University of Debrecen for International Students: Programs, Fees and Admission
English-taught medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, engineering and business in Hungary's second-largest city, with fees in USD and one deadline: May 15.
The University of Debrecen is a large state university in eastern Hungary that teaches medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and more than 100 other programs in English, according to the university. It has about 28,000 students, and almost 7,000 of them are international. Its history goes back to the Reformed College of Debrecen, founded in 1538, and the university in its current form was created on January 1, 2000.
Debrecen suits applicants who want an English-taught medical degree in the EU, are strong in biology and chemistry, and are ready to pass a written and oral entrance exam. It also suits students who want engineering, business or IT at fees of roughly $6,000–10,000 a year.
It is a poor fit if you want to avoid science exams, expect guaranteed student housing without a scholarship, or plan to apply for medicine in late spring. In the last intake, medicine and dentistry closed early because of the number of applications.
| Parameter | University of Debrecen |
|---|---|
Location | Debrecen, Hungary's second-largest city (about 220,000 people, per the university) |
Current university created | January 1, 2000, by merging four higher education institutions |
Students | About 28,000, of which almost 7,000 international (per the university) |
Faculties | More than ten |
Campuses in Debrecen | 4: Main Campus, Böszörményi, Ótemető, Kassai |
English-taught medical programs | Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy |
Fee currency | US dollars |
Application fee / entrance procedure fee | $150 / $350 |
Final deadline for the September intake | May 15 |
Stipendium Hungaricum | Yes, including Medicine |
QS World University Rankings | 563 |
THE World University Rankings | 801–1000 |
University of Debrecen tuition fees
All fees at Debrecen are in US dollars, not euros. The table shows the current price list. Fees for the next academic year are not published yet, so treat these as the latest confirmed figures.
| Program | Paid in one installment | Paid by semester |
|---|---|---|
Medicine, years 1–5 | $16,900 | $9,500 + $8,400 = $17,900 |
Medicine, year 6 (35 weeks of practice) | $8,950 base fee (12 weeks in Debrecen included); $389 per extra week in Debrecen; $16,900 for all 35 weeks in Debrecen | — |
Dentistry | $17,500 | $10,000 + $8,500 = $18,500 |
Pharmacy | $8,000 | $4,700 + $3,300 = $8,000 |
Basic Medicine Course (pre-medical year) | $7,500 | — |
Physiotherapy BSc | $7,000 in year 1, then $6,000 | — |
Nursing BSc | $7,500 in year 1, then $6,500 | — |
Public Health BSc | $6,000 | — |
Foundation Year | $6,000 | — |
Other bachelor's programs | $6,000–10,000 | — |
Master's programs | $5,500–8,000 | — |
PhD programs | $6,500–12,500 | — |
Health insurance, the medical checkup and the student card are included in the tuition fee. You pay by bank transfer to the university's USD account; cheques and cash are not accepted. The final amount for your program is the one stated in your Letter of Acceptance.
Read the refund rules before you pay. The application fee, the entrance exam fee and the seat reservation fee are non-refundable. Tuition is refunded only if your visa or residence permit is refused, and you need documents to prove it.
For non-medical programs the university publishes only fee ranges, so we confirm the exact fee for your program. To compare costs across Hungary, see the cost of studying in Hungary.
What a year at Debrecen costs
USD per academic year, current price list
- Dentistry, paid at once$17,500
- Medicine (years 1–5), paid at once$16,900
- Pharmacy$8,000
- Basic Medicine Course$7,500
- Other bachelor's programs$6,000–10,000
- Master's programs$5,500–8,000
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Programs and the degree you receive
Medicine is the flagship English program. It lasts 12 semesters (360 ECTS) and leads to the Doctor of Medicine degree (dr. med., M.D.), with studies starting in September. Dentistry and Pharmacy take 5 years each.
The sixth year is a clinical rotation in internal medicine, surgery, gynecology, neurology, psychiatry and pediatrics. Health programs include Physiotherapy, Nursing and Public Health BSc, plus master's degrees such as Molecular Biology MSc.
Non-medical fields taught in English
- Business and Management
- Engineering: chemical, civil, electrical, mechanical and others
- Computer Science and Informatics
- Agriculture
- Natural Sciences
- Humanities and Social Sciences
- Levels: foundation year, bachelor's, master's and PhD
Medicine is on the Main Campus, engineering on Ótemető, and informatics and public health on Kassai. The Faculty of Health Sciences is in Nyíregyháza. To compare Hungarian medical schools, see medicine in Hungary.
Admission requirements for international students
For medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and the Basic Medicine Course, admission rests on your school certificate and an entrance exam held in English. Your English is assessed at the same exam, so the medicine page does not ask for a separate IELTS.
How to apply for the September intake
1
Check your school results. The university evaluates your foreign certificate itself. We compare your grades (FSc, CBSE, WAEC and others) with what the program expects.
2
Plan your English. For medical programs, English is tested at the entrance exam. For other programs, we confirm which certificate your program accepts.
3
Prepare documents: application form, school certificate and transcript, CV, medical certificate, proof of citizenship and the $150 application fee receipt. Documents in other languages need a certified English or Hungarian translation.
4
Certify documents early. Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Bahrain issue an apostille. Nigeria, Egypt, the UAE, Qatar and Kuwait are not part of the apostille system, so documents need consular legalization.
5
Apply online in the university's StuArt system and pay the $350 entrance procedure fee.
6
Take the entrance exam: a written test in biology (compulsory) and chemistry or physics, 45 minutes each, then an oral exam in the same subjects. You sit it in Hungary, at an exam site abroad or, if you cannot travel, online. Results: admission, a Basic Medicine Course place, another program, or rejection.
7
Watch the timeline. The final deadline for the September intake is May 15; the university publishes the opening date and exam dates closer to the intake.
If your science is weak, the Basic Medicine Course is a two-semester pre-medical year from September, or an intensive version from January to July. Completing it successfully gives direct admission to Medicine, Dentistry or Pharmacy.
What to know before you apply
- Hungarian is part of a medical degree. The program is in English, but the university requires basic Hungarian for talking to patients from year 3. According to the language department, teaching starts with a two-week intensive course before semester 1.
- Medicine fills up before the deadline. In the last intake, the medical and dental programs closed early. Apply in autumn or winter, not in May.
- Housing is on you unless you have a scholarship. Fee-paying students organize their own accommodation, and the university warns that it is very hard to find after September.
- Budget for more than tuition. A rented apartment costs about 120,000–140,000 HUF a month, according to the university. Our estimate for total living costs is from about €650 a month.
- Recognition at home is your regulator's decision. The university lists recognition by several foreign medical boards, but these are its own statements. Check your medical council's rules for foreign graduates before you enroll.
- The management model is changing. Since 2021 the university has been managed by a public trust foundation. According to Hungarian media, these foundations are to be dissolved on August 1, 2027, and management returns to the state. Your diploma and its accreditation are not affected.
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Rankings and accreditation
Debrecen placed 563rd in the QS World University Rankings. In the THE World University Rankings it is in the 801–1000 group, with Medical and Health in the 501–600 group and a student-to-staff ratio of 12.2. According to media reports, it placed 600th in the latest QS edition.
Hungary's accreditation agency, MAB, is recognized by WFME until March 31, 2032. This recognition belongs to the national agency, not to a single university.
Housing and student life
The university has 4,943 dormitory places, including 922 in the Campus Hotel. Stipendium Hungaricum scholars pay 40,000 HUF a month for a dormitory place; for other students, the Senate sets fees each year.
Fee-paying students usually rent privately. The university's accommodation page lists Auguszta Hotel and Student Hostel (about 300 places) and Study K&M Hotel. You may work up to 30 hours a week during the study period and full-time outside it, for up to 90 days a year.
Student visa
Applicants from Pakistan, India, Nigeria, Bangladesh and Egypt apply for a residence permit for the purpose of studies at the Hungarian embassy or consulate in their country. The consular fee is €110. The decision can take up to 60 days, so apply as soon as you have your Letter of Acceptance. You need proof of admission and funds for the year, a Hungarian address, health insurance (included in Debrecen's tuition), a passport and photos. There is no fixed minimum bank balance. The full process is in our Hungary student visa guide.
Other options
Debrecen takes part in Stipendium Hungaricum, including medicine; applications start in November. Citizens of Pakistan, India, Nigeria, Egypt, Bangladesh, the UAE, Oman and Bahrain are eligible; Saudi, Qatari and Kuwaiti citizens are not. You apply yourself, see our Stipendium Hungaricum page. For medicine in Budapest, compare Semmelweis University (€9,340 per semester). Without a science exam, look at Budapest Metropolitan University, IBS Budapest or McDaniel College Budapest. More on study in Hungary.
14 questions to ask before you pay the deposit
Deposits are almost never refundable. Ask these by email before paying — and keep the university's answer on record.
- What to ask about the programme, accreditation and the degree
- What tuition does not include and when a deposit is refunded
- Who files the visa application — you or the university
- Five red flags that mean you should not pay
Other universities in Hungary
Compare the terms: fees, language of instruction and entry requirements differ.
McDaniel College Budapest
Metropolitan University Budapest
Semmelweis University
Send us your school results. We will check your documents against the University of Debrecen's requirements, tell you which certification your country needs, and compare 2–3 alternatives that fit your budget and grades. The first consultation is free; message us through the form on our contacts page, WhatsApp or Telegram.