Debrecen4U January 22, 2026

DESKI Prepares Sports Professionals for International Competition

Under the leadership of the Sports Science Coordination Institute (DESKI), the physical education teacher training program is also available as a double major paired with various general education teacher programs, while the combined physical education and adaptive physical education teacher program provides complex, comprehensive theoretical and practical knowledge.

“Based on the currently valid sports qualification regulations, a physical education teacher can perform all tasks and activities related to sports, recreation, coaching, and sports organization. Among physical culture and sports science programs, this major offers the broadest and most comprehensive body of knowledge in the classical sense; it is the stable and wide foundation of the sports education pyramid. Therefore, for those who want to study something related to sports but are not yet sure exactly what within that field, this program is an excellent choice,” emphasized László Balogh, Director of the University of Debrecen’s Sports Science Coordination Institute and head of the program.

Last year, interest in the University of Debrecen’s coaching bachelor’s program was exceptionally high. The program welcomes applicants in aerobics, judo, handball, basketball, football, volleyball, tennis, and swimming, in full-time study format.

“Professionals holding a BSc in coaching and a certified coach qualification can work in their own sport both in youth development and adult categories. They can direct and coordinate the physical, technical, and tactical preparation of athletes in sports clubs, fitness centers, and other sports service facilities. In addition, they become capable of developing modern training plans and are familiar with the training science, pedagogical-psychological, and methodological components of competition. They can acquire up-to-date, practice-oriented professional knowledge in their own sport. Moreover, through a short-cycle program, after completing the bachelor’s degree, graduates can obtain a master’s degree in physical education teaching at our university—and this also works the other way around, as qualified physical education teachers can earn a coaching degree, even starting it during their physical education studies,” highlighted László Balogh.

The University of Debrecen’s educational and training infrastructure is unique nationwide and of international standard. Modern sports halls, outdoor centers, sports diagnostic facilities, multimedia theoretical training venues, and dedicated centers for gymnastics, ball games, combat sports, fencing, athletics, and tennis are available to students. These facilities are located close to one another and to the dormitories, making them easily accessible even on foot.

The institution maintains close relationships with sports service providers, clubs, sports organizations, and industrial companies, and supports elite athletes studying at the university through sports scholarships, individualized study schedules, and a tutor and mentor system. DEAC, operating within the university, has 33 sections—including several first-division teams—and approximately three thousand registered athletes, providing a practice environment where young people can learn the fundamentals of the profession. In addition, practical training is carried out under the coordination of qualified mentor teachers at the institution’s practice schools.

Physical education teacher training is a multidisciplinary field, as it is connected to several sciences, and therefore offers numerous research opportunities for applicants.

“A sports research scholarship is available, through which we can support and finance the work of even first-year students, and we place special emphasis on sports innovation research that may later operate as startups. The University of Debrecen has a unique and internationally recognized sports research infrastructure. A complex sports behavior analysis laboratory is available at the Sports Science Education Center, integrated sports diagnostic tools can be accessed at the SET, and the sports immunology laboratory offers exciting opportunities for those interested in sports biochemistry and molecular biology. There are also ample research opportunities for those interested in engineering and sports economics. These projects are carried out in serious international collaboration; we work with universities such as Salzburg, Manchester, and Barcelona, and recently the results of our joint research with the universities of Kansas and Kyoto were published in a D1 (the highest-ranked) international sports science journal,” said the institute director.

The adaptive physical education teacher program is special in that, on the one hand, it is only available at the University of Debrecen in eastern Hungary, and on the other hand, it focuses on a specialized field that is in high demand not only in schools but also in sports clubs and even in the private sector. Physical education teacher double majors are attractive because they offer wide employment opportunities in sports, providing the broadest portfolio in areas such as elite and competitive sports, school physical education, lifestyle and health counseling, and recreational sports. Among teacher programs at the University of Debrecen, physical education teaching is the second most popular, while the physical education teacher–adaptive physical education teacher double major has been among the most sought-after in recent years. The key to the program is that it trains not only excellent sports professionals, but also exemplary educators and intelligent sports scientists.

A new program at the university is the sport mental trainer master’s degree, for which applicants may apply with a bachelor’s or master’s degree in sports science or physical culture. Founded in Hungary by the institute, the program uniquely trains sports professionals who are capable of supporting, planning, and leading mental preparation for performance enhancement in sport, applying their sports science and sports psychology knowledge in practical work in cooperation with coaches and professional staff.

The University of Debrecen is also an attractive and excellent choice because participation in compulsory sports camps—such as skiing, water sports, and tourism camps—is fully supported by the institution. Moreover, those who wish to obtain both physical education teacher and coaching degrees consecutively can do so more quickly and flexibly due to the complementary structure of the two programs.

Young people interested in sports sciences can find more detailed information about the coaching program, the physical education and adaptive physical education teacher programs, the sport mental trainer program, and the practical entrance examination requirements on the website of the University of Debrecen’s Sports Science Coordination Institute.

Source and photo credit: dehir.hu