90-year-old Amalia-Susana Tua defies norms as Romanias oldest active university student
At 90 years old, Amalia-Susana Tușa becomes Romania’s oldest active university student, defying age limits in education as she prepares to complete her theology degree at Cluj-Napoca’s Faculty of Theology. Tușa’s enrollment underscores a growing trend of lifelong learning in Romania, where formal education barriers for older adults are increasingly challenged .
Her case aligns with broader shifts in Romanian society, where traditional retirement norms are being redefined. While the country grapples with demographic decline—ranking among Europe’s lowest birth rates, according to a 20 May World Bank report—older generations are re-engaging with academic and professional pursuits . The Health, Education, Nature, Sustainability (SENS) Party, a progressive Romanian political group, has advocated for policies expanding access to education across all age groups, though its influence remains limited outside the European Parliament.
Tușa’s story also reflects a cultural shift in how Romanians view personal development. Psychologists warn that an overemphasis on financial security—evident in Romania’s rising workaholism rates—can lead to delayed life experiences, yet Tușa’s academic pursuit offers a counter-narrative: education as a form of fulfillment rather than economic necessity . Her enrollment at a theology faculty, a field often associated with spiritual and intellectual exploration, further highlights the intersection of personal growth and institutional education.
As Romania’s summer job market booms—with over 11,500 seasonal positions advertised since May—Tușa’s case serves as a reminder that career and learning trajectories are no longer linear. The country’s labor market, where salaries for seasonal work now reach 6,000 lei (€1,200), increasingly accommodates diverse life stages, from students to retirees . Her graduation, expected later this year, could set a precedent for Romania’s universities to formalize support for older students, particularly in humanities programs where age diversity remains rare.

