Study Nursing in Hungary: Top Courses, Schools, Tuition Fees, Admission Requirements, Scholarships, and Career Scope for International Students
Hungary is emerging as a preferred study destination for international students. The English -taught programs, low tuition fees, and affordable living are the reasons for its growing popularity. Currently, there are four nursing schools in Hungary. The University of Pecs, University of Szeged, University of Debrecen, and Semmelweis University.
All four are public universities. They all offer their nursing bachelor’s degrees in English. The University of Pecs and Semmelweis University also offer master’s specializations in nursing. Let us learn more about nursing studies in Hungary.
Overview
| Undergraduate degree offered | BSc in Nursing |
| Annual fees for bachelor’s degree | 5,258 to 6,940 USD*/year |
| Post-graduate degree offered | MSc in Nursing |
| Annual fees for master’s degree | 1,750 to 3,365 USD*/year |
| Medium of teaching | English |
| Entrance exams | University entrance test or personal interviews |
| English proficiency tests | IELTS, TOEFL |
| Accrediting body | Hungarian Accreditation Committee |
| Licensing registration | National Healthcare Service Center (AEEK) |
Top Nursing Courses in Hungary
Nursing is a highly respected profession in Hungary. The entry-level degree for nursing in Hungary is a bachelor’s degree called BSc in nursing. This degree award students with a nursing diploma. BSc in Nursing degree lasts for 4 years. Following a bachelor’s degree, students can also go for a master’s specialization for 1.5 to 3 years. These courses should be accredited by the Hungarian Accreditation Committee. There are also options to study doctoral courses in nursing.
Top Hungarian Nursing schools
Hungary has some of the finest medical schools. The below table contains a list of all the nursing schools in Hungary. They are accredited by the Hungarian Accreditation Committee. All these universities offer courses in English. Thus, international students prefer to study nursing in Hungary.
| University Name | Bachelor’s Degree Offered | Duration | Master’s Degree Offered | Duration |
| University of Pecs | BSc in Nursing | 4 years | MSc in Nursing APRN (Primary and Intensive Care) | 3 years |
| University of Szeged | BSc in Nursing | 4 years | NA | NA |
| University of Debrecen | BSc in Nursing and Patient Care | 4 years | NA | NA |
| Semmelweis University | BSc in Nursing | 4 years | MSc in Nursing [Community Health Nursing (APN)] | 1.5 years |
Tuition fees and cost of studying Nursing in Hungary
The following table contains a list of tuition fees for BSc nursing and Msc nursing courses in Hungary.
| University Name | Bachelor’s Degree Tuition Fees (USD*/year) | Application and Registration Fee (USD*) | Master’s Degree Tuition Fees (USD*/year) |
| University of Pecs | 5,258 | 210 and 105 | 1,750 |
| University of Szeged | 6,520 | 315 | NA |
| University of Debrecen | 6,500 | 150 and 350 | NA |
| Semmelweis University | 6,940 | 473 and 231 | 3,365 |
In addition to tuition fees, students also have to consider the cost of living. Hungary does not have a high standard of living. Hence the living cost including rent, accommodation, transport, food, and utilities does not go beyond 600 USD* per month.
| Category | Cost (USD*/month) |
| Accommodation | 100 to 250 |
| Food | 147 |
| Public transport | 13 to 15 |
| Personal expenses | 100 to 200 |
Admission requirements for Nursing in Hungary
The admissions intake starts in the fall and students are expected to apply early to avoid missing deadlines. Hungary does not have any centralized application service. Hence students are required to apply individually to each university. All Hungarian nursing schools have online applications. Students can apply by filling out an application form and submitting documents. To avoid missing deadlines students can apply via Gyanberry. We have partnered with all the nursing universities in Hungary. Hence there are higher chances of getting admission. Here are some general admission criteria for nursing schools in Hungary.
- High school or secondary education (12 plus)
- Official transcripts
- University entrance test or personal interview
- Letter of recommendation
- Motivation letter
- Student visa
- Proof of English language proficiency (B2 level, or 6.0 IELTS score)
- Health check
- Proof of financial stability
Except for the requirement of a bachelor’s degree in nursing, the admission requirements for master’s specializations are the same as that of a bachelor’s degree.
Scholarships to study Nursing in Hungary
Recent years have seen a rise in many international students studying in Hungary. To boost this number, even more, Hungary offers generous scholarships to international students. Although Hungary is cheap to study, scholarships make it possible to study for free in Hungary. Some of them not only cover tuition fees but also cover other living expenses.
Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship
Founded in 2013, this is one of the best scholarships for international students studying in Hungary. The Hungarian government funds it for the internationalization of Hungarian higher education. It is applicable to all degree-level programs. The scholarship covers tuition fees, accommodation, medical insurance, and a monthly stipend to cover living expenses.
Bilateral State Scholarship
Bilateral State Scholarships are given to students of participating countries. The funds cover full tuition fees including some living expenses. These funds are being borne by Tempus Public Foundation and the participating country. Students applying to all bachelor’s master’s and doctoral programs (full or part-time) are eligible to apply for this scholarship.
Hungarian Diaspora Scholarship
The funding for the Diaspora scholarship comes from the Hungarian government. Students eligible for this scholarship are exempt from paying tuition fees. It is applicable to all degree levels. Financially challenged students can also apply for living expenses via this scholarship.
Visegrad Scholarship Program
Visegrad Fund is the joint collaboration between the governments of the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia. Therefore, this scholarship is limited to these nationalities only. It is applicable for bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs at Hungarian universities.
Erasmus+ Scholarship
Erasmus is the most popular scholarship among international students studying in Hungary. This scholarship is limited to students from EU countries. Erasmus+ covers the tuition cost of all degree levels.
Career scope
The process of becoming a nurse in Hungary does not stop at getting a bachelor’s degree. Students also have to register with National Healthcare Service Center (AEEK). Upon registration, their names will be added to the nursing registry of Hungary. After this, the prospective nurses have to apply for operational registration. This step is mandatory to work either in Hungary or abroad. The last step is to get a professional chamber membership. Nurses can work in the following setting in Hungary:
- Primary Care
- Hospitals
- Clinics
- Nursing homes
- Armed forces
- Hospice Care
- Specialist consultants
Students who wish to do a particular specialization in nursing can go for MSc specializations in nursing like
- Critical care
- Intensive care
- Primary care
- Community health
A PhD in nursing is also an option available to nursing graduates in Hungary.
*Note: The tuition and other costs fees are converted on the basis of the current exchange rate, i.e., 1 Euro = 1.05 USD. Exchange rates are subject to periodic change.
