2026 Admissions at the University of Bucharest: Growing Interest in Fields Where Romania Needs More Specialists

During the 2026 summer admissions session, the University of Bucharest has recorded significant increases in the number of applicants to degree programmes in fields that are essential to society’s development, ranging from the natural sciences, medicine, and energy to education, law, and communication. The results reported by the faculties that have already completed admissions reflect both the growing interest of prospective students in these disciplines and the increasing demand for highly qualified professionals in Romania and internationally.

One of the most remarkable developments can be seen at the Faculty of Geology and Geophysics, where applications to the Geophysics programme increased from 15 in 2025 to 93 in 2026, representing a 520% increase. At the same time, the Geology programme attracted 112 applicants, compared with 39 the previous year, marking an increase of nearly 187%. Competition also rose significantly, from 0.88 to 5.81 applicants per state-funded place in Geophysics and from 2.94 to 5.60 applicants per state-funded place in Geology.

The growing interest in these disciplines comes at a time when society needs specialists in geology and geophysics for a wide range of practical applications, from the exploration and sustainable use of natural resources and the development of the energy sector to infrastructure, environmental protection, and natural hazard management. As the energy sector undergoes rapid transformation and Romania advances major strategic projects, expertise in geology and geophysics is becoming increasingly important. The rise in applications also reflects a renewed interest among young people in the fundamental sciences and in fields where scientific knowledge is directly translated into practical solutions.

A similar trend can be observed in disciplines with applications in medicine. At the Faculty of Physics, the Medical Physics programme recorded an increase of almost 44%, with applications rising from 109 in 2025 to 157 in 2026, while competition increased from 5.45 to 7.85 applicants per state-funded place. Meanwhile, the Physics programme experienced an impressive 67% increase, from 117 to 195 applicants, with competition reaching 9.75 applicants per state-funded place.

The growing interest in disciplines at the intersection of the fundamental sciences and healthcare is also reflected in the results of the Faculty of Chemistry. The Medical Chemistry programme attracted 441 applicants, compared with 373 in 2025, an increase of more than 18%, while competition reached 12.71 applicants per state-funded place. At the same time, Technological Biochemistry saw applications increase from 307 to 353 (+15%), with competition reaching 14.20 applicants per place. Applications to Pharmaceutical Chemistry rose by nearly 19%, from 353 to 419, while competition reached 16.96 applicants per state-funded place.

These admissions results confirm the growing appeal of disciplines that require professionals capable of working at the intersection of research, technology, and healthcare. From medical physics and medical chemistry to biochemistry, these fields prepare the specialists needed to support high-performing healthcare and research systems, at a time when demand for qualified professionals continues to grow both in Romania and internationally. At the same time, these disciplines are essential for educating the next generation of STEM teachers, who are urgently needed, particularly in pre-university education, to prepare future generations in the natural sciences, mathematics, and technology.

The Faculty of Law also recorded a substantial increase in applications. The Law programme attracted 1,685 applicants this year, compared with 1,219 in 2025, representing an increase of more than 38%, while competition rose to 5.61 applicants per state-funded place, up from 4.06 the previous year. This growth is particularly noteworthy because it significantly exceeds both the overall increase in the number of students sitting Romania’s national Baccalaureate examination this year and the trends recorded by comparable law faculties across the country.

In the field of communication, the rapid transformation driven by emerging technologies and artificial intelligence is also reflected in growing interest in the programmes offered by the Faculty of Journalism and Communication Studies. The total number of applications increased by more than 16%, from 837 in 2025 to 973 in 2026. Applications to Communication and Public Relations increased from 275 to 333 (+21%), while Advertising grew from 255 to 309 (+21%). These results come as the Faculty continues to adapt its educational offer to changes in the industry and to the new skills required by society, introducing courses in areas such as vibe coding, scrollytelling, UX/UI writing, multiplatform audience management, AI for public relations and advertising, and digital detox.

The growing demand for specialists is also evident in the field of foreign languages, including minority languages. At the Faculty of Foreign Languages and Literatures, the Ukrainian Language and Literature programme attracted 48 applicants, with 3.69 applicants per state-funded place, while the Hungarian Language and Literature programme attracted 19 applicants, with 1.72 applicants per state-funded place. Interest in these programmes should also be viewed in light of the need for specialists capable of supporting intercultural communication, public institutions, international organisations, and education in multilingual and multicultural contexts.

“This year’s admissions results show that the University of Bucharest continues to be the university of choice for an increasing number of young people who wish to pursue studies in fields that play a vital role in society and in the economy of the future. The significant growth recorded in programmes such as Geology, Geophysics, Medical Physics, Medical Chemistry, Law, and Communication and Public Relations confirms strong interest in diverse disciplines that share one essential characteristic: the need for highly qualified professionals capable of addressing today’s challenges and those of the future,” said Professor Marian Preda, Rector of the University of Bucharest.

Key Figures from the 2026 Admissions Session

+520% – increase in the number of applicants to Geophysics, from 15 in 2025 to 93 in 2026;

+187% – increase in the number of applicants to Geology, from 39 to 112;

+67% – increase in the number of applicants to Physics, from 117 to 195;

+44% – increase in the number of applicants to Medical Physics, from 109 to 157;

+38% – increase in the number of applicants to Law, from 1,219 to 1,685;

16.96 applicants per place – competition for Pharmaceutical Chemistry;

14.20 applicants per place – competition for Technological Biochemistry;

12.71 applicants per place – competition for Medical Chemistry;

10.85 applicants per place – competition for Biology;

9.75 applicants per place – competition for Physics.