ÓBUDA UNIVERSITY,
Donát Bánki Faculty of Mechanical and Safety Engineering

Donát Bánki Faculty of Mechanical and Safety Engineering continues the industrial education traditions of the Public Secondary Industrial School of Budapest opened up in 1879 – the Hungarian Royal Public Higher Industrial School from 1898 – at the seat in Népszínház Street. From 1947, the institution was named Technical Secondary School; from 1962 it was named Higher-Grade Technical School of Machine Industry; and from 1969, Technical College of Machine Industry. In conformity with higher education development efforts and by adopting their spirit and intentions, a dynamic multi-level development process was launched at Donát Bánki Technical College of Machine Industry, with considerable headway in educational development. Having attained rank both in Hungarian and international higher education, the college broadened its educational profile and provided training courses according to market demands, as a result of which the adjective "of Machine Industry" was omitted from the name of the institution from 1991, and it continued under the name Donát Bánki Technical College. The institution and its areas of education were accredited among the first by the Hungarian Accreditation Committee in 1994/95.

Pursuant to Act LII of 1999 by the Hungarian National Assembly on the transformation of the network of higher education institution, Donát Bánki Technical College, Kálmán Kandó Technical College and the Technical College of Light Industry were integrated and on 1 January 2000, the BUDAPEST TECH was established, with "BáNKI" included as Faculty of Mechanical and Safety Engineering.

The Doctoral School of Applied Informatics at Budapest Tech was accredited by the Hungarian Accreditation Committee in 2009, thereby our college complied with the last condition of becoming a university; so, pursuant to the ruling of the National Assembly, we have continued under the name óbuda University since 1 January 2010.

óbuda University, and thus, of course, BáNKI deem it as a major task to train students for BSc and MSc degrees, to educate in accordance with traditions, in a competitive manner even at modern European standards, in line with economic and social expectations. In addition, we are involved in tertiary vocational training, special continuous development, adult education and engineer-teacher training.

In accordance with the European educational system of today, the spirit of the new act on higher education, and the Hungarian Universitas Programme, our Faculty has also joined consecutive two-cycle training. This is a result of the so-called Bologna process aiming to reasonably harmonise European higher education, whereby the higher education systems of countries can be integrated into a large European system, the European Higher Education Area. Principal objectives include the introduction of a transparent and comparable diploma system; introduction of a higher education system based on two main cycles and a credit system to encourage mobility; facilitating the freedom of movement of both students and professors; supporting European cooperation in the area of quality assurance by developing comparable criteria and methods; and the representation of European interests and values in higher education.

One of the important features of the new training system is that in the first cycle (basic degree, BSc 210 credits), students can acquire theoretical and practical knowledge to enable them to get a job right away. Those who intend to master further skills in a special area, are provided a sufficient theoretical basis to be able to continue their studies with success in a second cycle, and to obtain a qualification (masters degree, MSc) at the end of the cycle. (Entry into the second cycle is subject to the successful completion of the first cycle of at least three years.)

The first cycle, that is, BSc training can be preceded by a tertiary vocational training course. Those who finish their studies successfully, receive a certificate of tertiary vocational qualification, enabling them to find a job, or they can continue their studies at the next training level, at a BSc course. In this latter case, up to 60 credit points from tertiary vocational training (practically one year of the two-year course) will be taken into account in BSc studies in the case of pursuing further special studies.

From September 2005, BSc (Bachelor) training was launched in a manner so that studies could be continued at a masters course (MSc). As regards the setup of our training programmes, industrial development trends are absolutely taken into consideration to provide high-quality and state-of-the-art training to students as much as possible.

From September 2006, a masters engineering course of safety engineering, and in September 2009, a masters course of mechatronics engineering was launched in cooperation with Miklós Zrínyi University of National Defence. The four-semester courses provide masters-level (MSc) degrees and engineering qualifications in security technology or mechatronics.

The basic educational profile of the Faculty includes MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, MILITARY AND SECURITY TECHNOLOGY ENGINEERING, MECHATRONICS ENGINEERING, ENGINEER-TEACHER – and MACHINE INDUSTRY ENGINEERING ASSISTANT training with a strong IT basis, much demanded in a number of areas of the economy.

After a successful degree project and the final examination, students graduated from engineering specialties are conferred BSc diplomas of mechanical engineering, military and security technology engineering (civilian specialty), and mechatronics engineering, respectively.

In addition to engineering specialties, a two-year machine industry engineering assistant course is also available, after successful completion of which one year of training is taken into account in the subsequent basic (BSc) training course. Those who complete the engineering assistant course are conferred a certificate of tertiary vocational qualification.

It is recognised at the Faculty that employers' fundamental expectations currently include wide intellectual horizons, IT and foreign language skills besides professional knowledge in the narrow sense. Therefore students can take up a number of subjects close to their interests in additional to professional subjects. IT training is highly prioritized; our IT infrastructure is excellent.

Curricula include English language courses free of charge; many professional subjects can be studied in English or German; and courses to prepare for language examinations are offered at various levels in several languages, at discount prices.

A language examination site is operated at the university, so exams can be taken on the spot.

In the course of their studies, students receive study grants and further scholarships may be obtained on the basis of outstanding professional, scientific, sports and public achievements. Those in need receive regular social subsidies.

Óbuda University has three student hostels within its own management; at present, nearly 80% of applicants can be accommodated. Students not admitted to a student hostel due to the lack of space may receive lodging aid.