The university currently has an enrolment of approximately 9,600 students, with a primary focus on business administration, economics, and social sciences, operating in Budapest and Székesfehérvár since 1948.

Corvinus University accepts students at six faculties and offer courses leading to degrees at the bachelor, master and doctoral level in specialisations taught in Hungarian, English, French or German.

In 1846, József Industrial School opened its gates with departments for economics and trade for upper grade students.

[4] Modern economist training began in 1948, when the Hungarian University of Economics was established as a separate universitas.

The school was founded and managed by the horticultural scholar and publicist Dr Ferenc Entz (1805–1877), who was also a corresponding member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences.

Bibliotheca Corviniana was one of the most renowned libraries of the Renaissance world, established in the 15th century by King Matthias Corvinus of Hungary.

[12] In February 2019, the government announced that it would place Corvinus University under the newly created Maecenas Universitatis Corvini Foundation from July 2019.

The foundation will be allocated 10% of the government's stake in MOL and Gedeon Richter worth HUF 380 billion at the time, with the operational expenses to be paid with the dividends from these companies.

[13][better source needed] The new appointed rector became Előd Takáts on 1 August 2021, parallel with the change of control of the university, replacing András Lánczi after his six-year term.

[14] At the Corvinus University, 11,500 students are enrolled in bachelor's, master's, single-cycle, postgraduate specialisation and doctoral programmes.

The teaching activities previously organised under the faculties have been restructured for the 2019/20 academic year and have become institutionalised.

The university's main building (Building E)– now part of the UNESCO Heritage Site[16] – is located in Pest on the left bank of the Danube, next to the Great Market Hall and facing the Budapest University of Technology and Economics on the river's other bank.

It offers 50,000 square metres (540,000 sq ft) of floor space, which includes an office building and education areas.