slide 1: About Hungary:
Hungary is a country of 10 million people located in Central Europe. It is entirely landlocked
sharing borders with 7 of the neighbouring countries. Hungary is known for the largest lake in
Central Europe and the natural grasslands in Europe. It has made it’s significance by having the
largest thermal cave system in the region as well.
Historically history of Hungary is immense and the country is culturally significant for Europe
in the areas of the arts music literature sports and science and technology.
Why Study in Hungary:
Despite being one of the smaller European countries Hungary has many opportunities to offer to
international students. The country has a long tradition of higher education with some of the
oldest universities in the world. Over the years the country has become a sought after hub for
students willing to study abroad.
Having a strong focus on internationalisation Universities of Hungary offer high quality degree
programmes. Hungarian higher education has earned a well repute in science fields such as
medicine and dentistry. Degrees of bachelor master or doctoral level are available at a
Hungarian institution.
One of the Hungary’s universities is among the top 500 in the 2019 QS World University
Rankings top 500 and 6 are in the top 1000. Among these is the University of Szeged placed at
470
th
and University of Debrecen which is placed in the 601-650th group.
Budapest
Budapest the capital city of Hungary is home to over 1.7 million people. Budapest is often
called one of the most beautiful cities in Europe and has many renowned museums and cultural
institutions. The city centres along the Danube River which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Other famous monuments in the city include the Hungarian Parliament Buda Castle and the
Liberty Statue. Restaurants in Budapest serve the diverse Hungarian cuisine offering a variety of
regional traditional dishes.
Budapest has more than 35 higher education institutions. Students can opt from a wide range of
courses offered by these institutions medicine dentistry veterinary programmes and
engineering. Many of the institutions offer courses in Hungarian German English and Dutch as
well as French. The Corvinus University of Budapest the Hungarian University of Fine Arts and
the Semmelweis University are among the prominent universities in the city.
slide 2: Language
Hungarian is the official and national language of Hungary. Degrees at all levels are offered in
English and Hungarian. However postgraduate degrees are more commonly taught entirely in
English. Students having previous education in a non-native language will need to provide
evidence of English or Hungarian proficiency. If the required standards are not fulfilled students
can take the language courses offered by the institutions.
Being in Hungary one should make an effort to learn as much Hungarian as possible to easily
adopt the Hungarian environment. Besides that this is a skill that will look great on your
CV/resume
Higher Education system in Hungary
The Hungarian higher education runs on a network of colleges and universities. The colleges are
directly affiliated with a university and operate as college faculties of the university. Since 2005
and 2006 Hungarian institutions of higher education adopted the regulations of the Bologna
system. In the new system both colleges and universities need to comply with the necessary
requirements in order to launch a bachelor master or doctoral program. As Hungary is a part of
European Union all the awarded degrees are equivalent and transferable throughout the EU and
many other countries.
The Hungarian Academic Year
The Hungarian academic year spans from September to June. Long holidays are scheduled from
July till August.
Cost of Studying and Living in Hungary
Managing finances is the prime concern for students willing to study abroad. The currency of
Hungary is Forint HUF. The tuition fee depends on the location and level of study. Students
from an EU country may be able to apply for a state-funded place. For international students
numerous scholarships are provided by the Hungarian government.
On average you should expect to pay between 5500/€4900 and 15000/€13200 per year.
You should also expect to pay application/examination fees of around 500/€440.
Living costs again are subject to the location you choose to live in Hungary. Living in the main
cities cost more than living in a smaller city or town. Some students in Hungary prefer to live at
the dormitories which is usually a cheapest alternative. Others prefer to find a place by
themselves which is located in the more central parts of the city. On average your annual budget
slide 3: should be between 7200/€6400 and 10500/€9300. This accounts for accommodation
groceries travel and any other necessary expenses.
International students also need to pay for health insurance. If you are a European Health
Insurance Card EHIC holder you will be able to access the same healthcare as Hungarian
citizen at a reduced cost. Students on a governmental scholarship might be able to apply for a
social security card TAJ card. This allows access to most public healthcare for free. If you are
not eligible for any of these you will need to purchase a health insurance policy. Health
insurance policies are offered by some institutions but one can purchase a private policy also.
General entry requirements for applying to a degree in Hungary
There are some mandatory requirements that all prospective students have to meet depending on
the level of degree they intend to apply to
For a Bachelor’s degree
high school diploma
transcripts of degree
in some cases passing an entrance exam
5.0 - 6.0 for the IELTS test
60 - 80 for the TOEFL test
For a Master’s degree
Bachelor’s diploma a four-year undergraduate degree is required if you apply for a one-
year Master’s
university transcript of records
proof that your Bachelor’s is related to the Master’s studies you are applying to
5.5 - 6.5 in IELTS
70 - 90 in TOEFL test
In Hungary some study programmes are taught in German. A German language certificate is
required if you opt for those courses.
For a PhD degree
university degree which is equivalent to a master’s degree i.e. 18 years education
for some programmes proof of prior professional experience is required.
slide 4: 1. Choose your university and programme
Hungary has 66 higher education institutions to choose from out of which 7 rank in international
education tops. Some of the most well-known universities to foreign students – and their typical
destinations in Hungary – are:
Central European University CEU
University of Debrecen
International Business School
Budapest Metropolitan University.
Students seeking to study abroad usually have a motive in mind on the basis of which they
choose the programme. The course selection may also depend on their skills previous studies
and on their career aspirations. The most popular study options in Hungary are:
Masters in Business Administration
Masters in Computer Science
Masters in Environmental Sciences
Masters in International Relations.
2. Check entry requirements and deadlines
Once you have decided the programme or programmes you intend to apply for you need to
proceed with the application form. You need to check the specific documents required and
collect them before the application deadlines. Here are some typical documents required
An up-to-date CV
Copy of your passport or ID card
Proof of language proficiency English German or Hungarian depending on the language
the programme is taught in
Certified English translations of transcripts of records
Certified English translation of your obtained diplomas
Listing two academic referees or including two reference letters
A letter of motivation
Some additional application requirements could be required by the university. These may
include:
An academic paper especially for Social Sciences and Humanities degrees
slide 5: A competitive GMAT or GRE score
An entrance exam conducted by the university mostly for Bachelor’s studies
A face-to-face or Skype interview mostly for Master’s studies
3. Apply online and pay the application fee
Generally you can upload all the required documents online on the page of your chosen
programme. To make sure you have all you need you can contact the university to ask them if
there is anything else you need to do.
Note that Hungarian universities perceive an application fee between 100 and 150 EUR.
4. Receive confirmation letter from the university
Once accepted you will be notified by an e-mail or post. The following steps to be taken will be
mentioned in that post/email. If you are a fee-paying student you will be asked to transfer at
least part of the tuition fee before your enrolment.
Average tuition fees at Hungarian universities for non- EU/EEA students: 2000-5000
EUR/year
5. Get your student visa for Hungary
A study visa is required for students who are not from a EU/EEA country. This process can take
at least a month so plan ahead while submitting your application. You can apply for the visa
after you have been accepted to your chosen programme. The general visa application documents
are:
University tuition fee receipt
Acceptance letter form university
A passport valid for at least 6 months after the entry day
Proof of health insurance
Proof of accommodation in Hungary
Proof of funds to cover living expenses during your studies
Visa application form
When you get to Hungary you will need to apply for your residence permit within 15 days. This
is necessary even if you are a EU/ EEA resident.
slide 6: Scholarships in Hungary:
Numerous scholarships for international students are available in Hungary which are either state
sponsored or provided by the universities. Here is a list of available scholarships that you can
avail
- Stipendum Hungaricum Scholarship
- Bilateral State Scholarships
- Erasmus
- CEEPUS
- EEA Grant scholarships