The University was founded in 1889 by general Stefan Falcoianu. It became the sixth staff school in Europe, after those in Berlin, Vienna, Paris, Turin, Brussels, initially under the name of "Superior War School". French, German, and Soviet influences were felt throughout this institution's years during the educational process.
"LABOR IMPROBUS OMNIA VINCIT" - "Great labor overcomes everything" has been the motto for the education of over 21.000 officers from all categories of armed forces since the founding of NDU until the present day. The educational process in the National Defense University "Carol I" is complete and complex and is meant to consolidate the scientific instruments and the methodology needed in order to facilitate the use of principles and norms of military action and leadership at the joint, operational, and strategic levels in time of peace, crisis and war.
National Defense University "Carol I," an essential institution of teaching, research, and culture, offers many degree programs at several levels and forms of university education: doctoral programs, masters, undergraduate programs, open education majors, and other training courses.
The role of NDU "Carol I"
- Training of leaders and experts (military and civilian) in the field of national defense and security.
- The elaboration of scientific studies requested by structures with responsibilities in national defense and security (Presidency, Government, Supreme Council for National Defense, Parliament).
NDU "Carol I" missions
- Training of officers for JOINT and multinational operations
- Training of military and civilian personnel for positions of command at superior levels
- Training of commandants and general staff officers for the command of military operations
- Political and military training of selected personnel
- Master and Ph.D. training in the field of Military Sciences
- Development of postgraduate courses
- Development of scientific research activities
- Elaboration of national defense and security studies
- Documentary, expertise, and training support in the field of national defense and security
- Development of cooperation with research and higher education institutions in Romania and abroad
- Designing and developing teaching logistics.
In the Ministry of Defense, the National Defense University "Carol I" is subordinated directly to the National Defense Minister. However, it also has connections with the Ministry of Education and Research and all other central structures of The Ministry of Defense, such as the general staff of all categories of forces, the Directorate of Management and Human Resources. During the past years, the activities of international military cooperation organized by the National Defense University "Carol I" have had a goal to develop relations with similar institutions all over the world to accelerate the reform of military education towards a new organizational conception. The National Defense University "Carol I" is a full-rights member of PfP Consortium of Defense Academies and Security Studies Institutes, having an active presence in this international organization's study groups and workshops.
The graduation ceremony of the 120th Promotion of the National Defense University "Carol I" is a significant and emotional event for our institution's entire community. Today, after 128 years since it opened its doors to education and knowledge, the National Defense University "Carol I" continues to represent an institutional and professional model, being part of the European Higher Education Area, with a "high degree of trust," awarded by the Romanian Agency for Quality Assurance in Higher Education, between 2015 and 2020. Given that in today's security environment the cyber attacks are a clear challenge to the security of the North-Atlantic Alliance, the National Defense University "Carol I" has introduced in the educational offer, starting with the next academic year, a new Master's degree program, Communication Leadership, Technology Intelligence, and cyber defense, being a program organized by the Security and Defense Faculty in the field of "Intelligence and National Security".
The National Defense University "Carol I" continues to carry on cooperation programs on education and research with similar universities abroad by organizing joint study programs with mutual academic recognition, including creating and implementing student and teacher mobility within the ERASMUS + program.
