Universities in Bucharest: A Guide to the Main Public Universities

University of Bucharest (UB)

Founded: 1864, with roots going back to the Princely Academy of 1694
Address: Bulevardul Regina Elisabeta 4-12, right on University Square (Piața Universității)
Specialization: Humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, law
Students: Around 32,000, including roughly 1,000 international students

The second-oldest university in Romania and the most iconic — its historic University Palace on Piața Universității is one of the most recognizable buildings in the city. UB spans 19 faculties, from Mathematics and Physics to Law, Journalism, and Foreign Languages, and holds over 300 Erasmus partnership agreements, making it one of the most exchange-friendly universities in the country.

National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest

Founded: Traces back to 1818, formally established 1920
Address: Splaiul Independenței 313, Sector 6 (with additional campuses at Polizu, Sector 1, and Leu, Sector 6)
Specialization: Engineering — every discipline of it
Students: Tens of thousands, spread across 15+ faculties

Romania's largest and oldest technical university, and the default choice for engineering exchange students. It's a purely technical school — no humanities or business programs — but within engineering, the breadth is enormous, from mechanical and electrical to computer science and aerospace.

Bucharest University of Economic Studies (ASE)

Founded: 1913
Address: Piața Romană 6, Sector 1
Specialization: Economics, business, management, public administration
Students: Around 22,000–24,000

The leading economics and business school not just in Romania, but in Southeastern Europe. ASE's main campus sits directly on Piața Romană — one of the most central, student-heavy squares in the city — with 12–13 faculties and a heavy international exchange culture.

Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy

Founded: 1857 (university status since 1869)
Address: Bulevardul Eroii Sanitari 8, Sector 5 (Cotroceni)
Specialization: Medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, nursing
Students: Around 10,000

Romania's oldest and most prestigious medical school, known internationally for its six-year English-taught medicine and dentistry programs, which draw a large number of foreign students independent of the Erasmus program too. Training happens across more than 20 affiliated hospitals throughout the city.

National University of Political Studies and Public Administration (SNSPA)

Founded: 1991, evolving out of a former faculty of the University of Bucharest
Address: Strada Povernei 6, Sector 1
Specialization: Political science, public administration, communication, management

A smaller, more specialized public university with four faculties, popular with students interested in political science, media, and public policy — and known for a more international, seminar-style academic culture than some of the larger institutions.

Ion Mincu University of Architecture and Urbanism (UAUIM)

Address: Strada Academiei 18-20, Sector 1
Specialization: Architecture, urban planning, design

The country's dedicated architecture school, blending design training with engineering fundamentals — a natural fit for exchange students in architecture or urban planning programs.

National University of Arts Bucharest (UNArte)

Founded: 1864
Specialization: Fine arts — painting, sculpture, graphic arts, and design

One of the oldest art schools in the country, training generations of Romanian painters and sculptors, and a solid option for exchange students in visual arts programs.

National University of Music Bucharest (UNMB)

Founded: 1863, university status since 2001
Address: Știrbei Vodă 33, Sector 1
Specialization: Composition, musicology, and performance, split across two faculties

A historic conservatory-style institution for classical and contemporary music training, with a strong performance faculty alongside composition and musicology.

University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest (USAMV)

Founded: 1852
Address: Bulevardul Mărăști, Sector 1
Specialization: Agriculture, veterinary medicine, food science
Students: Around 12,000

Romania's oldest and largest agricultural university, worth knowing about if your exchange program covers agronomy, veterinary sciences, or food-related fields.

Finding Your Way Around

Notice a pattern? A good number of these — ASE, SNSPA, and easy reach of UB — cluster around the same central strip covered in our neighborhood guide: Piața Romană, Universitate, and the Armenian Quarter. It's not a coincidence that this is also where most of the city's student life actually happens.

If your campus is one of these central ones, ErasmusPass apartments in the Armenian Quarter, Universitate, and Piața Romană put you within easy walking distance of class — no commute required.