The University of Szeged is pleased to announce that applications for the 2026 Spring Intake of its international self-financed study programs will open on October 15.

More than twenty-five years ago, a research initiative on methane was launched in Szeged, opening entirely new perspectives on how inflammatory processes can be treated. Today, methane – once dismissed as an inert atmospheric bystander – is emerging as a surprising ally in the fight against inflammation. Building on this long-running work, Professor Dr. Mihály Boros and his team are now exploring methane’s biological effects in research that may reshape how we understand and treat inflammatory diseases. We spoke with Professor Boros about the discoveries emerging from their project, supported by HU-rizon, an international research-excellence program funded by Hungary’s National Research, Development and Innovation Office (NRDI Office).

Launched in 1985, the English-language medical program in Szeged was among the first of its kind in Hungary. To mark the anniversary, a reunion was held from 3 to 5 October 2025, bringing together graduates from the past four decades who returned to the city from all corners of the world.

The University of Szeged has inaugurated yet another renovated and expanded building, transforming it into a state-of-the-art educational and research hub. The facility now offers inspiring new spaces for the Faculty of Pharmacy, the Institute of Behavioral Sciences at the Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School, and several competence centers of the Center of Excellence for Interdisciplinary Research, Development, and Innovation (IKIKK). This latest investment enhances student training, advances innovative research, and strengthens academic collaboration.

Dr. Anita Kovács, a former student and lecturer at the University of Szeged, has been living and teaching in China since 2020. In 2023, her husband, Dr. Péter Hegyes, joined her, concluding a six-decade career at SZTE to begin a new chapter abroad.

The University of Szeged hosted the opening event of the HU-rizont Roadshow on September 25, an initiative launched by the Hungarian National Research, Development and Innovation Office (NRDI Office) to highlight the program’s goals and promote leading research projects across Hungary. The first stop featured successful projects from the University’s Center of Excellence for Interdisciplinary Research, Development, and Innovation (IKIKK).

Between August 25 and September 4, 2025, a delegation from the University of Szeged’s Faculty of Engineering visited Ningbo, China, to deepen cooperation with Ningbo University and further expand the long-standing relationship between the two institutions.

This autumn, Szeged is gearing up for a vibrant season of culture once again as the 29th Autumn Cultural Festival kicks off on October 1. Organized by the Cultural Office of the Directorate for International and Public Relations at the University of Szeged, the nearly two-month-long festival offers 300 diverse events at 70 locations across the city – from music and visual arts to sports, community programs, and a spectacular light show. The lineup was announced by Prof. Dr. Márta Széll, Vice-Rector for Strategy; Gabriella Tajti, Head of the Cultural Office; and György Fekete, Rector and Chancellor’s Representative for Sports Affairs.

During the first week of the semester, the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Szeged hosted its 3rd Career Week for engineering majors, giving students the chance to meet leading industry representatives and even apply for internship positions.

In June 2025, the University of Szeged updated its Academic and Examination Regulations with a new section on the use of artificial intelligence in education:

The University of Szeged has reached another major milestone: on September 12, Prof. Dr. Daniel Kendoff – a world-renowned orthopedic and trauma surgeon, specialist in robot-assisted surgery, and Director of the ENDO Clinic in Berlin – performed the first CORI robot-assisted hip replacement surgery at the Department of Traumatology and Orthopaedics at SZTE’s Clinical Center. This was the first time such an operation was carried out within the framework of the publicly funded healthcare system in Hungary.

On September 22, 2025, the University of Szeged (SZTE) welcomed a 36-member delegation representing 18 leading Chinese universities. The highlight of the visit was a groundbreaking joint program launched this September by SZTE and Shaanxi Normal University (SNNU) – an initiative that has advanced Hungarian–Chinese academic cooperation to a new level. The program has already attracted significant attention in China, with prominent national and international media reporting on its wide-ranging impact.

On September 16, the University of Szeged (SZTE) commemorated the 132nd anniversary of Nobel laureate researcher and former rector Albert Szent-Györgyi’s birth. Prof. Dr. László Rovó, Rector of SZTE, and Dr. Judit Fendler, Chancellor, paid tribute by placing a wreath of paprika peppers at the statue of the scientist in front of the university’s main building.

SZTE Alma Mater, the alumni organization of the University of Szeged, is launching the next round of its Alumni Mentoring Program, which will run in Fall 2025. Applications from current students will be accepted throughout September, with the program also open to alumni who would like to be mentors.

Science takes center stage in Szeged this month as the University of Szeged once again opens its doors to the public for Researchers’ Night. Held on September 26–27, 2025, the event will feature more than 400 diverse and engaging programs. Visitors are invited to experience the wonder of discovery firsthand, be inspired, and explore the opportunities offered by a career in research.

The University of Szeged has gained a unique form of international recognition for its entrepreneurial culture and forward-thinking approach to innovation. In August, SZTE was awarded the Entrepreneurial University accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Entrepreneurial and Engaged Universities (ACEEU). The official certificate was presented on 11 September 2025 in Prague. With this achievement, the University of Szeged has become the only university in Hungary to hold the Entrepreneurial University title. In addition, having already earned the Engaged University accreditation last year, it now ranks among the few institutions worldwide to hold dual ACEEU accreditation.

A new padel court has just opened in the Erzsébet Liget park in New Szeged (Újszeged), as part of the expansion of the Újszeged Tennis Center – where Nobel laureate Albert Szent-Györgyi himself used to play. Today, the center serves as the training ground for members of the SZTE-Sportmánia tennis team, who are currently preparing for upcoming championships and tournaments.

The University of Szeged welcomed its newly admitted international students with a three-day series of events held between September 2 and 4. In the new academic year, approximately 1,500 students from 132 countries are set to begin their studies at SZTE.

The University of Szeged concluded its three-day orientation program for newly admitted international students with an oath-taking ceremony and a festive celebration. Held at Dugonics Square, the event also featured the awarding of SZTE START scholarships.

Having hosted the event in 2018, Szeged once again provided the venue for the Annual Meeting of the Hungarian Society of Physiology, held this year from September 2 to 5. Co-organized by four major Hungarian scientific societies and featuring presentations by researchers from the University of Szeged, the conference was marked by the distinguished presence of Nobel laureate Stefan Hell (Germany), Wolf Prize winner Botond Roska (Switzerland), and University of Pennsylvania scientist Norbert Pardi – an SZTE alumnus and colleague of Katalin Karikó.

With 134 speakers from 14 countries, the University of Szeged hosted the 13th International Altay Communities Symposium – regarded as the most prestigious gathering on Altay studies among Asian countries.

Dr. Gábor Feigl, habilitated senior assistant professor at the University of Szeged’s Department of Plant Biology, has been awarded a prestigious research grant through the Hungarian Academy of Sciences’ Momentum (Lendület) Program. His project will explore how plants respond to the combined stress of anthropogenic pollutants – human-induced contaminants such as microplastics, heavy metals, and pharmaceutical residues. By uncovering how these stressors interact to impact plant life, the research aims to support the future of sustainable crop production in an increasingly polluted environment.

Escorted by a brass ensemble, the University of Szeged’s professorial procession made its way through the city center on Friday, September 5, marking the start of the 2025–2026 academic year. This was followed by the Senate’s ceremonial session in the Study and Information Center, where the university conferred high honors and outlined new international collaborations. The guest of honor was Csaba Lantos, Hungary’s Minister of Energy. In keeping with tradition, first-year students took their oath and were welcomed as members of the university community – with a handshake from the Rector.

Starting in July 2025, Dr. Ria Benkő – associate professor at the Faculty of Pharmacy’s Institute of Clinical Pharmacy and chief pharmacist heading the Clinical Pharmacy Institute at the Albert Szent-Györgyi Clinical Center – will serve as president of the European Drug Utilisation Research Group (EuroDURG). She spoke with us about this prestigious recognition and the responsibilities her appointment entails.

Hungarian as a foreign language has been taught at the University of Szeged for more than fifty years. Inspired by the success of previous years, the Hungarian Studies Center of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences marked 2025 with the 25th Hungarian Studies Summer University. The program, designed for international students eager to immerse themselves in Hungarian language and culture, drew participants from fourteen countries.

Can targeted pressure really relieve menstrual cramps? And what does science say about the menstrual cycle behind all that pain? We spoke with Nikolett Häger, a medical student at the University of Szeged, about her innovation developed with support from the Hungarian Startup University Program (HSUP): a menstrual pain-relief belt designed to reduce discomfort for women.

The 2025 edition of the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) – one of the world’s most prestigious higher education rankings – has been released, confirming the University of Szeged once again as Hungary’s number one university. SZTE remains the country’s sole representative among the global top 500, with only four Hungarian universities making this year’s list.

The JATE Award honors individuals whose exceptional achievements and personal qualities reflect the spirit of the University of Szeged. The call for nominations for this special distinction remains open until September 8, 2025. Established from the Nobel Prize funds of Katalin Karikó, the award includes a USD 5,000 cash prize, an original artwork, and a decorative certificate, with nominations playing a pivotal role in celebrating excellence.

Hungary delivered its best-ever performance at the 32nd Summer World University Games, earning a total of 18 medals – 10 silver and 8 bronze. Held over a ten-day period in Germany’s Rhine-Ruhr region, the international multi-sport event saw 178 Hungarian athletes compete, representing 46 different universities and colleges. Among them were seven students from the University of Szeged: Renáta Beregszászi and Réka Kling (athletics), Nikolett Ágnes Sági (judo), Bálint and Balázs Pápai (badminton), and Botond Bóbis and Benedek Danka (water polo).

This autumn, the University of Szeged is taking Hungarian–Chinese higher education cooperation to a new level. In collaboration with Shaanxi Normal University (SNNU), SZTE is launching a unique four-year undergraduate program, with students completing three years of their studies in China and one year in Hungary.

Dr. habil. Csaba Szabó, Assistant Professor at the Department of Religious Studies of the University of Szeged’s Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, has been awarded a Momentum (Lendület) Grant by the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (MTA) in 2025 – becoming the first scholar from the faculty to receive this prestigious recognition. The Momentum Program supports outstanding early-career scholars and accomplished researchers in launching research groups with the potential for major scientific impact. Professor Szabó’s five-year project, REMITHRA: Faces of Mithras – The Material and Cultural Legacy of an Ancient Cult in Central and Eastern Europe, will be carried out by the newly established MTA–SZTE Momentum Mithras Research Group, which is set to begin work this fall. As principal investigator, Professor Szabó spoke about the significance of the award and outlined his vision for the research ahead.

In an effort to deepen their existing collaboration, the University of Szeged and the technology companies ContiTech Fluid Automotive Hungária Kft. and ContiTech Rubber Industrial Kft. have entered into formal agreements. These new partnerships aim to foster joint initiatives in research and development, education, and grant applications. Reflecting this intent, the leaders of the university and the two companies signed the agreements on Monday, July 28, 2025, marking the occasion in the main building of the University of Szeged.

A giant leap was made toward strengthening Hungary’s space sector with the signing of an agreement to establish the Hungarian Spacelab Network. The new collaborative platform brings together nine universities, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Ministry of Culture and Innovation, and the HUN-REN Institute for Computer Science and Control. The signing ceremony was held in Budapest on July 14, 2025.

Less than three weeks after receiving Hungary's first smart cochlear implant, 11-year-old Loránd was fitted with the external unit of his new device at the University of Szeged, where the implant was activated and its initial settings programmed.

International Freshmen Orientation Days for the Fall 2025/26 semester will take place from September 2 to 4, 2025.

The University of Szeged’s Center of Excellence for Interdisciplinary Research, Development, and Innovation (IKIKK) is launching the SZTE VIRTUS Research Career Program, inviting researchers who are driven to explore the market potential of their creative ideas while pursuing their scientific research and teaching careers. This new challenge offers participants the chance to gain insight into corporate and investor perspectives, while also experiencing the fulfilment that comes from innovation rooted in real societal needs.

An AI-powered digital platform to support cancer patients, a wearable belt designed to relieve menstrual pain, and a plastic pallet engineered to transform logistics – these were just a few of the innovative ideas presented by students from the University of Szeged at the closing event of the Hungarian Startup University Program (HSUP) in Budapest. This year’s HSUP Demo Day, held on July 3 at the Bosch Innovation Campus, brought together the top student-led projects, several of which received financial backing and professional mentoring.

Today, the University of Szeged has nearly 25,000 students, and while its primary goal is to secure full enrollment in state-funded programs, attracting fee-paying students – whether Hungarian or international – is equally important. This is what Chancellor Judit Fendler emphasized when we spoke with her about the university’s experiences so far with the shift to a foundation-based governance model.

At a ceremony held on campus on July 8, 2025, the University of Szeged officially unveiled a new supercomputer with a capacity of 1.75 petaflops, which means it is capable of performing 1.75 quadrillion (1.75 × 10¹⁵) operations per second. Backed by the Artificial Intelligence Competence Center within the University of Szeged’s Center of Excellence for Interdisciplinary Research, Development and Innovation, the system will provide vital computational resources for AI-driven research at the university. This cutting-edge, European-class infrastructure is expected to drive progress not only in artificial intelligence but also across a wide range of scientific fields. During the ceremony, the University of Szeged and the Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company (HPE) signed a strategic cooperation agreement to ensure ongoing professional and technological support for the system.

The University of Szeged hosted the General Assembly of the Erasmus Student Network (ESN) Hungary from June 27 to 29, 2025. The event brought together mentors from universities across the country, along with distinguished guests, to provide information to the organization’s mentors and volunteers about international mobility programs and scholarship opportunities. The program included a keynote presentation by Richárd Bodrogi, Director General of the Tempus Public Foundation, who also took part in a Q&A session. 

In June 2025, the University of Szeged hosted a series of interactive workshops as part of a EUGLOH Alliance initiative. The program focused on developing international leadership skills and improving communication within intercultural teams.

The Institute of Geosciences at SZTE’s Faculty of Science and Informatics is undergoing major infrastructure upgrades designed to strengthen the synergy between education and research and to improve the effectiveness of studies addressing global environmental challenges. Fully funded from the University’s own resources, this investment will provide a modern, well-equipped environment that supports world-class scientific work and teaching.

The 2025 U.S. News & World Report Best Global Universities rankings place the University of Szeged at the forefront of Hungarian higher education in two subject areas: Chemistry and Neuroscience & Behavior.

Seventeen newly habilitated doctors and 129 PhD graduates were awarded their degrees at SZTE’s Doctoral Degree Award Ceremony, held on June 27, 2025, in the congress hall of the Study and Information Center.

An international summer school focusing on the mathematical modelling of cancer was held at the University of Szeged, jointly organized by the Hungarian Centre of Excellence for Molecular Medicine (HCEMM) and the National Laboratory for Health Security. According to mathematician Dr. Gergely Röst, the laboratory’s scientific director, the aim was to offer young researchers in medicine and mathematics a gateway into a cutting-edge interdisciplinary field. Reflecting the shift in how mathematical tools are perceived in biomedical research, Professors Joel Brown and Jeffrey West – researchers from the Moffitt Cancer Center in Florida and guest lecturers at the summer school – stated that mathematical algorithms are becoming a form of medicine in their own right.

An eleven-year-old boy named Loránd has become the very first person in Hungary – and one of the first in the world – to receive a smart cochlear implant, the latest innovation in high-end hearing technology. The procedure was carried out on June 25, 2025, at the Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology and Head-Neck Surgery of the Albert Szent-Györgyi Clinical Center at the University of Szeged. Thanks to this pioneering device, Loránd now has a renewed chance to experience natural hearing again – something he had been gradually losing despite using a hearing aid.

The University of Szeged and AstraZeneca have taken their partnership to the next level. As part of their new strategic alliance, the two organizations are working together to advance data-driven health research, continue to develop clinical research programs, expand the medical knowledge base, promote widespread educational outreach, and launch initiatives targeting both major public health issues and rare diseases. These joint projects are expected to improve patient pathway management and contribute significantly to scientific and professional engagement – both in Hungary and internationally.

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.

The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence presents both new opportunities and profound challenges for the humanities. In the spring of 2025, the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Szeged hosted an international course titled AI and the Humanities, organized with the participation of lecturers and students from EUGLOH (European University Alliance for Global Health) partner institutions.

On June 19, British higher education analyst firm Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) released its latest World University Rankings. The University of Szeged earned a place among the top 7% of institutions worldwide, ranking 597th out of nearly 8,500 evaluated universities. This result also reaffirms its status as one of Hungary’s leading universities.