Arad

Arad is a border-gateway city in Romania’s west, 50 km from the Hungarian frontier and on  the Pan-European Corridor IV. With two comprehensive universities (public UAV and private  UVVG), a historic tram network, and a lively cultural core along Bulevardul Revoluției, Arad  is a compact, affordable study destination that blends Central-European architecture with  a pragmatic, student-friendly lifestyle.

The municipality’s latest socio-economic report  highlights ongoing urban upgrades, greener mobility, and new dormitory and campus  investments that directly benefit students. Population-wise, Arad is a mid-sized Romanian  city—large enough to offer services and jobs, small enough to stay walkable and  welcoming.

For international students, the combination of English-taught medical  programs (UVVG), lower living costs than the very large academic hubs, and fast access to  Timișoara’s hub airport makes Arad a smart base for degree or exchange study in the 2025– 2026 cycle. Arad is the seat of Arad County and the economic center of the lower Mureș valley in the  historical region of Banat–Crișana. It sits near Romania’s western border, roughly 4 km east  of Arad International Airport and on main rail lines linking Budapest–Curtici–Arad– Timișoara.

Road and rail ties make weekend travel easy across western Romania and into  Hungary and Serbia. Climatically, Arad lies in the Banat plain’s temperate-continental zone  with warm summers and moderate winters; ANM (Romania’s National Meteorological  Administration) classifies Banat’s climate as one of the country’s milder regions. According  to the 2021 census (definitive results released 2023), Arad municipality’s resident  population is ~145k, while Arad County is ~410k. Expect a growing commuter belt  (Vladimirescu, Șofronea, Livada) that feeds the city’s university and jobs market.