Our history

The history of the Faculty of Humanities leads us back to the 18th century and is closely associated with that of the Reformed College of Debrecen founded in 1538.

According to historical records, the College already had five permanent departments by the end of the 18th century with philosophy taught at three of these. As a result of the rapid development starting at this time, by the end of the 1840s there were already five professors teaching arts and humanities. During the final decades of the century, however, there were again two departments only that contributed to teaching theology and law.

A major turning point came in 1908 with the establishment of the Reformed Academy of Humanities and the beginning of the teacher-training program, albeit at this time only under modest circumstances.

The Academy closed its gates after a few years, at the end of the 1913/14 academic year, and gave way to the Faculty of Humanities at the University in September 1914. By this time the institution worked independently of the Reformed Church but was still housed by the College. The Faculty of Humanities could finally move into its new home in the imposing Main Building of the University at the end of the 1931/32 academic year.

The Faculty of Humanities is one of the largest faculties at the university with excellent indicators and results in scholarship and education and it is also one of the main centers of the humanities in Hungary. The wide range of educational programs is supported by a high standard represented by faculty members and researchers as also reflected by high student satisfaction. There is a great diversity in terms of the languages offered also: students may choose from 9 languages to be studied as majors, along with many others offered as part of language courses (e.g., Chinese, Japanese, Ancient Greek, Estonian). The international network of the faculty that spans several continents provides great opportunities for exchange and study abroad programs for both faculty and students.

The faculty runs four doctoral schools and nine doctoral programs and its research activities are known and acknowledged internationally. The research groups supported by the Hungarian Academy of Sciences also play a central role in the scholarly life of the Faculty.

The history of the Faculty of Humanities leads us back to the 18th century and is closely associated with that of the Reformed College of Debrecen founded in 1538.

According to historical records, the College already had five permanent departments by the end of the 18th century with philosophy taught at three of these. As a result of the rapid development starting at this time, by the end of the 1840s there were already five professors teaching arts and humanities. During the final decades of the century, however, there were again two departments only that contributed to teaching theology and law.

A major turning point came in 1908 with the establishment of the Reformed Academy of Humanities and the beginning of the teacher-training program, albeit at this time only under modest circumstances.

The Academy closed its gates after a few years, at the end of the 1913/14 academic year, and gave way to the Faculty of Humanities at the University in September 1914. By this time the institution worked independently of the Reformed Church but was still housed by the College. The Faculty of Humanities could finally move into its new home in the imposing Main Building of the University at the end of the 1931/32 academic year.

The Faculty of Humanities is one of the largest faculties at the university with excellent indicators and results in scholarship and education and it is also one of the main centers of the humanities in Hungary. The wide range of educational programs is supported by a high standard represented by faculty members and researchers as also reflected by high student satisfaction. There is a great diversity in terms of the languages offered also: students may choose from 9 languages to be studied as majors, along with many others offered as part of language courses (e.g., Chinese, Japanese, Ancient Greek, Estonian). The international network of the faculty that spans several continents provides great opportunities for exchange and study abroad programs for both faculty and students.

The faculty runs four doctoral schools and nine doctoral programs and its research activities are known and acknowledged internationally. The research groups supported by the Hungarian Academy of Sciences also play a central role in the scholarly life of the Faculty.

Last update: 2022. 10. 07. 13:12