Step 1 of 10
Understand Why Students Choose Hungary
Hungary offers affordable, EU-recognized English-taught degrees (especially medicine and dentistry), the generous Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship, very low living costs, and a central Schengen location — a strong package for international students.
English-taught medicine — a fraction of UK/US cost
Stipendium Hungaricum — full funding
Low costs — among EU’s lowest
How to help: Weigh Hungary’s affordable English degrees and generous scholarship against the fact that Hungarian is expected for work — it’s a leading value pick, especially for medicine.
Good to know: Hungary is one of Europe’s top destinations for English-taught medicine at a fraction of Western fees — a major draw.
Step 2 of 10
Understand the System
Hungarian universities offer 700+ English-language programs. Leading names: Semmelweis (medicine), ELTE (Eötvös Loránd), BME (engineering), Corvinus and CEU (business/social sciences), and Debrecen, Szeged, and Pécs (strong, affordable medical schools). Degrees are Bologna-compliant and EU-recognized.
Semmelweis — medicine
BME / Corvinus / CEU — engineering / business
Debrecen/Szeged/Pécs — affordable medicine
How to help: Choose by field — Semmelweis or regional schools (Debrecen, Szeged, Pécs) for medicine, BME for engineering, Corvinus/CEU for business/social sciences — all with strong English tracks.
Good to know: Regional medical schools (Debrecen, Szeged, Pécs) offer the same EU-recognized medical degree at lower cost than Budapest.
Step 3 of 10
Get the Residence Permit for Study
Non-EU/EEA students need a residence permit for the purpose of studies (via a Type D long-stay visa at the consulate, or the Enter Hungary online portal, depending on nationality). After arriving, register your address at the kormányablak and collect your permit card.
Residence permit — for study
Consulate or Enter Hungary — by nationality
Register — at the kormányablak
How to help: Apply for your study residence permit (consulate or Enter Hungary portal) after accepting your offer and paying tuition/deposit — budget 4–10 weeks and register your address on arrival.
Watch out: Start the permit as soon as you have your offer — processing takes weeks, and OFFI-certified translations are usually required.
Step 4 of 10
Apply to Universities (or Stipendium)
Most students apply directly to universities (main intake September; many medical programs also offer February). Stipendium Hungaricum applicants apply through Tempus after being nominated by their home country. Medical schools require a written entrance exam (biology, chemistry, often physics).
Apply directly — + Stipendium via Tempus
Sept & Feb — medical intakes
Medical entrance exam — biology/chemistry
How to help: Apply directly to universities (or via Tempus for Stipendium), prepare for the medical entrance exam if relevant, and note the September and February intakes.
Good to know: Medicine and dentistry require a written entrance exam — prepare in biology and chemistry (and often physics) well ahead.
Step 5 of 10
Understand Tuition & Stipendium Hungaricum
Non-EU students pay: English-taught medicine/dentistry ~€8,000–18,000/year and other English programs ~€2,000–8,000/year. Stipendium Hungaricum scholars pay nothing — it covers full tuition, a monthly stipend, dormitory/housing, and insurance.
Medicine — ~€8k–18k/yr
Other English — ~€2k–8k/yr
Stipendium — full funding
How to help: Budget the self-funded tuition (medicine is the outlier) — or pursue Stipendium Hungaricum, which fully funds tuition, stipend, housing, and insurance.
Watch out: Stipendium Hungaricum applications open in January–February and are nominated by your home country — miss the window and you wait a year.
Step 6 of 10
Meet the Financial Requirement
For the permit you must prove funds — recently about €500–700/month (~€6,000–8,000/year), plus tuition paid or covered by a scholarship. Stipendium Hungaricum scholars are exempt from some financial requirements. Health insurance proof is required.
Funds — ~€500–700/month
+ tuition — paid or scholarship
Insurance — required
How to help: Prepare proof of funds at the current amount plus tuition (or your Stipendium award), and arrange health insurance — both are required for the permit.
Good to know: Note that Hungary uses the forint (HUF), not the euro — factor in currency fluctuation if your funds are in another currency.
Step 7 of 10
Meet Language Requirements
Programs are taught in Hungarian or, for the 700+ international programs, in English (typically IELTS 5.5–6.5 or TOEFL 72–90, B2 level). Hungary isn’t an English-speaking country, so some Hungarian helps daily life and (limited) work.
English — IELTS 5.5–6.5
700+ programs — in English
Some Hungarian — helps a lot
How to help: Take the right test for your program’s language (IELTS/TOEFL for English programs), and learn some Hungarian — it helps daily life, since English-only jobs are limited.
Good to know: You can study fully in English, but everyday life and most jobs run in Hungarian — learning some helps a lot.
Step 8 of 10
Prepare for the Move
After arriving, complete your residence-permit card, register your address, get a Hungarian phone number and bank account, and arrange healthcare (a TAJ card once eligible, or private insurance). Use OFFI for required official translations. Living costs are among the EU’s lowest.
Permit card + address — first steps
TAJ / insurance — healthcare
OFFI translations — official
How to help: Handle arrival admin — permit card, address registration, bank, healthcare — use OFFI for official translations, and enjoy Budapest—s low living costs.
Good to know: Most universities require OFFI (official state) translations — standard commercial translations aren’t always accepted.
Step 9 of 10
Understand Work Rules
Hungary is relatively generous: students may work up to 30 hours per week during term and full-time (up to 90 days / 66 working days) outside it — more than the UK or Ireland allow. English-only jobs are limited, though.
Work — up to 30 hrs/week
More generous — than UK/Ireland
English jobs — limited
How to help: Take advantage of Hungary’s 30-hour weekly work allowance for part-time jobs and internships — though budget primarily from other sources, as English-only work is limited.
Good to know: The 30-hour work week is generous — but English-only jobs are scarce, so don’t rely on work to fund studies.
Step 10 of 10
Thrive & Work After Study
After graduating, options exist to stay and seek qualified work, and a Hungarian residence permit gives visa-free movement across the Schengen area — valuable for internships and interviews in Germany, Austria, and beyond.
Post-study — job-search options
Schengen mobility — 29 countries
EU-recognized degree — portable
How to help: Plan for post-study work options, use your EU-recognized degree and Schengen mobility to pursue opportunities across Europe, and confirm the current job-search route.
Good to know: Your Hungarian permit unlocks Schengen-wide movement — a real asset for finding work or internships across Europe.
Quick Reference
Studying in Hungary: The Essentials
A snapshot — figures change, so confirm everything with the Hungarian immigration authority, Study in Hungary, and your university.
- The system700+ English-language programs; leaders include Semmelweis (medicine), ELTE, BME (engineering), Corvinus/CEU (business/social sciences), and Debrecen/Szeged/Pécs (affordable medicine); Bologna, EU-recognized.
- Visa & permitNon-EU students need a residence permit for study (via a Type D visa or the Enter Hungary portal); register your address at the kormányablak on arrival; OFFI translations usually required.
- Tuition & StipendiumEnglish medicine/dentistry ~€8k–18k/year, other English programs ~€2k–8k; Stipendium Hungaricum fully funds tuition, stipend, housing, and insurance (apply Jan–Feb via Tempus, home-country nominated).
- Money & languageProve ~€500–700/month plus tuition; health insurance required; English programs need IELTS 5.5–6.5/TOEFL; some Hungarian helps daily life; living costs are among the EU’s lowest.
- Work & afterWork up to 30 hrs/week in term (generous); post-study job-search options exist; a Hungarian permit gives Schengen-wide movement.
Official & Trusted Sources
Where to learn more
About this guide. This guide is a general, plain-language overview compiled by K12 Academics, current as of 2025–26, and is not legal or immigration advice. Hungarian rules, tuition, and the funds requirement change; confirm all details with the Hungarian mission/immigration authority, Study in Hungary, and your university.
Studying in