Hungary is a prominent country located between Central and Eastern Europe. As a high income economy with growing influence in European and world affairs, it shares several characteristics with the most developed countries in the world, including universal healthcare and a very high level of personal safety. It has a high quality higher education system, with 13 scientists of Hungarian origin having won the Nobel Prize.
Hungary is home to almost 10 million people, around 20% of whom live in the capital city of Budapest. All the major cities in the country are notable for their architectural styles, with the earliest buildings dating back almost 2,000 years. Both the urban and rural centres of Hungary are popular for their natural beauty, from the scenic islands on the Danube River to the historic spas spread over the country.
Hungary is highly ranked on several important indices for students and residents. Some highlights include:
Higher education in Hungary is provided by 60+ state owned and private Universities and Colleges. These are of many different types; for example, some Institutions of Higher Education specialise in Business education, some in Medicine, etc.
Four types of qualifications are awarded by these Universities and Colleges. Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral Degrees of multiple types are the main degrees awarded. Professional or vocational training certificates and degrees are also given by some of these institutions.
Budapest is the centre of higher education in the country; it is home to almost 40% of the Universities in the country.
Professional degrees are an important part of the Hungarian higher education system. From the earliest years, vocational training is a highly regarded component of the curriculum, and students can gain professional degrees from high school on.
International students in Hungary can earn Professional Training degrees of many types: short term courses, long term programs (for example, the Bachelor of Profession degree), and diploma courses. These typically have constant integration with industrial partners, so that students can gain real life experience to add a practical dimension to their theoretical studies.
Bachelor's degrees in Hungary are envisioned as the first cycle of training within tertiary education. They are designed to give students an appreciation of the overall history and scope of their chosen field of study while introducing them to allied disciplines from a holistic perspective.
Undergraduate programs in Hungary last for three or four years (6 to 8 semesters). Several kinds of Bachelor's degrees are awarded: in Arts, Science, Professional Studies, and Engineering.
Certain disciplines do not necessarily award separate Bachelor's and Master's degrees; they allow undergraduates to opt for a longer initial period of study and earn an integrated degree. Therefore, in disciplines like Law, Medicine, and Pedagogy, students can study for 5 to 6 years and earn a dual Bachelor's + Master's qualification.
Master's programs are part of the second cycle of the higher education system in Hungary. They typically last between 2 and 4 semesters and involve deep study of a particular discipline, along with an introduction to rigorous research work. Hungary is particularly renowned for its Master's degrees in various fields of pure and applied science and technology and international relations.
In order to successfully apply for a Master's program in Hungary, international candidates typically need to submit proof of successful completion of a Bachelor's degree at a recognised University. However, in exceptional cases, a diploma combined with extensive work experience can also be used to gain admission.
PhD courses in Hungary form the final cycle of the tertiary education system. They are designed to be completed in 3 to 4 years, though many students take up to 5 years based on prior agreement with their faculty supervisors.
Hungary is well known for its groundbreaking achievements in science and technology over the years, with 13 Nobel Laureates having studied or worked in the country. Doctoral students are a big part of this research success; they lay the groundwork for testing and verification of research work in the most productive laboratories in the country.
The country has various universities that offer approximately all the disciplines of study. Some of the popular disciplines available in Hungary are-
| International Relations | Medicine | International Business |
| Pure and Applied Mathematics | Dentistry | Civil Engineering |
| Fine Arts | Sociology | International Marketing Number |
| Economics | Agriculture | Artificial Intelligence |
| Information Technology | Pharmacy | Corporate Communication |
| Electrical Engineering | European History | Finance |
Here are some popular cities that have the most universities in Hungary.
| The name of the city | No. of Universities |
| Budapest | 37 |
| Szeged | 3 |
| Debrecen | 2 |
| Nyiregyhaza | 2 |
| Pécs | 2 |
| Győr | 2 |
| Veszprém | 2 |
| Miskolc | 1 |
| Papa | 1 |
| Kecskemét | 1 |
| Sopron | 1 |
| Eger | 1 |
Tuition fees for international students in Hungary vary widely by type of program. For example, some Bachelor’s degrees in International Relations are associated with annual tuition fees of just 1,200 Euros per year, but Medicine degrees can go up to 14,000 Euros per year, for a total of over 84,000 Euros for the entire degree. However, on average, most popular courses cost a few thousand Euros per year in tuition fees; this can be substantially reduced or eliminated completely by successfully applying for one of the many scholarships available.
Many Universities and Colleges in Hungary provide dormitory accommodations on campus. This provides a very low cost accommodation option, with inexpensive dormitories in smaller cities starting at a cost of 80 to 100 Euros per month. Even private student housing in a shared flat rarely exceeds 300 Euros per month. Therefore, the overall cost of student housing in Hungary is substantially lower than in other Central European nations.
Other contributors to monthly living costs include food, phone, internet, medical insurance premiums, and travel within the city and around Europe. However, the low cost of student bus and rail passes and internet plans for international students ensure that these additional living costs are kept to a minimum.
Long term student visas are required for most international candidates who wish to pursue a course of duration longer than 90 days in the country of Hungary. Citizens of certain countries (like the United States and Canada) can study in Hungary without a student visa, but they still need to obtain a residence permit on arrival in the country.
