22 January 2026
Babeș-Bolyai University of Cluj-Napoca (UBB) reaffirms its position as national leader in the international university rankings by subject area published by Times Higher Education (THE) for 2026.
UBB has the most extensive representation of any Romanian university in these rankings, featuring in 9 of the 11 fields measured globally. Of the nine fields, UBB ranks first nationwide in six, either outright or on a par with other Romanian universities. This achievement further confirms, as with the previous edition, the strongest representation of a Romanian university in THE rankings by subject area.
Rankings of UBB in THE 2026 rankings by subject area:
- Psychology: ranked 401-500 globally, ranked 1st nationally (alongside the West University of Timișoara),
- Business and Economics: ranked 601-800 globally, ranked 1st nationally (alongside the West University of Timișoara),
- Education Sciences: ranked 601-800 globally, ranked 1st nationally (on a par with the University of Bucharest),
- Social Sciences: ranked 601-800 globally, ranked 1st nationally (together with the Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies, the West University of Timișoara, and Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu),
- Computer Science: ranked 801-1000 globally, ranked 1st nationally (alongside the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca and Ștefan cel Mare University of Suceava),
- Engineering: ranked 801-1000 globally, ranked 1st nationally,
- Arts and Humanities: ranked 601-800 globally, ranked 2nd nationally,
- Physical Science: ranked 1001-1250 globally, ranked 3rd nationally,
- Life Sciences: ranked 1001+ globally, ranked 3rd
THE rankings are compiled based on a complex set of indicators covering various factors such as scientific research output, quality of the learning environment, international outlook, and collaboration with the business sector. UBB’s performance on the rankings reflects the university’s sustained efforts to reinforce its academic and scientific output in an ever more competitive international context, while remaining a leading institution at the national level. As a comprehensive university, UBB closely monitors quality and competitiveness indicators relevant to each subject area, leveraging these assessments alongside other tools for analysis and assessment to inform and calibrate academic development strategies tailored to the particularities of each subject area.
“I am very happy with the outcome and I am grateful to the UBB community for making it possible! Ever since 2005, I have been among the promoters of national rankings/metarankings, in order to tap into the major international academic developments of the time (I believe that in 2005, together with the Ad Astra Association, I put forward the first rankings of the Romanian universities). Today, looking at how scientometrics has evolved, I have come to realize (and this is something I’ve been talking about for a few years now) that current international academic trends (e.g. CoARA) that UBB has also adopted caution us that rankings are not a diagnostic tool which covers the full complexity of a university, which is why they must be looked at open-mindedly, with their advantages (e.g., comparing certain indicators against other universities across the world) and limitations (e.g., the indicators cannot cover all the important aspects of a university, and purely quantitative comparisons overlook important qualitative aspects). Within this framework, rankings do not lose their importance, but universities have moved beyond them, with international systems already in place that provide a comprehensive and more balanced (in terms of both quantity and quality) assessment of a university,” notes UBB Rector, professor psych. Daniel David, PhD.
For more information on these international rankings, visit the official THE website: https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/by-subject.
Tradition and Excellence with Culture-Science-Innovation since 1581
Babeș-Bolyai University of Cluj-Napoca (UBB) is the university with the most complex academic profile in the country (by its number of programmes and multicultural profile featuring three official academic languages: Romanian, Hungarian, and German), and with the oldest academic tradition in Romania (established 445 years ago – 1581), accounting for the largest academic community in the country (with a staff of more than 55,000 people, from 15 cities and 12 counties). Ever since its establishment, UBB has been one of the most prestigious and influential universities in Romania; for several years now, UBB has consistently ranked among the top 5% of the world’s universities (out of approximately 30,000), with an advanced academic infrastructure (e.g. RDI units integrated into European networks, up-to-date teaching laboratories integrating virtual/augmented/mixed reality through the UBB-EON-XR Centre, etc.). Recently (2021), following the international QS STAR audit, UBB was officially ranked as the first world-class university (QS*****) in Romania, and in 2020 UBB was included in the GUILD, the organisation of the most prestigious European world-class/research-intensive universities, it was awarded the European HR Award for Excellence, and as of 2021/2022 it is a member of the EUTOPIA alliance of European universities.
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