Higher education (felsőoktatás) system in Hungary

What

Higher level educational programmes after secondary education. In Hungary there are different type of programmes and universities: public universities with scholarships and with tuition fee and there are a few private universities.

Since 2005 in Hungary the higher education is based on the Bologna system. It means that the higher education is divided into three parts: BSc/Ba (bachelor of science/arts) which is the first level with 3-4 years duration, MSc/Ma (master of science/arts) with 1-2 years duration and PhD (philosophiæ doctor) which is the highest level in the education. This system enables the students to move easier between universities and colleges in the same or similar fields of education. But there are also some undivided programmes (e.g. medicine, law, teacher training).

Who

BSc/Ba and undivided programmes: Students can apply if they pass the mature exams and have enough points to get to the university. The minimum level is 260 points (in the 500 points system) but the number of necessary points depends on the programme, scholarship and number of applicants (it can be over 400 points in the case of poplar supported programs).

MSc/Ma and PhD programmes: Students who have BSc (for MSc) or MSc (for PhD) degree on relevant fields and fulfil the conditions of the entrance exam.

How

Students can study full time or at correspondence/distance programmes. In full time program the students have classes during the week while in correspondence education they have to attend courses on Fridays or on weekends when they stay the whole day at the university.

Beside passing the exams students have to write and defend their thesis, pass the state exam and have at least one B2 level language exam (but on some programs the university can ask for more B2 level exams or C level exam) to get a degree.

When

Usually students go to university right after the secondary school but people can apply any time after their mature exam (érettségi vizsga).

Good to know

In Hungary, the education system doesn’t make a difference between girls and boys and all the students must have access to education when fulfilling the requirements.

In Hungary the students with state scholarship have to sign contract in which they declare that they will finish their studies at least in one and half times of the programme period (e.g. in the case of a 3 years long programme they have to finish in 4.5 years). In addition, they have to pledge for the following 20 years to work in Hungary for at least the period of time receiving the scholarship. In case of late graduation or working abroad the student must pay back the amount of money received through scholarship.

Here, at the bottom of this page you can find a comprehensive description about the Hungarian educational system that was designed by the Menedék, Hungarian Association for Migrants (in Hungarian, English, French, Vietnamese, Chinese, Arabic and Farsi): http://menedek.hu/en/node/653

Where

The main universities are in Budapest and in the regional centres (Debrecen, Győr, Miskolc, Szeged, Pécs) but there is at least one university or college in every county centre or in larger towns.