When Apáczai was four years old Prince Gábor Bethlen died and he was succeeded by Prince György Rákóczi I who continued to maintain the international position of Transylvania. However, the country not only had the political tensions imposed by the Habsburg and Ottoman Empires, but it also suffered religious tensions between Calvinists and Catholics. Apáczai studied in Kolozsvár (today Cluj) and in Gyulafehérvár (Alba-Iulia) but, having no family, it proved difficult for him to support himself financially during his education, and twice he was forced to interrupt his studies because he did not have the financial means to continue.
Kapag Apáczai ay apat na taon gulang Prince Gábor Bethlen namatay at siya ay Tagumpay ng Prince György Rákóczi ko na patuloy na panatilihin ang mga internasyonal na posisyon ng Transylvania. Gayunman, ang bansa hindi lamang nagkaroon ng pampulitika tensions imposed ng Habsburg at Turko Empires, ngunit ito rin suffered relihiyon tensions sa pagitan ng mga Calvinists at Katoliko. Apáczai-aral sa Kolozsvár (ngayon Cluj) at sa Gyulafehérvár (Alba-Iulia) ngunit, hindi pamilya, it proved na mahirap para sa kanya upang suportahan ang kanyang sarili financially sa panahon ng kanyang pang-edukasyon, at dalawang beses siya ay sapilitang upang matigil ang kanyang pag-aaral dahil siya ay hindi magkakaroon ng pinansiyal ay nangangahulugan upang magpatuloy.