10 Cheap Universities in Hungary for International Students

Posted on by

Hungary was once a part of the Iron Curtain during the Cold War before democracy was restored in 1989. While the country may not be on the top of the list of destinations of international students, Hungary does have several world-class universities you may want to consider.

Most of these universities are found in Budapest, the capital of Hungary. But, there are also several universities located in different parts of the country offering high-quality education at an affordable cost. Moreover, Hungary has a lot to offer to international students in terms of culture and unique experiences. In this article, we will be looking at cheapest universities in Hungary for international students.

Cost of Studying in Hungary

Aside from tuition, international students have to consider the cost of living in Hungary. But, compared to other European countries, studying in Hungary is quite affordable for international students.

You can live comfortably in Hungary with a monthly budget of around 150,000 Hungarian forints or $500 USD. This already includes your accommodation, food, and transportation. The cost may go down if you live outside the city or are staying in a student hostel.

Are Universities Free in Hungary?

While public universities are free for locals, international students may have to pay for tuition in Hungary. But, scholarships are also offered by universities for international students who meet the requirements.

Even though international students have to pay for tuition, the cost of education is cheaper compared to other European countries. The tuition of some universities in Hungary is as low as 300,000 FT or around $1,000 USD per semester.

If you’re planning to study in Hungary, you may want to consider applying for a scholarship through the Stipendium Hungaricum program. The program was established by the government of Hungary with the goal of promoting economic and cultural relations with other countries.

Aside from free tuition, the Stipendium Hungaricum program also provides students with accommodation allowance or dormitory space, health care services, and a monthly stipend.

What are the languages of instruction for universities in Hungary?

While the official language of instruction for universities in Hungary is Hungarian, some universities offer classes in English and German for international students.

1. Pázmány Péter Catholic University

  • Tuition Fee For Undergraduate Programs: 300,000 FT ($1,000 USD) per semester
  • Tuition Fee for Graduate Programs: 375,000 FT ($1,300 USD) to 925,000 FT ($3,100 USD) per semester
  • Tuition Fee Link

The Pázmány Péter Catholic University is among the oldest and most prestigious private universities in Hungary. Established in 1635, it is a Roman Catholic university dedicated to innovation and research. Aside from educating its students, the university also aims to help the community around it. Pázmány Péter Catholic University is considered the cheapest university in Hungary for international students.

The university offers over 40 Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programs for both local and international students. The Bachelor degree programs of the university include English and American Studies, Slavonic Studies, and German Studies. On the other hand, the Master’s degree programs of the university include Archeology, History, Political Science, and International Relations.

2. University of Szeged

  • Tuition Fee For Undergraduate Programs: 1,500 EUR ($1,800 USD) to 3,100 EUR ($3,700 USD) per semester
  • Tuition Fee for Graduate Programs: 1,900 EUR ($2,300 USD) to 5,000 EUR ($5,900 USD) per semester
  • Tuition Fee Link

The University of Szeged is among the most prominent universities in Hungary and Central Europe. This research university is the best university in Hungary based on the international QS World University Rankings.

This affordable university in Hungary features 12 faculties, 700 research areas, and 19 doctoral schools. The university is also popular among international students with over 4,000 students coming from 115 different countries. Located in the third-largest city of Hungary, Szeged, the university was founded as the University of Kolozsvár by Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria in 1872.

The Bachelor’s degree programs offered in the university include English and American Studies, Business Administration and Management, and Agricultural Engineering. On the other hand, the university also offers the following Master’s degree programs: German Studies, General Medicine, International Relations, and Computer Science.

3. Corvinus University of Budapest

  • Tuition Fee For Undergraduate Programs: 2,400 EUR ($2,800 USD) to 3,000 EUR ($3,600 USD) per semester
  • Tuition Fee for Graduate Programs: 2,400 EUR ($2,800 USD) to 3,400 EUR ($4,000 USD) per semester
  • Tuition Fee Link

The Corvinus University of Budapest is a research university that is considered as the best in Hungary in the fields of Management, Social Sciences, and Economics. It was established in 1920 and was originally the Faculty of Economics of the Royal Hungarian University.

This cheap Hungarian university received its present name in 2004. The programs in the university are taught in Hungarian, English, and German. Its Bachelor’s degree programs are in the fields of Business and Management, Sociology, Applied Economics, and International Relations, among others.

The university also offers Master’s degree programs in Business Informatics, Economic Analysis, Marketing, and Sociology, among others.

4. Budapest Metropolitan University

  • Tuition Fee For Undergraduate Programs:  2,375 EUR ($2,800 USD) to 3.350 EUR ($4,000 USD) per semester
  • Tuition Fee for Graduate Programs: 2,500 EUR ($3,000 USD) to 2.900 EUR ($3,400 USD) per semester
  • Tuition Fee Link

The next on our list of cheapest universities in Hungary is the Budapest Metropolitan University, a private institution of higher education established in 2000. It was originally called the Budapest College of Communication and accepted its first 126 students in the field of Communication and Business Communication a year later. The university got its present name in 2016.

The university offers several Bachelor’s degree programs, including International Relations, Commerce and Marketing, Tourism and Catering, and Animation. On the other hand, its Master’s program offers several degrees, including Communication and Media Studies, Business Administration, and Graphic Design.

To take the load out of student life, the university organizes events to give students the chance to relax. These activities include picnics, sports events, and sight-seeing trips. These events are budget-friendly and everyone is encouraged to join the fun.

5. Eötvös Loránd University

The Eötvös Loránd University is one of the biggest public institutions of higher learning in Hungary. Established by Cardinal Péter Pázmány in 1635, it was managed by the Jesuits and was originally located in Nagyszombat, Kingdom of Hungary. The university was moved to its present location in 1784.

The university now has eight faculties offering a wide variety of degree programs for local and international students.

The Bachelor’s degree programs offered at the university include Psychology, Finance and Accounting, Sociology, and International Business Economics. The Master’s degree programs at the university include Cartography, Computer Science, Mathematics, and English Studies.

6. University of Dunaújváros

  • Tuition Fee For Undergraduate Programs: 3,950 EUR ($4,700 USD) per academic year
  • Tuition Fee for Graduate Programs: 4,400 EUR ($5,200 USD) per academic year
  • Tuition Fee Link

The University of Dunaújváros is the only institution of higher education in the industrial city of Dunaújváros. This affordable university in Hungary was established in 1953 as the Technicum of Metallurgy and Mechanical Engineering. The educational institution only gained its university status in 2016.

The university offers several Bachelor’s degree programs that are taught in English. These programs include Business Administration, Technical Management, and Mechanical Engineering. The university only offers one Master’s degree program that is taught in English: Teacher of Engineering.

Aside from offering practice-oriented programs, the university also works with several companies and organizations at the national and international levels. Students at the university can look forward to suitable accommodations within the campus along with a library and sports facilities.

7. Szent István University

  • Tuition Fee For Undergraduate Programs: 2,100 EUR ($2,500 USD) to 2,500 EUR ($3,000 USD) per semester
  • Tuition Fee for Graduate Programs: 2,800 EUR ($3,300 USD) to 6,000 EUR ($7,100 USD) per semester
  • Tuition Fee Link

The Szent István University is a technology university whose main campus is located in the town of Gödöllő. It was established in 2000 following the merger of several independent educational institutions. The university also has campuses in Békéscsaba, Jászberény, Gyula, Szarvas, and Budapest.

The university has several faculties located in its different campuses. These faculties include the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, the Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences, the Faculty of Landscape Architecture and Urbanism, and the Faculty of Food Science.

Students who are planning to study at this affordable university in Hungary can look forward to acquiring a complex and market-oriented knowledge and skills they can use after they graduate. Aside from going to class, they can also relax and have fun in the different leisure facilities located in and around the different campuses of the university.

8. University of Nyíregyháza

  • Tuition Fee For Undergraduate Programs: 2,200 EUR ($2,600 USD) to 3,000 EUR ($3,600 USD) per semester
  • Tuition Fee for Graduate Programs: 25,000 EUR ($29,600 USD)
  • Tuition Fee Link

Next on our list of cheapest universities in Hungary is the University of Nyíregyháza, an institution of higher education located in the northeastern Hungarian city of Nyíregyháza. Aside from providing high-quality education in applied sciences, the university also uses a personal approach in educating its students.

The university currently has 14 institutes, including the Institute of Physical Education and Sports Studies, Institute of Engineering and Agricultural Science, and Institute of Visual Culture. These institutes offer English courses in Agricultural Engineering, Environmental Sciences, and Music, among others.

Students at the university can look forward to several options when it comes to extra-curricular activities. They can check out exhibitions and festivals in the city, go sight-seeing, or engage in a wide variety of sports activities.

9. University of Pécs

  • Tuition Fee For Undergraduate Programs: 2,200 EUR ($2,600 USD) to 3,900 EUR ($4,600 USD) per semester
  • Tuition Fee for Graduate Programs: 2,500 EUR ($3,000 USD) to 4,000 EUR ($4,700 USD) per semester
  • Tuition Fee Link

The University of Pécs is an institution of higher education that dates back to 1367 when a university was established in the episcopal city of Pécs by Louis the Great of Hungary. It is one of the leading universities in Hungary and plays an important role in education in the region.

The university has ten faculties offering 31 Bachelor’s degrees, 29 Master’s degrees, and 15 Doctorate degrees. It offers programs in a wide variety of fields, including Medical and Health Sciences, Business and Economics, Arts, Engineering, and Natural Sciences.

The University of Pécs is among the leading research universities in the country. It is also one of the higher education institutions in Hungary that received the title of “Excellent University.” Its training program also covers nearly all fields of science and art.

10. University of Debrecen

  • Tuition Fee For Undergraduate Programs: $5,500 USD to $34,000 USD per academic year
  • Tuition Fee for Graduate Programs: $6,500 USD to $16,900 USD per academic year
  • Tuition Fee Link

The final candidate for the cheap universities in Hungary for international students is the University of Debrecen, one of the biggest institutions of higher learning in Hungary with a student population of around 28,000. Established in 1538, it is the oldest-running higher education institution in the country.

The university offers several undergraduate programs, including Food Engineering, Vehicle Engineering, Public Health, Business Informatics, and Professional Pilot. On the other hand, its graduate programs include Food Safety and Quality Engineering, Urban Systems Engineering, and Complex Rehabilitation.

Aside from its campus in Budapest, the university also manages an associated Basic Medicine campus located in Geochang County, South Korea.

With the scholarships available for its universities, Hungary is gradually becoming one of the preferred destinations of students from all over the world.

 

I hope that this article on the cheapest universities in Hungary was helpful. If you are interested, visit the Cheap Universities Category!