How Higher Education Works in Hungary: Degrees, Universities and the Academic Year
By Muntasir • Published Jun 22, 2025 • Updated Sep 20, 2026 • Education Planning, Study in Europe, Country & City Guides
Hungary follows the three-cycle Bologna system: bachelor, master, then doctorate. Bachelor programs take 3-4 years, master programs mostly take 2 years and 120 ECTS credits, and hundreds of programs teach entirely in English.
🎓 Two types of institution: universities and universities of applied sciences (colleges)
Bachelor degree: 3-4 years, first Bologna cycle
Master degree: usually 2 years and 120 ECTS, some shorter at 90 or 60 ECTS
Medicine, dentistry, law and a few other fields use one-tier long programs instead of separate bachelor and master degrees
⏱️ Academic year splits into an autumn and a spring semester
The government's 2025-2026 Action Plan sets 57 reforms across 22 objectives for higher education
Two Types of Higher Education Institution
Hungary's higher education system separates institutions into two categories: universities (egyetem) and universities of applied sciences, also called colleges (foiskola). A university must offer at least eight bachelor programs and six master programs, plus doctoral programs and the right to award doctoral degrees, according to the Eurydice national system description . Universities of applied sciences focus on practice-based bachelor and some master programs, without doctoral training.
Both public and private institutions operate in Hungary. Public universities such as Eotvos Lorand University, Semmelweis University and Corvinus University of Budapest sit alongside private and church-run institutions. Program quality and accreditation follow the same national framework regardless of ownership.
The Bologna Degree Structure
Hungary adopted the three-cycle Bologna structure through pilot programs starting in 2005, then phased in bachelor and master degrees across most fields. A bachelor degree (alapszak) is the first cycle and typically takes 3-4 years depending on the field. A standard master degree (mesterszak) is the second cycle, usually 2 years and 120 ECTS credits, though some programs run for three terms (90 ECTS) or two terms (60 ECTS) for students who already hold a related bachelor degree.
| Cycle | Hungarian name | Typical length | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor | Alapszak | 3-4 years | 180-240 ECTS |
| Master | Mesterszak | 1-2 years | 60-120 ECTS |
| One-tier (medicine, law, etc.) | Osztatlan kepzes | 5-6 years | 300-360 ECTS |
| Doctorate | Doktori (PhD) | 3-4 years | research-based |
A handful of fields kept one-tier programs instead of splitting into bachelor and master. Medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, veterinary science, architecture and law commonly run as a single long program ending directly in a professional degree equivalent to a master's. After a master's or one-tier degree, doctoral programs form the third Bologna cycle, typically 3-4 years of research work ending in a public defense.
Academic Year and Calendar
The Hungarian academic year splits into two semesters. The autumn semester runs from September to late January, including a winter exam period. The spring semester runs from February to June, with exams and program deadlines clustered at the end of the term. Most programs use a teaching term followed by a dedicated exam period, a structure common across European universities.
Teaching Language
Hungarian is the main language of instruction at public universities for domestic students, but the country runs a large number of English-taught bachelor, master and PhD programs aimed at international students, spanning medicine, business, engineering, IT and the social sciences. Some universities also offer programs in German or French. Check the specific program page for the language of instruction and any required language test, since these vary by university and faculty.
Grading and Credits
Hungarian universities use the European Credit Transfer System, the same credit system used across most of Europe, which makes it straightforward to transfer credits or continue studies at another EU institution. Grading commonly runs on a 1-5 scale, where 5 (jeles) is excellent and 1 (elegtelen) is fail, though some programs also report results as ECTS grades from A to F for international comparison.
Ongoing Reforms
Hungary's government adopted an Action Plan for 2025-2026 titled Change the Pace in Higher Education, covering 57 interventions across 22 objectives, according to Eurydice . The plan targets funding, institutional governance and program quality, so expect incremental changes to admission and funding rules over the next two academic years.
How Hungary Compares in Europe
Hungary's degree lengths and ECTS credit values line up with the rest of the European Higher Education Area, so a bachelor or master degree earned in Hungary transfers cleanly for further study or work elsewhere in Europe. Tuition costs and living expenses sit below Western European averages, a major reason the country draws international students into its English-taught programs.