Today we are going to look at how to study in Hungary with their free tuition or low tuition universities and colleges, how to apply for admission, tuition fees, cost of living in Hungary as an international student, admission requirements, top universities in Hungary and some Scholarships that they offer.
Hungary is less populated compared to most North American and even some European countries. This characteristic attracts international students who do not love overcrowded places to troop in and study conveniently in Hungary.
The country is located in central Europe and has a population of 10 million people. It is a member of the European Union since 2004.
Information for international students hoping to study in Hungary with their free or low tuition schools
How much you should expect to spend monthly in Hungary
Their living cost is very cheap and estimated to be between 400 to 500 Euros per month. This covers a lot of expenditure like accommodation, feeding, clothing, books light, recharge cards etc.
Cost of Studying in Hungary for International Students
If you are lucky to be admitted into a public university, you can study for free in Hungary. Scholarships and grants are also available for brilliant students especially if your school charges tuition fees.
If you are from European Union Country or your country has student exchange programs with Hungarian schools, you can qualify for the state-funded program.
Non EU students that are not from countries that have student exchange agreements with universities or colleges in Hungary will have to pay a tuition fee of about 1000 to 3000 euros per annum on average for not undergraduate and graduate programs. Some programs require a token of 50 to 65 euros as registration fee.
Admission Requirements and How to Apply to Study in Hungary
You won’t be required by take any admission examination but you will have to proof your study language proficiency. If your course is taught in English language, you will have to proof your understand the language and can speak it very well.
If there is no proof such as a written letter from your former school stating that your previous program was in English, then you have to sit for any of the following language exams below and meet the cut off mark as required;
- Cambridge Certificate of Language Proficiency Grade C
- Cambridge Advanced Certificate Grade B and TEEP
- From 5.0 – 6.0 in IELTS test or between 60 and 80 in TOEFL test for Bachelor’s degree
- From 5.5 and 6.5 in IELTS or between 70 and 90 in TOEFL test for Master’s degree
Another major language of instruction is German. If your course is offered in this language, you will need to proof your language proficiency or take a language preparatory course in order to be given admission.
Application for admission are done via the UCAS platform.
Top Universities in Hungary for International Students
- Szeged University
- Eotvos Lorand University
- University of Debrecen
List of the Cheapest Universities in Hungary for International Students
- Szeged University
- Attila Jozsef University
- Avicenna International College
- Budapest University of Economic Sciences
- Central European University
- Debrecen University of Agricultural Sciences
- Hungarian Academy of Craft and Design Kossuth
- Lajos University
- Mathematical Institute of Hungarian
- Academy of Sciences University
- Medical School of Debrecen
- University of Pecs
- University of West Hungary
- Albert Szent-Gyorgyi Medical University
- Attila Jozsef University
- Bessenyei Gyorgy Teachers Training College
- Eotvos Lorand University of Sciences
- Gvdvllu University of Agricultural Sciences
- Janus Pannonius University of Sciences
- Juhasz Gyula Teacher Training College
- Lajos Kossuth University of Arts and Sciences
- Semmelweis University of Medical Sciences
- Szeged University
- Technical University of Budapest
- Hungary University of Miskol award
Study in Hungary – Available Scholarships for International Students
The Nation’s Ministry of Education and Culture do give out scholarships to intelligent international students yearly via the office of the Hungarian Scholarship Board.
The awards are offered under bilateral and scholarship pool systems. Examples of approved scholarships offers in Hungary include;
Semester studies award
This package covers a monthly stipend of HUF 40,460. Your accommodation will be in school but you will have to pay for it.
Scholarship for Postgraduate Studies
Monthly stipend of HUF 79,200 with HUF 70,000 monthly accommodation allowance is given to qualified students.
Scholarship to do your PhD studies or Research
A monthly stipend of HUF 100, 000 and accommodation inside the school premises residence is provided for which the student has to pay.
Partial PhD
It is like a full PhD, just that it is for a shorter time.
Review of Cheap Universities in Hungary for International Students
1. University of Szeged
Cost of studying; From USD 1,625 to USD 2,700 for non-medical programs per semester.
Study in Hungary at the University of Szeged which was founded more than a century ago, in 1872, and is one of Central Europe’s most promising institutions. It is the cheapest university in Hungary for international students. It stands out for its academic work and its programs in science and modern languages, with more than 21,000 students.
There are 12 faculties in agriculture, music, pharmacy, medicine, education, technology and computer science, health sciences and social studies, humanities and social sciences, medicine, dentistry, law and political sciences, economics and business administration in this cheap university in Hungary. They deliver 52 programs of degrees.
More than 700 fields are covered by studies carried out at this university, many of which are funded by the Hungarian Academy of Sciences.
Regarding tuition fees, for EU and non-EU residents, most services cost the same. Tuition fees go from EUR 1,500 to EUR 2,500 every course, unless you would like to pursue a career in the medical sector. In the field of healthcare, degrees in nursing and physiotherapy cost EUR 3,100 per semester, pharmacy costs EUR 6,700, medicine costs EUR 7,300 and dentistry costs EUR 17,000 per semester.
2. Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME)
Cost of studying; from USD 2,500 a semester to USD 4,900.
The University of Technology and Economics (BME) of Budapest is the second cheapest university in Hungary and the most important university in the area for those who would like to pursue a major in the field of technology. Actually, as it was founded in 1782, it is considered to be the world’s oldest technology institute. In both the QS World University Ranking and the Times Higher Education ranking, BME also ranks among the top 1000 universities in the world.
With more than 21,000 students, BME has eight departments in the fields of architecture, economics and social sciences, natural sciences and engineering. Its popularity has increased among international students, with over 2,000 international students, since the number of those selecting their classrooms has almost doubled in the last six years.
At this inexpensive university in Hungary, English-taught programs include six bachelor’s degree programs, 16 master’s degree programs, and 14 doctoral programs. BME also provides, in collaboration with individual countries, other foreign services.
As far as tuition fees are concerned, the rates are typically the same for both EU and non-EU citizens, but they are higher for EU citizens in some situations. Fees go from EUR 3,200 to EUR 4,500 per semester for non-EU residents. This ranges from EUR 2,250 to EUR 4,500 per semester for residents of the EU.
BME has a “Stipendium Hungaricum” scholarship program that is open to foreign students. It completely pays tuition fees and offers living costs with a monthly stipend.
3. Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE)
Cost of studying; USD 2,150 per semester to USD 5,500.
The University of Eötvös Loránd (ELTE) is one of Hungary’s highest, oldest and most prestigious universities. Founded in 1635, ELTE has over 28,000 students and according to the QS World University Ranking, is ranked among the 651st and 700th best universities in the world.
ELTE is based in Budapest and has eight schools in the fields of education and psychology, law and political sciences, social sciences, primary and nursery schools, special education, computer science, science and humanities. They have available student dormitories as well. Before beginning the bachelor’s degree program, all faculty offer a preparatory program that you can take.
The tuition fees depend on the faculty, so you’ll have to search the website to find them. In the humanities department, for example, tuition fees range from EUR 1,800 to EUR 3,500 per semester. Estimated tuition fees usually range from EUR 2,000 to EUR 5,000.
4. University of Pécs (PTE)
Cost of studying; USD 2,700 to USD 6,000 per semester
The University of Pécs (PTE), located in the city of Pécs and established in 1854, has more than 20,000 students and is ranked by the QS World University Ranking as one of the top 700 universities in the world.
This cheap university in Hungary has a medical school and eight business and economics, engineering and information technology, health, music and visual arts, pharmacy, science, law, and humanities departments.
For English-language teaching programs, tuition fees range from EUR 2,500 to EUR 5,500 per semester. In certain situations, EU people pay just a fraction of the expense of tuition fees.
5. University of Pannonia
Cost of studying; USD 3,250 to USD 9,800 annually
The University of Pannonia, which is located in the town of Veszprém, is our next university in the list of cheapest universities in Hungary and was opened in 1949. It is composed of five business and economics faculties, modern philology and social sciences, agriculture, information technology and engineering.
Tuition costs vary from EUR 2,400 to EUR 6,000 a year for bachelor’s degree programs. Master’s degree programs per year range from EUR 3,000 to EUR 6,800. The PhD programs range from EUR 4,000 to EUR 9,000 per year. In some situations, EU residents pay just half of the cost of tuition fees. This university also has foreign student scholarships.
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