National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest

Key facts

Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 7 November 2026.

About POLITEHNICA Bucharest

The university traces its start to 1818, when Gheorghe Lazăr founded the first higher technical school taught in Romanian at the Saint Sava Abbey. A School of Bridges and Roads, Mines and Architecture followed on 1 October 1864, the Politehnica School of Bucharest was founded on 10 June 1920 and the Polytechnic Institute of Bucharest on 3 August 1948. In November 1992 the institute became University POLITEHNICA of Bucharest.^[7] Its official Romanian name is now Universitatea Națională de Știință și Tehnologie POLITEHNICA București; we found no year for that change.^[5]

The university describes itself as one of the largest in South-East Europe and the largest engineering school in Romania.^[9] It has 40,000 students and 3,300 staff, over 90 research labs and membership of the EELISA alliance.^[1] The main campus is on Splaiul Independenței in Bucharest.^[6]

How is POLITEHNICA Bucharest ranked?

In the QS World University Rankings 2027, published on 18 June 2026, “UNST Politehnica București” is in the 1201–1400 band, together with Alexandru Ioan Cuza University in Iași and West University of Timișoara. Only the University of Bucharest (801–850) and Babeș-Bolyai University (851–900) are in the top 1,000 of the eight Romanian universities listed.^[2]

The ranking publisher’s own page could not be read because it blocks automated access, so the band comes from Romanian press. Rankings differ by publisher and year, so treat one position as one view. How we compile rankings.

What can you study at POLITEHNICA Bucharest?

The university has 159 bachelor’s degrees in 44 scientific fields, 249 master’s degrees in 39 fields and 19 doctoral schools.^[1] On the Bucharest campus the study-offer page lists 15 faculties:^[8]

• Electrical Engineering; Energy Engineering; Automatic Control and Computer Science
• Electronics, Telecommunications and Information Technology; Mechanical Engineering and Mechatronics
• Industrial Engineering and Robotics; Biotechnical Systems Engineering; Transports; Aerospace Engineering
• Material Science and Engineering; Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology; Engineering in Foreign Languages
• Applied Sciences; Medical Engineering; Entrepreneurship, Business Engineering and Management

Six more faculties are on the Pitești campus, which brings the total to 21.^[8]

The same page lists 12 bachelor’s programmes in English and 4 in French on the Bucharest campus (for example Information Engineering and Mechanical Engineering), and 53 master’s programmes in English and 6 in French, with a few more in German.^[8] The key-figures page counts 21 bachelor’s and 46 master’s programmes in foreign languages across the university; the two counts use different scopes.^[1]

How much does POLITEHNICA Bucharest cost for non-EU students?

An “academic year” in this table is 9 months, a “calendar year” is 12 months.^[3] Bachelor’s and master’s programmes in music performance and theatre cost €7,500 per academic year.^[3] The table comes from the university’s “Non-EU foreign students tuition fees” document (created February 2026); the text we extracted does not name the academic year, so confirm it on the international site.^[3]

Other fees in the same document: an enrolment fee of €100, paid only in the first year of study, and €270 for a foreign-language test; the Romanian preparatory year has its own fees.^[3] You must pay a full year of tuition in advance to confirm your place.^[4] For living costs, see the Romania guide.

How do you apply to POLITEHNICA Bucharest?

Non-EU applicants register on apply.upb.ro in the non-EU citizens section.^[4]

1. The university submits your file to the Romanian Ministry of Education (DGRIAE). The page gives processing time of at least 30 days in one place and at least 60 days in another.
2. If the Ministry approves, you receive a Letter of Acceptance to studies.
3. You then apply for a student visa at a Romanian diplomatic mission. For the visa you need proof of financial means, accommodation and health insurance.
4. At enrolment you present the originals and certified copies or translations of all documents you uploaded.

Doctoral applicants need approval from a prospective supervisor and must pass the Doctoral School entrance exam.^[4] The university’s general admission page covers EU applicants, who validate their diplomas with CNRED before applying.^[10] We give no deadlines here because they change every year.

Which language level do you need?

Programmes in English, French or German follow the standard application steps. For Romanian-taught programmes you need a Romanian language certificate; without one you apply to the Preparatory Year of Romanian Language.^[4]

The admission pages we read do not state a minimum English level for English-taught programmes, and the fee list names a €270 foreign-language test fee.^[10][3] Ask the international office which proof of English your programme accepts before you book a test.

More about studying in Romania

• Romania: best universities
• Cost of Studying Abroad
• International Student Scholarships
• University Ranking Methodology

More university profiles in Romania

• Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iași
• Babeș-Bolyai University
• Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy
• University of Bucharest