For the past twenty years, over 10,000 international students have attended higher education in Hungary. The country is especially popular for studies in sciences – particularly in such fields as medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine, to name a few. These are all programs with very competitive admission in many countries while Hungary offers an accessible alternative. Hungary is becoming an increasingly popular study abroad destination, having gained great credibility over the years and has a very strong tradition in the sciences, particularly medicine. Beyond high-quality education, Hungary also offers a lively and welcoming culture, a fascinating history and beautiful cities. 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's high-quality medical degrees are accepted by the World Health Organization and are directly transferable to any EU country. The higher education in Hungary is increasingly offering medical degrees in both English and other foreign languages such as German in order to attract more foreign students. Some of the top countries from which international students come to Hungary are Germany, Israel, Norway, Iran, China, and Canada.Dozens of universities across the country offer programs that are fully taught in English. Across all academic disciplines, there are hundreds of study programs in English available for international students. Those degrees follow the European Bologna scheme and are recognized 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.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.
Finding a good place to stay is a very important part of your study abroad experience. When it comes to student housing in Hungary, you have several options. Most universities in Hungary have dormitories which are usually the cheapest alternative. These dormitories are generally great party venues but are not always available for international students. You may find the standard of dormitory accommodation slightly below what you are used to, but living in these shared quarters is a good way to make plenty of new friends.
Another alternative for student housing in Hungary is renting an apartment, whether alone or with friends. You can also opt for a sub-tenancy, meaning you rent a single room in someone else’s apartment. Private apartment rentals are available from HUF$50-60,000 (EUR€190-230 ) depending on the city; Budapest being the most expensive and the location within the city. Rooms and flat-sharing are naturally cheaper. Most of the time you will be able to find help searching for student housing in Hungary through the university you are applying. Apartments are also listed in newspapers. It might be easier to have someone who speaks Hungarian with you to help translate. If you are renting an apartment in Hungary, keep in mind that you may need up to two month's rent ready in cash when signing the contract. This sum acts as a deposit and should be returned to you when you move out, provided that the apartment is still in good order.
Hungarian universities charge tuition fees but compared to other countries in Europe they are very affordable. Depending on the university and the program, you can expect to pay around 2,500 to 3,000 euros per year; Engineering programs 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.