Cambridge School of Bucharest (CSB) celebrated a significant academic achievement as two students received offers to study at the University of Cambridge, one of the world’s most selective and prestigious universities. These offers marked another milestone in CSB’s long-standing tradition of academic excellence and successful progression to leading global institutions.
Highly competitive and internationally recognised, the University of Cambridge offers reflected both the outstanding individual achievements of the students and the strength of the academic pathways available at Cambridge School of Bucharest. This success continued a strong legacy: since 2016, four CSB graduates had progressed to the University of Cambridge, alongside one to the University of Oxford. In addition, a CSB alumnus is currently studying at Stanford University in the United States, further underlining the school’s global academic reach.
The current academic year is proving exceptional for university destinations overall. Alongside the two Cambridge offers, CSB students have received places at leading institutions including University College London (UCL), the University of St Andrews, and Bocconi University, with further offers anticipated as the year progressed.
Engineering and student leadership
One of the offers to Cambridge was secured by Ilinca, Head Girl of the Class of 2026, who was offered a place to study Engineering. Her achievement represented a moment of pride for the entire CSB community.
Throughout her time at Cambridge School of Bucharest, Ilinca consistently demonstrated academic ambition alongside strong leadership and personal integrity. Her learning is characterised by curiosity, independence, and perseverance, qualities essential for success in a demanding discipline such as engineering.
Beyond the classroom, Ilinca independently explored advanced engineering topics, including research into hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. This work informed her practical projects within CSB’s STEM Club, where she applied theoretical knowledge to real-world challenges. Alongside her academic commitments, she completed both the Bronze and Silver awards of the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award, reflecting her commitment to service, resilience, and personal development.
Ilinca also independently studied Additional Mathematics at IGCSE level, achieving an outstanding A*, further highlighting her academic drive and ability to manage complex academic demands.
Reflecting on her journey, Ilinca shared:
“Through strong academic support from teachers who continually challenged me to improve, alongside tailored university guidance and enriching opportunities such as the STEM Club, CSB helped me develop the depth, confidence, and ambition required for a successful Cambridge application.”
A future in medicine at Cambridge
The second Cambridge offer was secured by Maia, who received a place to study Medicine, one of the most competitive programmes offered by the university.
Maia was part of Cambridge School of Bucharest’s first-ever International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) cohort and distinguished herself through academic excellence alongside a strong commitment to creativity, activity, and service (CAS). Her journey reflected compassion, leadership, and a clear sense of social responsibility.
Among her initiatives, Maia organised a Science Fair at a rural school in Călărași, designed to inspire younger students to engage with STEM subjects. She also played a key role in establishing CSB’s annual Science Fairs, initiatives that continued to promote curiosity and scientific thinking across the school community.
Her achievements highlighted the breadth of skills and values fostered through the IB pathway, particularly for students aspiring to careers in highly competitive fields such as medicine.
Maia reflected on her experience at CSB:
“CSB provided me with a strong academic foundation and sustained opportunities to build my extracurricular profile, including presenting at the Swiss Youth Forum, participating in Olympiads, and initiating the school Science Fair, all of which prepared me for a successful application to Cambridge.”
Multiple pathways, shared success
Cambridge School of Bucharest offered both A Level and International Baccalaureate pathways in Sixth Form, and the success of this year’s university offers highlighted a core philosophy of the school: while students may choose different academic routes, the destination remained the same: access to top universities worldwide.
These outcomes were attributed to a combination of high-quality teaching, personalised university and career guidance, strong extracurricular programmes, and a supportive school community. Students were encouraged not only to achieve academically, but also to develop independence, resilience, and a global outlook.
Jonathan Wragg, Head of Secondary, commented:
“It is a joy to see our students’ hard work rewarded with Cambridge offers. Their success reflects both their academic rigour and their roles as compassionate leaders within our secondary school. They consistently looked beyond the curriculum, seizing opportunities to lead, volunteer, and grow.”
Dr Alexandra Dache, IB Coordinator, added:
“Maia’s offer to study Medicine at the University of Cambridge is a remarkable achievement, reflecting both academic excellence and a two-year journey rooted in service and leadership. As part of CSB’s first IB Diploma cohort, she exemplifies how the IB pathway at CSB cultivates curiosity, resilience, and social responsibility.”
As Cambridge School of Bucharest continued to celebrate offers from some of the world’s most prestigious universities, the message remained clear: success at CSB was not an exception, but a tradition. With graduates progressing to institutions such as Cambridge, Oxford, Stanford, and leading universities across Europe and beyond, CSB continued to play a key role in Romania’s international education landscape.
Success is our tradition.
Find out more about Cambridge School of Bucharest.