University of Debrecen: Support is Provided for Foreign Students

The University of Debrecen has been one of the most popular targets of foreign students arriving to Hungary for years. The International Education Center has been operating in various forms at the institution's Center for Medical and Health Sciences for twelve years, aiming to support students of non-Hungarian citizenship studying in foreign languages in nearly all of their everyday affairs from the entrance examination through administrative issues to finding accommodation. We have interviewed Dr. Attila Jenei, Director of the Center.

Statistics testify that an increasing number of foreign students arrive to Hungarian higher education institutions each year for programs in English or other foreign languages. Is this increased foreign interest also felt at the University of Debrecen?

Attila Jenei: More and more students show interest in our programs each year, especially since the EU and Schengen accession. Most foreign students still apply to the Faculty of Medicine, which is due to its worldwide reputation for high standards, and of course the relatively low financial burden that it means for students. Hungarian tuition fees are far below the amounts set by US or Western European universities. In addition to the Faculties of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutics, the University of Debrecen also aims to promote other faculties abroad, therefore we have launched new English language Bachelor and Master level programs - for example at the faculties of the Natural Sciences and the Humanities, so our activities are provided on behalf of several Faculties. We hope that this will create new points of breakthrough for the mentioned faculties, too.

Does the fact that the University of Debrecen is not located in the capital city constitute any disadvantage for the institution? Do foreign students prefer to choose universities and colleges in the capital city, or are they happy to move to major towns in the countryside?

Despite the obvious disadvantage in the competition against a metropolis like Budapest, we have always found that parents from many countries prefer to send their children to cities of the size of Debrecen, as public safety is better and the costs of everyday life are lower here.

The University of Debrecen has offered its English language program in General Medicine since 1987. Based on the experiences of the past years, from which country do the greatest number of foreign students arrive to the faculty?

The number of students from the Oriental region has increased in the past years. Many come from Japan, Korea, China and Vietnam. Most foreign students in Hungarian higher education now study in English at the University of Debrecen, and so the university recruits its own students: we have representations in several countries, including Nigeria, Israel and Korea, where students can apply for the programs of the university, and those who are interested may obtain information on the Hungarian education system as well as the admission procedures. In addition to these, separate entrance examinations are also held in these places with delegated instructors, so students need not even travel here to find out if they are admitted.

The administrative issues of foreign students studying at the University of Debrecen are supported by a separate educational centre. What exactly are the responsibilities of the International Education Center?

The Center has operated and developed through various forms and under different names for twelve years. Among other things, we are responsible for student recruitment, the organisation of entrance examinations, the promotion of the programs, and certain parts of the organisational work related to the educational activity. In addition to these, we are also involved in the administrative affairs of students, for example, we help them with visa applications, immigration permits and issues related to health insurance. However, we also help students arrange for accommodation if they need it.