Study in Hungary: your university application, step by step
From Semmelweis to Debrecen, from BME to Corvinus: how to apply from Türkiye to English-taught medicine, dentistry, engineering and business programmes in Hungary, how the Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship works, and how to plan entrance exams and the residence permit — all managed on one calendar.
Why Hungary?
A tradition of English-taught medicine
The medical faculties of Semmelweis, Debrecen, Szeged and Pécs have taught medicine, dentistry and pharmacy in English for decades; the degrees are recognised across the EU.
The Stipendium Hungaricum full scholarship
The Hungarian government's scholarship covers tuition, a monthly stipend, a housing contribution and health insurance; Türkiye is among the partner countries.
Lower costs than Western Europe
Monthly living costs of €450–700 in university towns outside Budapest; business and engineering tuition well below Western European private universities.
In the heart of Central Europe, in Schengen
A two-hour flight from Istanbul, three hours by train to Vienna; the Schengen area, the Erasmus network and a post-graduation job-search permit.
The education system in Hungary
Hungarian higher education follows the Bologna three-cycle structure; medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, veterinary medicine and law are taught as single-cycle (osztatlan) programmes.
| Level | Length | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Alapképzés (bachelor's, BA/BSc) | 3-4 years · 180-240 ECTS | High-school diploma; engineering and some science programmes run 3.5 years (7 semesters) |
| Mesterképzés (master's, MA/MSc) | 1.5-2 years · 90-120 ECTS | Bachelor's degree + programme-specific prerequisites, interview or entrance test |
| Osztatlan (single cycle) | 5-6 years | Medicine 6 years; dentistry and pharmacy 5 years; veterinary medicine 5.5 years; law 5 years |
| Doktori képzés (PhD) | 4 years | 2 + 2 structure; after a master's, usually funded |
Most universities are publicly funded, but since 2021 many of them (Semmelweis, Debrecen, Szeged, Pécs, Corvinus…) have moved to a foundation model; ELTE and BME remain state universities. For an international student the practical difference is that tuition and scholarship rules vary by university. The academic year starts in September and has two semesters, each followed by a 5–6 week exam period. Medical faculties offer premedical / foundation years for students who can't enter the English programme directly; some universities such as Debrecen and Pécs may open February-start groups — confirm the current intake calendar on the university's page.
How to apply to a university in Hungary
1. Choose the track: scholarship or self-funded
Stipendium Hungaricum (full scholarship, limited places, November–January) and self-funded direct application (February–June) run on separate calendars; one or both are planned according to profile and budget.
2. Choose the programme and university
From the Study in Hungary programme database, 3–5 programmes are chosen by subject, city and budget; each one's entrance exam, tuition and deadline is noted separately.
3. Portal application and documents
The SH scholarship uses apply.stipendiumhungaricum.hu; self-funded applications go through the university's own portal. High-school transcript, diploma (or expected-graduation letter), English proficiency, motivation letter and passport are uploaded; the application fee varies by university.
4. Entrance exam and interview
Medicine, dentistry and pharmacy require a written biology + chemistry (sometimes physics) test and an English interview; sittings run February–July, mostly online. Engineering and business usually need only an online test or interview.
5. Offer, tuition payment or scholarship confirmation
Self-funded applicants confirm the place by paying the first-semester tuition (or a deposit) after the admission letter. For SH candidates the university exam takes place March–May and Tempus announces results in June.
6. Residence permit and arrival
The residence permit for study is applied for via the Enter Hungary system at the Embassy in Ankara or the Consulate General in Istanbul (June–August); after arrival the address registration and university enrolment are completed.
Admission requirements
Academic
- High-school diploma (12 years of schooling) and transcript; an expected-graduation letter if still in grade 12
- For medicine and dentistry a biology and chemistry background at school; some faculties set a GPA threshold
- For a master's: bachelor's degree, transcript and course descriptions
- Diploma recognition (elismerés) is handled by the university at enrolment; certified translations are required
Language
- English-taught programmes: usually IELTS 6.0–6.5 or TOEFL iBT 72–90 (B2); medical faculties ask for the upper end
- Many universities accept their own English test or interview; some treat an English-medium high-school diploma as sufficient
- Hungarian-taught programmes: the university's Hungarian test or a B2 certificate (rare for students from Türkiye)
Entrance tests
- Medicine / dentistry / pharmacy: written biology and chemistry test (physics at some faculties) + English interview; several sittings February–July, mostly online
- SH scholarship: the university's own entrance test or interview, March–May
- Engineering (BME) and business (Corvinus): online maths / aptitude test or interview; SAT and IB scores may grant an exemption on some programmes
- Veterinary medicine: biology and chemistry test + interview
Documents
- Passport (validity covering the programme length is recommended)
- Motivation letter and CV; the SH application also asks for a medical certificate
- Reference letter (some programmes and master's)
- For the residence permit: admission letter, proof of tuition payment, accommodation, health insurance and proof of funds
Application calendar
Dates vary by university and programme; this table shows the general flow. Confirm exact deadlines on the target university's page.
| Period | What happens |
|---|---|
| September – October (grade 12) | Programme list and track choice (SH / self-funded); IELTS plan; biology-chemistry prep for medicine; document translations begin |
| November – January | Stipendium Hungaricum portal application (deadline usually mid-January); nomination by the Turkish sending partner; early university applications |
| February – April | Self-funded applications on university portals; first entrance exam sittings (medicine); university exams begin for SH candidates |
| May – June | Admission letters and tuition / deposit payment; SH results (June); final application deadlines close; high-school diploma obtained |
| July – September | Enter Hungary residence permit application, insurance and housing; last exam sittings (July); arrival and enrolment; classes start in September |
Tuition and living costs in Hungary
Tuition in Hungary varies a lot by programme: business and engineering sit in a reasonable band, while medicine and dentistry are above the European average. Living costs, especially outside Budapest, stay well below Western Europe.
| Item | Yearly range | Note |
|---|---|---|
| English-taught programmes (business, engineering, social sciences) | €3,000 – 8,000 | ELTE and Debrecen at the lower end; Corvinus and BME at the upper end |
| Medicine and dentistry | €16,000 – 21,000 | Semmelweis at the upper end; veterinary medicine €12,000 – 15,000; pharmacy lower |
| Living (Budapest) | €7,200 – 10,800 | €600 – 900 a month: housing, food, transport; lower in halls |
| Living (Debrecen, Szeged, Pécs) | €5,400 – 8,400 | €450 – 700 a month; university halls are common |
| One-off | €800 – 1,800 | Residence permit, insurance, application and exam fees, translation and apostille, first rent deposit |
Figures are approximate ranges as of 2026 and vary by university, city and programme. Always confirm current numbers on the university's and the official bodies' pages.
Scholarships and funding
The main funding route in Hungary is the government's Stipendium Hungaricum programme; beyond it, universities' merit-based tuition discounts and Erasmus+ stand out.
Stipendium Hungaricum
A full scholarship run by the Tempus Public Foundation: tuition waiver, monthly stipend, halls or a housing contribution and health insurance. Türkiye is a partner country; applications open on the portal usually November–January, the sending partner (YÖK) nominates candidates, and the university exam and results follow in June. Quotas and dates are re-announced every year.
University merit discounts
Debrecen, Szeged and Pécs grant tuition discounts or partial scholarships based on the entrance exam and semester average; Corvinus and BME run merit scholarships for international students. Most need a separate application and are renewed yearly.
Bilateral state scholarships (Tempus)
Under Hungary's bilateral education agreement with Türkiye, short- and long-term scholarships may be offered via Tempus; quotas change from year to year and eligibility is set per call — check the current call.
Erasmus+
Students enrolled at Hungarian universities can use the Erasmus+ grant for a one- or two-semester exchange; exchanges from Turkish universities to Hungary are also common.
Well-known universities
A selection of universities Turkish students often apply to — a starting point, not a ranking.
Semmelweis University
Budapest
Medicine, dentistry, pharmacy; English- and German-taught programmes
Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE)
Budapest
Sciences, psychology, computer science, humanities; wide range of English-taught programmes
Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME)
Budapest
Engineering, architecture, computer engineering
Corvinus University of Budapest
Budapest
Business, economics, international relations
University of Debrecen
Debrecen
Medicine, engineering, agriculture, business; large international campus
University of Szeged
Szeged
Medicine, pharmacy, sciences; a campus town
University of Pécs
Pécs
Medicine, dentistry, business; Hungary's first university
University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest
Budapest
English-taught veterinary medicine (5.5 years); recognised across the EU
Visa and residence permit
Turkish citizens need a residence permit for the purpose of study for stays over 90 days; the application is made before travelling via the Enter Hungary system, and the entry (type-D) visa is issued with the approval.
- Application: online file on the Enter Hungary portal + appointment and biometrics at the Embassy in Ankara or the Consulate General in Istanbul; after the admission letter, usually June–August. Decisions mostly take 30–60 days.
- Documents: admission letter, proof of tuition payment (or the SH award letter), proof of accommodation (halls contract / lease), health insurance, proof of funds (bank statement or parental undertaking), passport, photos; the fee is roughly €110–130 and is updated yearly.
- After arrival: address registration and collection of the residence card; the permit is usually issued per academic year and extended inside Hungary each year.
- Work: up to 24 hours a week during term and up to 90 days or 66 working days a year outside term; confirm the current limits in the legislation.
- After graduation: a residence permit of up to 9 months for job search or entrepreneurship; the rules changed with the 2024 immigration act, so check the current conditions before applying.
For the current document list, fees and processing times check enterhungary.gov.hu and the consulate's page.
How Studrise helps with your Hungary application
From choosing the country to the visa file — one consultant, one calendar.
Country & programme fit
A balanced university list
The application file
Exam plan
Calendar & follow-up
After the offer
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Free consultation for Hungary
Let's talk profile, target programme and budget, and settle which universities are realistic in the first call.
The first call is free; plan and price are settled in the call.
Academic preparation is part of the same plan
The coaching plan runs on the same calendar as the student's SAT, IELTS, AP and IB preparation; when needed, one-on-one lessons with expert teachers and Studrise AI Courses are added to the programme.
Frequently asked questions
Let's plan your Hungary application together
In a free first call we look at where the student stands and what they aim for, propose a roadmap, and share the scope and price clearly.
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