Pázmány Péter Catholic University

The Pázmány Péter Catholic University, which is one of the legal successors of the University that was established by Cardinal Péter Pázmány, archbishop of Esztergom, Primate of Hungary, in Nagyszombat on 12th May 1635, during the last more two decades has got an eminent place in the Hungarian higher education system and has become recognized partner of many universities and research centers on the national and international level, moreover, it has become member of several highly qualified research university networks. This conscious organizing activity of our University was recognized by the state in 2013 when we received the title of National Excellence. Our University was founded in 1635 and has been continuously operating ever since. During the Ottoman occupation, the most tragic years of our country's history, Archbishop of Esztergom Péter Pázmány established the university, which proved to be of epochal significance in the history of education and religious culture in Hungary. He was convinced that the university was the only way to guarantee the survival of the nation's moral and intellectual culture. The university he founded adopted both his intellectual heritage and his name. The university was moved to Buda from Nagyszombat (now Trnava) by Maria Theresa. Beside this the unique aims of PPCU are the following: the University is a scientific community that, through its strict and critical approach, promotes the protection and development of human dignity and cultural heritage by research, education and other activities provided to the given national and international community especially in the field of theology and human sciences but as much as possible in the area of natural sciences as well. At the same time the University has the mission to ensure the presence of the Catholic Faith in the Hungarian culture and to become one of the determining factors of the Catholic cultural life.