With its pristine landscapes and medieval towns and villages, Romania is an idyllic place to study. The country was a Socialist Republic from 1947 to 1989 but has had substantial economic growth during the 2000’s. It has been a member of the European Union since 2007.Romania shares borders with many countries. To the south is Bulgaria, while Serbia and Hungary are to the west, Ukraine is to the north and Moldova to the northwest. The country also has a coastline on the Black Sea in the east. The coastline is popular with young people in the summer when temperatures are in the 70’s and 80’s. Around 1/3 of the country is taken up by the Transylvanian Alp mountain range. The mountains are known for their natural beauty with impressive landforms such as waterfalls and glacial lakes, but also for their Folklore and superstition. The Transylvania region is known for legends of vampires and evil spirits. In fact, the tale of Count Dracula was based on the Romanian figure Vlad the Impaler.Romania is a deeply religious country with Eastern Orthodox Christians making up a large majority of the population. English is not widely spoken and there are few foreigners living in the country. With this in mind, studying in Romania is for those looking to see a less explored part of Europe where they are happy to go beyond their comfort zone.