Welcome to Hungary!
Hungary is an ancient country full of history. It is quite culturally unrelated to the surrounding states, as its official language, the Hungarian language, can prove by being totally foreign to the neighbors’ ones. Stemming from the Ural mounts region in Russia, the Hungarian language is a mix of Finnish, ancient Russian/Siberian and Scandinavian dialects. Also, culturally there is a strong identitarian gap, that Hungarians are proud of defending.
Universities in Hungary had been modernized after the collapse of USSR in 1990. Usually, smaller institutions were joined to give them more strength and international outlook. Also, several specialistic schools were elevated to the rank of universities.
Inbound tourism is thriving in the recent years thanks to low-cost flights and a top-notch offer of venues and activities. Hungarian specialties include: Goulash, a meat soup; Paprika, used abundantly in many dishes; and Pálinka, a traditional fruit spirit. Thermal baths are abundant in Hungary, which are usually way more expensive elsewhere, so you could have plenty of time and money to enjoy a relaxing day in a natural thermal bath.
What are the best universities in Hungary for semester students?
Are you still undecided whether or not Hungary might be an appealing destination for you? On wearefreemovers you can find a selection of 5 academic institutions offering you the possibility of spending a semester or a full academic year in Hungary. Let’s check some statistics about them.
Here you can see the positions of the Hungarian institutions among the world’s best universities rankings.
| NAME | QS | THE | ARWU | CWUR | CWTS | Eduniversal palmes | U.S. News & World Report's Best Global Universities Rankings | Webometrics |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corvinus University of Budapest | 801-1000 | 1001+ | - | - | - | 4 | - | - |
| Corvinus University of Budapest - Corvinus Business School | 801-1000 | 1001+ | - | - | - | 4 | - | - |
| Eötvös Loránd University - Faculty of Law | 601-650 | 601–800 | 601-700 | 588 | 867 | - | 414 | 374 |
| Hungarian University of Fine Arts | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Szent István University - Faculty of Food Science | 801-1000 | 1001+ | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Szent István University - Faculty of Landscape Architecture | 801-1000 | 1001+ | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| SzFE University of Theatre and Film Arts Budapest | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
The three biggest universities of the list: Corvinus University of Budapest, Eötvös Loránd University and Szent István University are all included in the two most famous university rankings, which are the QS and the THE ones. This is for sure a good sign, that attests the quality of Hungarian higher education. On the other hand, the remaining two institutions are not ranked because of their small size and their high specificity.
Costs and fees
Hungary is quite a cheap country. Monthly costs of living for a single person are below 500€. Keep in mind that, as a student, you could have access to various discounts which can include food, travel, and accommodation expenses.
When it comes to university’s fees, Hungary is quite fair, with a median 2500€/semester for free mover students.
Which Hungarian cities are available to free movers?
Currently there is just 1 city that accepts free movers in Hungary. Have you ever dreamt of studying in Budapest?
