licee

Licee is the Romanian plural form for liceu, the main type of upper secondary school in Romania. They provide four-year programs that follow the completion of gimnaziu (the previous stage of secondary education) and prepare students for higher education or the workforce. The typical age range is about 14 to 18. Admission to licee is generally based on results from the Evaluarea Națională taken at the end of gimnaziu, with placement determined by school-based rankings and available spots.

The curriculum of a liceu combines general education with a specialized track or profile chosen by the student. Profiles cover broad areas such as sciences, mathematics, humanities, languages, or arts, and many schools offer more focused streams within those domains. In addition to mandatory subjects, students study elective courses aligned with their chosen profile. Licee can be publicly funded or privately operated, and they may vary in emphasis, with some having a stronger theoretical orientation and others offering more practical or technical training.

Types and distinctions within the liceu system include teoretic (theoretical) profiles, which emphasize broad academic education, as well as technic or vocational-oriented streams that integrate more specialized technical content. Some schools are known as national colleges or specialized licee, recognized for particular strengths in certain disciplines or disciplines.

Graduates of licee take the national Bacalaureat examination at the end of their final year. Successful completion of the Bacalaureat is typically required for admission to Romanian universities and higher education institutions, though some programs also consider other qualifications. Licee play a central role in Romania’s secondary education system, offering diverse paths designed to match students’ educational goals and interests.