STUDY IN HUNGARY

Overview

If you’re looking for a European study-abroad destination that’s slightly more off the beaten track, Hungary definitely deserves a place on your shortlist.
Bridging Central and Eastern Europe, Hungary combines many of the attractions of both regions – but above all prides itself on having its own distinctive identity.
This pride is not without foundation. Though relatively small, Hungary has much to offer visitors, ranging from the architectural and cultural delights of capital city Budapest, to vineyard-covered hills and historic castles.
While not as firmly established on the study-abroad map as European destinations like the UK, Germany or France, Hungary is committed to becoming a higher education hub.
Hungarian universities are welcoming growing numbers of international students, both on exchange programs and for full degrees, and are increasingly offering courses taught in languages other than Hungarian, most commonly English.
In line with the Bologna Process, which aims to make higher education systems across Europe more compatible, Hungarian institutes offer three levels of degree: alapképzés (bachelor’s), mesterképzés (master’s) and doktori képzés (doctorate).
Bachelor’s programs typically last three or four years, master’s programs one or two, and doctorate programs three years. In some subjects, it is also possible to complete a single five or six year course, which combines the bachelor’s and master’s levels.
With so many natural and manmade attractions, combined with relatively low living costs and a strong focus on internationalization, it seems likely that Hungary’s popularity as a study destination will continue to grow.
Choose to study in Hungary now, and you could be ahead of that trend.

Fast Fact

• Capital and largest city is Budapest
• No coastline; borders with Slovakia, Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia and Austria
• Official language is Hungarian
• Currency is the Forint
• Member of the European Union since 2004
• Hungarian-language name for the country is Magyarország, and the people call themselves Magyars
• Known for producing (and using) lots of the spice paprika
• Traditional Hungarian cuisine includes goulash (a soupy stew), palacsinta (pancakes), spicy sausages, dumplings and stuffed vegetables
• The Danube River runs through the center of Budapest, and from north to south of the entire country
• Major industries include mining, construction materials, textiles, chemicals and food processing

 Lifestyle

Visitors to Hungary are starting to realize that there’s a lot more to the country than its capital. But for many Budapest does, understandably, remain the star attraction.

And, as most of the country’s universities are clustered in Budapest, there’s a large chance that this is where you’ll end up as a student.

Spread in two halves (Buda and Pest) either side of the Danube River, and absolutely packed with attractive architecture, Budapest is undoubtedly one of Europe’s most aesthetically appealing cities.

The city’s architectural and historic importance has earned it a place on the UNESCO World Heritage list, where it is described as “one of the world’s outstanding urban landscapes”.

It doesn’t just look beautiful, however. There’s also a lot to explore, ranging from world-renowned spas, art galleries and classical music, to trendy cocktail bars, bohemian cafes and outdoor clubbing venues.

The best known of the city’s cultural events is of course the huge Sziget music festival, held on Óbudai Island in the centre of the Danube every August – but rest assured, there’s plenty to do during the rest of the year as well!

Featured University

Central European University

Universities in Hungary

Rank  Universities   Locations

1  Eötvös Loránd Tudományegyetem

Budapest

2  Budapesti Muszaki és Gazdaságtudományi Egyetem

Budapest

3  Szegedi Tudományegyetem

Szeged ...

4  Közép-Európai Egyetem

Budapest

5  Debreceni Egyetem

Debrecen ...

6  Pécsi Tudományegyetem

Pécs ...

7  Miskolci Egyetem

Miskolc

8  Nyugat-Magyarországi Egyetem

Sopron

9  Budapesti Corvinus Egyetem

Budapest

10  Széchényi István Egyetem

Gyor

11  Semmelweis Egyetem

Budapest

12  Andrássy Gyula Budapesti Német Nyelvu Egyetem

Budapest

13  Óbudai Egyetem

Budapest

14  Kodolányi János Foiskola

Székesfehérvár

15  Zrínyi Miklós Nemzetvédelmi Egyetem

Budapest

16  Magyar Képzomuvészeti Egyetem

Budapest

17  Nyíregyházi Foiskola

Nyíregyháza

18  Kecskeméti Foiskola

Kecskemét

19  Pázmány Péter Katolikus Egyetem

Budapest ...

20  Pannon Egyetem

Veszprém ...

21  Eszterházy Károly Foiskola

Eger

22  Budapesti Gazdasági Foiskola

Budapest

23  Szent István Egyetem

Gödöllö ...

24  Szinház-és Filmmuvészeti Egyetem

Budapest

25  Budapesti Kommunikációs és Üzleti Fõiskola

Budapest

26  Edutus Foiskola

Tatabánya

27  Zsigmond Király Foiskola

Budapest

28  Károly Róbert Foiskola

Gyöngyös

29  Eötvös József Foiskola

Baja

30  Liszt Ferenc Zenemuvészeti Egyetem

Budapest

31  Magyar Táncmuvészeti Foiskola

Budapest

32  Károli Gáspár Református Egyetem

Budapest ...

33  Dunaújvárosi Foiskola

Dunaújváros

34  Debreceni Református Hittudományi Egyetem

Debrecen

35  Moholy-Nagy Muvészeti Egyetem

Budapest

36  Kaposvári Egyetem

Kaposvár

37  Altalános Vállalkozási Foiskola

Budapest

38  Tomori Pál Foiskola

Kalocsa

39  Wesley János Lelkészképzo Foiskola

Budapest

40  Wekerle Sándor Üzleti Foiskola

Budapest

41  Adventista Teológiai Fõiskola

Pécel

42  Szolnoki Foiskola

Szolnok

43  Esztergomi Hittudományi Fõiskola

Esztergom

44  Rendortiszti Foiskola

Budapest

International study in Hungary

Why study abroad in Hungary?

Hungary might not seem like an obvious choice for studying abroad and it’s true that its universities aren’t exactly brimming with British students, but the country is becoming increasingly popular with international students, particularly those interested in science-related degrees such as medicine and veterinary science.

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• There are 25 universities in Hungary, along with a number of colleges that offer full bachelor’s degree programmes.
• While universities in Hungary aren’t nearly as prominent in international rankings as those in the UK and the US, its institutions are gaining increasing attention from international quarters. The University of Szeged this year jumped into the 501-550 category in the 2012 QS World University Rankings, up from 551-600 last year. The Corvinus University of Budapest and Eötvös Loránd University are both in the latter category.
• There are a wide variety of courses taught in English, ranging from undergraduate degrees all the way up to postgraduate courses.

Entry and visa regulations

EU/EEA students do not need a visa to study in Hungary, but they do need to apply for a residence permit within 90 days of moving to the country.

• To apply for a place on a course, you’ll generally need to apply in February for Hungarian-language courses, although application dates vary between institutions and are usually later for English-language courses. Prospective students need to apply directly to their chosen institution.
• If you want to take a course in Hungarian, you’ll have to take an exam to prove your language skills. You’ll also need to take entrance exams if you wish to study medicine or a related subject.
• Students from English-speaking countries are exempt from taking English proficiency exams if their language of instruction will be English.

Funding your study

Hungary awards ‘state-funded’ places — where students do not have to pay for tuition or registration but may be asked to pay a small contribution — based on grades.

• EU students may be able to qualify for a state-funded place under this system but the government has recently cut the number of state-funded places on offer so prospective students should not rely on getting a free place.
• Potential students should contact their institution of choice in the first case to find out whether or not state-funded places may be available to them. Some universities offer tuition fee reductions after the first year to students who achieve high grades. Tuition fees for courses other than medicine and pharmacy are generally much lower — starting from around £800 per year — than in the UK, but they do vary significantly between universities.
• Living costs are relatively inexpensive in Hungary, with many universities advising that students can get by on around £400 per month. However, there are no student loans available to EU students in Hungary, so you’ll have to find another way of funding your living costs and tuition expenses.
• Students are allowed to work part-time while studying, but finding a job will be difficult without Hungarian skills. Wages are very low at around US$2-3 per hour for typical student jobs, so foreign students may find it more beneficial to return home during breaks to work instead.

Many universities offer dormitory accommodation, which is relatively cheap and likely to cost less than £200 per month. Prices can be similarly low in shared private accommodation if you share a flat with other students.

The cost of living is generally low in Hungary. Typical prices include:

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• Meal at McDonald’s or similar: £4
• Pint of local beer: £1
• Single transport ticket: £1
• Pint of milk: £0.50
• Coffee in a café: £1
• Cinema ticket: £3.50
• 1kg of potatoes: £0.40

Health and safety

It is a legal requirement in Hungary that you carry a passport or other form of identification with you at all times.

• EU/EEA students can access healthcare in Hungary using their European Health Insurance Card in the same way as Hungarian nationals. You will have to pay a fee at the point of service, though this is small — around £2 at a clinic or for outpatient treatment at a hospital.
• Hungary is generally a very safe country, however there are a number of scams operating in the country that target foreigners. In particular, concerns have been noted about bars, clubs, taxis and restaurants that use threats of violence to intimidate foreigners into paying exorbitant bills.

Helpful links

Further information about studying in Hungary can be found at Study Hungary.

University Applications and Admissions: Expert Advice

TopUniversities.com asks admissions staff to share their advice on how to make the university application process as painless a procedure as possible.
So, you’ve done the research, you’ve talked it over with your nearest and dearest, you’re pretty confident that you’re going to get the grades you need, and you’ve finally concluded that studying abroad is right for you.
Congratulations: you’ve made one of the biggest – and hopefully most rewarding – decisions you’ll ever have to make in your life.
Now there’s just one small obstacle standing in your way: actually getting into the university of your choice.

University applications and admissions

Of course, ‘small’ is the wrong word – this can be a very daunting experience.
But fear not: if you keep your wits about you, then there’s no need for this to be any more than an administrative hassle – though admittedly a rather long-winded one, as you’ll learn very quickly once you begin the application procedure.
It may seem obvious, but given the amount of time each application can take up, it’s important to think carefully about where you really want to apply.
Caroline Berry, International Officer at the University of Leicester, UK, advises students to begin preparations as early as possible: “As well as searching on the internet and checking the web pages of individual institutions, speaking to family, friends and teachers who have studied [overseas] is always a good place to start, and a way of narrowing down choices,” she advises.
“As well as choosing a course, students need to consider many other elements, including the type of environment they would like to live in, location, transport links, availability of accommodation, cost of living, options for financing studies through institutional scholarships and, of course, the type of institution they prefer.”
Stuart Schmill, Dean of Admissions at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, US, echoes this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of looking at the different degree structures on offer: “The key thing for an applicant to understand is the kind of educational environment that will best suit how they like to learn.
"Universities in different countries – or even in the same country – are very different in their styles and methods; some are very focused on a specific course of study, while others are more broad-based in their offerings."
He adds, “Culture is important. Students want to find the environment that best matches the way they like to learn.”
In the opinion of Pieke Hoekstra of Delft University of Technology, Netherlands, it’s best to focus on institutions rather than countries. However, Miranda Cheng, Director of the Centre for International Experience at the University of Toronto, Canada, says looking at the host country’s immigration policy should also play a part in your decision, particularly if you’re planning to work there during or after your degree.
Schmill points out the importance of having “a realistic understanding of what it will cost, and how [you] will pay for it” – there’s no sense, after all, in going through the entire application procedure if you find at the end that you just can’t afford it.

Connect with your undergraduate subject

Once you’ve weighed up all the various factors, and carefully made your decision – and remember that this where you’re going to be spending a not-inconsiderable portion of your life – it’s time for the really fun part: applying.
Though this might also seem obvious, it makes sense to ensure you take care over this – you don’t want to miss out simply because you forgot to submit the required evidence, or applied too late.
“Students should check entry requirements and deadlines before applying to make sure that they have the best possible chance of gaining a place on their chosen course,” Berry confirms.
“If they are unsure whether their qualifications are acceptable, they might like to contact the admissions office or international office in their chosen institution to check before submitting a full application.”
She emphasizes the importance of applying in good time: “It sounds obvious, but students should try to make an application as early as possible as this will give them plenty of time to make all the necessary arrangements for a move abroad, including organizing their finances, applying for scholarships and obtaining a student visa.”
And as Cheng adds, if you’re ever unsure about anything, ask!
Of course, it is extremely unlikely that you will be the only person applying to your course, and Peter Dunn of Warwick University, UK, warns that – especially at top universities – the competition is likely to be stiff.
“Almost all applicants who apply to top universities will have high predicted grades that will meet the university’s academic requirements, so any other personal information on the form is a very important way in which you can impress the selectors.”
Your personal statement, he continues, is your main chance to convey this: “The person reading your application form will want to know in what ways you ‘connect’ with your chosen subject. They will look for motivated students who can articulate their aims and have the potential to succeed on the course.”
Though work experience and extracurricular activities certainly play a part in this – especially when you can show how they are relevant – you should not allow them to dominate your statement, Dunn says.
“Remember that you are applying for an academic course of study, and the limited space available to you for your personal statement should predominantly focus on this.”
Berry agrees: “Admissions tutors are most impressed when students can demonstrate a real understanding and commitment to their chosen subject area, and show that they have considered its relevance to their future career choice.”
Schmill adds that presenting yourself as someone who will contribute to the campus community will work in your favor.

University application mistakes to avoid

So what are common mistakes people make during their applications?
“It makes an admissions tutor’s job more difficult if applicants do not provide enough information with regards to their qualifications,” Berry says.
“In the case of those applying with overseas qualifications, students shouldn’t attempt to translate theirs into [another system] – it’s always better to state the original name of the qualification gained.”
Schmill emphasizes the importance of paying attention: “It is important to fulfil all of the requirements that a university lays out. Make sure you take all the tests that you need to, have your interviews, and if an application asks you to answer a particular question, answer that and not some other question that you would prefer to answer.”
Bear all this in mind, and you’ll stand as good a chance as anyone. But, remember, if you don’t get in, it’s never the end of the world.
“It’s important to bear in mind that admissions tutors have a student’s best interests at heart when considering applications and will only make offers to those who they believe can be successful on their chosen course,” Berry says.
For this reason alone, it is worth applying to more than one university, because even if you don’t get into your first choice, Schmill concludes, “a university education is what you make of it – so you can have a terrific experience wherever you end up.”
More admissions advice >