At a formal ceremony held on June 17, 2025, the foundation stone was laid for the new wings of the SZTE id. Jancsó Miklós Dormitory. The development project will expand the University of Szeged’s student housing capacity by 240 premium places, financed through a 3.6-billion-forint investment.
On June 17, 2025, in the presence of Dr. Veronika Varga-Bajusz, State Secretary for Higher Education, Vocational and Adult Education, and Youth Affairs, a formal, press-attended ceremony marked the launch of the largest dormitory infrastructure development project in the recent history of the University of Szeged. Backed by an investment of HUF 3.6 billion, the construction of new wings for the SZTE id. Jancsó Miklós Dormitory will expand the university’s accommodation capacity by 240 high-standard dormitory places.
The foundation stone ceremony brought together key institutional and governmental stakeholders. In addition to the State Secretary, attendees included Prof. Dr. László Rovó, Rector of the University of Szeged; Dr. Judit Fendler, Chancellor; Dr. Anikó Nagy, Trustee of the Foundation for the University of Szeged; Mr. Ferenc Bodrogi, Managing Director of the general contractor Bodrogi Bau Kft.; Dr. Csaba Molnár, Director General of the Csongrád-Csanád County Government Office; and Dr. Kata Asztalos, Director of the Mathias Corvinus Collegium Szeged Educational Center. Also in attendance were members of the University’s leadership, faculty deans, the project management team, contractors, and representatives of the media.
“Based on the experience of recent years, we can affirm that the University of Szeged made the right choice in pursuing renewal. Thanks to the new operating model we have adopted, we are now able to make important strategic investment decisions using our own resources. This autonomy allows us to explore real, impactful opportunities and further expand the scope of innovation. The latest series of foundation stone ceremonies reflects the strategic direction of our development efforts. For example, we recently laid the cornerstone of the Regional Cyclotron and Radiopharmaceutical Supply Center, and we also anticipate significant progress in the field of artificial intelligence in the near future. Acting with a sense of responsibility and building on the university’s areas of excellence, we are prioritizing fields that will shape the future – with student housing as a vital component of this vision,” stated Prof. Dr. László Rovó, Rector of the University of Szeged.
Photo: Ádám Kovács-Jerney
At the groundbreaking ceremony, Dr. Veronika Varga‑Bajusz, State Secretary for Higher Education, Vocational and Adult Education, and Youth Affairs, emphasized that the event marked more than just the symbolic start of a construction project. She called it “a reaffirmation of the vision that the excellence of Hungarian universities is reflected not only in the high standards of education and research, but also in the everyday living conditions of students.” She also emphasized that Hungarian universities can remain competitive only by fully meeting the demands of the 21st century.
Dr. Veronika Varga-Bajusz, State Secretary for Higher Education, Vocational and Adult Education, and Youth Affairs
Photo: Ádám Kovács-Jerney
In her speech, the State Secretary also underlined that one of the key goals of the university reform in Hungary was to ensure that students no longer have to make compromises but instead can choose from high-quality alternatives that best meet their individual needs.
Click the image to view the visual plans for the new wings of the SZTE id. Jancsó Miklós Dormitory.
Dr. Judit Fendler, Chancellor of the University of Szeged, pointed out that the University currently provides nearly 4,000 dormitory places. However, this capacity falls short of meeting demand due to the high number of applications. Despite this, student life in the dormitories remains vibrant and active. Against this backdrop, the chancellor noted that university-owned dormitories offer a sustainable solution to student housing needs. For this reason, in addition to the newly launched construction project – fully financed from SZTE’s own budget – the University continues to explore further opportunities for expansion.
Dr. Judit Fendler, Chancellor of the University of Szeged, stated that the expansion is the most significant dormitory construction project in the region in decades.
Photo: Ádám Kovács-Jerney
At the foundation stone ceremony, a time capsule was placed in the building’s foundation. It contains the June 17, 2025 issue of Délmagyarország – the daily newspaper of Csongrád-Csanád County – with a front-page interview featuring the Rector of the University of Szeged. The capsule also includes the floor plans and visual renderings of the new student residence, along with a commemorative medal honoring SZTE’s Nobel laureate professor Katalin Karikó.
As a result of the development project, the SZTE id. Jancsó Miklós Dormitory will be expanded to accommodate an additional 240 students. The planned buildings will provide a total net usable floor area of 4,806 square meters. The contractor’s responsibilities include demolishing a two-story residential building facing Liliom Street to make way for the new “B” dormitory building. They also include removing a single-story, family house-scale structure located in the central part of the plot, along with other necessary demolition works.
Following demolition, the contractor will be responsible for constructing the new "B" dormitory building on Liliom Street, designed to accommodate 60 students. This facility will include 30 double-occupancy rooms and will offer a net usable floor area of 1,466 square meters. Additionally, the contractor will build the new "C" dormitory building on Semmelweis Street, designed to house 180 students. This building will comprise 1 single-occupancy room, 76 double-occupancy rooms, and 9 triple-occupancy rooms, with a total net usable floor area of 3,340 square meters.
The location of the new buildings is excellent: they are situated near the clinical center, the recently renovated and officially opened Banga Ilona Health Sciences Education Center, the József Attila Study and Information Center, and most of the faculty buildings. It is planned that students will begin occupying the new residences within two years. Beyond providing a comfortable living environment, the new student residences are expected to enhance the University of Szeged’s reputation both nationally and internationally.
Access to dormitory places offers students financial relief while also serving an integrative role from a community and social perspective. Dormitories provide an environment where students can build relationships, collaborate, and support each other throughout their academic journey.
Dr. Judit Fendler, Dr. Veronika Varga-Bajusz, Ferenc Bodrogi and Prof. Dr. László Rovó jointly placed the cover of the time capsule into position.
Photo: Ádám Kovács-Jerney
Feature photo: Dr. Judit Fendler, Dr. Veronika Varga-Bajusz, Ferenc Bodrogi, and Prof. Dr. László Rovó placed a time capsule in a foundation stone on June 17, 2025, during the foundation stone ceremony for the construction project for SZTE id. Jancsó Miklós Dormitory.
Photo: Ádám Kovács-Jerney
