Founded in 1769 as the Medical Faculty of the University of Nagyszombat by decree of Empress Maria Theresa, Semmelweis University is Hungary's oldest medical institution and a leading biomedical university in Central Europe. With over 250 years of educational excellence, it is built on the triadic mission of education, research and innovation, and clinical care.

The university is named after its most famous professor, Ignac Semmelweis, known as the 'saviour of mothers' for discovering the cause of puerperal fever and pioneering hand disinfection in obstetrics. Nobel laureate Albert Szent-Gyorgyi, who isolated vitamin C, also earned his medical diploma here. Today, approximately 42 percent of Hungary's doctors, 70 percent of its dentists, and 50 percent of its pharmacists are Semmelweis graduates.

Semmelweis University is also Hungary's largest healthcare provider, with nearly 40 clinical departments delivering comprehensive patient care. The university offers programs in three languages — Hungarian, English, and German — and its diplomas are officially recognized throughout the European Union and in many countries worldwide, including recognition by the UK General Medical Council and listing in the World Directory of Medical Schools.

Semmelweis University is a specialized health sciences university offering undergraduate and graduate courses exclusively in the medical and health sciences field. Education takes place across six faculties and a Doctoral School, with programs available in Hungarian, English, and German. Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmacy run as integrated one-tier master programs, while the Faculty of Health Sciences offers bachelor's and master's degrees.

Semmelweis University offers competitively priced programs compared to Western European medical schools. Tuition fees vary by program and are payable per semester or academic year. International students should also budget for living expenses in Budapest, one of Europe's most affordable capital cities.

Semmelweis University does not have a traditional enclosed campus. Instead, its faculties, departments, hospitals, clinics, libraries, sport, and accommodation facilities are distributed throughout Budapest. Most clinical departments are organized into three clinical blocks, and several facilities are clustered in key areas of the city.

Theoretical Building (NET)

One of the tallest buildings in Hungary, housing research institutions, a student centre, auditoriums, conference halls, and the country's largest stained glass installations.

Faculty of Health Sciences

A beautifully renovated Art Nouveau building of a former sanatorium, featuring clinical skills laboratories, an atrium with social spaces, and a garden.

Dental Clinical and Training Centre

One of the most advanced dental institutes in Europe, housing six of the Faculty of Dentistry's eight departments with cutting-edge simulation and clinical facilities.

Semmelweis University boasts a truly multicultural community with students from over 129 countries, and the international student body accounts for roughly one-third of all students. The university's cultural, scientific, and sport events are open to all students, creating a vibrant social environment in the heart of Budapest.

Semmelweis University is consistently the highest-ranked Hungarian university in global rankings and a regional leader in Central and Eastern Europe. The university has shown steady improvement across key performance indicators, particularly in teaching quality and research impact.