Matej Bel University

Matej Bel University (commonly referred as Matej Bel or UMB), is a public research university in the central Slovak town of Banská Bystrica. The university was established in 1992. It bears the name of Matthias Bel, a Hungarian-Slovak Lutheran scholar of the 18th century. UMB comprises six faculties that differ in character and history, each retaining substantial autonomy on financial and institutional affairs. The university provides undergraduate and graduate instruction in the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences. Throughout its existence, UMB alumni, faculty, and staff have included one prime minister of Slovakia; four justices of the Constitutional Court of Slovakia, two of whom currently serve; numerous Fulbright Scholars; and multiple senior EU and Slovak officials. Additionally, students and alumni have won 4 Olympic medals (2 gold). History Banská Bystrica (until 1920: Besztercebánya) has a long tradition in schooling and culture. In the 13th century, there had already existed a parish school, later a town school. In the 17th century, a Jesuit school, as well as Evangelical grammar schools, were founded. Matthias Bel, after whom the university is named, studied and later worked as a rector at the latter.