Freshman info

Updated on: 19.07.2021.

1. Academic information for freshmen 

The University of Debrecen plans to start the next academic year on-campus!

Certain parts of the registration process will happen online (eg. data update) from the second half of August for all freshmen of all international programs. However, according to current regulations, to estabilish your student status (to be able to attend classes) you have to complete your registration process in person. Therefore please make sure you arrive in time calculating with possible travel restrictions / complications and quarantine period.

Start date of the academic year of 2021/22:

First year Medicine/Dentistry/Pharmacy in 2021/22:

Orientation: planned for 23 August, 2021

Registration and compulsory Hungarian language Crash Course: planned between 23 August – 3 September, 2021 

Fall semester starts: planned for 6 September, 2021

First year Basic Medicine Course, Public Health, Physiotherapy, Molecular Biology, all non-medical program and PhD in 2021/22:

Orientation: planned for 30 August 2021 and for non-medical programs for the first week of September 2021

Registration: planned between 30 August – 10 September, 2021 

Fall semester starts: planned for 6 September, 2021

First year students of the Faculty of Health (Social Work in Health Care, Social Work and Social Economy, Nurse BSc) in 2021/22:

Orientation/ personal registration: 9 September 2021, from 9:00 a.m. Place: Faculty of Health, Nyíregyháza, Sóstói út 2-4.

Fall semester starts: 13 September 2021

2. COVID-19 situation in Hungary

Due to the low number of new COVID cases and the high percentage of vaccinated population, the Hungarian Government has announced a number of measures to relax COVID restrictions:

• As on 23 May 2021 Hungary has reached the milestone of 5 million vaccinated citizens, the curfew and the regulation for obligatory mask-wearing outdoors are withdrawn.
• As in July 2021 vaccinations has reached 5.5 million, masks are no longer required indoors and people are allowed to go to hotels, restaurants, baths and water parks without an immunity certificate. However, masks will remain mandatory in the healthcare sector.
• The use of immunity certificates will be maintained for mass events, such as sports events, concerts, festivals and night clubs.
• Restrictions on the business hours of shops and restaurants are lifted.
• Both individual and team sports are allowed outdoors.
• Family events and weddings may be organized for up to 50 and 200 people, respectively. Family events, if held in a hotel or restaurant, must be in a separate area.
• Outdoor events may be organized for up to 500 people.

Latest COVID information and updates can be checked at abouthungary.hu.

COVID vaccination of foreign citizens living in Hungary

The Government of Hungary is now offering Covid vaccination to foreign citizens living in Hungary with a valid residence permit.

This requires registration, which can be done on vakcinainfo.gov.hu/registration!

Vaccination is voluntary and free of charge. If you register and approve further contact, you will receive instant information about the vaccine and what to do next. The order in which people are vaccinated is not determined by the order in which they register, but by their vulnerability to disease caused by the coronavirus.

3. Entry information to Hungary for UD students regarding the COVID-19 situation 

Please scroll down or click on the links for direct access:

3.1. Entry information to Hungary

Travel information

As the situation changes day-by-day and varies by country, some flights might get cancelled, or it is possible that there is no direct flight to Budapest or Debrecen International Airport.

Please look for alternative connections to Budapest Airport.

E.g. There will most likely be available connections from Frankfurt, Munich, Dubai, Istanbul, Doha, Amsterdam, Paris or London to Budapest.

Please check the websites of airlines regularly!

Transfer from Budapest Airport:
Our TroubleShooter office can help you arrange a door-to door minibus shuttle from Budapest Airport to Debrecen. For more info, please click here.

3.1.1. In case you are from a VISA bound country 

You may enter Hungary with a valid D-type VISA or a valid residence permit.

• Once you receive your visa supporting documents from UD, please start the VISA application as soon as possible.

• Please check your local Hungarian Embassy’s websites regularly for more information on their VISA application procedure! The Embassies will publish all recent information on their website.

You will be obliged to undergo a medical examination at the border to check for signs of Covid-19 infection.

• If there is no suspicion of infection, you will be required to stay in quarantine for 10 days.
• All students will be quarantined for 10 days, except those who,
  • upon entering the territory of Hungary, provide credible evidence that they have gone through COVID-19 disease (hereinafter “infection”) within 6 months of the day of presenting themselves at the border.
  • received COVID-19 vaccination abroad, and can provide an official vaccination certificate according to the specifications listed on this website.
    • should your country not appear on the above mentioned list, your vaccination card is unfortunately not accepted

More info about quarantine obligations can be found here.

Please note that the University of Debrecen does not organize PCR testing.

Your quarantine obligation is ordered and checked by the local police. The University of Debrecen has no authority or role in this process.

In case you want to get exempted from quarantine, you need to have 2 negative PCR tests within a minimum of 48 hours, and a maximum of 5 days of difference done after arrival.

Hungary accepts the first PCR test brought from Canada, USA or Schengen zone countries - the second has to be done in Hungary after arrival.

If you want to be tested, you have to organize testing by yourself, and it is advised to book in advance.

The list of official testing organizations can be found on this link. 

You may do your PCR test at Budapest Airport Coronavirus Testing Center as well!

Anyone deciding to have PCR tests done, needs to inform the police about leaving the quarantine for PCR testing purposes and about the place of the test 24 hrs in advance, by submitting an online form.
After receiving the PCR test result, all students need to inform the police about the result through an online form.

The online forms for notifying the police about testing and about the result of the test can be found here.

• In order to reach the forms, please choose "Submissions related to the epidemic control measure" then "Send information about PCR test date (no login required) or Send information on the results of PCR negative tests related to border crossing (no login required)"

3.1.2. In case you are from a non-VISA bound country 

(For the list of countries, click here)

Your local Hungarian Embassy/Consulate/Representation will provide you with a certificate with which you will be able to enter the Schengen zone upon request.

You may download the certificate here.

You shall submit a written entry request to the Hungarian Police online. The entry request can be submitted in English or in Hungarian electronically only. You may submit the request here: https://ugyintezes.police.hu/en/uj-ugy-inditasa/ 

• To reach the form please choose "Submissions related to the epidemic control measures, then On lodging an enquity request to cross the state border (no login required)" or follow this Step-by-Step guide

Please upload your Letter of Acceptance and the Payment confirmation of your tuition fee (or Letter of award in case of Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship holders) as attachments to the entry request.

You will be obliged to undergo a medical examination at the border to check for signs of Covid-19 infection. Those individuals suspected of infection are not allowed to enter the country.

• If there is no suspicion of infection, you will be required to stay in quarantine for 10 days.
• All students will be quarantined for 10 days, except those who,
  • upon entering the territory of Hungary, provide credible evidence that they have gone through COVID-19 disease (hereinafter “infection”) within 6 months of the day of presenting themselves at the border.

  • received COVID-19 vaccination abroad, and can provide an official vaccination certificate according to the specifications listed on this website.

    • if you are not form an EU country, and your country does not appear on the above mentioned list, your vaccination card is unfortunately not accepted

  • carries the official EU Covid-19 Passport. (The European Union has made available its COVID-19 passport  for EU citizens and residents only.) Specifications can be found here: https://ec.europa.eu/info/live-work-travel-eu/coronavirus-response/safe-covid-19-vaccines-europeans/eu-digital-covid-certificate_en

More info about quarantine obligations can be found here.

Please note that the University of Debrecen does not organize PCR testing.

Your quarantine obligation is ordered and checked by the local police. The University of Debrecen has no authority or role in this process.

In case you want to get exempted from quarantine, you need to have 2 negative PCR tests within a minimum of 48 hours, and a maximum of 5 days difference done after arrival..

Hungary accepts the first PCR test brought from Canada, USA or Schengen zone countries - the second has to be done in Hungary after arrival.

If you want to be tested, you have to organize testing by yourself, and it is advised to book in advance.

The list of official testing organizations can be found on this link. 

You may do your PCR test at Budapest Airport Coronavirus Testing Center as well!

Anyone deciding to have PCR tests done, needs to inform the police about leaving the quarantine for PCR testing and about the place of the test 24 hrs in advance, by submitting an online form..
After receiving the PCR test result, all students need to inform the police about the result through an online form.

Online forms for notifying police about testing and about the result of the test can be found here.

• In order to reach the forms, please choose "Submissions related to the epidemic control measure" then "Send information about PCR test date (no login required) or Send information on the results of PCR negative tests related to border crossing (no login required)

In case you already had COVID-19 infection within 6 month prior to arrival to Hungary and you can provide supporting medical documents, you can be exempted from quarantine.

In case you received your COVID-19 vaccination abroad, it might be accepted by the Hungarian Authorities if you can provide your official vaccination certificate according to the specifications listed on this website, you can be exempted from quarantine.

In case you have no accommodation in Debrecen yet, please contact the TroubleShooter University info point, they can help you to find private accommodation.

It is our definite request that all students respect COVID-19 regulations and restrictions of the University of Debrecen as the violation of these regulations may have serious consequences regarding your studies, and will result in the termination of your student status!

3.2. Medical check-up procedure

We would like to share some important information about the medical check-up procedure and medical requirements of the University of Debrecen.

You can reach all the necessary instructions and documents by clicking here!

Please read them carefully, follow the steps and make sure that you bring all necessary documents with you for the registration.

We hope to see you soon in Debrecen!

Important!

Please check your e-mail account regularly as we will keep you updated regarding the current situation. Make sure you check your spam folder as well, thank you!
 

You can download our Student Guide from here!

Download our Checklist that helps you preparing your trip to Hungary and the University of Debrecen!

If you have any question, please contact admission@edu.unideb.hu!