Hungary might not be one of the most popular destinations for studying abroad, but Budapest is home to some prestigious universities where you can benefit from high-quality studies as an international student. Find out more about about the local higher education system and how you can benefit from it.
Universities in Budapest
Budapest is home to many quality universities, and you can learn technically anything here from human sciences to engineering, arts and medicine, computer and social sciences. The most prominent universities are the followings: Eotvos Lorand University (ELTE), Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME), Corvinus University of Budapest, Semmelweis University and the University of Economics (BGE).
Most of them are located in the central parts of the city, district 5, 6 and 7, but you can find some in Buda as well, like BME, the University of Physical Education or the Faculty of Science and Informatics at ELTE. The latter is based at Lagymanyos campus, which offers restaurants and green areas to relax for its students.
Budapest is an ideal city for students, with not just wide options to study but for low prices as well. Depending on the university and the programme, you can expect to pay around 2,500 to 3,000 euros per year. Engineering programmes 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.
Not just the tuition fees, but the cost of living is relatively low as well comparing to other cities, your spending on rent, travel and food will cost you around 5-600 Euros. And if you have some pocket money left you can spend it in one of the several ruin bars, cafes or student clubs, or visit a concert and festival popular with students.
Courses offered in Budapest universities
Many local universities offer English-language courses within student exchange frameworks like Erasmus, and several Hungarian universities offer courses or whole degree programmes in foreign languages, mainly English and German. If you would like to apply, just check the website of the university you selected; you should find all the relevant details there. Generally, you need to select the course you would like to attend and check if it's available in English, check the admission requirements, send your application form and pay the application fee. You also need to apply for a student visa and residence permit and complete the entrance fee.
You might have heard about one of the international schools in Budapest called Central European University. It might have been in the news for the wrong reasons, but it doesn't change the fact that it is one of the best universities in Budapest. It offers Master's and doctoral programs in the social sciences, humanities, public policy, law, business management, economics, environmental sciences & policy, and mathematics. The university is accredited in both the United States and Hungary, many of its graduates are working in governmental and diplomatic services, in international organisations and in leading business groups.
If you are interested in Hungarian studies, check out The Balassi Institute, which is similar to the UK's British Council or Germany's Goethe's Institut. For those who would like to study about music, Liszt Academy is a perfect choice, while future artists can visit the Hungarian University of Fine Arts, the Moholy-Nagy University of Art and the University of Theatre and Film Arts.
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