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Study in Hungary: costs, visa, scholarships and universities

Costs, visa process, work rights, scholarships and university options for studying in Hungary.

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Overview

Hungary offers English-taught degrees at public and foundation-maintained universities, concentrated in Budapest, Szeged, Debrecen and Pécs. Fees are set by each university and published per semester or per year, in euros or US dollars, and differ widely by field: the non-medical bachelor and master listings reviewed here run from about EUR 3,000 to EUR 12,000 per year, while medicine and dentistry programmes are listed at roughly USD 16,750-17,500 or EUR 15,800-18,680 per year.

Admission is handled by each university through its own online platform, usually with a document review and an entrance exam or interview, and English is generally required at about CEFR B2 (some programmes B1 or C1, medicine tested in the entrance exam). Non-EU students need a residence permit for study purposes; applicants who require a visa lodge the application at a Hungarian mission before travelling, while visa-exempt nationals may apply from inside Hungary through the Enter Hungary platform. The immigration authority publishes no fixed financial threshold and asks for documentary proof of subsistence, accommodation, return travel and health cover.

The state-funded Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship is available only to citizens of partner countries and only on nomination by the sending partner's authority; the 2026/27 call listed Türkiye, Russia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Ukraine among eligible partners, each with its own national nomination body. Student permit holders may work up to 30 hours a week during the study period, and graduates can apply for a non-extendable permit of up to nine months to look for work or start a business.

Hungary may suit students who want an English-taught programme in Central Europe and can budget for tuition and rent, especially in Budapest. Fees, deadlines, scholarship calls and permit rules change from year to year, several official pages conflict on details, and applicants should confirm every figure with the university and the immigration authority before paying or applying.

Public university tuition
No single national schedule; each university sets its own. Non-medical English-taught bachelor/master programmes reviewed (2026/27 listings): about EUR 3,000 to EUR 12,000 per year (lowest: MATE Film and Media Studies EUR 1,500 per semester; highest examples: Corvinus one-year MSc EUR 6,000 per semester, Debrecen music USD 10,000). Typical bachelor EUR 3,600-9,400 per year (ELTE Psychology EUR 4,700 per semester is the highest ELTE bachelor/master fee). Per-year figures here are mostly 2 x the stated per-semester fee (computed).
Source
Monthly living cost
No official national figure or visa threshold. University-published estimates (not official government figures): BME about EUR 700 or more per month (room in shared apartment EUR 250-450, studio EUR 450-600); University of Pécs says a minimum of HUF 250,000 (about EUR 700) per month, dormitory HUF 72,600-94,100; Corvinus EUR 500-1,100 per month; University of Debrecen about USD 800 per month; ELTE Budapest apartment HUF 220,000-250,000. Study in Hungary calculator (Budapest averages, snapshot 2026-09-17): dormitory HUF 36,000, shared flat HUF 140,000, private flat HUF 225,000 per month. The SH scholarship pays HUF 43,700 monthly plus HUF 40,000 housing contribution and states this does not cover all costs.
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Visa processing time
Procedural time 15 days (excluding time to remedy deficiencies); authority decides within 60 days of submission (OIF). Istanbul consulate: study 15 days. SH call: officially up to 30 days. Semmelweis: book consulate appointments 4-6 weeks ahead, processing usually 1-4 weeks after appointment.
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Work rights
Holders of a study residence permit may work up to 30 hours per week during the study period and full-time for a maximum of 90 days per year outside the study period (OIF, factsheet edited 2026-03-02). The older Study in Hungary page states 90 days or 66 working days outside term time, citing Act II of 2007 s.20(5); the OIF wording is used as primary.
Source
Intakes and deadlines
Main intake is September; February intake available at many universities for selected programmes. Windows for Sept 2027 (as published): ELTE rounds from 1 Oct 2026 to 31 May 2027 depending on faculty; Szeged 4 Jan - 15 May/15 Jun 2027; Debrecen 15 May 2027 (Feb 2027 intake: 1 Nov 2026); MATE 30 Apr 2027; Pécs 15-30 June 2027; Semmelweis medicine 31 May 2027; BME Feb 2027 intake 15 Oct - 15 Nov 2026 (Sept 2027 dates unpublished); Corvinus rolling, platform opens Oct 2026. The academic year has an autumn semester (September-January) and a spring semester (February-June).
Source
Language requirement
No national rule: each programme sets its own. Typical thresholds found: B2 (IELTS 5.5-6.0, TOEFL iBT 72, Cambridge FCE 160-170, Duolingo 100-115, PTE 50-59); preparatory/some bachelor programmes B1 (BME IELTS 4.5, ELTE BSc Computer Science B1); some programmes C1 (Corvinus MSc Management and Leadership IELTS 7.0); medicine and other health programmes test English at entrance exam. Exemptions exist for native speakers or prior education in English. The residence permit requires proof of the language knowledge needed for study (certificate, diploma in that language or other credible means).
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Tuition and living costs

Public university tuition
No single national schedule; each university sets its own. Non-medical English-taught bachelor/master programmes reviewed (2026/27 listings): about EUR 3,000 to EUR 12,000 per year (lowest: MATE Film and Media Studies EUR 1,500 per semester; highest examples: Corvinus one-year MSc EUR 6,000 per semester, Debrecen music USD 10,000). Typical bachelor EUR 3,600-9,400 per year (ELTE Psychology EUR 4,700 per semester is the highest ELTE bachelor/master fee). Per-year figures here are mostly 2 x the stated per-semester fee (computed).
Source
Private university tuition
Not yet verified
Monthly living cost
No official national figure or visa threshold. University-published estimates (not official government figures): BME about EUR 700 or more per month (room in shared apartment EUR 250-450, studio EUR 450-600); University of Pécs says a minimum of HUF 250,000 (about EUR 700) per month, dormitory HUF 72,600-94,100; Corvinus EUR 500-1,100 per month; University of Debrecen about USD 800 per month; ELTE Budapest apartment HUF 220,000-250,000. Study in Hungary calculator (Budapest averages, snapshot 2026-09-17): dormitory HUF 36,000, shared flat HUF 140,000, private flat HUF 225,000 per month. The SH scholarship pays HUF 43,700 monthly plus HUF 40,000 housing contribution and states this does not cover all costs.
Source

Accommodation

SH scholarship holders receive a dormitory place (subject to capacity) or HUF 40,000 per month toward rent; self-financed students have limited dormitory access and often rent privately. Dormitory prices cited by universities: Pécs EUR 160-210, Corvinus EUR 100-200, Study in Hungary calculator averages HUF 13,000-40,000 depending on city; shared flats about HUF 80,000-140,000; private flats HUF 120,000-225,000. Residence-permit applications require a real Hungarian address, and accommodation changes must be reported (3 days per Baku infosheet; via Enter Hungary).

When planning the total budget, separate one-off and monthly items. Budget planning guide

Visa and residence permit

Non-EU/EEA students need a residence permit for the purpose of studies (full-time study at a state-recognised higher education institution, or a preparatory course run by one). Applicants who need a visa lodge the residence-permit application (which includes the entry visa) at a Hungarian mission in the country of citizenship or habitual residence; the mission issues a single-entry type D visa (stay up to 30 days, valid 3 months), the person must enter within 3 months, and the permit card is collected at the educational institution. Visa-exempt nationals may apply in Hungary via Enter Hungary or in person. After lodging via Enter Hungary the applicant must complete biometrics at the regional directorate within 15 days or the application is deleted. Permit validity is minimum 1 year (or the course length), maximum 3 years, extendable for 1-3 years; extension applications are filed via Enter Hungary at least 30 days (and at most 90 days) before expiry and the holder must have spent at least 90 days in Hungary in any 180 days. Permit can be refused/revoked if the degree is not completed within 1.5 times the nominal period.

Visa processing time
Procedural time 15 days (excluding time to remedy deficiencies); authority decides within 60 days of submission (OIF). Istanbul consulate: study 15 days. SH call: officially up to 30 days. Semmelweis: book consulate appointments 4-6 weeks ahead, processing usually 1-4 weeks after appointment.
Source
Proof of funds
No fixed amount published by OIF; applicant must show means to cover subsistence, accommodation, return travel and healthcare from legally acquired income and savings. Hungarian Embassy Baku FAQ: 'We cannot tell you an exact amount'; account must be in own or parents' name.
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Health insurance
Residence-permit applicants must prove comprehensive health insurance or ability to pay for healthcare. SH holders receive health care under Hungarian law plus supplementary insurance. Several universities include insurance in tuition (Debrecen compulsory combined health and travel insurance; Semmelweis SEPremium for those enrolled since 2024/25). Study in Hungary (site footer dated 2019) says other students may sign an agreement with the National Health Insurance Fund (NEAK) at 30% of the local minimum wage and that emergency first aid is free for foreigners - treat as possibly dated. Szeged advises private insurance for the first weeks because public registration takes time.

Application steps

  1. Get an acceptance/admission letter and (usually) pay tuition as the university requires.
  2. Book a mission appointment (konzinfobooking.mfa.gov.hu) or, if visa-exempt, register on Enter Hungary.
  3. Submit the form, documents and fee; EUR 110 at a mission, HUF 26,000 via Enter Hungary, HUF 39,000 in person in Hungary (exemptions below).
  4. Await decision (procedural period 15 days; decision within 60 days of submission; refusal can be appealed within 8 days).
  5. Travel on the type D visa within 3 months; report accommodation; collect the permit at the university; extend annually or as validity ends.

Documents required

  • Application form and appendix
  • Valid passport (mission checklists: at least 2 blank pages, issued within 10 years, valid 3 months beyond stay - mission-specific)
  • Photo (35 x 45 mm, not older than 3 months)
  • Certificate of admission or student status
  • Proof of language knowledge (certificate, diploma in the language, or other credible means)
  • Proof of tuition payment
  • Proof of subsistence (own bank statement, notarised family support declaration with proof of sponsor income, income document, scholarship certificate)
  • Real Hungarian address declared on the form (dormitory certificate or lease at some missions)
  • Proof of comprehensive health insurance or ability to cover costs
  • Return/onward ticket or funds; parental consent for minors
Fees
mission: EUR 110; enterHungary: HUF 26,000; inPerson: HUF 39,000; extension: HUF 26,000; appealAtMission: EUR 160; exemptions: Hungarian State Scholarship holders (e.g. Stipendium Hungaricum), study-purpose ministerial sponsorship, Ukrainian citizens, and Belarusian citizens for study/employment permits
Source

Nationality-specific notes: turkish: Turkish ordinary-passport holders need a residence permit (long-term visa) for study. In Türkiye applications are lodged at AS Visa offices in Ankara or Istanbul by appointment (konzinfobooking.mfa.gov.hu), then an interview at the Istanbul Consulate General; fees EUR 110 plus AS Visa handling fee EUR 25 (SH holders: free permit, EUR 15 handling). Extra documents: YÖK student certificate with QR code, Turkish diploma, sponsor undertaking (taahhütname), 6 months bank history, university certificate that classes are not online-only (online programmes cannot get a D visa). Study decision time 15 days. MFA visa-free table lists only diplomatic/service/special passports for Türkiye.; russian: MFA visa-free table lists only service passports for Russia, so ordinary-passport holders need a visa/permit; mission-specific (Moscow) study checklist was not retrieved. SH nominations for Russia run through the Ministry of Science and Higher Education via FSBI Interobrazovanie.; kazakh: MFA table lists only diplomatic/service passports as visa-free for Kazakhstan; a university guide states D-type permit visas must be requested in the home country (Astana embassy / Almaty consulate). Mission-specific checklist not retrieved. SH nominations via Bolashak International Programs Centre.; ukrainian: Ukraine is listed as visa-free for ordinary biometric passports (90 days). Ukrainian citizens are exempt from the residence-permit procedural fee (issue and extension). Students at Risk subprogramme exists for Ukrainian citizens (no sending-partner nomination; applications go to the host institution). Temporary protection is a separate track and not available to people arriving specifically to study (university statement).; azerbaijani: MFA table lists only diplomatic/service passports as visa-free for Azerbaijan. Embassy Baku student infosheet (undated): SH holders exempt from the visa fee, self-funded students pay EUR 110; passport valid at least one year; financial support can be provided by parents only (others only in exceptional cases); documents in Azerbaijani accepted with English translation and legalisation, apostille not mandatory; mother's maiden name = birth name; OIF decides in 15-60 days; apply as soon as documents are ready. No exact bank-balance amount.

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Work rights and after graduation

Holders of a study residence permit may work up to 30 hours per week during the study period and full-time for a maximum of 90 days per year outside the study period (OIF, factsheet edited 2026-03-02). The older Study in Hungary page states 90 days or 66 working days outside term time, citing Act II of 2007 s.20(5); the OIF wording is used as primary.

After graduation: A holder of a valid study permit who has successfully completed studies and has a job/business matching the study level may apply (via Enter Hungary, at least 15 days before the study permit expires) for a residence permit for seeking a job or starting a business: maximum 9 months, cannot be extended; decision procedure 15 days, merits decision within 60 days. Proof: registration as a jobseeker or employer's statement of employment starting within 3 months; subsistence, address, health insurance and exit conditions. Visa-exempt citizens may stay 90 additional days after permit expiry as tourists. Study permits do not lead to a national residence card (long-term status) and do not allow family reunification.

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Language requirements and intakes

Language requirement
No national rule: each programme sets its own. Typical thresholds found: B2 (IELTS 5.5-6.0, TOEFL iBT 72, Cambridge FCE 160-170, Duolingo 100-115, PTE 50-59); preparatory/some bachelor programmes B1 (BME IELTS 4.5, ELTE BSc Computer Science B1); some programmes C1 (Corvinus MSc Management and Leadership IELTS 7.0); medicine and other health programmes test English at entrance exam. Exemptions exist for native speakers or prior education in English. The residence permit requires proof of the language knowledge needed for study (certificate, diploma in that language or other credible means).
Source
Intakes and deadlines
Main intake is September; February intake available at many universities for selected programmes. Windows for Sept 2027 (as published): ELTE rounds from 1 Oct 2026 to 31 May 2027 depending on faculty; Szeged 4 Jan - 15 May/15 Jun 2027; Debrecen 15 May 2027 (Feb 2027 intake: 1 Nov 2026); MATE 30 Apr 2027; Pécs 15-30 June 2027; Semmelweis medicine 31 May 2027; BME Feb 2027 intake 15 Oct - 15 Nov 2026 (Sept 2027 dates unpublished); Corvinus rolling, platform opens Oct 2026. The academic year has an autumn semester (September-January) and a spring semester (February-June).
Source

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Scholarships

non-degree preparatory, bachelor, master, one-tier master, postgraduate specialist training, doctoral (separate call), partial/exchange studiesBy nomination

Stipendium Hungaricum (SH)

Hungarian Government (Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade), coordinated by Tempus Public Foundation

Coverage
Tuition-free; monthly stipend HUF 43,700 (bachelor/master/one-tier master/non-degree) or HUF 140,000 (first 4 semesters) then HUF 180,000 (doctoral); dormitory place or HUF 40,000 per month accommodation contribution; health care per Hungarian law plus supplementary insurance up to HUF 65,000 a year; residence-permit fees exempt; no travel funding. Stipend falls to HUF 30,000 if the Hungarian-as-a-foreign-language exam is failed; stipend withheld if the course is not attended.
Deadline
2026/27 call: 15 January 2026, 14:00 CET (closed). Sending-partner deadlines differ (e.g. Russia 12-16 Jan 2026, Ukraine 30 Jan 2026). 2027/28 call not found as of 2026-10-23 (Tempus sites under maintenance); the 2026/27 call was published Oct 2025 with system opening mid-Nov 2025.
Eligibility
Eligible full-time sending partners in the 2026/27 call include Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Russian Federation, Türkiye and Ukraine. Programme fields per country are listed on the partners page.
Source
same levels as SH except Professional Pilot BSc and aviation programmesdirect-application-to-tempus (no sending-partner nomination)

Stipendium Hungaricum - Students at Risk Subprogramme

Tempus Public Foundation / Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Coverage
Same package as SH (see above).
Deadline
Same call timetable as SH 2026/27 (15 January 2026); no 2027/28 call found.
Eligibility
Ukrainian citizens only (dual Hungarian-Ukrainian citizens excluded); designed for students whose studies were interrupted by war.
Source
higher education (see Tempus)direct application via the Diaspora scholarship website (diasporascholarship.hu)

Hungarian Diaspora Scholarship

Hungarian Government, managed by Tempus Public Foundation

Coverage
Not detailed in fetched pages.
Eligibility
For young people living in Hungarian diaspora communities; geographic scope per Semmelweis: every country except EU member states, Serbia and the Zakarpattia region of Ukraine. Descent requirements not verified in this pass.
Source
not statedvia Hungary Helps Agency

Scholarship for Christian Young People

Hungarian Government (Hungary Helps Agency)

Coverage
Not detailed in fetched pages.
Eligibility
Founded in solidarity with persecuted Christian minorities (BME description). Eligibility rules not verified.
Source
enrolled studentsuniversity

University tuition reductions and merit awards (examples)

Individual universities

Coverage
Debrecen: up to 20% tuition reduction from year 2 (average 4.0+ for two semesters; capped at 20% of eligible students) and 10% alumni discount; Semmelweis: Pannonia In Excellence merit scholarship (12 monthly instalments, renewable); Corvinus: 20% first-year discount text for nominated SH/Diaspora applicants following the self-funded route.
Deadline
Varies
Eligibility
See each university page.
Source

Cities

Budapest

Capital; ELTE, BME, Semmelweis, Corvinus.

Debrecen

University of Debrecen.

Szeged

University of Szeged.

Pécs

University of Pécs.

Universities

Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE)

Budapest · Public

English-taught bachelor/master programmes listed on apply.elte.hu range from EUR 1,990 per semester (BA Special Needs Education) to EUR 4,700 per semester (BA and MA Psychology); most humanities BA EUR 2,000-2,700, MA EUR 2,500-3,500; Informatics (BSc/MSc Computer Science) EUR 3,200; Science MSc EUR 4,190 per semester. PhD up to EUR 5,500 per semester. Roughly 72 bachelor/master/undivided listings with English or combined-language instruction were found by crawling the platform.

Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME)

Budapest · Public

2026/27 non-EU per semester: BSc Civil/Chemical/Engineering Management/Computer Science/Electrical/Mathematics/Physics EUR 3,200; BSc Mechanical Engineering EUR 3,500; pre-engineering programmes EUR 3,200-3,800; MSc Finance EUR 2,200; MSc Computer Science/Electrical/AI Engineering EUR 3,500 (a 3,200 figure marked ** also appears; footnote text not captured); MSc Architecture and several others listed on the fee table. PhD example (Electrical Engineering) EUR 4,500 per semester.

Semmelweis University

Budapest · Public

2027 entrants (programme pages): General Medicine and Dentistry EUR 9,340 per semester, Pharmaceutical Sciences EUR 5,820 per semester, Physiotherapy and Nursing BSc EUR 4,050 per semester, plus one-time fees. The Registrar FAQ table shows USD 10,450 per semester for earlier enrolment years (fee depends on year of enrolment). Admission procedure fee USD 400, deposit USD 2,000 (deducted from first-semester tuition), enrolment fee USD 230; dentistry year-2 additional material fee USD 1,250 per semester.

University of Szeged

Szeged · Public

Per semester (apply.u-szeged.hu): BA English and American Studies EUR 1,800; BSc Business Administration and Management EUR 2,700; MSc International Economy and Business EUR 3,000; MSc Computer Science EUR 4,100; MD General Medicine EUR 7,900 (first semester 7,100 + 800 deposit); Dental Medicine EUR 8,000; Pharmacy EUR 5,420; Nursing and Physiotherapy BSc EUR 3,500; PhD EUR 3,500-5,000. For applicants from visa-restricted countries the full first-year tuition (two semesters) must be paid before visa documents.

University of Debrecen

Debrecen · Public

2026/27 (USD): Medicine 16,900 per year; Dentistry 17,500; Pharmacy 8,000; Nursing BSc 7,500; Physiotherapy 7,000; Public Health 6,000; non-medical BSc 6,000-7,500 (Computer Science 7,000; Business Administration 7,000; engineering 7,500); non-medical MSc 7,000-8,000 (Computer Science 7,500); music 10,000; PhD 6,500-12,500; Foundation Year 6,000 per programme; Basic Medicine Course 7,500. Application fee USD 150, entrance exam fee USD 350. Health insurance, medical check-up and student card are included in tuition.

University of Pécs

Pécs · Public

2026/27 guide: non-medical undergraduate EUR 1,700-4,500 per semester (non-EU), engineering/IT USD 3,400-4,000 per semester, master's EUR 1,700-4,000 per semester; General Medicine USD 16,750 per year, Dentistry USD 17,350 per year, Pharmacy EUR 8,400 per year; medicine in German EUR 7,500 per semester. Guide estimates total annual cost EUR 16,100-24,610 (medical) and EUR 10,500-16,360 (non-medical) including living.

Corvinus University of Budapest

Budapest · public (foundation-maintained)

Per semester (EUR, non-EEA, 2026/27 listings): BSc Business and Management, International Business, Applied Economics, Business Informatics, Data Science in Business EUR 3,500; BA Communication/IR/PPE EUR 3,300; MSc Finance, Management and Leadership, Marketing, Economic Analysis EUR 4,000; MA/MSc IEB, Public Policy, IR EUR 3,500; one-year MSc programmes EUR 5,400-6,000; Full-time MBA EUR 4,500; International MBA EUR 6,000. Fees remain the same for the duration of studies; for the 2027 cycle EUR 500 of tuition is a non-refundable registration fee.

Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences (MATE)

Gödöllő (headquarters; campuses in Budapest, Gyöngyös, Kaposvár, Keszthely) · Public

2026/27 per semester: BSc Agricultural Engineering EUR 2,200; Business Administration and Management (Gödöllő) EUR 2,300; Food Engineering and Biochemical Engineering EUR 2,100; Horticultural Engineering EUR 2,050; Film and Media Studies (Kaposvár) EUR 1,500; MSc programmes mostly EUR 2,500-3,000 (e.g. Agricultural Biotechnology 3,000; Engineering Management 2,800; Finance 3,000).

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Official resources

Frequently asked questions

Information on this page is compiled from official sources and was verified on the date shown. Fees, dates and visa rules change often; check official sources before applying. Empty fields have not been verified yet; ask our advisor for the current information.

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