anxiety, or self-isolation. The lack of psychological support or a support network worsens the situation. That is why many of our activities within GCRS include peer support, social events, and informal mentorship.
Returning to Romania – longing or fear?
Some dream of returning and “making a change.” Others know they can no longer live in a system that does not listen to them. Returning is sometimes harder than leaving: you feel “neither there, nor here.”
A Romanian student in Denmark told us: “When I go back, everyone thinks I am arrogant. But I just got used to clear rules and respect.”
Solidarity among Romanians abroad
One of the most beautiful realities is the solidarity formed among Romanian students. From WhatsApp groups with advice, to student NGOs, to joint projects – this informal network offers safety, belonging, and trust. We are not alone. And sometimes, a simple “I went through this too” makes all the difference.
Conclusion: not to be defined by clichés
Being a Romanian student abroad does indeed mean navigating expectations, myths, and obstacles. But it also means courage, innovation, and the strength to build bridges between worlds.
We are more than just “foreigners” in a Western system. We are an active part of a changing Europe. And our voices, if heard, can reshape Romania’s image in the world.
Graphic Design – Activity justification
Carousel title:
“4 stereotypes about Romanian students abroad – and what they say about it”
Chosen format:
Instagram carousel (1080x1080 px format, ideal for swiping) – consisting of 5 slides plus a cover.
Tools used:
Created in Canva, using a customized template with modern visual elements and colors associated with the GCRS brand.
Content of each slide:
Slide 1 – Cover:
Central text: “4 stereotypes about Romanian students abroad – and what they say about it”
Background: blurred image of an international campus + overlay in blue-grey shades
Graphic element: small Romanian flag in one corner, for visual identity
Slide 2 – Stereotype #1:
Text: “Romanians leave only for money.”
Student response: “I came to study something that is not taught in Romania – it is about my future, not just salary.”
Visual elements: money emoji/bar chart, along with educational symbols
Slide 3 – Stereotype #2:
Text: “Romanians do not integrate, they only stay among themselves.”
Student response: “We are sociable – some of us have friends from 5 different countries, but the Romanian community is an important support.”
Design: colored silhouettes symbolizing diversity and belonging
Slide 4 – Stereotype #3:
Text: “Romanians cheat on exams.”
Student response: “Systems in the West are stricter. Work is appreciated, and most people really study.”
Visual: combination of laptop, book, and a prohibition sign over cheat sheets
Slide 5 – Stereotype #4:
Text: “Romanians are loud and rude.”
Student response: “We are direct, but we also have good manners – cultural differences may seem harsh, but they are natural.”
Design: two speech bubbles, one ‘noisy’, the other elegant – visual contrast
Slide 6 – Conclusion / Call to Action:
Text: “Stereotypes follow us, but they do not define us. Your story can change perception. Tell it!”
Call to action: “Share the carousel or write to us about your experience!”
Visual: generic student avatar + fake ‘Share’ button
Design objective:
Delivering a strong message through attractive and educational visual content
Combination of short text, suggestive images, and short-form storytelling through direct replies
Simple but professionally thought-out design, so it can be used by GCRS on social media
DUO justification:
This visual design was created by a student in the context of an educational and creative activity within the project The Romanian Student. Through this type of activity, practical skills (graphic design, visual communication, storytelling) are developed, and the final product has concrete online dissemination value. It is also a form of expression of the identity of Romanian students in the diaspora.
Community Management – Activity report
Activity title:
“We asked 20 Romanian students from the diaspora what surprised them the most.
Their answers inspired us.”
Context & purpose:
To better understand the authentic experiences of Romanian students in the diaspora, we launched a small informal survey within the GCRS community, asking an open-ended question:
“What was the thing that surprised you the most when you started life as a student abroad?”
This action had a dual purpose:
To generate authentic content, based on the voice of the community
To strengthen the connection between members by offering them a space to share their experiences
Format & method:
We posted the question in the private GCRS Facebook group and in an interactive Instagram story (using the “Question” sticker).
We received a total of 20 responses (11 on Instagram, 9 on Facebook), from which we selected the most representative ones.
Selected responses (anonymized):
“The fact that professors treat you as an equal – they actually ask for your opinion.”
“The lack of pressure on grades, the focus on real learning.”
“How expensive life is compared to Romania – I did not expect that.”
“Being among people from 10 different countries – it was a cultural shock, but a pleasant one.”
“I missed Romanian food more than I thought I would!”
“How open classmates are about talking about mental health.”
“The fact that you can work part-time and nobody judges you.”
“I felt I could be myself, without pressure about ‘what others will say’.”
Impact & use:
The responses were used in a future carousel and in two “quote of the day” posts.
The activity generated over 50 reactions in total, and some students wrote to us privately to continue the conversation.
DUO justification:
This is a typical community management activity carried out by students for students, with an educational, collaborative, and informative role. By initiating this type of survey, GCRS members encouraged free expression, personal reflection, and the sharing of real experiences from the diaspora.
Instagram Post – Carousel
Title:
“Romanian student abroad – what you are NOT told”
Slide 1 – Cover:
Romanian student abroad
What you are NOT told before you leave
Swipe for reality
Slide 2:
It is not a continuous vacation.
Student life in another country is not just city breaks and coffee downtown.
80% means adaptation, responsibility, and sometimes loneliness.
Slide 3:
“Romanians are lazy” – a stereotype that still exists.
Be ready to fight it through example.
Your daily work matters more than what some people initially think.
Slide 4:
Money disappears fast.
Even if it seems like you have a decent budget, between rent, transport, and expensive food,
you quickly learn to prioritize.
Slide 5:
Homesickness is real.
It is not weakness, it is reality.
You will learn to build “home” within yourself, not only in Romania.
Slide 6 – Closing:
We are not saying this to scare you, but to make you PREPARED.
Life as a Romanian student in the diaspora means courage, adaptation, and personal growth.
You are part of a community!
#StudentAbroad #GCRS #RealTalk
Instagram Post – Quote
Visual – Quote:
“I was ashamed to say that I am Romanian – until I saw how hard others like me work.”
Post text:
The thought of a student from France, in her first year of university.
At the beginning, her accent, name, and passport seemed like a disadvantage.
But after a few months, she realized that the hardest-working people around her were… Romanians.
Being Romanian is not something to be ashamed of.
It is a responsibility – to change perceptions through what we DO, not just through what we say.
What was the hardest thing for you to say in your first semester?
Write to us in the comments – your stories can change mindsets.
#RomanianStudent #DiasporaEdu #NoShame #GCRSvoices
Instagram Post – Infographic
Title: Top 5 challenges for Romanian students abroad
Proposed graphic structure for carousel (or 1 vertical infographic slide):
Slide 1 – Title:
Top 5 challenges for Romanian students abroad
Slide 2 – Challenge #1:
Language barriers
“You understand the language… until you have to write an official email or ask for help at university.”
Slide 3 – Challenge #2:
Budget management
“5 euros a day becomes reality, not a joke. That means serious planning and a lot of improvisation.”
Slide 4 – Challenge #3:
Homesickness and isolation
“No matter how good it looks on Instagram, reality can be very lonely.”
Slide 5 – Challenge #4:
Different education system
“More autonomy sounds good, but it comes with more pressure.”
Slide 6 – Challenge #5:
Stereotypes and prejudice
“Sometimes you feel judged just because you are Romanian. It is not easy.”
Slide 7 – Call to action:
Have you been through this too?
Write us your story and let’s make the reality of Romanian students in the diaspora visible.
#YourVoiceMatters #GCRSvoices #DiasporaEdu
Instagram Post – Reminder
Title: GCRS interview registrations: tell us your experience as a Romanian student!
Proposed text for the visual (story or carousel with 1–2 slides):
Do you want to be part of the next GCRS campaign?
Tell us what your life is like as a Romanian student abroad!
Registration deadline: [e.g. August 15]
Complete the form in the bio and join our interview series
“#StudentInDiaspora”.
We are interested in real stories:
What was hard for you?
What did you like?
What advice would you give other Romanians who are following the same path?
You can remain anonymous if you wish.
All stories will be treated with respect.
Link in bio!
#GCRSinterviews #RomanianStudent #DiasporaVoice #StrongerTogether
