Universities & Tuition — Hungary
Updated July 20, 2026
Top Universities in Hungary for International Students
Hungary has become an increasingly popular destination for international students, particularly in medicine, veterinary science, and engineering, offering EU-recognized degrees at lower costs than Western Europe. Below is a detailed overview of leading institutions.
Note: Rankings, tuition fees, and student statistics change annually and can vary by program/faculty. Figures below are approximate as of 2024 data and should be verified directly with universities or official sources like tempus.hu (Hungarian scholarship board) and QS/THE rankings before making decisions.
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1. Semmelweis University
City: Budapest
- Global Ranking: ~601-800 (QS World University Rankings); Top 3 in Hungary
- Renowned For: Medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, health sciences; one of the oldest medical universities in Central Europe (founded 1769)
- Annual Tuition (International):
- Medicine: ~€17,200–18,600 (~HUF 6.7–7.3 million / ~$18,500–20,000 USD)
- Dentistry: ~€18,600 (~$20,000 USD)
- Language of Instruction: English, German, Hungarian
- International Student Percentage: ~30-35% (one of highest concentrations of international students in Hungary)
- Notable Scholarships: Stipendium Hungaricum (partial coverage), Semmelweis Excellence Scholarship
- Acceptance Difficulty: High — competitive entrance exams (biology, chemistry), especially for Medicine
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2. Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE)
City: Budapest
- Global Ranking: ~601-650 (QS); consistently Hungary's top-ranked comprehensive university
- Renowned For: Humanities, natural sciences, law, social sciences; oldest and largest university in Hungary (founded 1635)
- Annual Tuition (International):
- Bachelor's: ~€2,500–5,000 (~$2,700–5,400 USD)
- Master's: ~€3,000–6,000 (~$3,250–6,500 USD)
- Law/Sciences programs sometimes higher (~€4,500-7,000)
- Language of Instruction: English, Hungarian, some German programs
- International Student Percentage: ~15-18%
- Notable Scholarships: Stipendium Hungaricum, ELTE Excellence Scholarship, Erasmus+
- Acceptance Difficulty: Moderate to High — varies significantly by faculty; Law and Psychology more competitive
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3. University of Szeged (SZTE)
City: Szeged
- Global Ranking: ~601-800 (QS); frequently ranked in top 2-3 nationally
- Renowned For: Medicine, pharmacy, natural sciences, research output (strong in biology/chemistry research)
- Annual Tuition (International):
- Medicine: ~€16,600–17,800 (~$18,000–19,200 USD)
- Other programs: ~€2,500–5,000 (~$2,700–5,400 USD)
- Language of Instruction: English, German, Hungarian
- International Student Percentage: ~20%
- Notable Scholarships: Stipendium Hungaricum, SZTE Republic of Hungary Scholarship
- Acceptance Difficulty: Moderate to High for Medicine; Moderate for other programs
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4. University of Debrecen (UD/DE)
City: Debrecen
- Global Ranking: ~801-1000 (QS); one of largest universities in Hungary
- Renowned For: Medicine, dentistry, agricultural sciences; large, diverse international student body
- Annual Tuition (International):
- Medicine: ~€16,000–17,500 (~$17,300–18,900 USD)
- Dentistry: ~€17,500 (~$18,900 USD)
- Bachelor's (other fields): ~€2,300–4,500 (~$2,500–4,900 USD)
- Language of Instruction: English, German, Hungarian
- International Student Percentage: ~25% (over 4,000 international students from 100+ countries)
- Notable Scholarships: Stipendium Hungaricum, Diaspora Scholarship Programme
- Acceptance Difficulty: Moderate — accessible entrance requirements but competitive for medical programs
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5. Corvinus University of Budapest
City: Budapest
- Global Ranking: ~801-1000 (QS); top-ranked for business/economics in Hungary
- Renowned For: Business, economics, social sciences, international relations
- Annual Tuition (International):
- Bachelor's: ~€4,500–7,500 (~$4,900–8,100 USD)
- Master's (MBA/specialized): ~€8,000–14,000 (~$8,600–15,100 USD)
- Language of Instruction: English, Hungarian
- International Student Percentage: ~20-25%
- Notable Scholarships: Stipendium Hungaricum, Corvinus Scholarship for Excellence
- Acceptance Difficulty: Moderate to High — strong emphasis on academic record and English proficiency (IELTS/TOEFL)
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6. Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME)
City: Budapest
- Global Ranking: ~801-1000 (QS); top technical university in Hungary
- Renowned For: Engineering, computer science, architecture, IT
- Annual Tuition (International):
- Bachelor's: ~€3,500–6,000 (~$3,800–6,500 USD)
- Master's: ~€4,000–7,000 (~$4,300–7,600 USD)
- Language of Instruction: English, Hungarian
- International Student Percentage: ~15%
- Notable Scholarships: Stipendium Hungaricum, BME International Excellence Scholarship
- Acceptance Difficulty: Moderate to High — strong math/science background required, especially for engineering
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7. University of Pécs (UP/PTE)
City: Pécs
- Global Ranking: ~1001-1200 (QS); reputable regional university
- Renowned For: Medicine, health sciences, law, humanities; historic university (founded 1367, oldest in Hungary)
- Annual Tuition (International):
- Medicine: ~€15,500–16,800 (~$16,700–18,100 USD)
- Other Bachelor's programs: ~€2,000–4,000 (~$2,150–4,300 USD)
- Language of Instruction: English, German, Hungarian
- International Student Percentage: ~18-20%
- Notable Scholarships: Stipendium Hungaricum, University of Pécs Excellence Scholarship
- Acceptance Difficulty: Moderate — generally more accessible than Semmelweis/ELTE, good option for competitive medicine applicants
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8. Szent István University / Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences (MATE)
City: Gödöllő (near Budapest)
- Global Ranking: Not consistently ranked in top global lists; strong regional reputation
- Renowned For: Agricultural sciences, veterinary medicine, environmental sciences, food science
- Annual Tuition (International):
- Veterinary Medicine: ~€14,500–16,000 (~$15,600–17,300 USD)
- Other programs: ~€2,000–4,000 (~$2,150–4,300 USD)
- Language of Instruction: English, Hungarian
- International Student Percentage: ~10-15%
- Notable Scholarships: Stipendium Hungaricum
- Acceptance Difficulty: Low to Moderate — more accessible entry point, especially for agricultural/environmental programs
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Summary Comparison Table
| University | City | Best For | Tuition Range (USD/year) | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semmelweis | Budapest | Medicine/Dentistry | $18,500-20,000 | High |
| ELTE | Budapest | Humanities/Sciences | $2,700-6,500 | Mod-High |
| Szeged | Szeged | Medicine/Sciences | $2,700-19,200 | Mod-High |
| Debrecen | Debrecen | Medicine/Agriculture | $2,500-18,900 | Moderate |
| Corvinus | Budapest | Business/Economics | $4,900-15,100 | Mod-High |
| BME | Budapest | Engineering/Tech | $3,800-7,600 | Mod-High |
| Pécs | Pécs | Medicine/Law | $2,150-18,100 | Moderate |
| MATE | Gödöllő | Agriculture/Vet Science | $2,150-17,300 | Low-Mod |
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Key Considerations for International Students
Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship
This is Hungary's flagship government scholarship program covering tuition, providing monthly stipends (~HUF 43,700/$120 USD for BA/MA students), and health insurance. It's available for students from 60+ partner countries and is the most significant financial aid opportunity across all these institutions.
Cost of Living
Budapest: ~€500-700/month; Regional cities (Debrecen, Szeged, Pécs): ~€350-500/month — significantly cheaper than Western Europe.
Recognition
All EU-recognized degrees; medical/dental degrees from Hungarian universities are widely recognized internationally, including by US and Canadian licensing boards (though additional exams like USMLE are required for US practice).
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Recommendation: Verify current tuition, rankings, and scholarship details directly through official university websites, studyinhungary.hu, and tempus.hu before applying, as figures are updated annually and can shift based on EUR/HUF/USD exchange rates.
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More about immigrating to Hungary
Immigration laws, costs, and policies change frequently. This guide is AI-researched for information only and is not legal advice. Always verify with official government sources and licensed immigration professionals before making decisions.