Debrecen4U
March 20, 2026
University of Debrecen Receives Record Number of Applications
The University of Debrecen has strengthened its leading position among higher education institutions outside the capital. Thanks to its broad educational portfolio, it is popular among both Hungarian and international applicants, which is clearly reflected in the application figures, as stated at a press conference on Wednesday.
During the recently concluded application period, a total of 21,321 applicants were attracted to the institution, with 11,386 listing it as their first choice, meaning the university has reached the highest application figures of recent years.
At a press conference on Thursday regarding applications submitted in the 2026 general admissions procedure and the effectiveness of the university’s admissions strategy, it was noted that internationally recognised programmes and the value of a marketable degree are attracting an increasing number of applicants to the University of Debrecen.
Once again, the Faculty of Economics and Business proved to be the most popular, receiving 2,286 first-choice applications. It was followed by the Faculty of Child Education and Special Educational Needs (1,581), the Faculty of Humanities (1,479), the Faculty of Health Sciences (1,280), and the Faculty of Engineering (927). The largest increases in applications were recorded by the Faculty of Music (138%), the Faculty of Child Education and Special Educational Needs (117%), and the Faculty of Science and Technology (115%).
Among undergraduate and undivided programmes, the most popular choices were law (534 applicants), special educational needs (513), early years education (482), commerce and marketing (412), and business administration and management (405). Almost all advertised programmes saw a notable increase in applications. Teacher training also experienced significant growth: a total of 1,037 applicants listed undivided, short-cycle and vocational teacher training programmes as their first choice, representing a considerable rise compared to 2025.
Among newly launched programmes, the artificial intelligence master’s course at the Faculty of Informatics stands out, receiving a total of 192 applications, 65 of them as first choice. The radiography master’s programme at the Faculty of Medicine recorded 45 applications in total, including 28 first-choice applications, while the contemporary popular music performance master’s programme was selected as a first choice by 23 applicants.
Károly Pető, Vice-Rector for General Affairs, highlighted that the University of Debrecen plays a decisive role at national level and ranks first among institutions outside the capital.
“We can be proud that the dynamic growth experienced in recent years has been maintained and continues to be clearly evident across several fields of study. The significant increase means that, compared to the previous year, there has been a rise of more than five per cent in first-choice applicants and more than seven per cent in the total number of applicants. Several faculties have moved up in the notional rankings, as newly introduced programmes represent a strong attraction, which is also reflected in applicant numbers. The research infrastructure linked to education and the scale of innovation activities are so substantial that they rightfully make the University of Debrecen highly attractive. The university offers clear перспективes not only for students applying here, but also for lecturers, researchers and staff, encompassing excellent opportunities in education, research and innovation,” the Vice-Rector explained.
Beáta Szabó Ölvetiné, Director of Admissions and Continuing Education at the Directorate for Education of the University of Debrecen, stated that the institution’s admissions strategy has been successful, enabling the university to set another record in application numbers.
“Our admissions campaign in the general higher education procedure exceeded all expectations this year, as we can boast application figures that are among the strongest in recent years. This is also due to the fact that the University of Debrecen operates a multifaceted recruitment strategy involving numerous organisational units and corporate partners. We place particular emphasis on programmes that encourage applications, one of the key pillars of which is engagement with career orientation activities in public education and vocational training institutions. Our colleagues visit secondary schools and vocational institutions in an organised manner, providing students with detailed information on admissions, requirements and institutional points. We offer comprehensive insight into the faculties’ training profiles, presenting undergraduate, undivided and master’s programmes, their professional content and labour market opportunities. These events and our open days are not only informative occasions, but also opportunities for conscious career orientation and planning,” the director explained.
In this year’s procedure, a record number of applicants applied nationwide as well, with a total of 140,427 submissions, the highest figure in the past fifteen years. Compared to 2022, nearly 30,000 more applicants chose engineering, natural sciences, IT, medical and health sciences, agricultural and teacher training fields.
The administrative period begins at the end of March and runs until 7 July, during which applicants may modify their data, change the order of selected programmes and institutions, and fulfil any outstanding requirements, including uploading missing documents. The higher education admission thresholds are scheduled to be announced on 21 July.
Source: dehir.hu | Photo credit: Debrecen városa (Facebook)
