The University of Szeged

The University of Szeged was established in 1921 with the relocation of the University of Kolozsvár (Cluj-Napoca) founded in 1872. Under different names — Franz Joseph University, University of Szeged, Attila József University — it has grown to be one of the most prestigious universities in Hungary, ranked first amongst Hungarian universities and in the top 300 in the world in three consecutive years (2003, 2004 and 2005). The current organisational structure took shape after an integration process in 2000; now the University of Szeged has 12 faculties, providing education for 25 000 students and employing more than 6000 people, 1000 of which are teachers.

Alongside internationally noted contributions to mathematics, information technology, physical and material sciences, the University is also noted for its strong focus on life sciences, augmented by close ties to the Biological Research Centre of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. The most significant accomplishment under the auspices of the University of Szeged so far has been the discovery of vitamin C and the exploration of the citric acid cycle, made by Albert Szent-Györgyi and rewarded with a Nobel Prize in 1937.