Debrecen Reformed Theological University

The Debrecen Reformed Theological University as a member institute of the Debrecen Reformed College founded in 1538 has been one of the influential centres of theological sciences and ecclesiastic training of intellectuals.

Debrecen became the ecclesiastic centre of the Tiszántúl that became protestant by the middle of the 16th century. At that time the minister and teacher training in the region was carried out by the school of the town. Thanks to its professors with experience from Western European universities, extended school network in the country and protection and rich support from the town and from the princes of Transylvania the college soon became an institute of national importance. As the school of the poor it provided education for the lower layers of the society and supported their social advance. Besides notable scientists and science organizers several poets, writers and philosophers well known in Hungarian cultural history are found amongst the former students of the college.

Our university is one of the oldest institute of education in Hungary: education rich in experiences with reformed Christian commitment at the level of the modern age has been carried out since 1538 in the institute. In our non-religious degree programmes teachers and youth workers may learn while the religious degree programmes prepare students for Church service and for being Christian intellectuals – in the attitude of the motto “Community, faith, knowledge”.

Our university was a founding member of the Debrecen Universitas Association and is still an associated institute of the University of Debrecen with which the cooperation is close even beyond joint trainings.The DRTU currently has two institutes and seventeen departments. Our university apart from its undivided, basic, master and PhD and higher education vocational trainings carries out the training of further church employees, teachers and other secular intellectuals. The institute currently has 60 full time teachers and around 800 students.