Police Academy Admission Exam (Romania)Academia de Poliție

Overview

The Academia de Poliție „Alexandru Ioan Cuza” in Bucharest is the Romanian Ministry of Internal Affairs (MAI) university that trains officers for the police, border police, gendarmerie, firefighters and other MAI structures. It holds one admission competition a year for its bachelor's programmes. The 2026 session ran from July to September 2026, for the 2026 to 2027 academic year.

Programmes open for admission:

For 2026 to 2027 the Academy offered 505 bachelor's places in total: 405 state-funded and 100 fee-paying. The full-time Public Order and Safety programme had 145 police places, 40 border police places and 25 gendarmerie places, and full-time Law had 95 places. Some places are reserved for Roma, Hungarian and other national-minority candidates and for candidates from the social protection system.

Who can apply

• Full-time programmes are open to holders of the Romanian baccalaureate diploma or an equivalent, including recognised secondary studies completed abroad, who meet the MAI's legal recruitment conditions and criteria.

• The reduced-attendance programme is open only to serving MAI agents, NCOs and warrant officers who meet the specific criteria.

• You may apply for only one programme in one faculty.

Candidates are recruited through MAI recruitment units (for example county police inspectorates), not directly by the Academy.

Exam pattern

Before the competition itself, the recruitment unit carries out a psychological evaluation. Only candidates found psychologically fit (apt) can complete their file and pay the fee. The competition then has three stages.

Stage I: physical performance test

A timed practical course (traseu practic-aplicativ) made up of a set sequence of obstacles, such as jumps, rolls on a mat, balance on a gymnastics bench and running between markers. The result is "passed" with a mark from 5.00 to 10.00, or "failed". Knocking down obstacles, leaving the marked course, abandoning or not meeting the standard eliminates you. There are no re-tests or appeals for this stage.

Stage II: written knowledge test

Only candidates who pass the physical test may sit it. It is a multiple-choice test lasting three hours.

You choose your foreign language on the application form. The rest of the competition is held in Romanian.

Stage III: medical examination

Candidates are examined to confirm they are medically fit for MAI service.

Syllabus

The topics and bibliography for each subject are set out in annexes to the admission regulations: History, Romanian Language and a foreign language for the Faculty of Police, and Algebra with Mathematical Analysis and Physics for the Faculty of Firefighters. The Academy publishes past test questions and answers on its admission site.

Marking and results

• Each subject is marked on a 1 to 10 scale, with 1 point given automatically, using the formula: mark = (points earned / maximum points) x 9 + 1.

• The written test mark is the average of the subject marks. You need at least 5 in every subject to pass.

• The admission average is 40% physical test mark plus 60% written test mark, and it cannot be below 5.

Appeals against written test results must be lodged online within 24 hours of the provisional results.

Candidates who won first, second or third prizes at recognised international olympiads, or first prize at national olympiads, in the competition subjects can be admitted to state-funded places without the written test, if they pass the physical test and the medical exam.

Important dates

For the 2026 session:

Fees

For 2026 the bachelor's admission fee is 600 lei, paid online by bank transfer only by candidates declared psychologically fit.

• Children of active or retired defence, public order and national security staff get a 50% reduction.

• Orphans of one or both parents, children of active or retired teaching staff, and candidates from the social protection system are exempt.

The fee is refunded only if you ask for it before your scheduled physical test slot and do not take that test.

How to apply

1. Apply to the MAI recruitment unit for your area within the application window and keep in touch with them about the date of the psychological evaluation.

2. If you are found psychologically fit, complete your recruitment file (medical certificate from your family doctor, ID documents, criminal record consent, photo and other required papers) and pay the fee.

3. The recruitment unit sends your application and documents to the Academy electronically.

4. Check the Academy's website for the list of registered candidates and your physical test slot.

Preparation tips

• Practise the practical course itself, not just general fitness. Errors such as knocking down markers or leaving the course eliminate you regardless of time.

• The physical test counts for 40% of your admission average, so a fast, clean run matters as much as passing.

• For the Faculty of Police, prepare History, Romanian and your foreign language evenly, because a mark below 5 in any one subject fails the written test.

• Work through the past questions and answers the Academy publishes.