The University of Debrecen, like other integrated institutions of higher education in the country, was formed on January 1, 2000, through the (re)union of formerly independent institutions. The university is historically rooted in the Reformed College of Debrecen (founded in 1538), whose three academic sections later served as the basis for the establishment of the Hungarian Royal University of Sciences, created in 1912. With this heritage of 470 years, the University of Debrecen is the oldest institution of higher education still based in the same city in continuous operation in Hungary. Today, the university is comprised of 15 faculties and three agricultural research centres, and has over 30,000 students.