The University of Debrecen carries out exemplary work in recruiting international students and plays a decisive role in the success of the Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship Programme, which over the past thirteen years has become a scholarship of international significance, said Ádám Imre Szűcs, Deputy State Secretary responsible for training, scholarship programs and science diplomacy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, during his visit to the university.
“The Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship Programme, operating since 2013, has matured into an internationally recognized brand that effectively supports Hungarian higher education. It is one of the largest state-funded scholarship programs globally. In recent years, approximately 40,000 students have studied in Hungary with the support of the program. Currently, more than 100 countries participate in the scholarship system, and this year more than 110,000 applications were submitted. Our goal is that, after completing their studies, scholarship holders will contribute in the long term to strengthening our bilateral relations,” the Deputy State Secretary said.
According to the Deputy State Secretary, the University of Debrecen holds a leading position in Hungary in educating international students.
“The effectiveness of the institution’s recruitment activities is demonstrated by the fact that the largest number of international students in Hungary—more than 7,700—study at the University of Debrecen. Nearly 2,000 of them are supported by the Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship Programme and the Diaspora Higher Education Scholarship Programme. The university is a market leader in this field and offers many innovative solutions to its students that serve as a model for the entire program,” added Ádám Imre Szűcs.
Within the Stipendium Hungaricum program, students can choose from nearly 30 Hungarian higher education institutions. Among applicants, the University of Debrecen is the most popular choice: almost 22 percent of applications for the 2026/27 academic year were submitted to the university’s English-language programs.
“As a regional and Eastern European university, the University of Debrecen must compete for every student. Through decades of work and significant financial investment, we have succeeded in becoming an internationally attractive higher education institution. International students play a key role at our university, and we aim to retain our most talented students in the long term. This includes doctoral training, the education of international students, and cooperation with our international economic partners who rely on their expertise. However, this also requires simplifying and revising the legal framework governing their stay in Hungary,” emphasized Zoltán Bács, Chancellor of the University of Debrecen.
In the 2025/26 academic year, 1,985 students began their studies at the University of Debrecen under the Stipendium Hungaricum program, and 10 students under the Diaspora Higher Education Scholarship Programme.
“For the 2025/26 academic year, a record number of more than 30,500 applications were submitted to the University of Debrecen within the program. For 2026/27, this number increased by 50 percent, with nearly 44,000 applications. During this year’s recruitment period, we maintained contact with 70,000 young people. This year—similarly to last year—record numbers of applications were received for the Medicine, Public Health MSc, and Computer Science BSc programs. These figures clearly demonstrate the University of Debrecen’s international popularity and the effectiveness of our active recruitment campaign. This is the true measure of how seriously and professionally we conduct international recruitment,” said Attila Jenei.
The Director of the International Education Coordinating Center at the University of Debrecen highlighted that the so-called “country nominations” will be finalized following the admission procedures in June, when it becomes clear how many students will be able to continue their studies at the university with funding provided by the Hungarian Government. According to Attila Jenei, despite the record number of applications, no increase is expected in the number of admitted students; due to fixed budgetary limits, the institution will likely admit 600–700 students in the program for the 2026/27 academic year.
“At the University of Debrecen, the Stipendium program forms part of a broader package through which we also aim to reach self-financed international students. Therefore, this group is also a target of our promotional campaign. Thanks to the Stipendium program, the number of fee-paying international students has also grown significantly in recent years. The university is not alone in this project; the city of Debrecen is also an active partner. We sincerely thank the local community for creating a welcoming environment for our nearly 8,000-strong international student community, where they can feel safe and at home,” Attila Jenei added.
During the professional consultation, participants also discussed the university’s unique recruitment system, the housing situation of international students, their healthcare provision, integration support programs, and the economic development impacts of the scholarship program.
During his visit, Deputy State Secretary Ádám Imre Szűcs also met with international students studying under the Stipendium Hungaricum program.
(unideb.hu)
