Hungary has 65 higher education institutions, according to the official Study in Hungary portal run by the Tempus Public Foundation. Together they offer more than 1,000 programmes in several languages. There are three types:
Hungary's system is unusual: according to Eurydice, the state now runs only 5 universities and 1 college. Most institutions – including 16 universities and 5 universities of applied sciences – are run by foundations, and others by churches.
You can search for programmes in the Study Finder on studyinhungary.hu.
Hungarian higher education has three cycles:
There are also single-cycle programmes (osztatlan képzés) of 10–12 semesters and around 300–360 ECTS – this is how medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine and law, among others, are studied.
The academic year has two semesters – autumn and spring – each with 14–15 weeks of classes and a 6–8-week exam period.
Hungary – bachelor's programmes
Hungary – integrated (single-cycle) programmes
Hungary – master's programmes
Hungary – doctoral programmes
There are two routes, depending on the language of study:
On fee-paying programmes you usually have to pay all or part of the tuition after admission, before you enrol.
If you come from outside the EU, don't wait for the last deadline: you need your admission letter to apply for a residence permit (see: Residence and formalities).
Each university sets its own admission rules. For programmes in Hungarian, your school leaving certificate results count, plus any exams required for the programme. Arts universities test your aptitude.
English-taught programmes often have an entrance exam. For example, for medicine at Semmelweis University you take an online test in biology, chemistry, English and biomedical English (20 questions each), followed by a motivation interview. Exams take place once or twice a week from the beginning of March to the end of June.
The main language of study is Hungarian – and it is the biggest obstacle. To apply through felvi.hu, including for state-funded places, you need advanced Hungarian, and state-funded places are only available on programmes taught in Hungarian.
That is why most international students choose programmes in a foreign language – there are more than 700, mostly in English. For these you will usually need IELTS or TOEFL, or the university tests your English in its own exam, as Semmelweis does for medicine.
You can search for programmes by language in the Study Finder.
EU/EEA and Swiss citizens do not need a visa – you enter with a valid ID card or passport. If you stay longer than 90 days, you must register:
Students from outside the EU/EEA need a residence permit for the purpose of studies. You apply at the Hungarian embassy or consulate in your home country or country of residence before you travel. If you can enter Hungary without a visa, you can also apply in Hungary – online through the Enter Hungary platform or in person at a regional office of the Directorate-General. The permit is issued for at least one year (or the length of the course, if shorter) and at most three years, and can be extended. You must show that you have enough money to support yourself during your stay and for your return, and that you have health insurance. The fee is €110 at a consulate or HUF 24,000 through Enter Hungary.
Health insurance: if you are insured in another EU country, your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) covers you in Hungary, with the same rights as Hungarians. For non-EU students, health insurance is a condition of the residence permit.
EU citizens can get a state-funded place (magyar állami ösztöndíj) – then you pay no tuition. These places are only available on programmes taught in Hungarian, and they are allocated through felvi.hu.
On fee-paying programmes, including all programmes in English, the university sets the fee – it varies a lot between universities and programmes. For example, medicine in English at Semmelweis University costs €9,340 per semester plus one-off fees. Check the amount for your programme on the university's website.
If you come from outside the EU, you will usually study on a fee-paying place – unless you win a Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship, which covers tuition for nationals of Hungary's partner countries (see: Scholarships).
According to the Study in Europe portal, you will need around €500–600 a month for accommodation, food and other expenses. Some typical monthly prices from studyinhungary.hu:
So renting in Budapest is the biggest cost. You can work out your own budget with the calculator on studyinhungary.hu. Ask your university about a place in a student residence as soon as you are admitted.
Stipendium Hungaricum – Hungary's best-known scholarship – is based on agreements with more than 90 partners. If you come from one of the partner countries, it covers your tuition. No EU country is on the list, so EU citizens cannot use it.
Other options:
You will find an overview of programmes on studyinhungary.hu.
EU/EEA citizens can work in Hungary with no limit on hours – you only need your registration certificate.
Students from outside the EU/EEA with a residence permit for the purpose of studies can work up to 30 hours a week during the semester. Outside the study period you can work full-time for up to 90 days a year.
For casual jobs, Hungarian helps a lot. Start with your university's careers office.
Sources: European Commission – Study in Europe (education.ec.europa.eu/study-in-europe), Eurostat, official national study and residence portals and authorities, Eurodesk, enic-naric.net, studentnews.eu. As of September 2026.
EN 
CS
DE
ES
FR
HU
IT
PL
PT
РУ
SK
TR
УК
AR
中文