Study in Hungary

Budapest is home to the oldest metro line in continental Europe and is the second oldest in the world after London’s Tube.

1. In Hungary, when people write their names or introduce themselves publically, they typically use their last name first.
2. Hungarians are the most heavily taxed people in the world at an average 38.3% of their annual income
3. Hungary has the lowest employment rate in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) with only 55.4% of the population actively employed
4. Coffee is considered the national drink of Hungary. Called fekete (which means ‘strong black coffee’) it is generally made in espresso machines and either consumed “neat” (with no additives) or with lots of cream and sweetener.
5. Hungary’s Budapest Metro remains the oldest underground electrified railway system in Europe and the third oldest underground railway globally.
6. Hungary is the home to the most extensive geothermal cave system in the world which is located underneath Budapest.

Hungarian higher education has been representing academic excellence for more than 650 years. The first university was founded in 1367 in Pécs, the Southern region of Hungary. Today, there are 65 higher education institutions in Hungary, ranging from minor universities of applied sciences to top research universities.

There are 28 state funded, 11 privately-funded and 26 church-funded institutions to choose from. The foreign language programmes are of a high standard and tuition fees are very favourable when compared to its competitors.

The range of study fields students can choose from is wide:

• Agricultural Science
• Computer Science and Information Technology
• Legal Science
• Economic Science
• Medical and Health Science
• Arts, Arts and Humanities, Arts Education
• Engineering Science
• Social Science
• Teacher Training
• Sport Science
• Natural Science

The largest institutions offer courses in all study fields while smaller institutions have programmes in a few specific areas. Students can earn double degrees at many universities through joint degree programmes in which the Hungarian university works together with another European higher education institution. In case of applying for these programmes students enrol in both universities and obtain a double degree from both institutions.

Higher education studies are offered at two types of higher education institutions, egyetem (university) and főiskola (college), both of them may offer courses in all three training cycles: Bachelor course, Master course and Doctoral course.

Although the degree structure is divided in most courses, there are some integrated (one-tier) programmes where the Bachelor level and the Master level is unified: veterinary medicine, architecture, dentistry, pharmaceutics, law and medicine. These one-tier programmes consist of 10-12 semesters (5-6 years) and by the end of the last year you must have 300 to 360 credits completed.

Within a Doctoral programme, you need to complete 240 credits within 4 years of study. At the end of the fourth semester, a final examination must be taken. After a successful examination, the last 2 years of the doctoral programme are about conducting the research and writing your dissertation, which can be extended with one more year.

The education system in Hungary is divided between colleges and universities:

• College education: generally lasts for 4 years
• University education: lasts for 4 to 6 years depending on the course undertaken.
• Vocational curriculum: usually lasts 2 years, they are opened to secondary vocational school’s graduates and eventually vocational school students.
• University PhD courses: usually takes 3 years to complete.

• Business
• Tourism
• Civil Engineering
• Chemical Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Public Health
• Computer Science

For admission to a university or college course in Hungary, students must meet certain entry requirements. These consist mainly of a high school diploma or bachelor degree (for a master program), proof of language proficiency and entrance exam.

Both your diploma and transcripts of your previous studies must be translated into Hungarian or English, depending on what language the program is delivered in.

The minimum average English language score that schools in Hungary ask for is:

• For bachelor degrees:
  • between 5.0 – 6.0 for the IELTS test
  • between 60 – 80 for the TOEFL test
• For master degrees:
  • between 5.5 – 6.5 in IELTS
  • between 70 – 90 in TOEFL test

Some universities also conduct skype interviews or assessment tests to measure an applicant’s capabilities. DEpending on the course and universities, the requirements will change.

Depending on the degree level you want to apply to, there are some typical requirements that all prospective students have to meet:

For a Bachelor’s degree:

• high school diploma
• high school transcript of records
• passing an entrance exam (only for some programmes)

For a Master’s degree:

• Bachelor’s diploma (a four-year undergraduate degree is required if you apply for a one-year Master’s)
• university transcript of records
• proof that your Bachelor’s is related to the Master’s studies you apply to

Language requirements

If you want to pursue an English-speaking program in Hungary, you either need to provide a language certificate such as IELTS or TOEFL, or to take a language skills entrance exam.

For Bachelor’s degrees

• 5.0 – 6.0 for the IELTS test
• 60 – 80 for the TOEFL test

For Master’s degrees

• 5.5 – 6.5 in IELTS
• 70 – 90 in TOEFL test

Other requirements:

• An up-to-date CV
• Copy of your passport or ID card
• Listing two academic referees or including two reference letters
• A letter of motivation

• An academic paper (especially for Social Sciences and Humanities degrees)
• A competitive GMAT or GRE score (for STEM degrees)
• An entrance exam (mostly for Bachelor’s studies)
• A face-to-face or Skype interview (mostly for Master’s studies)

Tuition Fee

The tuition fees you pay will depend on where you choose to study and at what level. International students may be eligible for a scholarship provided by the Hungarian government. On average, you should expect to pay between $5,500/€4,900 and $15,000/€13,200 per year. You should also expect to pay application/examination fees of around $500/€440.

Cost of living

Living costs will depend on where you choose to live in Hungary. If you live in a bigger city, it will cost more than a smaller city or town. On average, you should budget for between $7,200/€6,400 and $10,500/€9,300 per year. This accounts for accommodation, groceries, travel and any other necessary expenses. Another living cost that international students need to consider is health insurance.You will need to purchase a health insurance policy. Some institutions offer health insurance policies, but you are able to purchase a private policy also.

International Students can also work for 24 hours per week (part‐time) on average during the academic year and work full time with no restrictions during holidays.

1. DOCUMENT PREPARATION

Before submitting your visa application, you have to do a thorough research to know the documents you need to prepare for your visa. Otherwise, there is a high chance that your visa application will be delayed and rejected. Below is the list of documents:

1. • A wholly and legibly completed Application for Residence Permit (+ APPENDIX 14 – Purpose of Study or Student Mobility)
   • a valid passport (valid for at least eighteen months at the time of submitting the application)
   • two passport size color photos (not older than six months)
   • Letter of Acceptance from University
   • proof of payment of the tuition fee
   • proof of financial means ensuring livelihood in Hungary (bank statement about the balance of your credit card, cash, or a declaration by the parents that they will provide the funds for all your expenses in Hungary)
   • an application fee of 60 EUR
   • the Hungarian Embassy may ask for your flight reservation and air ticket
   • the address of your residence in Hungary at which you can stay for the first couple of days
   • certification of valid medical insurance coverage in Hungary

2. SCHEDULE AND BIOMETRICS APPOINTMENT

Applicants applying for Hungary Student visa in India can book an online appointment at consulate mum@mfa gov hu (for Mumbai)

The time taken for the processing of the student visa depends on several aspects such as the number of entries, the volume of applications at the embassy, previous travel history, and so on. In normal conditions, it takes around 15 working days to process. However, in certain cases, it may take up to 30 working days. And in a few extreme cases, this can even take up to as long as 60 days. As a result, it is suggested that you apply for the permit well in advance. You must apply at least 15 days before the intended date of travel, but not more than 3 months before.

3. GIVE YOUR BIOMETRICS

The visa issuance process will be accompanied by an identification procedure by means of the capture of biometric data (digital fingerprints and digital photograph). Applicants have to submit the ten-finger scan and a digital photograph with their visa application. And there will be a Face visa Interview at the Embassy.

4. TRACK YOUR APPLICATION

Once you have submitted the application, it will begin processing. Even if you have submitted at the VAC, the application is processed at the embassy/consulate. The VAC is only responsible for collecting the applications and forwarding them to the embassy as per the jurisdiction.

5. VISA DECISION

If a visa gets Approved, the entry visa is valid for a single entry and up to 30 days of stay in Hungary. Within 3 DAYS upon arrival, you will have to register your address and within 30 DAYS you have to submit your application for the residence permit

Getting a job or starting a business right after you graduate is very difficult. To help foreign students bridge the gap between graduation from a Hungarian university and starting a gainful activity, there is a new type of residence permit available for fresh graduates. This “study-to-work” permit allows applicants to stay another 9 months in Hungary after graduation, which is plenty of time to find a job or start a business – at which point this interim permit can be changed to a residence permit based on gainful activity.

Who can apply for the “study-to-work” residence permit?

Every foreign student receiving a degree from a Hungarian university or college (or any other higher education institute) is eligible for the study-to-work visa but you must hand in your application no later than 15 days before your student residence permit expires.