The Ultimate Guide to Studying in Hungary in 2023

Browse all master programmes in Hungary

Jan-Jan Academic Year
21 Listed Institutes
12 Ranked Universities
38,000 Int. Students
285,000 Students
9,606,000 Population

Study in Hungary

Hungary is one of the European countries that has invested a lot into higher education, and the results are noticeable. An increasing number of internationals choose to study a Bachelor's or Master's degree at Hungarian universities.

With low tuition and living costs, it's easy to understand why. But that's not all! Universities in Hungary also have a long history of providing quality education, the oldest institution being established as early as 1367.

Why study in Hungary?

1. Affordable study programmes

As an international student, you'll pay between 1,200 and 5,000 EUR per year for most study programmes at public universities. Only Medicine and Dentistry degrees can cost as much as 16,000 EUR per year.

2. Scholarships are available

You can further reduce your expenses by applying to one of the scholarships available in Hungary. Check if you meet the criteria, submit the necessary documents or letters, and fingers crossed!

3. Explore Hungary's rich history and impressive buildings and monuments

Hungary is a beautiful country. While living and studying here, you should visit the Buda Castle, the Hungarian Parliament building, the Fisherman's Bastion, the Széchenyi Thermal Bath, St. Stephen's Basilica, the Heroes' Square, the Széchenyi Chain Bridge, etc.

Which universities to attend in Hungary?

The following are some of the best Hungarian universities you should consider for your studies:

What is it like to study in Hungary?

The higher education system in Hungary is very similar to what you'd find in other European countries. While you can study almost any discipline you can think of, remember that larger universities have a wider range of options than smaller colleges. There are also Joint Degree programmes, for those ambitious enough to tackle two degrees at the same time.

One important thing to mention is that certain disciplines — Medicine, Architecture, Dentistry, Pharmaceutics, Law — combine Bachelor's and Master's courses into a single programme, which normally takes 5 or 6 years to finish.

What to study in Hungary?

There are plenty of English-taught degrees from which you can choose. To get you started, these are some of the most popular options:

What foreign students have to say about studying in Hungary

Erká, Mongolia

"Studying in Hungary is a good choice considering its central location in Europe, thanks to which it is easy to travel around the continent."

Khulan, Mongolia

"Mongolian research laboratories are not as well equipped as those in Hungary, and the quality of education is also very high here. I am a PhD student and I received a lot of help from my professor, who provided me with all the necessary courses that I can increase my knowledge with. There are also a lot of opportunities to publish in Europe or to attend conferences where I can test the results of my research."

Ambuj, India

"I have to mention the positive energy of Hungarian people. It surrounds me everywhere. It is the kind of positivity that makes you feel so motivated every day when you get up, look forward to the day and feel content when you go to bed at the end of the day."

How to apply

Each university in Hungary has its own admission system on their website that allows future students to apply for and enrol in their Bachelor’s or Master’s degree programmes. So, once you select the university of your choice, you can go through their application and submit your materials there.

Here are some documents you might need to submit during your university application:

A scan of your diploma (high school or Bachelor’s degree)
A transcript/record of your previous courses
A scan of your passport and/or birth certificate
Your CV
Testing scores
Evidence of scholarship or funding
Letters of recommendation (2 or 3)
Portfolio and/or writing samples

Helpful ways to make sure you qualify for a Hungarian university

Take preparation courses

This kind of courses enable degree-seeking students to get an extra educational boost just before they start their Master’s degree or other post-graduate degree programmes.

Try a pre-MBA, pre-Law, or pre-Medicine programme, as well as any other foundation or preparation courses that will allow you to study in the degree programme of your choice.

Improve your English through an English-language prep course

If you’re attending a degree programme in Hungary, you will need to prove that your language skills are good enough to participate in the classes and understand the lectures. These courses will also prepare you for any of the English-language tests that universities require.

English-language tests

To study in Hungary, you’ll need to provide proof of your English language proficiency. The certificates generally accepted by Hungarian universities are:

PTE Academic
TOEFL iBT
IELTS Academic
C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency

Still, you should always check your university’s website to be sure what the exact requirements are.

Living in Hungary

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Formalities

Since December 21, 2007, Hungary has been a member of the Schengen Area, and applies the Schengen legislation in full. The most important issues to Hungary’s Schengen membership are:

visas and residence permits issued by one of the Schengen States are valid for Hungary,
visas issued by Hungarian representations abroad and residence permits issued by Hungarian national authorities are also valid for the entire Schengen Area.

Third-country nationals are required to have a visa for entering the territory of Hungary and also for a stay of up to 90 days within a 180-day-period if they come from a country that is under visa obligation according to the Schengen acquis.

It is worth checking to see if your country has a bilateral agreement with Hungary, because in this case there is no need for a visa. If not than you are required to have a visa for entering the territory of Hungary and also for a stay of up to 90 days within a 180-days period if they come from a country that is under visa obligation according to the Schengen acquis.

The visa application has to be submitted to the Hungarian Consulate in the country where the permanent or temporary residence of the applicant is located or in the country of the applicant’s nationality. If you arrive from a third country, we recommend taking out health insurance.

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Tuition fees

Public universities in Hungary are much more affordable when compared to similar institutions in Western countries. International students usually pay:

1,200–5,000 EUR/year for most degrees
12,000–16,000 EUR/year for Medicine and Dentistry degrees

Tuition fees at private universities can be even more expensive.

Accommodation in Hungary

There are several kinds of accommodation alternatives in Hungary:

Dormitory

The cheapest one should be a dormitory belonging to the students’ homes section of the university you attend. One advantage is that it is cheap (28–84 EUR or 10,000–30,000 HUF/month), it is an easy way of making friends and of establishing a social community fast.

If you decide to go with this more affordable type of housing, then you should act fast because the dormitory places are limited and vary from university to university. Check the application deadlines and methods before your arrival not to miss it.

Private dormitory

There are also so-called private dormitories in some Hungarian cities (110–140 EUR or around 40,000–50,000 HUF/month) which do not belong to a university or a college. These are not so cheap as the institutional ones, but you can still spare some money through this way compared to private flats or rooms. It can be a plan B.

Flat and private room

On the other hand, renting an apartment or a room in flat is a more feasible option if you prefer privacy. The costs depend much more on the fact in which city you are renting, there can be big differences between fees when it comes to Hungarian cities. The average cost is about 280 EUR (100,000 HUF) per flat, and about 140–195 EUR (50,000–70,000 HUF) per room.

Use our calculator to see your costs!

Communication

There are plenty of possibilities to access the Internet in Hungary. To help you check your e-mail or surf the net Wi-Fi access is offered in many cafés, hotels, bookstores and public buildings. Almost every university campus has its own Wi-Fi hotspots.

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Hungarian cuisine

Hungarian cooking is actually quite difficult to define. It frequently uses paprika, black pepper and onion. Potatoes are also commonly used in many types of meal. There are two remarkable elements of Hungarian cuisine that locals take no or little notice of but which seem quite unusual to foreigners.

One is known as “f"ozelék” (various vegetables prepared in a special way, served cooked and bearing some similarity to a very thick soup) and the other one is soup itself prepared in different kinds of ways. Hungarian cuisine offers a bunch of soups from vegetables or meats or both. These soups come in creamy types, as fresh fruit soups and also as heavy meat soups.

Hungarian culture

If you want to enjoy Hungarian culture, rich cultural life awaits you in every town, especially in the capital.

Cinema - Besides Hollywood movies, Hungary offers a wide selection of art films from all over the world. You can choose from various films, dubbed or subtitled, depending on your knowledge of foreign languages.
Theatre - There is a very rich and active theatre life throughout the country. The season starts in September and ends in May. To be on the safe side, you should book your tickets well in advance for the play of your choice.
Classical ballet and contemporary dance are both widely appreciated in Hungary. If you like dance, you should not miss the performances of Gy"ori Balett (Gy"or Ballet) or Pécsi Balett (Pécs Ballet), or those performed by the ensemble led by Pál Frenák or Yvette Bozsik. Going to the Opera House at least once is a must. Not just because of the imposing building itself, but also for the high-quality performances.
Museums and Art Galleries - The best places to learn about Hungarian culture, art and history are exhibitions. Museums are open from 10 am to 6 pm, and are usually closed on Mondays. If you use your student ID, you will be entitled to a discount from the ticket price.

Your costs of living in Hungary

Calculate your living costs! Select your city, to see your financial options on accommodation, food, recreation and transport.

Here's a breakdown of other average living expenses in Hungary:

food & groceries: 115–130 EUR/month
monthly utilities (for private rent): 40–60 EUR/month
monthly transport pass: 11 EUR
recreation and entertainment: 20–35 EUR/month

Mini Dictionary

Find words in Hungarian for everyday use.

About Hungary

Official name: Hungary

Area: 93,030 square km

Population: 9,830,485

Neighbouring countries: Austria, Slovakia, Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia

Official language: Hungarian

State form: Republic

Capital and largest city: Budapest (population: 1 700 000)

Other large cities: Debrecen, Miskolc, Szeged, Pécs, Gyor

Currency: Forint (HUF)

Time zone: CET (GMT +1)

Major rivers: River Danube (417 km), River Tisza (597 km)

Largest lakes: Lake Balaton, Lake Velence

Highest point above sea level: Kékes (1014 m) in the Mátra Hills

Hungary is a member of OECD, NATO, EU and a Schengen state. Administratively, Hungary is divided into 19 counties with the capital city of Budapest being independent of any county government.

Hungary is among the top tourist destinations in Europe with the capital Budapest regarded as one of the most beautiful cities worldwide. Despite its relatively small size, the country is home to numerous World Heritage Sites, UNESCO Biosphere Reserves, the second largest thermal lake in the world (Lake Hévíz), the largest lake in Central Europe (Lake Balaton), and the largest natural grassland in Europe (Hortobágy).

The official language of the country is Hungarian, which forms part of the Finno–Ugric language family. Hungarians call their language magyar. Although Hungary is located in Central Europe, Hungarian is not related to any of the languages that surround the country. Hungarian is spoken by 10 million people in Hungary, and cca. by 4-5 million more people outside of the country.

Find out more about Hungary!

Did you know…?

Hungaricums are high value products of Hungary, which show Hungarian uniqueness, specialty and quality, they embody the top performance of the Hungarian people. Read more about Hungaricums!
Hungary has 16 Nobel laureates. Or are you interested in Franz Liszt, Charles Simonyi, Paul Erdos, Erno Rubik or Katinka Hosszú?
Two-thirds of Hungary’s geographic area is less than 200 metres above sea level.
Today Hungary has eight locations on the World Heritage List and three items on the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Find out more about them!
There are big differences in temperature between our four seasons: summers are hot, while winters are cold. Average temperatures range from -1 °C in January to 21 °C in July.
Lake Balaton, covering 598 square km., is one of the biggest tourist attractions of the country. The average depth of the lake is two to three metres, so the water warms up quickly in summer.
There are ten national parks in Hungary.
Hungarian history in the Carpathian basin is dated back to the Hungarian conquest in 896. Read about our more than thousand-year-old history.
The Hungarian crown was given to Saint Stephen by the Pope on the occasion of his coronation at around 1000. Learn more about our national symbols.
There are also sizable populations of Hungarian speakers in Romania, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Serbia, Ukraine, Israel, the U.S., and Australia. Smaller pockets of Hungarian speakers also live in Canada, Croatia, Slovenia and Austria.

Universities, colleges and schools in Hungary

How to Apply to a Master's in Hungary

If you've decided to study a Master's degree at a university in Hungary, you will have to gather the right documents to prove that you fit the university requirements. Provide complete personal information, previous qualifications, financial information, and a personal statement.

What documents do I need to provide to apply in Hungary?

To apply to a university in Hungary you will likely be asked to provide some of the following documents:

birth certificate;
recent photos;
your passport or national identity card;
one or more reference letters from past employers or teachers;
copies of past diplomas or certificates, including your graduated Bachelor's degree;
academic transcripts;
letter of intent;
Curriculum Vitae;
Some form of proof that you can support your stay in the country during your studies.

Depending on the subject or specialization of your chosen Master's, you might also be asked to provide scores for additional tests like the GRE, GMAT or LSAT. Check if your programme requires any of these, or others.

The list of documents depends on the specific requirements of universities in Hungary so you might be asked to include additional documents. It’s also likely you’ll have to provide official English translations of your documents, or translations in the local language.

Prove your English skills

Because you’ll study an international degree in English, you'll have to present a language certificate. Some popular options for international students are IELTS, TOEFL or C1 Advanced language certificates. You’ll have to meet a minimum language score set by the university, and your test scores shouldn’t be older than 1-2 years. If you don’t meet the minimum language requirements, you will have to improve your skills and scores by taking an English preparation course.

Application deadlines for Hungary

The deadlines for applying to a Master's in Hungary are usually during summer (June-July), or in winter (January-February). Keep in mind that some universities don’t have application deadlines, which means you can apply whenever you are ready.

To avoid delays or missed deadlines send your required documents with plenty of time in advance.

Interesting programmes for you

Find Master's Degrees in Hungary

What subject to study in Hungary?

Master's Degrees in Hungary

Discover other countries

Netherlands
The Netherlands is a very popular study destination. Internationals choose this beautiful country because Dutch universities are some of the best in Europe, the living standards are high, foreigners are always welcome, and you get to live in one of the happiest and safest countries in the world. The Netherlands is also renowned for innovative technologies and engineering solutions, which is reflected in the wide range of Engineering degrees offered by universities. English is spoken by around 90% of Dutch citizens, so forget about language barriers. Also, bike lanes and the “cycling culture” will help you to stay fit and healthy, and there are diverse job opportunities and internships for international students.

Finland
Finland is an excellent choice for all internationals and especially for EU/EEA students who can study at local public universities for free. The beautiful Nordic country has one of the best education systems in the world and ranks among the safest and happiest nations in the world. You can also choose from over 400 English-taught programmes. In your spare time, you can explore the breathtaking Finnish nature and landscapes, as well as the numerous lakes that give the country the nickname ‘The Land of a Thousand Lakes.’ From here, you can easily travel to neighbouring countries like Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Russia, or Estonia.

Ireland
Ireland is among the top countries in the world in terms of quality of life, peace, safety, and development. It represents an appealing blend of beautiful landscapes, English-speaking environments, and a strong, welcoming, and rich culture — of which the Irish people are very proud. International students also enjoy the full support of Irish universities, which hire and train staff that are able to help with accommodation, studies, visa details, or any other challenge.

Norway
Norway is a paradise for anyone who wants to study abroad for free. Public universities don’t charge any tuition fees. This policy applies to all international students, regardless of their nationality. The academic standard is very high, and professors are easy to approach, always willing to go the extra mile for their students. Additionally, classes are organised in small groups, which further improves learning and cooperation. You can choose from a wide range of English-taught programmes, and you don’t need to worry about language barriers outside of classes either, because most Norwegians speak English as a second language. Internationals should find it easy to adapt to Norway’s society, which is based on equality and fair opportunities — reflected both in the legal system and in people’s behaviour.

Greece
Greece is the cradle of European civilization and the birthplace of philosophy. Greek universities and colleges have a long history in academics, attracting international students from all over the world. Classes are not typically formal, so you can expect open discussions between students and professors, in line with the classical philosophical debate tradition. EU/EEA students don’t pay any tuition at public universities, while non-EU/EEA citizens pay low fees. In Greece, you’ll also enjoy the well-known local hospitality and the wonderful Mediterranean climate. There are many landmarks and monuments waiting to be explored, including the Acropolis, Delphi, the Parthenon, and many others.

Sweden
Sweden is a very ambitious, eco-friendly, and visionary country. For example, by 2040, it aims to produce all its energy from renewable sources. Universities play an important role in achieving development goals, thanks to their world-class research facilities. If you’re from the EU/EEA, you can study at public universities for free. As a student, you will discover and easily adopt the three main values of Swedish society: freedom, equality, and sustainability. These values are reflected in every aspect of the local society, and you’ll quickly learn to appreciate them. Language barriers are also almost non-existent since around 80% of Swedes speak English.

Switzerland
Switzerland has one of the most advanced free-market economies, which is reflected in the high living standards and the satisfaction of people living here. In terms of higher education, Swiss universities are constantly ranked among the best in Europe, and they shine in areas like Business, Tourism, Culinary Arts, and Engineering. When compared to Western universities, tuition fees in Switzerland are affordable, and all studies — especially PhD programmes — are world-class. You’ll have the opportunity to develop in a multilingual environment and try learning international languages like German, French, or Italian. If you settle down here, the unemployment rates are low, and salaries are well above the European average.

United Kingdom
Universities in the UK are some of the most highly regarded in the world, and for good reasons. Some of the world's most highly regarded research takes place in British universities, which are regularly featured in international rankings. While studying in the UK, you will be able to develop in a highly multicultural environment with high chances of pursuing lucrative careers after graduation. The teaching in the UK is designed to encourage new idea generation, encouraging individual research and group cooperation, through class discussions and creative assignments.

Canada
Canada is one of the most popular study destinations in the world due to its high focus on the quality of its universities and its emphasis on attracting international students who can later immigrate. Canadians are very welcoming to international students and they invest a lot into making sure students are safe, treated fairly, and enjoy their stay in the country. Study in one of the strongest economies in the world while enjoying a high living standard and a flexible study environment. Classes have smaller student groups ensuring everyone gets the attention they need, and encouraging group assignments and debates.

United States
The United States is home to some of the most prestigious universities and colleges in the world. With over 150 universities featured in international rankings, the U.S. has some of the best business schools, medical schools, and engineering schools. Universities and colleges in the U.S. are well known for academic flexibility and ways to customize your study experience with optional studies and extracurricular activities. Depending on where you will be studying, you will be able to visit iconic places like the Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, Goldengate Bridge, The Grand Canyon, Mount Rushmore, Disney's Magic Kingdom Park, and much more.

Israel
Israel attracts international students through high standards of education and a wide range of English-taught degrees. Local universities shine in areas like Technology, Sciences, Business, and Entrepreneurship. In fact, Israel is a renowned land of innovation, having earned itself the nickname ‘Start-Up Nation’. While living and studying here, you will discover a wonderful culture developed throughout 4,000 years of history; different cultural influences are noticeable everywhere, especially in Israeli food, art, and history. In major cities, English is widely spoken, so communication shouldn’t be a problem. In your spare time, you can visit one of the over 400 nature reserves and 80 national parks.

Australia
By studying in Australia you will take advantage of the great student environment both inside and outside classrooms. In addition to some of the best business and engineering schools in the world, you will be able to explore a greatly developed country that still retains its wild side with its warm climate, beautiful beaches, and the Great Outback, with over 500 national parks. Many Australian universities provide internships and work placements, preparing students early on for the job market.

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