Programs & Universities in Hungary - Study in Hungary

Programs & Universities in Hungary

Hungarian higher education is concentrated in a small number of strong public universities, most founded in the 18th or 19th century and rebuilt since 1989. For international students, the system is dominated by two clusters: the four English-language medical faculties (Semmelweis, Debrecen, Pécs, Szeged), and the broader research and business universities in Budapest (CEU, Corvinus, BME, ELTE). All follow the Bologna system and award EU-recognised degrees. This guide walks you through the major institutions, what each is known for, and how to choose the right program for your field.

Route 1: The English-Language Medical Schools

Hungary's signature offer. Four public universities run full English-language medicine, dentistry, pharmacy (and at some, veterinary) programs — taught in parallel with the Hungarian-language faculties on the same campuses.

Semmelweis University (Budapest)

Founded in 1769, Semmelweis is Hungary's oldest and most prestigious medical school, and one of the highest-ranked medical universities in continental Europe. Located in central Budapest, it runs full English-language faculties of General Medicine (MD), Dentistry, Pharmacy, and Health Sciences, with separate German-language tracks for some programs. The international intake is among the largest in Europe, with significant cohorts from Germany, Israel, Iran, Norway, Sweden, and the Anglosphere. Tuition is the highest of the four Hungarian medical schools but still well below the UK or US.

University of Debrecen

The largest international university in Hungary by enrolment, with around 7,000 international students. Debrecen is a major research university in eastern Hungary, with full English-language Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, and a wide spread of other English programs in engineering, IT, business, agriculture, and the sciences. The city is cheaper than Budapest and the campus is large, modern, and built around international students.

University of Pécs

Founded in 1367, Pécs is Hungary's oldest university. Its AOK (Általános Orvostudományi Kar — General Medicine Faculty) runs English-language medicine, dentistry, and pharmacy, with a long-established international intake. The city is in southwest Hungary, well within EU travel range of Croatia, Austria and Slovenia, and noticeably cheaper to live in than Budapest.

University of Szeged

Founded in 1581, Szeged is a leading public university in southern Hungary, with English-language medicine, dentistry, and pharmacy through its AOK. It is consistently ranked alongside Semmelweis and Debrecen for medicine and has a particularly strong scientific tradition — Nobel laureate Albert Szent-Györgyi isolated vitamin C here. Szeged is one of Hungary's most affordable student cities.

Route 2: Beyond Medicine — CEU, Corvinus, BME, ELTE

Central European University (CEU)

Founded in 1991, CEU is an English-language graduate research university, top-ranked in political science, sociology, economics, public policy, gender studies, and history. After a 2017–2020 legal dispute with the Hungarian government over the lex CEU law, the university relocated its main accredited programs to Vienna, where it now issues most degrees under Austrian accreditation. A Budapest campus remains, hosting research and selected programs. For students aiming at top-ranked English-language social-science master's and PhD work in Central Europe, CEU is one of the strongest options anywhere on the continent.

Corvinus University of Budapest

Corvinus is Hungary's leading business and economics university, with strong English-taught bachelor's and master's programs in business administration, finance, marketing, international business, and international relations. It also runs a dual degree with Sciences Po and other European partners. Tuition for English programs at Corvinus runs roughly €5,000–9,000 per year — higher than the rest of the public sector but still modest compared with Western European business schools.

Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME)

Founded in 1782, BME is Hungary's flagship public engineering university and one of the oldest institutes of technology in Europe. It runs English-language bachelor's and master's programs in mechanical, electrical, civil, chemical engineering, computer science, and architecture, attracting students from across the EU and beyond. Tuition for English tracks sits at roughly €3,000–6,000 per year.

Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE)

Founded in 1635, ELTE is Hungary's oldest continuously operating university and one of the most research-active in the region. It runs English programs in mathematics, physics, computer science, law, the social sciences and the humanities, and is particularly strong in the natural sciences.

University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest

The country's specialised English-language veterinary medicine school, with a five-and-a-half-year program leading to a DVM recognised across the EU.

Universities Compared

Degree Levels and Structure

Hungary is a full member of the European Higher Education Area and follows the Bologna structure:

• Bachelor's (BA / BSc) — typically 3 years (180 ECTS)
• Master's (MA / MSc) — typically 1 to 2 years (60–120 ECTS)
• Doctoral (PhD) — typically 3 to 4 years, research-based
• One-tier (osztatlan) degrees — medicine (6 years), dentistry (5 years), pharmacy (5 years), veterinary medicine (5.5 years), law (5 years) — these lead directly to a master's-equivalent qualification without a separate bachelor's step
• Postgraduate specialisation — common in medical and clinical fields

Credits are awarded in ECTS (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System), which makes transfers and recognition straightforward across the EU.

Choosing the Right Program

Match the route to your goal

• Want to become a doctor, dentist or pharmacist at low cost in Europe? Look at the four medical faculties — Semmelweis (top), Debrecen (largest), Pécs and Szeged (affordable).
• Want a top-ranked English-language master's in social sciences or public policy? Look at CEU.
• Want business or economics in English in Central Europe? Look at Corvinus.
• Want engineering, computer science, or architecture in English? Look at BME.

Always check accreditation and EU recognition

All major Hungarian public universities are accredited by the Hungarian Accreditation Committee (MAB) and listed in the European Higher Education Area, so degrees are recognised across the EU. For regulated professions — medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, law — also confirm recognition by the relevant professional body in the country where you intend to work (e.g. the GMC for the UK, the Ärztekammer for Germany, the IMA for Israel). EU-recognised does not always mean automatically licensed.

Match the city to your life

• Budapest (Semmelweis, CEU, Corvinus, BME, ELTE) — the biggest hub, most international, highest costs, best café and music culture
• Debrecen — large international student community, cheaper, eastern Hungary
• Pécs — historic, smaller, southwestern Hungary, close to Croatia
• Szeged — southern Hungary, classic university town, very affordable

How to Read a Program Page

Hungarian program pages share a common logic — learn to scan them quickly:

• Accreditation — confirm MAB accreditation and, for regulated professions, EU recognition
• Language of instruction — confirm it is English (or German for some Semmelweis tracks)
• Entry requirements — prior qualification, prerequisite subjects (biology and chemistry for medicine), English level
• Entrance exam — many medical programs require a written entrance exam in biology, chemistry, sometimes physics and English; some allow an online format
• Tuition fee — listed for international students, usually per semester or per year
• Intake dates — usually September, with a February intake for many medical programs
• Duration and ECTS — total years and credits

If anything is unclear, the university's international office is the right contact — and the only safe channel to apply through.

A Note on Tuition by Route

Tuition varies a lot by route and field. Non-medical English-taught public-university programs run roughly €2,000–8,000 per year. English-taught medicine, dentistry, and pharmacy sit at €8,000–18,000 per year depending on the university and program (Semmelweis is the most expensive; Debrecen, Pécs and Szeged are typically cheaper). CEU programs are priced higher but come with significant scholarship coverage for eligible students. Use our cost-of-study calculator for a personalised estimate, and see the costs and funding guide for the full picture.

Rankings — Useful, Not Decisive

Hungarian universities perform respectably in the global tables — Semmelweis consistently ranks in the world's top 250–300 medical schools, ELTE appears in the global top 600 overall, and CEU ranks among the top 50 universities globally for politics, sociology, and development studies. But treat rankings as a rough guide, not a verdict. For most students, the specific program, the accreditation, the city, and the cost matter far more than overall university position. A four-year medical degree at Pécs with EU recognition will serve you better than a famous name with a loose match.

Next Steps

1. Admissions and application — intakes, entrance exams, requirements, and how to apply
2. Costs and funding — tuition by route, living costs, Stipendium Hungaricum and university scholarships
3. Why study in Hungary — the honest case, if you are still deciding
4. Residence permit — the OIN/OIF process, step by step