Hungary

About

Hungary is situated in central Europe and is a state of the European Union. It has a strong economy and its rich cultural, historical, and academic prominence classify it as a middle power in global affairs. Hungary’s history includes significant contributions in the fields of arts, music, literature, sports, science, and technology.
Hungary offers a very diverse range of higher education options. Listed below are a few features that make Hungary, the preferred study abroad destination.

Credibility and diversity

The education system has gained credibility in recent years especially in the field of science. It is also preferred for its accessibility in terms of admission. It is popular especially for studies in medicine, dentistry, veterinary sciences, etc. Hungary’s high-quality medical degrees are accepted by the World Health Organisation and they are also directly transferrable to any European Union country. The degrees are internationally recognized.

Rich culture & heritage

In Hungary, students get an opportunity to witness the rich culture and heritage of the country. It is famous for its landscapes and also historical urban centers. The palaces and castles speak about the country’s heritage.

Quality at affordable cost

The students who choose to study in Hungary can rest assured that they are getting high-quality education at affordable costs. The students can apply for scholarships and financial aid. There are many scholarships and fellowships offered by many councils to facilitate students in their study and research in their chosen fields. Students can also work while they study in Hungary.

Diversity

Hungary has foreign students from both EU and non-EU countries. There is a diversity and students get to mix with students from different cultures from all around the world which will enrich their vision of the world.

The education system in Hungary consists of compulsory education from the age of 6 to 16, which is state-sponsored. There are private schools which charge but their fee is subsidized by the state. After completing the elementary level of education, students have three options to choose from. High school, Vocational school, and Trade school. To study in any Hungarian university, students must have a secondary education certification.
Graduates programs are generally of three years and Masters programs are for two years. But streams like medicine, dentistry, veterinary sciences, etc will have a longer duration. Any Bachelor’s or master's degree can be followed by specialized higher education courses. These do not lead to another degree but offer the option of specialization in a particular field of study. Courses can be studied full-time, part-time or through distance learning. A four-year doctoral program is a post-graduate course to follow any Master’s or equivalent qualification.

Higher Education Institutes in Hungary

There are 67 higher education institutions in Hungary, ranging from small colleges to top research universities. These universities and colleges are maintained either by the state, private organizations or a church. As per the objectives of the Bologna process, the degree structure of tertiary education is based on three cycles. Nearly all study fields lead first to a Bachelor’s degree (usually 3 years), and after a further study period to a Master’s degree (2 years) with exceptions of fields like medicine, dentistry, veterinary sciences, etc.
The top universities in Hungary are Semmelweis University, Eotvos Lorand University, University of Pecs, University of Szeged, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, University of Debrecen and so on. Most of the best colleges in the country are situated in Budapest and Debrecen.

The qualifying exams vary between study programs and levels. For each course, Indian students will need to meet a minimum English language requirement. Besides, there will be a minimum academic performance record as stipulated by the universities to qualify for admission.

General Exams

GMAT - The Graduate Management Admission Test is given by those who want to pursue an MBA or business or management-related courses. The aspirants are measured on English, mathematical and reasoning skills.

GRE - The Graduate Record Examination is taken by students applying to graduate schools to pursue an MA or MS. Also, many business schools accept GRE scores for granting admission for pursuing MBA or business or management courses.

Students need to check on the qualifying exams as stipulated by the universities and accordingly apply for the same.

Language Exam

TOEFL – It is the most popular English proficiency exam accepted by a majority of the universities. The TOEFL tests the student's usage and understanding of the English language as it is used in communicating in college and university settings. Students can appear for this exam any number of times. This test is administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS), which conducts the test and sets the test paper.

IELTS – International English Language Testing System is a standardized language test that needs to be cleared for admission in different universities in Hungary.

Students are advised to thoroughly check the entry requirements of the university/college they are applying to and then take up the exams accordingly. Many educational institutes accept some specific exams whereas some institutes allow students to give the exams of their choice. Therefore, before preparing for the exams, students should check the university requirements.

Application Requirements

Apart from the above-mentioned tests, there are other requirements for applying to educational institutes in Hungary.

Letter of recommendation – (LOR) is a reference letter written by a third-party describing the qualities, characteristics, and capabilities of the prospective student for recommendation to the college in terms of that individual’s ability to perform a particular task or function. The third-party could be a professor, direct manager, etc.

Statement of Purpose – A Statement of Purpose (SOP) is the introduction of the student to the college and admission officers. It is always written in the first person and describes the reason for applying to a particular college. It needs to highlight why the college should accept you. The style of writing could differ from formal to casual, but it is important to remember that it should reflect the student’s personality as well.

Essay: Essays are also required to be submitted by a prospective student. Essays are an important part of the university admissions process. Students may be required to write one or two essays, along with a few optional essays too. Common topics include career aspirations, strengths and weaknesses, skills, experiences, and reasons for considering a particular school.

Apart from the above-mentioned requirements, students applying to undergraduate courses should have completed 10+2. Also, those who are applying to graduate courses must have completed 16 years of education. In addition to all these, students also need to show proof of the finances to the universities to secure admission.

Cut-off for Exams

All the major universities and colleges also set cut-off for various exams which students need to obtain for securing admission. Before applying to their preferred universities, aspirants should check the cut off marks for GMAT, GRE, TOEFL and then start preparing for the exams accordingly.

Hungary works out as an affordable study abroad destination. For international students, the tuition fee varies according to different universities, courses, and the city that the students choose to live in. Living expenses like accommodation, food, travel, etc are as per the choice of the student. Costs will vary depending on the lifestyle, place of residence and socializing of the students. But compared to studying in any other European country, Hungary can work out to be a much reasonable study abroad destination with the best quality education.

Medicine, Business Management, Computer Science, Finance and Accounting, Economics, Communications/Media are popular courses that Indian students pursue in Hungary. A student residing in the metropolitan city will be spending more on accommodation as compared to a student who resides in the suburban part of the city.
Student visas are issued to applicants whose primary purpose of visit to a country is to pursue education. Although getting admission in the university is extremely important, these legal documents for obtaining visas are of utmost importance. Every country has its own immigration rules. The documents can range from education-related ones to different proof of funds acceptable and so on to enable the students to study in that country. These are specified on the official website. Students can check on the same and accordingly apply for their visa. There are some common factors in all student visa applications.

The students need to know the entire process of applying and obtaining the student visas to study abroad. Studying abroad requires meticulous planning. Students are advised to plan their admission/ application process as per the university deadlines and should accordingly work backward. Students are required to appear for English eligibility tests as per the university policies and also have required documents in place for the smooth processing of their application. Hence, students are always advised to apply 3-4 months in advance to avoid any last-minute delays. Candidates seeking financial aid, scholarships and education loans should start a couple of months earlier than the regular applicants for the process of application and approval of the same.