Banská Bystrica has a long tradition in education and culture - first schools existed already in the 13th century. Matej Bel University was established in 1992 after the integration of Faculty of Education and Faculty of Economics. It is named after Matej Bel, an outstanding Hungarian-Slovak scholar of the 18th century. Nowadays, Matej Bel University represents a significant and modern scientific research and educational institution that is one of the biggest in Slovakia. It is making important contributions to the European area of education and research (of which it is a part), providing both high-quality university education as well as wide spectrum of further education adequate to the needs of particular life. Matej Bel University has six faculties:
- The Faculty of Economics: http://www.ef.umb.sk/indexe.asp
- The Faculty of Arts: http://www.ff.umb.sk/en/
- The Faculty of Political Sciences and International Relations: http://www.fpvmv.umb.sk/en/
- The Faculty of Natural Sciences: http://www.fpv.umb.sk/en/
- The Faculty of Education: http://www.pdf.umb.sk/en/
- The Faculty of Law: http://www.prf.umb.sk/en/