Study abroad·Europe· 9 min read

How to Study in Hungary: Complete Guide for International Students

A complete guide to studying in Hungary — universities, strong English-taught medicine and engineering, applying via studyinhungary.hu, the Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship, and the residence permit.

Last updated 3 July 2026

Key facts

Official portal: studyinhungary.hu (Tempus Public Foundation)
Known for: English-taught medicine, dentistry, veterinary, engineering
How you apply: Directly to each university (own requirements + entrance tests)
Flagship scholarship: Stipendium Hungaricum (India is a partner country)
Residence authority: National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing
Visa: Long-stay entry + study residence permit for stays over 90 days (non-EU)

Why Hungary, and how its universities work

Hungary is a long-established European study destination with a strong reputation for English-taught medicine, dentistry, veterinary science, and engineering, which makes it popular with international students. Degrees follow the European (Bologna) structure of bachelor, master, and doctorate, plus long single-cycle programmes in fields such as medicine.

The official starting point is studyinhungary.hu, run by the Tempus Public Foundation, which explains the system and lists programmes. Hungary hosts a large number of English-language degree programmes across public and private institutions.

Because of the well-developed English-taught medical sector, many applicants come specifically for medicine and related health sciences — but Hungary also offers business, engineering, sciences, and humanities in English.

Strong English-taught medicine, dentistry, veterinary, and engineering
Official portal: studyinhungary.hu (Tempus Public Foundation)
Degrees follow the European bachelor/master/doctorate structure

Choosing a university and programme

Use the programme search on studyinhungary.hu to filter by field, level, and language, then read each university's own admissions pages. Admission is handled by each institution, so requirements, any entrance examinations, and deadlines are set per programme.

English-taught medical and health-science programmes typically include their own entrance examination or assessment (often in biology and chemistry) and can be competitive, so no place can be guaranteed. Check the exact assessment format and timing on the university's page.

Shortlist a few programmes early and confirm each one's document list, because requirements are not uniform across universities.

Search programmes on studyinhungary.hu by field, level, and language
Each university sets its own requirements, entrance tests, and deadlines
Medicine/health entrance assessments are competitive — verify format per university

Recognition and language requirements

For admission, your prior qualification generally needs to give access to that level of study, and universities assess your secondary certificate (for a bachelor's) or degree (for a master's). Requirements for document recognition, legalisation, and translation are set by the university, and Indian documents commonly need apostille legalisation before they are accepted.

For English-taught programmes, universities usually ask for proof of English proficiency, often through a recognised test such as IELTS or TOEFL, or an accepted equivalent. The accepted tests and minimum scores are set by each programme.

Confirm the exact recognition, legalisation, translation, and language rules with your chosen university, as they differ between institutions and change over time.

Prior qualification must give access to the study level — assessed per university
Indian documents commonly need apostille legalisation — confirm per university
English-taught programmes: proof of English (e.g. IELTS/TOEFL) as set by the programme

The Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship

Stipendium Hungaricum is the Hungarian Government's flagship scholarship programme for international students and is a major reason many students choose Hungary. It supports bachelor's, master's, one-tier master's, and doctoral studies, and it is administered through official partners in participating countries — India is a long-standing partner with its own nomination process.

The scholarship typically covers tuition and provides support toward living and accommodation, but the exact benefits, eligibility, participating institutions, and deadlines are published each cycle in the official Call for Applications. Always rely on stipendiumhungaricum.hu and the official India-side nominating body for current details.

A scholarship is competitive and awarded on published academic and secular criteria — it can never be bought or guaranteed. Apply only through the official portal and your country's official sending partner; ignore anyone promising a "guaranteed" award for a fee.

Covers bachelor's, master's, one-tier master's, and doctoral study
India is a partner country with its own nomination process
Verify benefits, eligibility, and deadlines in the official Call for Applications
Secular, competitive award — never guaranteed or for sale

Visa and residence permit

Hungary is in the Schengen Area. Non-EU/EEA students who will study for longer than 90 days generally need to arrange the appropriate long-stay entry and then a residence permit for the purpose of studies. The competent authority for residence matters is the National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing.

Required documents usually include the letter of admission, proof of sufficient funds, health insurance, and accommodation, but the precise list and steps are set by the authorities and can change. Scholarship holders should also follow any specific instructions tied to their programme.

This is general information, not immigration advice. Verify the current entry, visa, and residence-permit requirements on the official Hungarian government sources and your nearest Hungarian consulate before you travel.

Non-EU students staying over 90 days arrange long-stay entry + a study residence permit
Residence matters: National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing
Verify current visa and permit rules on official government sources

Costs and living

Tuition and living costs in Hungary are generally lower than in Western Europe, though medical and health-science programmes are typically more expensive than other fields. The actual tuition depends on the university and programme, so verify the current fee on the institution's own page for your specific course and year.

Budget for accommodation, health insurance, and everyday living in addition to tuition. Costs also vary by city, with the capital usually more expensive than smaller university towns.

Treat all fee and cost figures as something to confirm on official and university sources rather than assume, because they are updated each academic year.

Costs are generally lower than Western Europe; medicine costs more
Verify tuition on each university's own fee page for your programme
Budget separately for accommodation, insurance, and living costs

Frequently asked questions

Is Hungary good for studying medicine in English?

Hungary has a well-established English-taught medical, dental, and veterinary sector that attracts many international students. Admission is through each university's own entrance assessment and is competitive, so no place can be guaranteed. Check the assessment format and requirements on the university's official page.

What is the Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship?

It is the Hungarian Government's flagship scholarship for international students, covering bachelor's, master's, one-tier master's, and doctoral studies with tuition and living support. India is a partner country. Benefits, eligibility, and deadlines are published each cycle on stipendiumhungaricum.hu — the award is secular, competitive, and never for sale.

How do I apply to universities in Hungary?

Use studyinhungary.hu to find programmes, then apply to each university directly, since institutions set their own requirements, entrance tests, and deadlines. Confirm each programme's document list and language requirements on its official admissions page.

Do I need a visa and residence permit for Hungary?

Non-EU/EEA students studying for more than 90 days generally arrange long-stay entry and a residence permit for the purpose of studies; the competent authority is the National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing. This is general information, not immigration advice — verify current rules on official government sources.

Do I need to know Hungarian to study there?

For English-taught programmes you generally do not need Hungarian to study, but you will usually need proof of English proficiency such as IELTS or TOEFL, as set by the programme. Some Hungarian-language programmes exist too; confirm the language and test requirements with each university.

Official sources

This guide explains the process and is for guidance only. Eligibility, dates, fees and rules change every year — always confirm the current details on the official site before you act.

Verified against: Study in Hungary (Tempus Public Foundation); Stipendium Hungaricum — official scholarship programme.

Last verified: 3 July 2026.