The University of Szeged has taken a major step in expanding its international presence with the opening of the Szeged International College, a joint training center established with Shaanxi Normal University in Xi’an, China. More than 350 Chinese students were welcomed at the opening ceremony for the new academic year in late September, marking a major milestone for a joint education model that is unique in higher education cooperation between Hungary and China.
The Szeged International College operates within Shaanxi Normal University, providing a dedicated framework for the two universities’ joint degree programs. Its establishment was approved by China’s Ministry of Education in 2026 – a major step that allows the University of Szeged to establish a long-term institutional presence in China.
From partnership to joint programs
The partnership between the University of Szeged and Shaanxi Normal University dates back to an agreement signed in 2019. The relationship has a broader regional connection as well, with Shaanxi Province and Hungary’s Csongrád-Csanád County maintaining a sister-region partnership. Shaanxi Normal University itself is one of China’s leading universities, with around 30,000 students.
Building on this partnership, the two universities launched their first joint bachelor’s program in computer science engineering in September 2025, welcoming an initial cohort of 113 students. The program was the first joint bachelor’s degree program between a Hungarian and a Chinese university to receive accreditation from China’s Ministry of Education and to admit students from across China through the country’s national university admissions system.
More than 350 students
With the opening of the Szeged International College, both the range of programs and student enrollment have expanded significantly for the 2026/2027 academic year. This September, 120 students began the first year of the bachelor’s program in computer science engineering, with another 120 starting the new bachelor’s program in engineering physics. Meanwhile, 113 students are continuing into their second year of the computer science engineering program launched in 2025.
Together, these cohorts bring the number of Chinese students currently enrolled in joint programs offered by the University of Szeged and Shaanxi Normal University to more than 350. The students were officially welcomed at the opening ceremony for the academic year by Prof. Dr. László Rovó, Rector of the University of Szeged, and Prof. Dr. Péter Zakar, Vice-Rector for International Affairs and Public Relations.
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| Explore highlights from the opening ceremony in our photo gallery. |
Students complete most of their studies in China before spending their final academic year in Szeged. Throughout the China-based phase of the programs, teaching is also provided by University of Szeged faculty members, who regularly travel to Xi’an for eight-week periods to deliver courses included in the curriculum.
Dual degrees and international opportunities
The joint bachelor’s programs follow a 3+1 model, with students spending three years in China and their final year in Szeged. Upon successfully completing all academic requirements, graduates receive degrees from both the University of Szeged and Shaanxi Normal University.
Beyond the opportunities it offers students, the model also advances SZTE’s internationalization efforts and represents an important development for Hungarian higher education. Its significance lies in a model unique to higher education cooperation between Hungary and China, with the joint programs open to applicants from across China through the country’s national admissions system. This nationwide reach helps attract a strong pool of qualified students over the long term.
Further expansion on the horizon
A key aim in establishing the Szeged International College was to build on the existing partnership and create opportunities for joint programs in new academic fields. Plans for this expansion are already taking shape, with the two universities agreeing to launch joint master’s programs in computer science and engineering information technology. Looking further ahead, the leadership of both institutions is committed to expanding the range of joint programs into additional fields and extending the partnership to doctoral education as well as research, development, and innovation projects.
More broadly, the opening of the Szeged International College marks another important step in strengthening the University of Szeged’s position in international higher education. By bringing together the strengths of Hungarian and Chinese higher education, the new training center in Xi’an also creates opportunities for hundreds of talented students to earn dual degrees and prepare for international careers.
SZTEinfo
