Széchenyi István University awaits Chinese students with open doors

A growing international student community, high-quality academic programmes and a European-standard infrastructure await young individuals choosing to pursue their studies at the Central European Széchenyi István University in Hungary. The quality of the institution in Győr is evidenced by its inclusion in the rankings of six global lists by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) and Times Higher Education (THE).

In 2018, Guo Shaofeng arrived in Hungary, one of the member states of the European Union, to become one of the Chinese students studying at Széchenyi István University (SZE) in Győr. He chose this institution due to the high quality and international reputation of its automotive engineering programme. "It was particularly important for me to gain practical knowledge, and in this regard, Széchenyi University is very strong. Besides its extensive industrial connections, it supports students in their academic careers as well as offering high-quality Master's and exceptional doctoral programmes. The university is extremely student-centered, with instructors providing individual attention and in addition to professional work, student life is emphasized. I found a supportive community here," Guo said.

Guo Shaofeng has already obtained his degree in Vehicle Engineering and is currently pursuing a Master's degree in Supply Chain Management, which perfectly complements his existing knowledge and further aids him on the path towards a successful automotive industry career. In addition to his studies, he works at the largest company specializing in electric vehicles and battery manufacturing, BYD, located not far from Győr.

Guo Shaofeng on the Győr campus of Széchenyi István University. According to the Chinese student, Széchenyi István University provides a European-standard environment for education and research.

GYŐR: Industrial and cultural center  

Guo Shaofeng values Széchenyi István University not only for its high-quality education but also for the vibrant economic and cultural environment surrounding it. "Győr is a beautiful city where past and future coexists. It is characterized by historical buildings, modern tourist attractions, and a plethora of leisure activities. It is also significant that the city is situated close to the Austrian and Slovak borders, making it a crucial geographical and economic hub in the region," he emphasized. Transportation is facilitated by the fact that within a maximum of one hour's travel from Győr, three European capitals, Vienna, Budapest and Bratislava, are accessible. All three cities have international airports.

For students studying at Széchenyi István University, it is undoubtedly a great advantage that Győr is one of Hungary's most significant industrial and cultural centers. Here, the Audi Hungaria company, the University's primary corporate partner, operates its automobile plant and the world's largest engine factory. Additionally, the city is renowned for its festivals, ballet ensemble, theatre, philharmonic orchestra, and for being home to Hungary's third-highest number of architectural monuments.

Dr Eszter Lukács, vice-president for Interantional Affairs and Strategic Relations at Széchenyi István University.

Strong Chinese connections

Dr Eszter Lukács, vice president for International Affairs and Strategic Relations at Széchenyi István University, emphasized that a welcoming community awaits international students at the university, and they are provided with assistance in all matters.

 "Our Chinese connections are becoming increasingly diverse and extend to numerous areas. More and more Chinese students are coming to us, and we have launched a double degree programme in Civil Engineering in collaboration with Jiaxing University. Additionally, we collaborate with noteworthy companies such as Huawei. We strive to further strengthen our ties with China in the future," Dr Lukács highlighted.

High-quality programmes, European-standard infrastructure

The dynamically developing university in Győr is popular among international students for several reasons, one of which is that the Hungarian higher education system is highly recognized in Europe. The credits earned here are recognized throughout Europe, and moreover, the costs of studying in Hungary are relatively low compared to other European countries. SZE is considered one of the best universities in Hungary, appearing on the rankings of six global lists at QS and THE. With nine faculties, it offers high-quality undergraduate, master, and doctoral programmes in a total of eleven scientific fields. There are 14,000 students, including 1,000 international students from over 70 countries worldwide. The number of English-taught academic programmes exceeds forty.

Students, professors, and researchers at Széchenyi István University are served by a European-standard infrastructure. The institution boasts more than 40 state-of-the-art engineering laboratories, which are used for both educational purposes and fostering scientific collaboration with companies. In the award-winning building housing the library, there are available hundreds of thousands of documents, hundreds of journals, computers, research rooms and numerous online databases. Students can reside in hotel-quality Halls of Residence, and their daily lives are facilitated by the fact that many services, from banks to post offices to restaurants, are available on-site at the central campus located along the banks of the Danube and just a five-minute walk from the city centre of Győr. The young people’s sporting activities are supported by a sports park encompassing a running track, basketball and volleyball courts, a soccer pitch, several sports halls and gyms as well as an e-sports arena, with the addition in recent years of a nearby swimming pool. A new opportunity has arisen as last year the university established a Scientific and Innovation Park across the Danube from the Győr campus, supporting practical education and collaborative, innovative R&D projects with partner companies.

The university also has educational facilities in other cities. In Mosonmagyaróvár, located 30 kilometres from Győr, is the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences. The Innovation and Training Center in the Hungarian capital, Budapest, is situated near the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. Finally, the university has a campus in Zalaegerszeg in western Hungary, adjacent to one of the world's most advanced automotive proving grounds, ZalaZone, as well as its Scientific and Innovation Park.