Medical universities in Hungary are quickly becoming popular choices for international students. The affordable costs, quality education, and easy admissions make students opt for Hungary. Moreover, medical degrees from Hungary are globally recognized. Graduates with a Hungarian medical degree are eligible to practice in the EU and other countries.
In Hungary, general medicine and dentistry programs are mostly available as OTM (One-Tier-Master’s) programs. OTM programs have a duration of 5-6 years. Students receive a master’s title after graduation. Hungarian universities offer many of these programs in the English language. Thus, students do not need prior knowledge of the local languages to pursue a medical degree in Hungary.
Hungary is one of the best options for studying medicine in Europe at an affordable cost. This article will provide an overview of the best medical universities in Hungary for international students.
The University of Pécs
With a total of 20,000 students, the University of Pécs is one of the largest medical universities in Hungary. The university has more than 4,500 international students. More than 300 study programs are available in multiple languages, including English.
The university ranks
- 701–750 in the 2023 QS World University Rankings
- 1001–1200 in Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2023
- 351-400 in QS Rankings 2022 for the Medicine subject
Some popular medicine and health science programs at the University of Pécs include:
| Name of Program | Duration | Annual Tuition Fee in EUR | Annual Tuition in USD* |
| General Medicine** | 6 years | – | $ 16,750 |
| Dentistry** | 5 years | – | $ 17,350 |
| Pharmacy | 5 years | € 8,400 | $ 8,674 |
| Nursing BSc | 4 years | € 5,800 | $ 5,989 |
| Physiotherapy BSc | 4 years | € 5,800 | $ 5,989 |
| Dietetics BSc | 4 years | € 5,800 | $ 5,989 |
*Tuition fees in EUR are converted to USD at 1 EUR = 1.03 USD. Please note that exchange rates are subject to frequent change.
**Tuition fees for General Medicine and Dentistry are provided in USD, not in EUR.
The University of Debrecen
Founded in 1538, the University of Debrecen is among the oldest medical universities to study in Hungary. It has a total enrollment of 29,000+ students, of which 7,000+ are international students. The university offers 23,600+ courses, 87 bachelor’s programs, and 100 master’s programs. The university ranked
- 651–700 in the QS World University Rankings for 2023
- 351–400 by the 2022 QS World University Rankings for Medicine
- 1001–1200 in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2023
The university offers the following medical degree programs in English:
| Name of Program | Duration | Annual Tuition in USD* |
| Medicine Graduate Program (M.D.) | 6 years | $ 16,900 |
| Dentistry Graduate Program (D.M.D) | 5 years | $ 17,500 |
| Pharmacy Graduate Program (Pharm.D.) | 5 years | $ 8,000 |
| Nursing and Patient Care (Physiotherapy) (BSc) | 4 years | $ 6,000 |
| Nursing and Patient Care (Nurse) (BSc) | 4 years | $ 6,500 |
| Public Health (BSc) | 4 years | $ 6,000 |
| Dietetics (BSc Hons) | 4 years | $ 6,000 |
*Tuition fees are provided in USD, and not in EUR.
The University of Debrecen offers an internship year for medical students. The university has partnerships with several hospitals; thus, the students have the opportunity to acquire clinical training through the university itself.
Students must take an entrance exam for admission into some of the programs. Through Gyanberry, students can prepare for medical entrance tests. We provide study materials based on the test patterns of several European universities.
The University of Szeged
The University of Szeged (SZTE) has a history dating back to 1581. It has a total student population of 22,000, with 5,000 coming from 130 countries. The university ranks
- 351–400 by QS World University Rankings 2022 for Medicine
- 551-560 by QS World University Rankings 2023
- 1001–1200 in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2023
Medical programs offered at SZTE include
| Name of Program | Duration | Annual Tuition Fee in EUR | Annual Tuition in USD* |
| General Medicine (MD) | 6 years | € 15,800 | $ 16,317 |
| Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) | 5 years | € 15,600 | $ 16,110 |
| Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) | 5 years | € 10,420 | $ 10,760 |
| Nurse (BSc) | 4 years | € 6,600 | $ 6,815 |
| Physiotherapist (BSc) | 4 years | € 6,600 | $ 6,815 |
*Tuition fees in EUR are converted to USD at 1 EUR = 1.03 USD. Please note that exchange rates are subject to frequent change.
Semmelweis University
Semmelweis University is a popular medical university in Hungary established in 1769. It is located in the capital city of Budapest. The majority of healthcare professionals in Hungary are Semmelweis graduates. The university’s global rankings are
- 653 by the US News Global University Rankings 2023
- 201-250 by QS World University Rankings 2022 for Medicine
- 201–250 in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2023
- 653 in Clinical Medicine by US News
Semmelweis University has a student population of 11,000; more than 30% of the total enrollment comprises international students. The university offers the following one-tier master’s and undergraduate medical programs in English:
| Name of Program | Duration | Annual Tuition in EUR | Annual Tuition in USD* |
| General Medicine (M.D.)** | 6 years | – | $ 18,200 |
| Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.)** | 5 years | – | $ 12,000 |
| Doctor of Dentistry (D.M.D.)** | 5 years | – | $ 18,200 |
| Nursing (B.Sc) | 4 years | € 6,600 | $ 6,815 |
| Physiotherapy (B.Sc) | 4 years | € 6,800 | $ 7,022 |
*Tuition fees in EUR are converted to USD at 1 EUR = 1.03 USD. Please note that exchange rates are subject to frequent change.
**Tuition fees for General Medicine, Pharmacy, and Dentistry are provided in USD, and not in EUR.
Additionally, the university offers various B.Sc. and M.Sc. programs in other disciplines of Health Sciences.
Admission requirements
The following are the general documents required for admission to the medical programs in Hungary. Some universities may have additional requirements besides the ones listed here. Students should visit the course pages of their preferred university to check additional details.
- School leaving certificate
- Passport-size photo
- Application fee payment bank receipt
- English proficiency with an overall score of 5.5 to 6.5 in IELTS or equivalent
- Medical certificate
- Copy of passport
- Motivation letter
Some universities, such as Semmelweis University, do not require students to present proof of English proficiency. The English skills of the candidate is assessed by the entrance exam and a personal interview.
Eligibility criteria to study medicine in Hungary
- The applicant should be a minimum of 17 years old and should have passed 10+2 with a minimum percentage of 50%.
- Applicants should pass the entrance exam (written and oral), which consists of questions from Medical Chemistry, Medical English, General English, and Medical Biology.
The admission requirements and application process vary for each program. As an international student, you should consider the guidance of Gyanberry. Through us, you can apply to any of the universities mentioned in the article in a hassle-free manner. Gyanberry’s expert advisors can help you fast-track the application process. Moreover, you can gain access to many more services to have the edge over others. Get in touch with us today to learn more about studying medicine in Hungary.
