European Education. Strong Universities. A Scholarship Opportunity Worth Exploring.
Looking for a European study destination with internationally recognised universities, English-taught programmes and comparatively manageable study costs?
Located in Central Europe and part of the European Union and Schengen Area, Hungary offers international programmes across Engineering, Computer Science, Business, Natural Sciences, Medicine, Healthcare and many other disciplines.
Its higher education system follows the European Bologna framework and uses ECTS credits, while Hungarian institutions collectively offer more than 700 foreign-language programmes.
For Indian students, Hungary also has another important advantage:
The Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship.
But choosing Hungary should still begin with your course, university and career goals—not simply the possibility of a scholarship.
Hungary Study at a Glance
| What Students Want to Know | Hungary |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's Duration | Usually 3–4 years |
| Master's Duration | Usually 1.5–2 years |
| Medicine / One-Tier Degrees | Usually 5–6 years |
| Main Intake | September |
| Secondary Intake | February at selected universities |
| Study Language | Many programmes available in English |
| Typical Non-Medical Tuition | Often around €5,500–€11,000/year depending on programme |
| Living Budget | Plan roughly €500–€900/month depending on city & housing |
| Work During Studies | Up to 30 hrs/week during study periods |
| After Graduation | Up to 9 months for eligible job search/business pathway |
| Major Scholarship | Stipendium Hungaricum |
Hungarian Bachelor programmes generally fall within a 2–4 year framework, Master’s programmes usually last 1.5–2 years, while integrated programmes such as Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy and Veterinary Medicine generally take 5–6 years.
Top Hungary Universities
Why Consider Hungary?
Hungary offers more than simply a lower-cost alternative to Western Europe.
Established European Higher Education
Hungary has a university tradition stretching back centuries, with 64 accredited higher education institutions currently listed by the official Study in Hungary portal. The system uses ECTS credits, making study achievements easier to understand and transfer within the European Higher Education Area.
Strong Study Areas
Hungarian universities offer extensive opportunities in:
Engineering
Computer Science & IT
Business & Economics
Natural Sciences
Medicine & Healthcare
Agriculture
Social Sciences
Wide Choice of International Programmes
More than 700 programmes are offered in foreign languages across Hungary, including a substantial selection taught in English.
Different Options for Different Budgets
Tuition varies significantly by programme and university.
For example, current non-EU fees include approximately €5,500/year for Business
Administration at the University of Pécs, around €6,000–€6,600/year for many Bachelor's programmes at Corvinus University, while specialised Master's degrees can reach around €10,800/year.
Established Medical Education
Hungary is also well known internationally for Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy and health-related education. These programmes are considerably more expensive, however. For example, Medicine at the University of Szeged costs €15,800 for the 2026/27 academic year.
A Significant Scholarship Opportunity
Indian applicants can currently participate in the Stipendium Hungaricum programme for specified fields and study levels. This makes Hungary particularly interesting for academically strong students willing to compete for scholarship places.
Is Hungary Right for You?
Hungary could be a strong choice if you:
- Want a recognised European qualification
- Are interested in Engineering, IT, Business, Economics, Natural Sciences or related disciplines
- Want access to English-taught programmes
- Are considering Central Europe rather than only the traditional UK, Canada or Australia routes
- Want comparatively manageable accommodation and living costs
- Want the possibility of working during your studies
- Have a strong academic profile and want to explore the Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship
- Are comfortable adapting to a different language, culture and climate
Think Carefully If:
You are choosing Hungary only because you heard the scholarship is “free.”
Stipendium Hungaricum is competitive, subject to country-specific study fields, nomination and university admission.
You expect your part-time job to finance your full tuition and living costs.
Student work should supplement your finances—not replace a realistic education budget.
You expect studying in Hungary to automatically give you permission to work anywhere in Europe.
Schengen travel rights and employment rights are not the same thing.
Under current Hungarian immigration rules, holders of a study residence permit are generally not eligible to sponsor family reunification, apart from a limited exception involving a child born in Hungary during the permit period.
What Can You Study in Hungary?
Agastya Tip
Don’t choose a course simply because it appears on a scholarship list.
Ask:
“Would I still choose this programme if I had to evaluate it purely for its academic and career value?”
How Much Does It Cost to Study in Hungary?
There is no single national tuition fee.
Costs vary considerably according to university, subject and study level.
Current Tuition Examples
| Programme Type | Current Example |
|---|---|
| Business Bachelor's | Approx. €5,500–€6,600/year |
| Business Master's | Approx. €6,300–€10,800/year |
| Selected Science / IT Master's | Often several thousand euros per semester |
| Medicine | Approx. €15,800/year at University of Szeged |
Agastya Tip
Treat “MOI accepted” or “without IELTS” as an eligibility possibility, not a guarantee.
We check the requirement against your actual academic profile and chosen university before recommending a route.
For example, Corvinus currently charges non-EEA students around €6,000–€6,600/year for many Bachelor’s programmes and approximately €6,800–€10,800 for its Master’s programmes.
University of Pécs currently lists Business Administration at €2,750 per semester and selected Business Master’s programmes at €3,150 per semester for non-EU students.
Parent's Perspective
Don't compare:
Hungary tuition vs UK tuition
alone. Compare:
Tuition + programme length + accommodation + living costs + insurance + travel + immigration costs.
That gives you the real financial picture.
What About Living Expenses?
Your biggest variable will usually be accommodation.
Hungary’s official cost-of-living calculator currently shows approximate monthly accommodation costs such as:
| Accommodation | Budapest | Several Other Student Cities |
|---|---|---|
| Shared Flat | Approx. €352 | Approx. €201–€239 |
| Private Flat | Approx. €566 | Approx. €302–€440 |
| University Dormitory | Often significantly lower | Varies by institution |
Food, transport and lifestyle expenses then need to be added.
For planning purposes, I would tell Indian families to think in terms of roughly:
€500–€900 per month
depending heavily on accommodation, city and personal lifestyle.
Budapest will generally require a larger budget than cities such as Debrecen, Szeged, Pécs or Miskolc.
Can I Study in Hungary Without IELTS?
Possibly — IELTS is not universally compulsory.
Each university sets its own English-language requirements.
Students normally need to demonstrate sufficient proficiency for an English-taught programme, often around B2 level or above, depending on the course.
Different universities may accept:
IELTS
TOEFL
PTE or other recognised tests
English-medium previous education
University interview / assessment
For example, the University of Debrecen states that applicants who completed their previous education in English may provide a Medium of Instruction certificate instead of an English test, subject to its requirements.
The University of Pécs, meanwhile, has programme-specific English requirements and may assess applicants through tests or interviews even where certificates have been submitted.
Agastya Tip
Don’t advertise Hungary simply as:
“Study Without IELTS.”
A better and more accurate message is:
“Alternative English-language evidence may be accepted by selected universities.”
We check the actual requirement for your programme before recommending the application route.
Hungary Intakes: When Should You Apply?
Hungary’s academic year has two semesters.
September Intake
This is the main intake and usually provides the widest range of universities and programmes. The autumn semester generally begins with registration in early September and classes later in September.
February Intake
Selected programmes also offer a spring start, with registration generally taking place in the first half of February.
Not every programme has both intakes.
For example, the University of Debrecen identifies some programmes as September-only while others offer September and February starts.
Course Selection
One Step Students Often Miss: Entrance Exams & Qualification Assessment
Hungarian admission is not always based only on your marks.
For Bachelor’s admission, applicants normally need a recognised secondary-school qualification.
For Master’s admission, a relevant Bachelor’s qualification is required.
Some universities and courses also conduct:
Entrance examinations
Academic interviews
English assessments
Subject-specific tests
Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacy commonly have additional science-based entrance requirements.
Universities also determine whether your previous qualification meets the level required for the programme.
Don’t assume receiving good marks automatically means direct admission.
Scholarships for Studying in Hungary
Stipendium Hungaricum
This deserves its own section because Hungary is different from several of the European destinations we covered earlier.
The Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship Programme is funded by the Hungarian Government and supports eligible international students.
For Bachelor’s, Master’s and one-tier Master’s scholarship holders, current benefits include:
Tuition-free education
Monthly stipend
Free dormitory place or accommodation contribution
Medical insurance
The current monthly Bachelor’s/Master’s stipend is HUF 43,700, with an accommodation contribution of HUF 40,000/month where a dormitory place is not provided. The programme itself clearly warns that these contributions do not necessarily cover all living expenses.
Is Stipendium Hungaricum Available to Indian Students?
Yes — but with conditions.
India is currently an official Sending Partner.
For Indian applicants, the current partnership primarily allows full-degree studies in:
Natural & Life Sciences
Information Technology
Economics
Business & Management
Engineering
at Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral levels.
Full-degree one-tier Master’s programmes are currently not available under India’s allocation.
Applicants must also go through the required Sending Partner nomination process before progressing to university evaluation.
Agastya Tip
Never tell a student:
“You qualify for a Hungarian scholarship.”
until you have checked:
Nationality + degree level + field + current year's call + academic eligibility + nomination conditions.
Can International Students Work While Studying?
Yes. This is another point where older websites often contain outdated figures. Under Hungary's current immigration rules, non-EEA students holding a residence permit for study purposes may work: Up to 30 hours per week during the study period and Full-time for a maximum of 90 days in a year outside the study period. So I would not use an old “20 hours per week” claim on the revamped page.
Important
A student job can provide:
Work experience
Professional contacts
Additional income
But it should not be your main plan for paying your tuition.
What Happens After Graduation?
Eligible international graduates have a route to remain in Hungary temporarily while looking for suitable employment or planning a business.
If you successfully complete your studies while holding a valid study residence permit, you may apply for a:
Residence Permit for Seeking a Job or Starting a Business
The application must be made while your study residence permit is still valid. The permit can be granted for a maximum of:
9 Months
and cannot be extended under the same category. If you secure an appropriate opportunity, you may then potentially move to another qualifying residence category, subject to the applicable immigration conditions.
Important
Don't market this as:
“Guaranteed 9-month work visa.”
It is a residence pathway for job seeking or starting a business, subject to eligibility and approval.
Hungary Student Visa & Residence Permit
For an Indian student planning studies longer than 90 days, the key immigration permission is Hungary’s:
Residence Permit for the Purpose of Studies
Students requiring a visa normally submit the residence-permit application outside Hungary through the appropriate Hungarian diplomatic or consular channel.
An important current rule is that you do not submit a completely separate student visa application.
The residence-permit application also incorporates the request for the entry visa needed to collect the residence permit after approval.
Typical requirements can include
University admission
Valid passport
Proof of sufficient funds
Hungarian accommodation address
Health insurance / healthcare coverage
Evidence of return or onward travel capability
Required photograph and supporting documentation
Agastya Tip
Don't build your visa file from an old downloadable checklist.
Immigration requirements can change between admission and visa filing.
Always work with the conditions applicable at the time you apply.
You need the right shortlist.
Your Hungary Study Journey with Agastya Global
We understand your academics, study interests, budget and career goals.
We compare programmes based on curriculum, tuition, location and suitability.
Where relevant, we assess whether Stipendium Hungaricum or university-based scholarship opportunities are worth exploring.
We help organise your documents and prepare for applicable interviews or entrance requirements.
We help you understand tuition, living expenses and the applicable Hungary student residence process.
We help you prepare for accommodation, travel and student life in Hungary.
Before Choosing a Hungarian University, Ask These 5 Questions
Not Sure Whether Hungary Is Right for You?
Hungary can offer an attractive combination of:
- European higher education
- English-taught programmes
- Engineering & Technology opportunities
- Manageable living costs
- Work opportunities during eligible studies
- Stipendium Hungaricum for eligible Indian applicants
- A 9-month graduate job-search/business pathway
At Agastya Global, we help you compare the:
- Course
- University
- Tuition
- Living cost
- Scholarship possibilities
- Admission requirements
- Career relevance
- Residence requirements
FAQ-Studying in Hungary
Is Hungary a good study destination for Indian students?
Hungary can be a strong option for Indian students interested in European education, particularly in Engineering, IT, Business, Natural Sciences and other disciplines. It also offers the Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship to eligible Indian applicants in specified fields.
How much does it cost to study in Hungary?
Tuition varies considerably. Current examples show many non-medical Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes costing roughly €5,500–€11,000 per year, while professional programmes such as Medicine can cost around €15,800 per year or more.
How much does it cost to live in Hungary?
Costs vary primarily by accommodation and city. Official current data shows shared-flat accommodation at approximately €352/month in Budapest versus around €201 in several smaller university cities, before food and other expenses are added.
A practical student budget may therefore be around €500–€900 per month, depending on housing and lifestyle.
Is IELTS compulsory for studying in Hungary?
Not universally. Universities determine their own English requirements. Some accept IELTS or other tests, while selected institutions may accept previous English-medium education or conduct their own interview or assessment.
Can Indian students get the Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship?
Yes. India is currently an eligible Sending Partner, although eligible fields and degree levels are restricted by the bilateral programme arrangements and applicants must satisfy nomination and university admission requirements.
Can international students work while studying in Hungary?
Yes. Eligible third-country students holding a study residence permit may currently work up to 30 hours per week during the study period, and full-time for up to 90 days per year outside the study period.
Can I stay in Hungary after graduation?
Eligible graduates can apply for a residence permit for seeking employment or starting a business, valid for a maximum of 9 months. The application must be made while the study residence permit is still valid.
