Higher education in Hungary at a glance
Hungary is an affordable EU destination, especially known for strong medicine and engineering. Many English-taught programs are available to international students, and tuition and living costs are lower than in Western Europe.
Education follows the Bologna system, with degrees recognized across the EU. Budapest is a beautiful, affordable European capital.
Advantages of studying in Hungary
- Affordable tuition and living costs in the EU.
- Strong medicine and engineering.
- Programs in English.
- Degrees are recognized across the EU.
- Budapest is a beautiful and comfortable capital.
Hungary: turn semester fees into an annual budget
Two semesters at METU make one academic year. The examples below use published 2026/27 non-EU tariffs; eligibility for a lower fee category depends on nationality and university rules.
| Scenario | Approximate USD |
|---|---|
| METU Human Resource Management BA: two semesters | $8,800 |
| METU Graphic Design BA: two semesters | $11,500 |
| METU English or business preparation: one semester | $3,500 |
| Living: 12 months using the European Commission general guide | $6,900–$8,300 |
The general living guide is not a housing offer in Budapest. Compare it with actual rent and transport to campus.
METU Human Resource Management BA illustration: tuition and living: approximately $15,700–$17,100. Add expenses outside these categories.
Preparation is a separate charge: one semester is not a bachelor’s year. Master’s and other programmes have their own tariffs. METU warns that fees may rise annually; multiplying the current tariff by degree duration is not a fixed quote.
If your budget is limited
Compare the programme, city and English requirements before choosing preparation. Lower rent outside the capital helps only if the academic programme fits.
What to prepare next
Prepare your subject, English level and budget for two semesters including housing. For art subjects, mention whether you have a portfolio.
Rounded amounts are shown in US dollars for comparison, using ECB reference rates from 2026. The programme and its provider’s terms determine the final fee. Count housing and other categories once. Check what the university calculation includes; add only missing expenses and StudyU fees separately. A deposit can require funds before studies start. Do not add proof of funds again to expenses those same funds cover.
Budapest Metropolitan University · European Commission: Hungary
Official requirements: METU: admission · Stipendium Hungaricum
Steps to enrolment
Admission is based on your diploma and an IELTS/TOEFL certificate; for medicine there are often entrance exams in biology and chemistry.
StudyU helps compare universities, check scholarship requirements, and prepare application and visa documents; the university and consular authority make the decisions.
The route:
- Pick your track. Hungary's main draw is the state-funded Stipendium Hungaricum: nearly 900 programs, mostly in English. The alternative is direct fee-paying admission.
- Deadlines. Check the deadline for the current Stipendium Hungaricum call and the sending partner’s own calendar. Fee-paying programmes set separate deadlines. Do not reuse a past intake’s dates.
- Documents. Translated school certificate, language certificate (IELTS/TOEFL or the university's own test), motivation letter, medical certificate; medicine adds biology and chemistry exams.
- Selection. Scholarship and fee-paying routes have different selection steps. Check the sending-country agreement, nomination rules and university assessment for the chosen programme.
- Student residence permit. Check the requirements for your nationality and course with the Hungarian immigration authority. Leave time for the application; an offer or complete file does not guarantee issuance or a fixed processing period.
Applying straight after 11th grade
The institution assesses the exact school qualification, grades and language. Entry after 11 school years depends on the selected programme; preparation, an interview, an exam or a portfolio may be required. Holding a certificate does not establish admission. More: guide.
The Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship
Stipendium Hungaricum provides tuition exemption, a monthly stipend, a dormitory place or accommodation contribution, and medical coverage under the call’s terms. The support does not guarantee that all living costs are covered. Eligibility depends on nationality, the sending agreement and programme; exclude an unconfirmed award from essential funding.
Master's degrees in Hungary
Master’s programmes assess the bachelor’s qualification, academic background and language; interviews or additional subjects may be needed. Check the fee, duration and scholarship terms for the specific programme.
What studying in Hungary costs
Compare the same intake, study load and accommodation period. Do not add housing or financial evidence again to expenses already covered. Preparation and extra semesters need separate calculations; StudyU services are accounted for under the agreement.
FAQ
Above all strong medicine, plus engineering - at an EU-affordable price.
Yes, many - especially in medicine and engineering.
Budapest housing and the programme tariff can change the result substantially. Use the named METU examples above, compare other cities and check payment dates. A scholarship helps only after eligibility and an award are confirmed; accommodation support may leave a shortfall.
Medical programmes can require subject exams, commonly biology and chemistry, but the institution sets the exact format. Check its published syllabus, language threshold and assessment rules. METU examples on this page cover business and arts, not medicine.
The deadline is set by the call for the chosen intake, and the sending partner may have its own earlier date. Check the current official call before preparing documents; nomination and university assessment follow their separate schedules.
At METU’s 2026/27 non-EU tariff, Human Resource Management BA is about $8,800 for two semesters. The general 12-month living guide is $6,900–$8,300, with housing included. The example totals $15,700–$17,100 before missing expenses; Budapest housing can require more.
Thinking about studying in Hungary?
During the free initial consultation, we clarify your goal, profile, timing, and budget and identify the next realistic step.
Universities in Hungary
Each comes with a full guide - faculties, prices and requirements. The list will keep growing.
University and college catalogue
- Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE)
- Semmelweis University
- Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME)
- Corvinus University of Budapest: Admission, Programmes and Fees
- University of Debrecen: Admission, Programmes and Fees
- University of Pécs: Admission, Programmes and Fees
- University of Szeged (SZTE): Admission, Programmes and Fees
Guides
- Studying medicine in Hungary: English-taught programmes, entrance exams and costs
- Applying to Hungarian universities: requirements, documents and deadlines
- Stipendium Hungaricum: how to win a scholarship to study in Hungary
- Cost of studying in Hungary in 2026/27: tuition, housing and a student budget
- Hungary student visa: the residence permit for study in 2026
- Universities in Hungary: which one to choose as an international student
- Bachelor's Degree in Hungary: English-Taught Programmes, 2026/27 Fees and Admission
- Master's Degree in Hungary: English-Taught Programmes, 2026/27 Fees and Admission
Get a free consultation
During the free initial consultation, we clarify your goal, profile, timing, and budget and identify the next realistic step. A personal strategy, requirement checks, selection of agreed options, document preparation, applications, and support are provided under an agreement with StudyU.
- Discuss your study goal and academic profile
- Clarify budget, timing and destination constraints
- Identify a realistic next step and what to verify before applying
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