The number of international students at the University of Debrecen (UD) has increased by five percent, and the number of self-funded foreign students has risen by fifteen percent. In the 2024/2025 academic year, 2,100 new students began their studies in DE’s English-language programs, bringing the international student body to over 7,600—its largest ever.
Over the past five years, the university’s foreign student community has grown by nearly 2,000. Today, more than 23% of UD’s 32,000 students come from 134 different countries.
Attila Jenei, Director of the International Education Coordination Center (NOKK), highlighted the university’s extensive network of nearly 300 partner agencies and intensive marketing efforts, including several regional offices in Asia. While South Asian countries such as Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, and Myanmar remain significant sources of students, applications from young people who previously lived in the United Arab Emirates are growing most rapidly.
In the 2024/2025 academic year, nearly 2,100 international students enrolled in UD’s more than 100 English-language programs, with the majority attending the Faculty of General Medicine. Other faculties, such as Informatics, Engineering, Science and Technology, Economics, and Health Sciences, have also seen increases, along with the number of PhD students.
UD continues to be the most popular institution in the Stipendium Hungaricum program, with nearly 30% of its students receiving government-funded scholarships. For the 2024/2025 academic year, 2,249 students from 60 countries are studying through this program.
However, future growth in international enrollment may face challenges due to housing shortages, which could impact application numbers in the long term.
(unideb.hu)
