University of Bucharest

University of Bucharest, commonly known after its abbreviation UB in Romania, is a public university.

The history of the University of Bucharest dates back to 1694, when Constantin Brâncoveanu, ruler of Wallachia, founded the Princely Academy in Bucharest. The academy offered lectures in Greek and Latin and focused on the study of theology, philosophy, and rhetoric.

In 1776, the Princely Academy was merged with the Saint Sava School to form the Saint Sava Academy. The academy was expanded to include new subjects such as mathematics, physics, and chemistry.

In 1864, Prince Alexandru Ioan Cuza decreed the transformation of the Saint Sava Academy into the University of Bucharest. The university was initially organized into four faculties: Law and Political Sciences, Philosophy and Literature, Mathematics and Natural Sciences, and Medicine and Pharmacy.

The University of Bucharest quickly grew and expanded in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. New faculties were added, including the Faculty of Engineering and Architecture (1890), the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (1921), and the Faculty of Theology (1922).

The University of Bucharest played a leading role in the development of Romanian culture and science. Many of the most prominent Romanian intellectuals of the 19th and 20th centuries were students or faculty members at the university. These include Nicolae Iorga, a historian and politician; George Călinescu, a literary critic and essayist; and Mircea Eliade, a historian of religions and philosopher.

The University of Bucharest was also a center of political dissent during the communist era. In the 1950s and 1960s, many students and professors were arrested and imprisoned for their opposition to the communist regime.

After the Romanian Revolution of 1989, the University of Bucharest underwent a period of reform and modernization. New faculties were added, including the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration (1990) and the Faculty of Journalism and Communication Sciences (1991). The university also began to offer more programs in English and other foreign languages.

Today, the University of Bucharest is one of the leading universities in Romania and Central and Eastern Europe. It is a major center of learning and research in a wide range of fields. The university is also committed to internationalization and has partnerships with universities around the world.

University of Bucharest is ranked as the #2 top university in Romania during 2025. This is the same rank as last year.