Higher education programmes for foreign students in Hungary
Hungary has made a substantial contribution to the world’s intellectual heritage. Thirteen Nobel Prize laureates were born Hungarian including acclaimed litterateurs and scientists Philipp E. A. von Lenard, Robert Bárány, Richard A. Zsigmondy, Albert von Szent-Györgyi, George de Hevesy, Georg von Békésy, Eugene P. Wigner, Dennis Gabor, John C. Polanyi, Elie Wiesel, George A. Olah, John C. Harsanyi, Imre Kertész. Other prominent scientists who contributed to the enrichment of human knowledge include Loránd Eötvös, Leó Szilárd, Tódor Kármán and Edward (Ede) Teller. In the world of music mention should be made of Ferenc Liszt, Béla Bartók and Zoltán Kodály. Hungary has served testimony of her high intellectual potential in every walk of life.
Hungarian diplomas have a high prestige throughout the world. The programmes are of high standard with tuition fees quite favourable in international comparison, and the costs of living are much lower than in other countries.
The Hungarian higher education has a long history. The first Hungarian university was founded in Pécs in south Hungary over 600 years ago, in 1367. Hungarian higher education institutions are autonomous, state or non-state (private and religious) institutions recognised by the state. There are 72 higher education institutions in Hungary (18 state universities, 13 state colleges, 41 none state universities and 34 none state colleges).
Hungary has been taking part in the Bologna Process since 1999, whose most important goal is the creation of the European Higher Education Area. With the effect of September 1, 2006 the new Bologna regime two-cycle degree system has been introduced. The first degree programmes (3 to 4 years) lead to Baccalaureus / Bachelor’s degrees, while second degree programmes (1 to 2 years) lead to Magister / Master’s degrees. Unified, undivided, long-term Master’s degree programmes (5 to 6 years) are offered in 17 fields of study (e.g. in human medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, veterinary medicine, architecture and in some fields of arts). All Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees grant access to the labour market. Based on a Magister / Master’s degree or its foreign equivalent, PhD or Doctor of Liberal Arts (DLA) degrees as third cycle degrees can be awarded after 3 years of study.
In addition to the degree programmes described above, higher education institutions offer non-degree programmes too, such as higher-level vocational trainings, postgraduate specialist training courses based on a first or second degree as well as summer universities and partial trainings in the framework of lifelong learning education.
The homepages of institutions that offer programmes in foreign languages contain all the information you need about the conditions of application, together with the necessary application forms. You can choose the most appropriate form of study that suits your profile. You can find out detailed informations on higher educational institutions by the following link: Higher education programmes for foreign students in Hungary (15. June 2007)
For more information about Hungarian higher education please visit the following websites: