University of Debrecen

Key facts

Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 7 November 2026.

About the University of Debrecen

The Calvinist Reformed College of Debrecen was established in 1538 and became the base for later higher education in the city. The Hungarian Royal University was founded in 1912, and in 2000 the Faculty of Engineering became part of the integrated University of Debrecen.^[7]

Today the university has 13 faculties and institutions and states nearly 35,000 students.^[1] Wikipedia lists about 30,000 students for 2020 and names the 13 faculties, among them Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Public Health, Engineering and Music.^[6] The university’s international programmes are presented on a separate site, edu.unideb.hu.^[1]

How is the University of Debrecen ranked?

In the QS World University Rankings 2027, published on 18 June 2026, the University of Debrecen is 600th in the world, down from 563rd. It is second among Hungarian universities, behind Eötvös Loránd University (595th) and ahead of the University of Szeged (633rd).^[3][8]

Rankings differ by publisher and year, so treat one position as one view. How we compile rankings. See the other universities on our Hungary page.

What can you study at the University of Debrecen?

The university offers more than 80 degree programmes fully taught in English, from foundation courses to doctoral studies.^[1] The fee page for 2026/27 lists, among others:^[4]

• Medical and health sciences: Medicine (12 semesters, MD), Dentistry (10 semesters, DMD), Pharmacy (10 semesters, Pharm.D), Nursing (8 semesters, BSc), Public Health, Molecular Biology (MSc).
• Bachelor’s: Computer Science (6 semesters), Biology, Business Administration and Management, several engineering degrees, Psychology, English and American Studies and music programmes.
• Master’s and doctoral: engineering, informatics, sciences, an LL.M. in European and International Business Law, and doctoral programmes. Most master’s programmes except the LL.M. have a pre-master semester or year.
• Preparatory: a foundation year, a basic medicine course and English language courses.

How much does the University of Debrecen cost in 2026/27?

Fees for English-taught programmes are set in US dollars and the tuition fee is transferred to a USD bank account. The fee page says that all listed fees apply to students admitted for 2026/27 and that health insurance, the medical check-up and the student card are included in the tuition.^[4]

The first four rows are medical and health programmes, headed 2026/27 on the fee page.^[4] The two bachelor’s rows are listed on the same page, but the university’s fee overview labels its current schedule for non-medical programmes as 2025/2026, so confirm the year for those.^[9] Fees are given per year; the university also says to refer to your Letter of Acceptance for your own fee and payment plan.^[9]

Other costs

The non-refundable application fee is $150 and the entrance exam fee is $350.^[4] Fees are transferred to a USD account; a separate page describes payment in Hungarian forint.^[9] Applicants from Bangladesh must pay the yearly tuition plus a general deposit before they receive visa supporting documents for programmes under $10,000 a year.^[4]

Scholarships

Stipendium Hungaricum applicants apply through the Tempus Public Foundation system (apply.stipendiumhungaricum.hu), not the university’s form.^[5] The scheme is a Hungarian government programme; its official site says tuition fees are fully covered and accommodation is partly supported, and that applications for 2026/27 are closed.^[10]

How do you apply to the University of Debrecen?

The university gives these steps:^[5]

1. Submit your application through the online platform linked from the “Application and admission” page.
2. Complete the entrance exam or interview if your programme requires one; some applicants have an oral exam.
3. The university contacts applicants who meet the entry requirements about the next steps.

Required documents are the application form, your education certificate (in English or translated), transcripts and predicted grades if you are in your final year, proof of citizenship such as a passport, a CV, a medical certificate and the receipt for the $150 application fee. Incomplete applications are not considered.^[5] The university also limits study gaps: four years for non-medical foundation and undergraduate applicants, six years for non-medical graduate applicants and six years for medical applicants, with shorter limits for applicants from some countries.^[5] We give no deadlines because they change every year.

Which language level do you need?

Applicants need a standardised English certificate at level B2 or higher, taken in a proctored exam. B2 is upper-intermediate on the CEFR scale, the European scale from A1 to C2.^[5]

You may be exempt if you are a native English speaker or completed secondary or higher education in English; in that case you provide a medium-of-instruction certificate. Other education certificates may also qualify for an exemption.^[5] The page does not name accepted test brands or minimum scores, so ask the admissions office before you book a test.

More about studying in Hungary

• Hungary: best universities
• Cost of Studying Abroad
• International Student Scholarships
• University Ranking Methodology

More university profiles in Hungary

• Budapest University of Technology and Economics
• Eötvös Loránd University
• Semmelweis University
• University of Szeged