Mathias Corvinus Collegium

Mathias Corvinus Collegium (MCC) is Hungary’s largest private educational institution located in Budapest, Hungary. Founded in 1996, it was initially directed at university students in the arts and social sciences. It serves as a student dormitory, scholarship program and a private educational institution aiming to provide academic education beyond the traditional framework to students of all ages from Hungary and abroad. By February 2023, MCC had 7000 students. In addition to its training programs, MCC operates various mobility and scholarship programs, publishes books and scientific articles, organizes international and domestic conferences and forums to promote democratic dialogues and discussions. Programs are generally free of charge. In 2020, the MCC received an influx of Hungarian government funds and assets valued at US$ 1.7 billion. Due to its close ties to Viktor Orbán's government, its critics describe MCC as a "breeding ground for future Fidesz-friendly elites." The leader of MCC's main board, Balázs Orbán, helped plan the transfer in his concurrent role as state secretary in the office of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán (no relation). In 1996, the founding Tombor family donated a significant amount of money to create an institution for talent development. The aim of their initiative was to support highly talented young people committed to the prosperity of our country and provide them with complementary training which is not possible within the traditional school system due to a lack of time and resources. Initially, the institution only welcomed high school and university students. In the 2000s, Miklós Maróth was also among the directors of MCC. In 2001, a residence hall was established on Somlói Road in Budapest with 47 students. After a year the institute launched a program for high school students, followed by the start of a two-year-long specialization offered to university students in law, economics, social sciences, international relations, and communication. In 2009, the Leadership Academy was established.