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Postgraduate Study in Hungary
Find courses in HUNGARYHungary is a completely landlocked country, sitting in central Europe. Bordering on Slovakia, the Ukraine, Romantic, Serbia, Croatia and Austria, it’s a relatively small country, but with over 1,000 years of history it is one of the oldest countries in Europe. The whole country is well known for its beauty and architecture. Despite its size, Hungary is home to the largest synagogue in Europe, the largest medicinal bath in Europe, one of the largest basilicas in the world, and the second largest territorial abbey in the world!
Hungary has a population of roughly 10 million people, and its official language is Hungarian – the most widely spoken non-Indo-European language to be found in Europe. Known as Magyaroszag in the local language, its inhabitants call themselves Magyars.
Hungary has a continental climate – meaning there are hot summers, mild (but snowy!) winters and relatively frequent rain showers.
The capital is Budapest, and it’s one of the largest cities in the EU. It has a global reputation, being ranked highly as a place to live – examples including being described as “Europe’s 7 th most idyllic place to live” by Forbes, and the second best city in the world by Conde Nast Traveller.
The official currency is the Forint.
Hungary: Hungarian universities and education
There are 25 universities in Hungary, four of which appear in the QS World University Rankings. Some of these have long histories – for instance, the Semmelweis University in Budapest dates back to the 1600s. This was also the first university to offer an international programme.
The country has signed up to the Bologna Process, meaning the degrees are compatible with those throughout Europe. They have three levels – alapképzés (bachelors), mesterképzés (masters) and doktori képzés (doctorate). The lengths of these programmes align with what you might expect – masters taking roughly a year or two, and doctoral programmes around three years.
In order to apply for a postgraduate programme at a Hungarian university, you should apply to the institution directly. There is no national entrance exam, but in order to study in Hungarian you will need to take a language course, and there may be entrance exams for particular subjects. To study a postgraduate programme taught in the English language you will probably have to prove your competency in the English language.
Tuition fees and funding
Hungary offers some state-funded places to EU students applying to university. This covers tuition and registration (though you may need to make a small contribution) and is based on your previous grades. Recently, there has been a cut in the number of these places, so whilst it is worth applying, you will need to have a back-up plan to fund your course.
Your first port of call for researching these funded places is your university of choice, they should be able to tell you what is available – and some universities offer reductions in fees based on grades themselves.
There are also some scholarships available to international students through the Hungarian Scholarship Board. These fall into seven categories, covering a variety of courses. To be eligible, you must have received a letter of acceptance from a university. Students coming in from Eastern Europe may also be eligible for a scholarship from the Visegrad Fund.
Excluding medicine and similar courses which are more expensive, you can expect to pay around €3,000-€5,000 for a masters and €4,500-€5,500 for a PhD.
Visas and immigration
Students from within the EU/EEA don’t need a visa in order to study in Hungary, but should they wish to reside there they need to apply for a residence permit within three months (90 days) of arriving in the country.
If you’re from outside the EU, then you will need a residence visa. This can only be applied for after you have received an offer from a university. You will need passport photos, a filled-in application form, proof of health insurance, documentation proving you are financial able to support yourself for the duration of your course, your financial state, an acceptance letter and details of your planned accommodation.
Living as a student in Hungary
Hungary is a relatively cheap place to live, and it should costs around €200-500 per month for rent depending on where you live, and €200 per month for utilities (assuming they’re not included in your rent). Student halls are often the cheapest end of the spectrum, coming in at around €250 a month. Hungarian universities also tend to recommend international students take out health insurance which costs around €60 a month.
If you're an EU/EEA student, then you can use your EHIC card to access healthcare. You will have to pay a small (around €2) fee when you go to a health service, however.
The real decision then is choosing where to live, because each city has different advantages. Obviously your choice of where to live will be very much influenced by what courses are on offer at the particular universities, but it is worth thinking about what the differnt cities have to offer. Budapest is on the UNESCO World Heritage list for a reason, and alongside its history and beauty, it holds art galleries, cocktail bars and great clubbing venues. Debrecen is the second-largest city in Hungary, and once again, this is home to a mix of nightclubs, theatres, spas and natural hot springs. Other interesting cities to live in include Szeged, known as the city of sunshine due to its warm climate, which has a thriving theatre scene.
Hungary’s scientific prowess
Hungary is well known for its scientific and mathematical education, and 13 Hungarian or Hungarian-born scientists have won the Nobel Prize. Scientists such as John von Neumann, a well-known contributor to Quantum Mechanics, Janos Bolyai, creator of non-Euclidian geometry and Edward Teller, known for his contributions to nuclear physics.
Numerous inventions have come out of Hungary, including:
* The electric motor
* The first flyable rigid airship
* Tungsten electric bulb
* Volkswagen Beetle
* The ballpoint pen
* The Rubik's Cube
PLEASE NOTE: As a result of Brexit, from Autumn 2021 postgraduate students from the European Union studying at a UK university will be charged the same tuition fees as international students. Meanwhile, UK students studying their postgraduate course at a European university are also likely to incur higher tuition fees than their EU counterparts. It is advisable to check with the individual universities in the UK and Europe for up-to-date information on tuition fees for all postgraduate programs.
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