The Ludovika University of Public Service (LUPS; Hungarian: Nemzeti Közszolgálati Egyetem [ˈnɛmzɛti ˈkøsːolɡaːlɒti ˈɛɟɛtɛm]) is a higher educational institution in Budapest, Hungary.

Moreover, LUPS also functions as a think tank for public service (through PhD programmes, joint conferences, and individual research activities of lecturers).

The Zrínyi Miklós National Defence University was officially established in 1996, but it had several predecessors dating back to the early nineteenth century.

Since Ludovika - UPS was established through the merger of three separate higher educational institutions, the university has started its operation on three different campuses at once.

Besides gaining the highest standard of professional education, cadets learn about proper military traditions and get familiar with the commitments required to become able to deal with the complex challenges of the unfolding century.

The highest level of further education is also incorporated in the Faculty – graduates of the so-called General Staff Training Centre regularly coat high positions in the Hungarian Defence Forces.

Seminar rooms, special language labs, a library with more than 500 thousand books, sport facilities, a restaurant and a buffet are all at the disposal of the cadets and students.

During the dual monarchy era, the Hungarian law enforcement system was established, drawing on the region's traditional practices and Western European experiences.

Initially, the training had a course-like format, but by the 1920s, comprehensive law enforcement education was introduced, especially after the signing of the Treaty of Trianon.

Over time, the curriculum expanded to include disaster management, economic protection, and civil security specialties, laying the groundwork for the educational portfolio of its successor, the Faculty of Law Enforcement (FLE) at the LUPS.

The FLE is unique in Hungarian higher education as it is the sole institution providing advanced law enforcement training.

During their studies, students not only enhance their sense of vocation and expertise but also acquire high-level knowledge and the necessary behavioral standards, preparing them for dedicated service in law enforcement agencies.

The demand for FLE graduates is consistently high across the law enforcement sector, including: Graduates with a bachelor’s degree can continue to state-supported master's programs in law enforcement leadership, enabling them to pursue careers in various fields, such as: The FLE offers a wide range of accredited undergraduate programs, including: The faculty also offers several accredited master’s programs: The Doctoral School of Law Enforcement (RDI) provides various forms of training for PhD candidates, focusing on research-based knowledge.

Since then, a complete vertical structure of undergraduate, specialized, and continuing education programs was built, culminating in the development of university-level public administration training.

This faculty is a key training base for Hungary's public service, providing a comprehensive range of programs designed to prepare students for the complexities of modern governance and international relations.

As a result, from the 1970/1971 academic year onward, the program continued as the Faculty of Water Management at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics.

The next modernization step in higher education came on January 1, 1979, when the Faculty became part of the Pollack Mihály Technical College (PMMF) under the name Water Management Institute.

The programs are based in Baja, where the university provides educational infrastructure including specialized teaching facilities for water technology processes, laboratories, and advanced measuring instruments, as well as a student dormitory.

[citation needed] The Teacher Training Faculty named after István Nemeskürty officially commenced operations at the Ludovika University of Public Service (LUPS) on August 1, 2024.

The Hungarian Academy of Diplomacy, which provides high-level theoretical and practical education, is realized in close cooperation between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Ludovika University of Public Service, offering competitive knowledge to those who wish to work in the Hungarian diplomatic corps and represent Hungary's national and economic interests around the world.

The Europe of Nations Career Program, launched in September 2020, is implemented by the Ludovika University of Public Service in cooperation with the Ministry of Justice with the aim of increasing the number of Hungarian professionals with the appropriate policy knowledge who successfully apply and find positions within European Union institutions.

Its mission also includes preserving and passing on the intellectual legacy of Baron József Eötvös, focusing on his state science work, and transmitting his contributions to modern times.

Furthermore, Ludovika-UPS has relations with the NATO Defence College (NDC) and the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies (GCMC).

As a higher educational institution LUPS has many bilateral relations with other European universities with their cooperation primarily focusing on the mobility of students and lecturers.

In essence, these societies provide a forum for talented students to publish and present their scientific/academic works thereby aiding them in their first steps towards PhD studies.

Since November is considered as the month of science at LUPS, the university organizes an official ball to which students, professors and members of the administrative staff are both welcome.

Bachelor and Master level students with potential for additional research can participate at conferences where they can present their respective papers which they prepared with the guidance of professors.