Transfer from the University of Debrecen: Where to Continue Medicine or Dentistry in 2026

What is the University of Debrecen and what does it teach in English?

The University of Debrecen (Hungarian: Debreceni Egyetem) is a university in Debrecen, Hungary's second-largest city. The Hungarian Royal University was founded in 1912, and the Faculty of Medicine has taught its MD programme in English since 1987. The university also runs English-taught Dentistry and Pharmacy degrees.

The roots go back even further. The Reformed College of Debrecen was established in 1538, and today's integrated University of Debrecen was formed on 1 January 2000. Tuition is charged in US dollars. For the 2026/27 intake the university lists these programmes:

Euro amounts are converted at the ECB reference rate of 16 September 2026 (1 EUR = 1.1537 USD) and will move with the exchange rate. Health insurance, the medical check-up and the student card are included in the fee. More about the programmes and the city is on our University of Debrecen page.

Can you transfer from the University of Debrecen to another university?

Yes. Students of the University of Debrecen in Hungary can transfer to another medical or dental faculty and have their passed exams reviewed for credit. Medschool Experts is the leading specialist for study transfers in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and veterinary medicine, with the world's largest choice of official partner universities.

A transfer is not a restart. Your transcript, the ECTS you have earned and the content of your courses decide where you can continue. That is why we look at each record individually before we name a destination.

Why do students transfer from the University of Debrecen?

Students transfer from the University of Debrecen for five main reasons: they want lower yearly costs, an exam format that suits them better, a fresh start after personal or organisational difficulties, a clear route to a medical career in the USA, or a programme that prepares them well for working in Germany.

1. Costs. Tuition plus living costs add up over six years. A more affordable university can reduce the yearly budget substantially.
2. Exam fit. Every faculty has its own exam style and pace. Some students simply perform better elsewhere, and we specialise in finding that match.
3. Personal or organisational reasons. Sometimes a situation with individual teachers, the timetable or life circumstances makes continuing difficult. A change of setting can solve that.
4. Career goal USA. Students aiming for USMLE, US clinical rotations and residency often choose a Caribbean medical school or the Mostar School of Medicine.
5. Career goal Germany. Some universities prepare especially well for Germany, including the option of a final practical year there.

None of these reasons is unusual. They are about fit.

Where can University of Debrecen students transfer to?

University of Debrecen students can transfer to partner universities of Medschool Experts that match their goal: the Faculty of Medicine Foča in Bosnia and Herzegovina for lower costs, Mostar School of Medicine or Caribbean schools for the USA, Foča or Medical University of Varna for Germany, and EU partners such as Varna for an EU degree.

Dentistry students need a destination that teaches dentistry. Foča and Varna both offer it. Pharmacy students get a separate check, because the destination must teach pharmacy. Mostar and the Caribbean schools are options for Medicine only.

For a wider view of options from Hungary, see our overview on study transfers from Hungary. All destinations are listed on our universities page.

How much can a University of Debrecen student save by transferring?

A Medicine student at the University of Debrecen pays USD 16,900 per year (2026/27 intake), about €14,650, plus roughly €8,400–11,400 in living costs. At the Faculty of Medicine Foča, tuition is €3,500 and the total is about €7,500 per year, so the difference is around €15,550–18,550 per year (2026 figures).

Here is a worked example. Say you move after year three and have three years of Medicine left. At a yearly difference of €15,550–18,550, the remaining three years cost about €46,650–55,650 less in Foča than in Debrecen. Your own figure depends on your entry year, your rent and the exchange rate.

Which year can you enter after leaving the University of Debrecen?

There is no fixed maximum entry year after the University of Debrecen. Medschool Experts reviews every transcript individually and aims for the highest possible entry with no or minimal loss of time. High placements, often into year 4 or year 5, are achieved frequently.

One rule of thumb helps. Usually no more than two exams may be outstanding, and the ECTS of those open exams must stay below a set maximum. The exact limit depends on the receiving university.

Keep your records complete. Course descriptions and the transcript of records make the comparison faster and often lead to a higher placement.

How does a transfer from the University of Debrecen work with Medschool Experts?

A transfer from the University of Debrecen with Medschool Experts runs in four steps: a free consultation about your goals, a review of your academic record, a placement offer for the highest possible entry year, and a planned switch. Students stay enrolled in Debrecen until the new place is confirmed.

1. Free consultation. We talk about your goals, budget and preferred country.
2. Record review. We check your transcript, ECTS and any open exams against our partner network.
3. Placement offer. You get a concrete option with the entry year we can reach for you.
4. Switch with a plan. Timing, paperwork and your arrival are coordinated with you.

Admission requirements differ from university to university. We explain yours personally. You can read how others managed the move in our student stories and see all support options on our services page.

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Is a degree from Hungary recognised, and what does that mean for a University of Debrecen transfer?

Hungary has been an EU member state since 2004, so a medical or dental degree from the University of Debrecen falls under Directive 2005/36/EC on the recognition of professional qualifications. Students who transfer out of Hungary should choose a destination whose degree fits the country where they plan to work later.

That is the core planning question. If you want to stay within the EU system, an EU partner such as the Medical University of Varna in Bulgaria keeps you there. If Germany is your goal, Foča and Varna both offer a final practical year in Germany through Medschool Experts. If the USA is your goal, the USMLE route matters more than the country of the degree.

Language is part of the picture as well. The English programme in Debrecen includes Hungarian language courses in the early years, which prepare students for patient contact in Hungarian hospitals. Students who plan clinical years elsewhere can discuss the language of the clinical phase at their destination with us.

Which University of Debrecen students should consider a US or German career track?

University of Debrecen students who already know they want to work in the USA or in Germany benefit from a university that prepares for exactly that goal. Mostar School of Medicine in Bosnia and Herzegovina is the only European university that specifically prepares for USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 CK.

Mostar teaches in small groups, has a better teacher-to-student ratio than other European medical schools and offers only 30 places per year. Medschool Experts places students there reliably without an entrance test, as long as our own quota allows. Caribbean medical schools are the other route into US clinical rotations and residency.

For Germany, the Faculty of Medicine Foča and the Medical University of Varna stand out. Both allow the final practical year in Germany through Medschool Experts. That is a strong start.

When should University of Debrecen students start planning a transfer?

University of Debrecen students should start planning a transfer as soon as they are seriously considering it, ideally several months before the semester in which they want to switch. Early planning keeps more partner universities open and makes a higher entry year easier to reach.

Timing matters most around exam periods. Open exams count against the rule of thumb above, so it often pays to finish the current semester's exams before the move. Talk to us first. We check which moment works best for your record.