The Ludovika University of Public Service (LUPS; ) is a higher educational institution in Budapest, Hungary. Established in 2012, it is one of the youngest universities in Central and Eastern Europe; however, its faculties as former independent colleges look back much earlier.
The university was officially founded on 1 January 2012 through the merger of the Zrínyi Miklós National Defence University (becoming the Faculty of Military Sciences and Officer Training), the Police College (becoming the Faculty of Law Enforcement) and the Faculty of Public Administration of Corvinus University of Budapest (becoming the Faculty of Public Administration at LUPS). As of 1 February 2017, the Institute of Water Engineering and Water Management and the Institute of Water Supply and Environmental Engineering of Eötvös József College in Baja were merged into the Ludovika University of Public Service, thus creating the Faculty of Water Sciences (FWS). In addition to these faculties, LUPS includes institutions that function as educational organs and think tanks and is initiating its fourth faculty of European and international studies.
The institution currently has five faculties: the Faculty of Public Governance and International Studies (FPGIS), the Faculty of Military Science and Officer Training (FMSOT), the Faculty of Law Enforcement (FLE), the Faculty of Water Sciences (FWS) and the Nemeskürty István Teacher Training Faculty (NITK).
The university's primary goal is to educate future public administration officials, military and law enforcement officers (through BA and MA programmes) and to develop the skills and know-how of current members of public service (through further training programmes). Moreover, LUPS also functions as a think tank for public service (through PhD programmes, joint conferences, and individual research activities of lecturers).
History While modern Hungarian higher education has always included programmes focusing on the education and training of people primarily preparing for public service, Ludovika - UPS is the first university in the country exclusively dealing with the formation of future public servants.
The University of Public Service was officially established on 1 January 2012 through the merger of three separate higher educational institutions: the Zrínyi Miklós National Defence University, the Police College and the Faculty of Public Administration of Corvinus University of Budapest. In 2017, the water and environmental institutes of the József Eötvös College merged into the university.
Accordingly, these institutions became the Faculty of Military Sciences and Officer Training, the Faculty of Law Enforcement, the Faculty of Public Governance and International Studies and the Faculty of Water Sciences respectively. In 2024, the Nemeskürty István Teacher Training Faculty (NITK) commenced its operation, making it the fifth faculty at LUPS.
Principles of establishment
The merger of the three higher educational institutions, focusing on military officer, law enforcement officer and public administration official training respectively, was directed by the aim of establishing a university where all main branches of public service training are present. This reflects a comprehensive approach which enables the efficient and effective cooperation of future servicemen in these respective branches. In addition to the students' understanding of each other's field of expertise and service, the concept includes the opportunity for mobility (cross-career paths) in civil, military, and law enforcement services.
Predecessors and heritage Although UPS was officially established on 1 January 2012, through their merger the Zrínyi Miklós National Defence University, the Police College and the Faculty of Public Administration of Corvinus University of Budapest became the legal predecessors of UPS.
The Zrínyi Miklós National Defence University was officially established in 1996, but it had several predecessors dating back to the early nineteenth century. The most notable is the Royal Hungarian Ludovika Academy which was established on 8 November 1808. The academy was not only the first Hungarian military higher educational institution but was acknowledged to be on an equal level as the Theresian Military Academy in Austria in 1897 making the Ludovika Academy an internationally renowned centre for military sciences and officer training.
Regarding the training of law enforcement officers and public administration officials, the predecessors of Ludovika - UPS have been present in Hungarian higher education for 40 years with the Police College being founded in 1970 and the College of Public Administration established in 1977 (and functioning as the Faculty of Public Administration at the Corvinus University of Budapest after 2005).
The efforts of UPS in building on this legacy include the university's return to the Ludovika Campus that used to give home to the Royal Hungarian Ludovika Academy.
The Ludovika Project Since Ludovika - UPS was established through the merger of three separate higher educational institutions, the university has started its operation on three different campuses at once. The integration of the faculties includes their inclusion in one single campus.
Following the traditions in Hungarian public service training, the headquarters of UPS is the Ludovika Campus: in May 2012 the Hungarian government decided to renovate the main building of the Ludovika Academy and the nearby Orczy Park thus establishing the central campus for Ludovika - UPS. The renewal of the main campus building was realized following a dual directive: the building was to be modern yet preserving its heritage. Accordingly, the campus centre was equipped with up-to-date technology and infrastructure while keeping its original trademarks in a neo-classicist style. The Orczy Park and its surroundings provide altogether an area of 73,700 square metres (18.2 acres) for the new campus.
Organisation and operation Management The management of the university is led by the rector who is supported by vice-rectors with separate portfolios: the vice rector for science, the vice-rector for education, the vice-rector for development, and the vice-rector for international affairs. In addition, the internal administrative and financial issues are managed by the secretary-general and the chief financial director, respectively.
Faculties The institution currently has five faculties: the Faculty of Public Governance and International Studies (FPGIS), the Faculty of Military Science and Officer Training (FMSOT), the Faculty of Law Enforcement (FLE), the Faculty of Water Sciences (FWS) and the Nemeskürty István Teacher Training Faculty (NITK).
Faculty of Military Sciences and Officer Training The Faculty of Military Sciences and Officer Training educates professional military officers in the fields of infantry, armour, artillery, reconnaissance, maintenance, logistics, military engineering, signalling, nuclear, biological chemical defence, and air defence. Cadets learn about standard military traditions and are taught requirements and tactics needed to adapt to modern military enhancements. This university is the only one in Hungary entitled to provide BSc, MSc, and PhD degrees in military sciences and military engineering, and to educate military officers. Education is taught according to the requirements specified by the Ministry of Defence and the Hungarian Defence Forces.
The faculty is also responsible for educating civil experts for the national and international defence spheres in the fields of defence C3 systems management, radicalism and religious extremism, and security and defence policy. Graduates are guaranteed a job in the defence sector or other sectors of the state administration, but many of them make an international career in notable international organisations, such as the NATO and the EU. The highest level of further education is also incorporated in the Faculty – graduates of the so-called General Staff Training Centre regularly coat high positions in the Hungarian Defence Forces.
The faculty's main Campus, the Miklós Zrínyi Barracks and University Campus (1101 Budapest, Hungária körút 9-11) is located near downtown Budapest. Seminar rooms, special language labs, a library with more than 500 thousand books, sport facilities, a restaurant and a buffet are all at the disposal of the cadets and students. The department of Air Force of the faculty is located in Szolnok.
Two out of the four Doctoral Schools of the university belong to the faculty. The Doctoral School of Military Science (established in 1996) and Doctoral School of Military Engineering (established in 2002) guarantee that lecturers and researchers of the faculty can initiate and carry out grandiose research projects, often in the form of international consortia. The Doctoral School of Military Sciences focuses on the questions of military science regarding the activities of the defence sphere. This includes a wide spectrum of research fields from military history through security theories, defence administration to national security. The Doctoral School of Military Engineering include all disciplines of technical, disciplinary, technological, technology transfer and technical innovations related to the military application of all other engineering disciplines belonging to engineering sciences.
Accredited Undergraduate Programs
State Aviation [State Aircraft Pilot] State Aviation [Military Air Traffic Controller] State Aviation [Military Aircraft Technician] Military Infocommunications Military Logistics Military Leadership International Security and Defense Policy National Security
Accredited Master’s Programs
Military Operational Logistics Military Operations Military Leadership International Security and Defense Policy National Security Defense Infocommunication Systems Design
Faculty of Law Enforcement The modern training of law enforcement officers in Hungary dates back to the period following the 1867 Austro-Hungarian Compromise. During the dual monarchy era, the Hungarian law enforcement system was established, drawing on the region's traditional practices and Western European experiences. Initially, the training had a course-like format, but by the 1920s, comprehensive law enforcement education was introduced, especially after the signing of the Treaty of Trianon. The nationalization of the police, enacted by decree No. 5047/1919 ME, led to the creation of the Hungarian State Police, and training programs were adjusted accordingly.
In response to evolving crime patterns and increasing responsibilities in the 1960s, the need for a well-trained law enforcement officer corps became evident. On May 28, 1970, the Ministry of Interior decided to establish the Police College (RTF), which began operations on September 1, 1971. Students who completed their studies received state exams and diplomas. Over time, the curriculum expanded to include disaster management, economic protection, and civil security specialties, laying the groundwork for the educational portfolio of its successor, the Faculty of Law Enforcement (FLE) at the LUPS.
The Police College was integrated into the LUPS as the Faculty of Law Enforcement (FLE) on January 1, 2012.
The FLE is the sole institution providing advanced law enforcement training. During their studies, students not only enhance their sense of vocation and expertise, but also acquire high-level knowledge and the necessary behavioral standards, preparing them for dedicated service in law enforcement agencies.
Disaster Management Institute The Disaster Management Institute (KVI) was established on January 1, 2012, under the professional supervision of the National Directorate General for Disaster Management (BM OKF) of the Ministry of Interior. As part of the Faculty of Law Enforcement, the institute consists of three departments: