University of Debrecen
Debreceni Egyetem
Hungary's big eastern university, teaching medicine and dozens of degrees in English to students from 140+ countries.
- Students
- 34,000
- International
- 23%
- of students
- Tuition
- $6,000
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1912
About UD
The University of Debrecen traces its roots to the Reformed College of Debrecen, founded in 1538, and became a university in 1912 as the Hungarian Royal University; teaching began in 1914 in the old college buildings. Its neo-baroque main building, finished in 1932, is one of the largest buildings in the city. The present university was formed on 1 January 2000 by merging the city's science and humanities university, its medical university and its agricultural university.
Today it has more than 34,000 students, including over 7,800 international students from more than 140 countries, across 13 faculties and 8 campuses. It has taught in English since 1987 and now offers 36 bachelor's programmes, 42 master's programmes and 3 one-tier medical programmes (Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacy) fully in English. Two teaching hospitals with more than 2,900 beds give medical students large clinical exposure.
Admission to the English-taught programmes runs through the university's own international office rather than a national portal: you apply online, then sit an entrance exam or interview, which can be taken online. It suits students who want an affordable, English-taught European degree, especially in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, engineering or computing, and who are happy in a mid-sized university city in eastern Hungary.
Why students choose UD
Medicine (MD), Dentistry (DMD) and Pharmacy (PharmD) are taught fully in English, backed by two teaching hospitals with more than 2,900 beds.
Most English-taught bachelor's degrees cost 6,000 to 7,500 US dollars a year, with health insurance, the medical check-up and the student card included in the fee.
There is no fixed exam calendar for most programmes: the entrance exam or interview is scheduled individually and can be taken online, with results in one to two days.
Stipendium Hungaricum, the Hungarian government scholarship, can cover full tuition plus a stipend and housing support for students from partner countries.
Admissions
Entry September 2027 (and February 2027 for non-medical programmes)
Selectivity
No acceptance rate is published. Admission to the English-taught programmes is decided by the university's own entrance exam or interview. Demand for Medicine and Dentistry is high: applications for the September 2026 intake closed early 'due to an exceptionally high number of applications received'.
Typical entry requirements
| Secondary school leaving certificate | A school leaving qualification (high school diploma or equivalent) is required for bachelor's and one-tier programmes; final-year students send transcripts of the last 2 to 3 years and predicted grades. Applicants whose exam results are not strong enough for direct entry may be offered a Foundation Year or the Basic Medicine Course. |
|---|---|
| Study gap | For non-medical foundation and bachelor's programmes the gap since your last studies cannot exceed 4 years (6 years for medical programmes); stricter limits apply to some nationalities. |
| English language | Applicants must show at least upper-intermediate (B2) English with a standardised certificate from a proctored exam. Native speakers and students who completed secondary or higher education in English (with a medium-of-instruction certificate) can be exempted. English is also assessed in the entrance exam or interview. |
Deadlines
- Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship (2026/27 call, past) Non-binding Passed15 January 2026, 2 pm CET
Deadline for the 2026/27 call; the 2027/28 call has not been published yet. Applicants must also be nominated by their home country's sending partner, which may set its own earlier deadline.
- Other programmes, September intake (2026 cycle, past) Non-binding Passed15 June 2026
This was the deadline for September 2026; the September 2027 date for non-medical programmes has not been published yet.
- February 2027 intake (all programmes that start in February) Non-binding Next deadline · In 26 days1 November 2026
Programmes marked as September-only (including most bachelor's degrees) do not take February entrants.
- Medicine and Dentistry, September 2027 intake (final deadline) Non-binding In ~7 months15 May 2027
The application period opens later in 2026. The September 2026 intake closed early because of very high demand, so apply as early as possible.
The 1 November 2026 (February intake) and 15 May 2027 (Medicine and Dentistry) dates are published for the 2026/27 and 2027 intakes. The 15 June and 15 January dates are from the 2026 cycle and are shown for guidance only.
How to apply
Self-financed applicants apply through the university's online application platform with the application form, school certificate or recent transcripts and predicted grades, passport, a short CV, a medical certificate and proof of the 150 US dollar application fee. The Coordinating Center for International Education then schedules an entrance exam or interview (350 US dollar exam fee), in person, at a partner site abroad or online. After admission you pay the seat reservation fee or tuition to receive visa documents. Stipendium Hungaricum applicants apply through the Tempus Public Foundation's system instead.
What admissions looks for
- A completed secondary school qualification, or strong final-year transcripts and predicted grades.
- For medical programmes, subject knowledge in Biology plus Chemistry or Physics, tested in writing and in an oral exam.
- For non-medical programmes, English and the subjects relevant to your programme, such as Mathematics for engineering and computing.
- In interviews, your motivation, future plans, previous education and English communication skills.
Tips for applying to UD
- 1 Apply early for Medicine or Dentistry: the September 2026 intake closed ahead of its deadline because of the volume of applications.
- 2 Use the university's published exam topics and sample tests to prepare, and consider its Tutoring Seminar for the medical entrance exam.
- 3 If you cannot travel, ask for an online exam; the university runs them for applicants who cannot reach Hungary or an exam site abroad.
- 4 If you want Stipendium Hungaricum, do not use the self-financed form: apply through the Tempus Public Foundation system and your country's sending partner.
- 5 Check the study-gap rule before applying: more than 4 years since school (6 for medical programmes) makes you ineligible for bachelor's entry.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in USD
The main scholarship is Stipendium Hungaricum, a Hungarian government programme for students from partner countries that covers tuition and gives a monthly stipend, accommodation contribution and medical insurance. Self-financed students can apply for up to 20% tuition reductions from their second year if their grades are high enough (4.0 average for non-medical students), and there are 10% sibling, spouse and alumni discounts.
- Up to 20% for a semester, for up to 20% of eligible students
- Merit tuition reduction (from 2nd year)
- 150 US dollars / 350 US dollars (non-refundable)
- Application fee / entrance exam fee
- Usually 120,000 to 140,000 forints a month
- Private rent in Debrecen
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters; many non-medical programmes start in both September and February
Medicine (MD)
A 12-semester English-taught programme (16,900 US dollars a year) with a written and oral entrance exam in Biology plus Chemistry or Physics.
Dentistry (DMD)
A 10-semester English-taught programme so oversubscribed that the September 2026 intake closed early.
Pharmacy (PharmD)
A 10-semester one-tier programme at 8,000 US dollars a year, about half the cost of Medicine.
Computer Science (BSc)
A six-semester English-taught degree at 7,000 US dollars a year, with a master's in Computer Science or Data Science to follow.
Mechatronics and Vehicle Engineering (BSc)
Two of more than a dozen English-taught engineering bachelor's degrees, each 7,500 US dollars a year.
International Foundation Year
A nine-month preparatory year (6,000 US dollars) for students not yet ready for direct bachelor's entry.
Research
- The university lists more than 500 research labs, 24 doctoral schools and 7 libraries across its campuses.
- The Komondor supercomputer, inaugurated by the Hungarian government in January 2023, is located on the university's campus.
- Two teaching hospitals with more than 2,900 beds receive about 3 million patients a year.
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Medicine
- Faculty of Dentistry
- Faculty of Pharmacy
- Faculty of Health
- Faculty of Science and Technology
- Faculty of Informatics
- Faculty of Engineering
- Faculty of Economics and Business
- Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management
- Faculty of Humanities
- Faculty of Law
- Faculty of Music
Student life
With more than 7,800 international students, Debrecen's English-taught programmes form a large, mixed community, supported by the university's international education centre, student ambassadors and a Troubleshooter office that helps with housing and airport pickups. Most students rent private flats or rooms, typically for 120,000 to 140,000 forints a month, while university-linked hotels such as Auguszta and Study K&M offer apartments with kitchens. The university also hosts a medical tutoring seminar and Kaplan USMLE preparation courses for medical students.
- The neo-baroque main building, completed in 1932, is one of the largest buildings in Debrecen.
- More than 7,800 international students from over 140 countries.
- Kaplan USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 preparation courses are offered on campus for medical students.
- The university library is one of Hungary's two national libraries.
Housing. Students choose between university-linked student hotels (such as Auguszta, with 300 rooms) and private flats, usually 120,000 to 140,000 forints a month.
Location
Debrecen is Hungary's second-largest city after Budapest and the centre of the Northern Great Plain region in the east of the country. Its large central park, the Nagyerdő (Big Forest), holds sports and recreation facilities. It is a relatively affordable place to study: the university estimates about 800 US dollars a month for everyday costs including shared housing, and the city has its own international airport.
Nearest airport: Debrecen International Airport (DEB)
Notable alumni
- MS Magda SzabóNovelist, author of The Door; trained as a Hungarian and Latin teacher at the university, graduating in 1940
- IL Imre LakatosPhilosopher of mathematics and science; degree in mathematics, physics and philosophy (1944)
- TV Tamás VicsekPhysicist known for collective motion and fractal growth; PhD from Lajos Kossuth University (now UD), 1976
- LK Loránd KesztyűsImmunologist and pathophysiologist, member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences; studied at the university until 1938
- EA Endre AdyPoet and journalist; studied law at the Reformed College of Debrecen, the university's predecessor
- MC Mihály Csokonai VitézPoet of the Hungarian Enlightenment; educated at the Reformed College of Debrecen, the university's predecessor
Frequently asked questions
Can you study medicine in English at the University of Debrecen?
Yes. Medicine (MD, 12 semesters), Dentistry (DMD) and Pharmacy (PharmD) are all taught fully in English, with an entrance exam in Biology plus Chemistry or Physics.
How much does the University of Debrecen cost for international students?
For 2026/27, English-taught bachelor's degrees cost 6,000 to 10,000 US dollars a year, Pharmacy 8,000, Medicine 16,900 and Dentistry 17,500. The university estimates living costs at about 800 US dollars a month.
What is the University of Debrecen application deadline for 2027?
The final deadline for Medicine and Dentistry for September 2027 is 15 May 2027, and the February 2027 intake closes on 1 November 2026. For other September programmes the 2026 deadline was 15 June; the 2027 date is not yet published.
Do I need IELTS or TOEFL to apply?
You need a proctored English certificate at B2 level or above, unless you are a native speaker or completed school or university in English. English is also tested in the entrance exam or interview.
Can I study at Debrecen for free?
Through the Stipendium Hungaricum government scholarship, available to nationals of partner countries, tuition is covered and you receive a stipend and housing support. The 2026/27 call closed on 15 January 2026.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
Explore nearby in the world top 100
Universities ranked close to UD in the QS World University Rankings 2027.