Hungarian government to locate the Chinese Fudan University in a new student city

The Budapest campus of Fudan University can be located in the southern part of the capital, near Nagyvásártelep.

Opposite the new Athletic Centre, on the other side of the Kvassay Bridge, the first European campus of Fudan University in China could be built. On the other hand, it is not yet clear which property(s) the Chinese university will receive for the development from the plots bordered by the former Nagyvásártelep, Kvassay Jenő Street, and Ráckevei Danube Branch. In any case, the plots will be purchased by the government for Fudan University’s entry into Europe, for hundreds of millions of forints, writes Népszava.

According to the rather vague government decision at the end of December, “the government agrees to acquire ownership of the properties needed to house Fudan University for the benefit of the state,” mfor.hu noted a few days ago. According to the online portal, they have probably already found the ideal property, as they determined exactly how much they would spend on the transaction.

According to the government decision, HUF 821 million (€2.3 million) will be provided from the Hungarian budget for the purchase of selected properties.

Incidentally, there are several properties in the vast area that the state has not yet been able to purchase. Népszava has now revealed that the selected property is located in the South Pest area designated for the implementation of the governmental development, formerly referred to as the Olympic Village and later as the “Budapest Student City – Southern City Gate.” The cited annexe of the 2018 Act marked in the above-mentioned government decision also names the area bordered by the Ráckevei (Soroksári) Danube Branch – Kvassay Jenő Street – Soroksári Street – Galvani Street line, where a new city quarter is to be built, with a dormitory for about 8,500 people, as well as buildings for sports and recreation and other related infrastructural functions, under the name Budapest Diákváros (Budapest Student City).

The Oslo-based Snohetta architectural firm prepared a master plan for the area, which included a commercial, residential, and office development program, in addition to the dormitory and sports buildings. The Chinese campus could be built in an area dedicated to the latter functions. There is plenty of room for everything else, too, as the former industrial estate covers 130 hectares.