University of Bucharest
Universitatea din București
Romania's leading comprehensive university, with 20 faculties in the centre of the capital and fierce competition for state-funded places.
- Students
- 37,000
- International
- 2%
- of students
- Tuition
- €2,500
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1864
About UB
The University of Bucharest was established in 1864 by Prince Alexandru Ioan Cuza, bringing together the faculties of Law, Sciences and Letters; its University Palace on University Square, designed by Alexandru Orăscu, is one of the city's landmarks. After decades of communist-era restructuring it was rebuilt from 1990, and in 2011 the Ministry of Education classified it as a university of advanced research and education.
Today UB has about 37,000 students, 1,300 professors and 500 researchers across 20 faculties, offering 101 bachelor's and 224 master's programmes and 24 doctoral schools. Its faculties span the sciences (Mathematics and Computer Science, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Geology and Geophysics, Geography), law, the humanities, social sciences, psychology, business and three faculties of theology. It is a founding member of the CIVIS European university alliance.
UB suits students who want a large, research-active public university in the centre of the capital. Competition for state-funded places is strong: in July 2026 there were on average 6.1 applications per state-funded bachelor's place, and 22.4 per place in Psychology - Cognitive Science. Most teaching is in Romanian, but several political science and international relations programmes are taught in English or French.
Why students choose UB
State-funded (tuition-free) bachelor's places for Romanian and EU students: 4,868 were offered in 2026.
Non-EU tuition is modest at EUR 2,500 to 3,150 a year for bachelor's programmes, with 5% or 10% discounts for applicants from lower-income countries.
English- and French-taught programmes in Political Science and in International Relations and European Studies, alongside a Romanian-language preparatory year.
UB reports that 81.1% of graduates are employed within 7 to 11 months of graduating.
Admissions
2027/28 entry (dates below are from the 2026 cycle)
Selectivity
UB does not publish an overall admission rate. In the July 2026 session it offered 4,868 state-funded bachelor's places and received on average 6.1 applications per state-funded place; the most competitive were Psychology - Cognitive Science (22.4 per place), Pharmaceutical Chemistry (16.9) and Business Administration (16.4). Non-EU fee-paying applicants need a secondary-school grade equivalent to at least 7/10.
Typical entry requirements
| Romanian baccalaureate / EU secondary diploma | EU/EEA/Swiss citizens apply under the same conditions as Romanians, through faculty-run admission (baccalaureate grades and faculty tests) |
|---|---|
| Non-EU secondary diploma | Equivalent of at least 7/10, recognised in Romania, with apostille or superlegalisation; certified translations for documents not in Romanian, English or French |
| Romanian-taught programmes | Proof of Romanian, or a Preparatory Year of Romanian Language before starting the degree |
| English language | Non-EU applicants must show at least B1 English (CEFR) with certificates such as IELTS, TOEFL, Cambridge or PTE Academic; Duolingo is not accepted for the Preparatory Year. No minimum score per test is published. |
Deadlines
- September session (remaining places) Non-binding Passed16 September 2026 (2026 cycle end date)
Held only for places left unfilled in July.
- July admission session (faculty-run, Romanian and EU applicants) Non-bindingJuly 2027 (faculty calendars; the 2026 session ran in July)
Each faculty sets its own registration dates within UB's framework calendar.
- Non-EU fee-paying applicants Non-bindingNot yet published for 2027
The 2026 application window has closed; the Ministry's Letter of Acceptance and visa process follow admission.
UB publishes admission calendars each year; the 2027 dates are not out yet. The 2026 regulation provided a July session and a September session ending by 16 September 2026.
How to apply
Romanian and EU/EEA/Swiss applicants apply directly to the faculty during its admission session. Non-EU fee-paying applicants upload their application form, passport, birth certificate, diploma, transcript, medical certificate and language proof on the admission platform and pay a EUR 100 non-refundable application fee. Recommended candidates are submitted to the Romanian Ministry of Education, which issues (or refuses) the Letter of Acceptance; students then apply for a study visa and enrol in person at the International Relations Office. Romanian Government scholarship holders enrol with their ministry Letter of Acceptance.
What admissions looks for
- Strong baccalaureate or equivalent results, which drive rankings for state-funded places.
- Success in faculty-specific tests, essays or interviews where required.
- For non-EU applicants, a secondary grade equivalent to at least 7/10 and properly legalised documents.
- Romanian language skills, or completion of the Preparatory Year, for Romanian-taught programmes.
Tips for applying to UB
- 1 Check each faculty's own calendar: admission is organised by faculty, not centrally.
- 2 Non-EU applicants should start legalisation early: documents need an apostille or superlegalisation, and the Ministry must approve your Letter of Acceptance before you can apply for a visa.
- 3 If your country is on the OECD low-income or least-developed lists, you qualify for a 5% or 10% tuition discount.
- 4 Consider the English-taught Political Science or International Relations and European Studies programmes if you do not speak Romanian.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in EUR
Romanian and EU students admitted to state-funded places pay no tuition. International students can apply for Romanian Government scholarships (through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Romanian Agency for Foreign Trade), which include a tuition exemption and possible accommodation support; most scholarship holders first complete the Romanian Language Preparatory Year. Non-EU fee payers from low- and lower-middle-income countries get 5% off and from least developed countries 10% off.
- 4,868
- State-funded bachelor's places (2026)
- EUR 100, non-refundable
- Non-EU application fee
- 5% (low/lower-middle-income countries) or 10% (least developed countries)
- Non-EU tuition discounts
Academics
Psychology - Cognitive Science
The most competitive bachelor's programme in July 2026, with 22.4 applicants per state-funded place.
Law
UB's oldest faculty, founded in 1859; applications rose from 1,219 to 1,685 in 2026.
Pharmaceutical Chemistry
16.9 applicants per state-funded place in 2026 at the Faculty of Chemistry.
Business Administration
16.4 applicants per state-funded place and 984 applicants in 2026.
Political Science and International Relations (English and French)
Programmes taught in English and French at the Faculty of Political Science, founded in 1991.
Mathematics and Computer Science
Alumni include free-probability pioneer Dan-Virgil Voiculescu; UB ranks first in Romania for Computer Science in THE's 2025 subject rankings, per its brochure.
Research
- UB runs the Hațeg Country UNESCO International Geopark, known for its dinosaur fossils, and the Dimitrie Brândză Botanical Garden.
- UB counts about 60 research centres and 9 research stations.
- The Research Institute of the University of Bucharest (ICUB), set up in 2014, supports interdisciplinary research across fields including life, environmental and earth sciences and the exact sciences.
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science
- Faculty of Physics
- Faculty of Chemistry
- Faculty of Biology
- Faculty of Geology and Geophysics
- Faculty of Geography
- Faculty of Law
- Faculty of Letters
- Faculty of Foreign Languages and Literatures
- Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences
- Faculty of Political Science
- Faculty of Business and Administration
UB reports that 81.1% of its graduates are employed within 7 to 11 months of graduation, and that it was first in Romania for Employment Outcomes in the QS World University Rankings 2026.
Student life
UB's faculties are spread across central Bucharest, from the historic University Palace on University Square to the Panduri student complex. The university has 18 dormitories and a canteen, foreign language centres, career guidance, and the University House of Bucharest. As a CIVIS member, UB offers exchanges with universities such as Sapienza, Stockholm, Tübingen and Glasgow. Most students are Romanian, and international students can take a Romanian Language Preparatory Year or the summer school in Romanian language and culture.
- 18 dormitories and a university canteen.
- CIVIS European Civic University alliance with partners including Sapienza, Stockholm, Tübingen, Glasgow and Lausanne.
- Summer School in Romanian Language, Culture and Civilization.
- Foreign Language Centres and career guidance services.
Housing. UB runs 18 dormitories; Romanian Government scholarship holders may receive accommodation support, while fee-paying students otherwise rent privately.
Location
Bucharest is Romania's capital and largest city. UB's main building, the University Palace, faces University Square in the city centre, and its faculties and dormitories are spread across the city. Henri Coandă International Airport serves the city.
Nearest airport: Henri Coandă International Airport (OTP)
Notable alumni
- ME Mircea EliadeHistorian of religion and novelist; Faculty of Philosophy and Letters (1925-1928)
- EI Eugène IonescoPlaywright of the Theatre of the Absurd; studied French literature (1928-1933)
- EC Emil CioranPhilosopher and essayist; Faculty of Literature and Philosophy
- ND Nicușor DanPresident of Romania since 2025 and former Mayor of Bucharest; studied mathematics
- DV Dan-Virgil VoiculescuMathematician who founded free probability theory, UC Berkeley professor; PhD (1977)
- MM Monica MacoveiFormer Minister of Justice and MEP; law degree with honours (1982)
- MC Mircea CărtărescuNovelist and poet; Faculty of Letters (1980)
- GA Gabriela AdameșteanuNovelist; Faculty of Literature (1965)
Frequently asked questions
How much is tuition at the University of Bucharest for international students?
Non-EU fee-paying students pay EUR 2,500 to 3,150 a year for bachelor's programmes, depending on the faculty, plus a EUR 100 application fee. EU students apply like Romanians and can compete for tuition-free state-funded places.
Does the University of Bucharest teach in English?
Some programmes are taught in English or French, notably Political Science and International Relations and European Studies. Most programmes are in Romanian, and non-Romanian speakers usually take a Preparatory Year of Romanian first.
How competitive is admission to the University of Bucharest?
In July 2026 there were on average 6.1 applications per state-funded bachelor's place, rising to 22.4 for Psychology - Cognitive Science.
What grade do non-EU students need for the University of Bucharest?
A secondary qualification equivalent to at least 7/10 on the Romanian scale, roughly 70% or a B grade, plus at least B1 English.
When are admissions at the University of Bucharest?
Faculties run a main admission session in July and a September session for remaining places. Non-EU applicants apply earlier through the international platform so the Ministry can issue their Letter of Acceptance.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
- QS World University Rankings 2027 (topuniversities.com)
- THE World University Rankings 2026
- ShanghaiRanking ARWU 2026
- University of Bucharest: Official brochure 2025 (PDF)
- University of Bucharest: Record number of applications in the July 2026 admission session
- University of Bucharest International: Study at the University of Bucharest (admission 2026)
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