For such an underrated destination in Europe, Romania is gradually gaining popularity among international students. As of 2024, foreign students made up around seven per cent of the country’s university student population, and that figure continues to grow. But what is life in Romania truly like? What makes it a top-tier alternative to pricier study destinations like the UK, France, Italy, or Spain? In this episode, we answer these burning questions with environmental engineering student Melza Nur Zafitri. If you also need tips on applying for scholarships in Romania, adjusting to its education system, or navigating the country’s physical and cultural landscape, we’ve got you covered. Listen below, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Maryam: Hey guys, welcome back to the Extra Credit podcast. To all new listeners, this is a series where we bring you extraordinary stories and compelling conversations about the beauty and benefits of studying abroad with fellow international students, graduates, and professionals in the field.
I'm Maryam, your host. Today, we're exploring what it means to walk the road less traveled, or in this case, ditch popular study destinations like the UK, US, Canada, and Australia for more underrated countries, like Romania, for example.
A country widely known for stunning natural landscapes, medieval castles, and of course, how can we forget, the legend of Count Dracula? It's not often the first place most international students would think of to pursue their degree. But today's guest, Melza Nur Zafitri, a plucky environmental engineering student from Indonesia, is here to share her story and set the record straight on what to expect if you're planning to study in Romania too.
Welcome Melza, we're excited to have you here with us today. How are you?
Melza Zafitri: Hi Maryam, thank you so much for inviting me. I'm super excited to join this programme. I hope you're doing great too. How about you?
Maryam: I'm doing great too and it's lovely to hear that you're doing awesome. Okay, so let's go back to the beginning. Ever since you graduated from high school, you've always had a passion for education and promoting its importance to fellow youth.
Since 2021, you've worked as a chief of education development and an English public speaking instructor in various schools. You even became a reading ambassador for Bekasi Regency in Indonesia. Tell me, what sparked your interest in this field?
Melza Zafitri: Okay, I think I would like to answer this question on a bit of a personal level. Actually, I grew up in the environment where education, especially for women, was not always seen as a priority. In my homeland, gender hierarchy and limited access to education still exist as unwritten traditions. So, when I was a kid, I did not question this reality. It only became deeply personal for me when I began facing difficult moments in my own life shaped by these norms. So, I witnessed my mother who had always dreamed of becoming a public prosecutor, being forced to let go of that dream.
And I also saw my uncle who never had access to proper schooling, yet carried a lifelong dream of becoming an architect. So, watching them live with their dreams constrained by traditions made me realise how profoundly the absence of education can shape a person's future. And then, at that time, they encouraged me to create meaning in my own life, words I didn't fully understand back then. Only later did I realise that they were entrusting me with something they themselves couldn't pursue. So, as I grew older, this awareness expanded beyond my family. I began to notice how educational inequality continued to appear around me, such as in classrooms with limited resources and communities where literacy was unevenly distributed and in young people who had potential but lacked access or encouragement.
And then, this realisation became the foundation of my commitment to education. For me, education is a form of quiet resistance against inherited limitations. It is a way to open doors that were once closed, not only for myself, but for others as well. So, that is why I choose to dedicate myself to [the] education development field.
Maryam: Then, amid all this, in both 2024 and 2025, you applied for the Romanian Government Scholarship to pursue your bachelor's degree, right? So, what inspired you to take a step back from promoting education to students to becoming a student again?
Melza Zafitri: Um, while my experiences and education have allowed me to contribute in meaningful ways, they have also made me increasingly aware of how much more I still need to learn. So, I believe it is essential to strengthen my academic foundation in the field I am committed to while continuing to grow through active engagement in the right environment. For me, that environment is the academic space. I do not view higher education as a mere formality or credential because for me, entering university is a deliberate phase of learning, one that I conscientiously choose because it offers the depth and structured learning process that probably self-learning and field experiences alone cannot fully provide. Moreover, the academic environment offers something equally essential, such as intellectual discipline.
It trains me to think systematically, to engage critically with diverse perspectives, and to articulate ideas with clarity and, of course, responsibility. And then through this opportunity, I also want to encourage those around me, especially young people, to believe in their dreams and to never stop pursuing opportunities to learn. I am affirming that learning is a lifelong process and that investing in education is not a sign of stepping back, but of preparing to move forward with greater purpose.
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