Best Universities in Hungary for International Students

Being home to several top universities worldwide, Hungary ranks #48 in the Study Abroad Rankings by the US News Report, 2023. The country has maintained the same ranking since 2021. Some of the best universities in Hungary are the University of Szeged, the University of Debrecen, the University of Pecs, Semmelweis University, Eotvos Lorand University, etc. These universities are known for their high-quality education, affordable tuition, internationally recognized degrees, and so on. They rank globally in the best university rankings by agencies like the US News Report, QS, and Shanghai Rankings. All these universities are internationally recognized and their programs are accredited by the Hungarian Accreditation Board.

As per the statistics provided by the Hungarian Central Statistical Office, over 40,300 overseas students are currently enrolled at Hungarian universities. If you want to be one of them, keep reading this article. It covers the top universities in Hungary preferred by most international students.  

Why Study in Hungary?

Superior quality education: The standard of education provided by Hungarian universities is beyond dispute. Institutions of higher learning in Hungary are among the top 5% worldwide. They are renowned for providing modern education, state-of-the-art infrastructure, and fostering innovation.

English-taught programs: In Hungary, there are over 500 English-taught programs to choose from. These programs are offered in the disciplines of medicine, dentistry, business, engineering, etc. 

Affordable tuition fees and scholarships: Fees in Hungary are affordable in comparison to Western countries. The tuition fees for medicine and dentistry programs in Hungary fall in the range of 12,000 to 16,000 EUR per year. The tuition for non-medical degrees is usually lower, between 1,200 and 5,000 EUR per year. Plus, Hungarian universities offer many scholarships to international students; the most popular one is the Stipendium Hungaricum.

Safe and welcoming country: Hungary is a safe place to live, with a ranking of 13 on the global peace index in 2022. The people of Hungary are kind and typically accepting of outsiders.

Low cost of living: This eastern European country is also highly affordable when it comes to the cost of living. It only costs 5,000 to 7,000 EUR per year to live in Hungary as an international student. This covers housing, food, clothing, education, health care, transportation, and additional expenses. 

Diverse and multicultural: The Hungarian student community is highly diverse and is home to over 40,300 international students from different countries. With its immense history, culture, and beautiful scenery, this multicultural country offers students fun and exciting learning opportunities.

Best Universities in Hungary

University of Debrecen

The University of Debrecen is one of the oldest public universities located in Debrecen, Hungary. It came into existence in 1538 and since then it has been offering programs including foundation courses, undergraduate, postgraduate, one-tier, and Ph.D. programs. It has a student body of 29,000+ people of which 7,000+ are international students from over 120 countries. The university offers 23,600+ courses of which 80+ are fully taught in English. 

Currently, it ranks #4 among the Best Global Universities in Hungary and #794 in the Best Global Universities (US News Report, 2023). Similarly, it has a global ranking of 651-700 in the QS World University Rankings 2023. The University of Debrecen has 13 faculties and the programs offered are in the discipline of

• Medical 
• Agriculture
• Business
• Health Science 
• Engineering 
• Humanities 
• IT
• Law 
• Science 
• Music 

Application Deadlines 

The university offers the following scholarships 

• Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship 
• Diaspora Scholarship 
• Scholarship for Christian Young People (SCYP)  
• UD International Scholarship

University of Pécs

The university was established in 1367 by King Louis I the Great and is located in Pécs, Hungary. There are over 20,000 students studying at the University of Pécs, 4,500 of whom are international students from over 100 countries. It has 10 faculties and is one of the largest and oldest higher education institutions in Hungary. Being the oldest university in the country, it has gained a high reputation and leading positions in highly recognized international rankings. It ranks #6 in the Best Universities in Hungary and #1,140 in Best Global Universities by US News, 2023. It falls in the 701-750 position in the QS World University Rankings 2023.

The University of Pécs offers courses in business management, education, engineering, medical and health science, law, human and social science, music and arts, and natural sciences. Students can pursue foundational, undergraduate, postgraduate, single-cycle master’s, and Ph.D. courses at the university. It accepts applications in fall and spring and the application period starts in October and ends in June-July for the academic year beginning in September. 

Students can apply for the following scholarships at the University of Pécs

• Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship 
• Diaspora Scholarship 
• Scholarship for Christian Young People (SCYP)  
• Faculty Scholarships 
• Bilateral State Scholarships

University of Szeged

Located in the southern part of the country, the University of Szeged is one of the leading public research universities in Hungary. Its history dates back to 1581, and it was re-established as a university in 1872 by Emperor Franz Joseph I. The university has 22,000 students, nearly 5,000 of them international students from 130 countries. There are 12 faculties at the University of Szeged that offer 70 full-time programs at bachelor’s, master’s, single-cycle, and doctorate levels. It also offers preparatory courses, short-term courses, and exchange programs. The programs offered are in the fields of medical science, dentistry, engineering, informatics, agriculture, humanities, etc. 

Outstanding professors have taught at this university, including Nobel Laureate Albert Szent-Györgyi, former rector and professor of the Medical University (the first to isolate Vitamin C), and Katalin Karikó, who is among the inventors of the new COVID-19 vaccines.

There are three types of scholarships available at the university:

1. SZTE scholarship; SZTE Start Scholarship
2. Governmental scholarships: Stipendium Hungaricum, Scholarship Programme for Christian Young People, Hungarian DIASPORA Scholarship, and Indonesian International Student Mobility Awards (IISMA)
3. EU scholarships like Erasmus+, Ceepus, and Visegrad Fund

The university accepts applications for two intakes: September and February. 

Semmelweis University

It is a medical research university that was established in Budapest, Hungary, in 1769. Its rich history of over 250 years makes it a leading biomedical university in Central Europe. Semmelweis University hosts over 13,000 students, a third of whom are international students from 110 countries. It ranks at position #2 in the Best Universities in Hungary, #653 in the Best Global Universities by the US News rankings, and 601-700 in the Shanghai rankings. In addition to academics, Semmelweis University also provides healthcare across the country. 

The university has six faculties and offers 

• One-tier programs in medicine, dentistry, and pharmaceutical science
• Undergraduate courses in nursing, midwifery, dietetics, physiotherapy, optometry, health tourism management, conductive education, and public health 
• Master’s programs in nursing and physiotherapy 

Students at Semmelweis University can apply for Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship and Hungarian Diaspora Scholarship. 

Eotvos Lorand University

The Eötvös Loránd University has a 380-year-old history dating back to 1635. The university got its name from one of its professors, the world-famous physicist, Loránd Eötvös. It is home to nine faculties that host 33,000 students. The university ranks #1 in the Best Universities in Hungary and #368 in the Best Global Universities by US News. Its QS and Shanghai rankings are 701-750 and 601-700, respectively.

The Eötvös Loránd University offers a wide range of programs in English for international students at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels in the following fields

• Information and communication technologies
• Natural sciences 
• Mathematics and statistics
• Psychology 
• Social sciences
• Journalism 
• Education

Its teachers and former students include a number of well-known scientists and Nobel Prize winners. Students at Eötvös Loránd University can apply for scholarships like Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship, Hungarian Diaspora Scholarship, and Scholarship Program for Christian Young People.

Conclusion 

This article has covered the best 5 universities in Hungary for international students. They include the University of Szeged, the University of Debrecen, the University of Pecs, Semmelweis University, and Eotvos Lorand University. All 5 rank highly in global rankings by the US News Report, QS, and Shanghai Rankings.

If you are interested in going to any of the Hungarian universities, Gyanberry can help you. Our digitalized platform is designed for the convenience of students so that they can apply to multiple universities at once. Plus, if you need guidance in choosing the best universities or courses for you, our experts can help you. They are immensely experienced to offer such guidance. We also offer other valued services such as student visas, transportation, accommodation, etc. What are you waiting for? You are just one click away from your dream university. Hit that button to contact us right away!