The University of Debrecen

The University of Debrecen, like other integrated institutions of higher education in the country, was formed on January 1, 2000 by (re)uniting formerly independent institutions. Its historical roots reach back to the foundation of the Reformed College of Debrecen (1538), whose three academic sections later served as the base for the Hungarian Royal University of Sciences, created by Statute no. 36 in 1912. With this past of more than 450 years, the University of Debrecen is the oldest institution of higher education in continuous operation in Hungary based in the same city. The University of Debrecen has a student body of 32,000. Nearly 1400 instructors teach at the University, making it one of the largest higher education institutions in Hungary. Its 11 university and 4 college faculties, and 24 doctoral schools undoubtedly offer the widest choice of majors and other forms of training. The quality of teaching and especially research is indicated by the fact that more than half of the instructors have academic degrees, and 26 professors are members of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. According to the yearly complex report of the Hungarian Ministry of Education, which serves as the base for the amount of research funding available to institutions of higher education, it is the best institution outside Budapest and is in the top three in the country, possessing 14-15% of the research volume carried out in Hungary.

This outstanding intellectual center, with a vast research and development capacity, has a growing importance in the economic and social development, cultural progress of the region. It devotes special attention to serving the needs of a knowledge based economy and society more efficiently, and it strives to become the knowledge center of the region.  

 
Prof. Dr. László Fésüs

Rector

Member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences