Study in Hungary

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Hungary: An overview for international students

Hungary is located in Central/Eastern Europe, bordering e.g. on Austria in the West and Romania in the East. It has a population of around 10 million people, of which 3 million live in Budapest, the capital city. Other important student cities are Szeged, Pécs and Debrecen.

Hungary is a little, beautiful country, with a safe and friendly environment. Although it is not as well-known as other European countries in terms of international studies, in Hungary, you can study many top-quality Bachelor’s or Master’s degrees. Several universities from Hungary have been acknowledged for their good academics and they are always present in leading world university rankings.

Dozens of universities across the country offer programmes that are fully taught in English. Across all academic disciplines, there are hundreds of study programmes in English available for international students. Those degrees follow the European Bologna scheme and are recognised across Europe and elsewhere around the world.

If you are looking for high-quality education, you’ve come to the right place. Hungarian universities have spawned many smart minds, including well-renowned scientists like mathematician John von Neumann and Nobel laureate Albert Szent-Györgyi, who discovered vitamin C.

Studying at a university in Hungary

If you are considering to study in Hungary in English, there are plenty of options to choose from.

The best-ranked university in Hungary, and usually among the top 500 universities worldwide, is the University of Szeged. With well over 20,000 students, it is also one of the largest institutions in the country. Other notable universities include Semmelweis University (in Budapest), Eötvös Loránd University (also in Budapest) and the University of Pécs.

Hungary is also well-regarded for its medical schools and dental schools, many of which offer tailored programmes for foreign students.

Tuition fees and cost of living in Hungary

Hungarian universities charge tuition fees, but compared to other countries in Europe they are very affordable. Depending on the university and the programme, you can expect to pay around 2,500 to 3,000 euros per year; Engineering programmes can be a bit more expensive at up to around 5,000 euros per year. Studying medicine or dentistry usually incurs tuition fees of around 6,000 to 8,000 euros per year.

At the same time, student life in Hungary is very affordable. Considering accommodation, food, transport and other things, you can get by on less than 600 euros per month in Budapest (the capital), and on less than 500 euros per month in the smaller cities.

Stipendium Hungaricum: The scholarship to study in Hungary

Hungary is becoming an increasingly popular host country for international students. One of the reasons is the Stipendium Hungaricum, Latin for “Hungarian Scholarship”. The scholarship is very generous: It includes tuition fees, medical insurance, a housing allowance and a monthly stipend. Every year, the Stipendium Hungaricum is awarded to around 5,000 students from over 70 partner countries. Whether you are eligible for the subject you want to study depends on the cooperation programmes that are in place. Usually, you need to submit your application with all documents by mid-January to receive the scholarship for your studies commencing the same year.

The top 3 reasons to study in Hungary

There are many reasons why you should consider Hungary to study abroad – these are the top 3:

Universities in Hungary offer high quality education at affordable tuition fees
Hungary is a modern and safe country, but the cost of living are among the lowest in Europe
Hungary is a diverse, multicultural nation with lots of fun experiences for foreign students

Faqs

here are the top 5 must-know facts about to survive your study experience in Hungary

1. What’s the currency in Hungary and how expensive are things?

Although Hungary is a member of the European Union, generally, you cannot use Euros: the official currency is called Forint (Ft). Although in some places, you can still pay with Euro, expect to receive forints back.

One Euro is worth about 300 Ft. There is a gap between the buying and selling prices of the currencies, and they can differ from seller to seller, so you should look around where you change your money.

If you come from a country West from Hungary, you will find everything to be much cheaper. Compared to other countries in Eastern Europe, the prizes in Hungary are quite similar.

2. Enjoy discounts with the student identity card

There are lots of discounts offered for students in Hungary, for example, on the public transport, at sports venues, or for cinema tickets – they will all cost almost the half of the original prize with the student card.

You can take a student identity card from your home university, or get an international one (called ISIC).

3. How to use public transport in Hungary?

In Hungary, students can get a discount up to 50% of the transport fees. To buy tickets for the student prize, you need to have a valid student card with you, otherwise, you can get fined. Sadly, there are restrictions for exchange students, and they differ from company to company.

4. Finding accommodation in Hungary

Accommodation is one of the most important things you need to plan when you go abroad. Depending on the university, you might get accommodation in dormitories or student residences, but if it is not the case, the university can help you find a place to rent.

If the university has an ESN (Erasmus Student Network) section, they can help you with accommodation as well as other issues you may have. You can check the list of the Hungarian sections at the official website of Erasmus Student Network.

In Szeged, there are no dormitory places available, but they have an office called „Foreign Students’ Secretariat” who can help you, or you can contact the local ESN section as well for help. The monthly accommodation fees are in the range of 360-750 EUR.

You can check the list of the Hungarian sections at the official website of Erasmus Student Network.

In Debrecen, you might be able to get a dormitory place, for 150-200 EUR/month.

In Pécs, there are more dormitory places available for foreign students, for 100- 150 EUR/month.

5. Arranging your health insurance for Hungary

While you are abroad, you should know where you can turn if you would need medical help. As a citizen of the European Union, you can request an international social insurance card (EHIC). With this card you will receive treatment under the same conditions and at the same cost as people insured in this country. For more information, you should check the official website of the EHIC.

The universities have their own doctors. If you catch a cold or have similar issues, they are the easiest to contact. You should ask your university anyway for information, to know where you can go if needed.