Its founder and first director, Gusztáv Kelety declared the ‘educational support of a more artistic wood and furniture industry’ the aim of the new institution.

Following the repair of damage suffered in the Second World War, teaching resumed in March 1945, and preparations to reorganise the school continued.

The appointment of Frigyes Pogány to the head of the college in 1964 ushered in a new era of reforms, coinciding with the growing appreciation of the social role of applied arts.

In 1982, under István Gergely, a new series of reforms were introduced: the departments were changed into institutes, allowing students to earn college and university degrees in the incremental educational system.

With the appointment of the renowned ceramic artist Imre Schrammel [hu] to the head of the college, uniform university training was introduced, and the departments were re-established.

In 2002 a far-reaching development plan was devised, the first phase calling for the removal of the Tölgyfa Gallery from Henger Street and the renovation of the main building of the university in the same year.