Costs
Tuition
€1,500–3,500/year for most programmes. Medicine: €8,000–16,000/year. Stipendium Hungaricum: free. EU citizens sometimes get reduced fees.
Living Costs
Budapest: €550–750/month. Debrecen, Szeged, Pécs: €450–600/month. Dormitories: €100–200/month. Hungarian cuisine affordable and excellent.
Total Annual Cost
€8,000–12,500/year (self-funded). Free with Stipendium Hungaricum.
Part-Time Work
24 hours/week during term. Full-time during breaks. 90 full days or 66 half-days per year. Average earnings: €300–500/month.
Post-Study & Immigration
Post-Study Work Visa
9 months job search visa. Can switch to work permit. EU mobility options available.
Path to Permanent Residency
3 years of legal residence → Permanent residence (one of the fastest in Europe). 8 years → Hungarian citizenship. EU long-term residence applies.
Language Requirements
Many English-taught programmes (especially medicine, engineering, business). Hungarian not required for study but helpful for daily life. IELTS 5.5–6.5 for English programmes.
Visa Processing
2–4 weeks. D-type visa at Hungarian embassy. EU citizens: no visa. Non-EU: admission letter, financial proof (€600/month), health insurance.
Top Universities
| University | QS 2025 | Tuition (Int'l) | Known For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE) | #551 | €2,000–3,500 | Sciences, Humanities, Law, Social Sciences |
| Budapest University of Technology (BME) | #601 | €2,500–3,500 | Engineering, Architecture, IT, Sciences |
| Semmelweis University (Budapest) | Top 250 Medicine | €8,000–16,000 | Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy — Central Europe's top medical school |
| University of Debrecen | #651 | €2,000–3,500 | Medicine, Agriculture, Sciences, Engineering |
| University of Szeged | #701 | €2,000–3,000 | Sciences, Medicine, Law, Humanities |
Scholarships
Stipendium Hungaricum
Award: Full tuition + €140/month + accommodation
Eligibility: 77 partner countries · Deadline: January
Hungarian government's flagship. 5,000+ places. Priority for STEM and healthcare. Check if your country has bilateral agreement.
Eligibility: 77 partner countries · Deadline: January
Hungarian government's flagship. 5,000+ places. Priority for STEM and healthcare. Check if your country has bilateral agreement.
Erasmus Mundus
Award: €1,400/month + tuition
Eligibility: All nationalities · Deadline: Oct–Jan
Some Erasmus Mundus programmes include Hungarian universities.
Eligibility: All nationalities · Deadline: Oct–Jan
Some Erasmus Mundus programmes include Hungarian universities.
Visegrad Fund
Award: €2,300/semester
Eligibility: V4 and partner countries · Deadline: January
For study in Visegrad Group countries.
Eligibility: V4 and partner countries · Deadline: January
For study in Visegrad Group countries.
University of Debrecen Excellence
Award: 50–100% tuition waiver
Eligibility: All nationalities · Deadline: Per intake
Merit-based scholarship for international students.
Eligibility: All nationalities · Deadline: Per intake
Merit-based scholarship for international students.
BME International Scholarship
Award: 25–50% tuition reduction
Eligibility: All nationalities · Deadline: Per intake
For engineering and technology students at BME.
Eligibility: All nationalities · Deadline: Per intake
For engineering and technology students at BME.
2026 Policy Updates
What changed: Stipendium Hungaricum continues to grow. Hungary actively recruiting international students from Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Medical programmes in English very popular. Fast-track PR (3 years) remains one of Europe's quickest.
Best For
Students from Stipendium Hungaricum partner countries (free education). Medical students (Semmelweis is prestigious, affordable, English-taught). Budget-conscious students wanting EU education. Those targeting fast permanent residency in Europe (3 years). Students who love vibrant nightlife and thermal baths.
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