Studying in Budapest: universities, costs, housing and student life
By Muntasir • Published May 04, 2026 • Updated Sep 20, 2026 • Study Abroad, Study in Europe, Country & City Guides, Student Housing
Budapest hosts Hungary's top universities, including ELTE, BME and Semmelweis, and draws a large international student population into English-taught medicine and engineering programs.
🎓 ELTE, BME, Semmelweis and Corvinus cover most subjects across the city
💶 Public tuition applies to most programs, though state-financed Hungarian-taught places and Stipendium Hungaricum scholarships reduce or cover the cost
🏠 University kollégium rooms cost less than private flats but demand is high
🚋 BKK runs metro, tram and bus on one ticket system with student discounts
Why study in Budapest
Budapest is Hungary's capital and its main student city, home to major universities that draw a large international crowd, especially into medicine and engineering. The city sits on the Danube, mixes grand 19th-century architecture with a busy nightlife scene, and keeps living costs below Vienna or Munich while staying a short flight or train ride from the rest of Central Europe.
The academic year follows the standard two-semester pattern, with the autumn semester starting in September and the spring semester starting in February, so check your program's exact start date before booking flights or a flat viewing.
Hungary sits in the EU and the Schengen area but keeps its own currency, the forint, so budget with a small buffer if your income or scholarship arrives in euros. Winters run cold and often gray, while summer brings warm weather well suited to the city's open-air baths and riverside terraces, and most students agree the shoulder seasons offer the best balance of mild weather and fewer tourists.
Universities in Budapest
Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE) is Hungary's largest and oldest comprehensive university, covering humanities, law, sciences, education and social sciences, with a growing number of English-taught programs.
Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME), established in 1782, is one of the oldest institutionally continuous technical universities in the world and remains the country's leading choice for engineering, computer science and architecture.
Semmelweis University specializes in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and health sciences, and its English and German-language medical programs attract a large share of Budapest's international student population, particularly from Germany, Norway and Israel.
Corvinus University of Budapest focuses on business, economics and social sciences, with several English-taught bachelor and master programs.
Most Hungarian universities require an entrance exam, a motivation letter or an interview, and medical programs at Semmelweis add a written or oral entrance test alongside your school grades. Check the exact requirement on your target program's admissions page, since it varies by faculty and degree level.
Tuition and other study costs
Unlike Czechia, Hungary charges tuition at public universities for most programs, including many taught in Hungarian, though EU/EEA students studying in a state-funded Hungarian-taught place pay the same reduced or waived rate as Hungarian nationals if they secure one of the limited state-financed spots. English-taught programs charge tuition to everyone, EU and non-EU alike, with fees set individually by each university and faculty, so check the program page directly for the current rate.
Hungary also runs the Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship program for non-EU students, which covers tuition and offers a monthly stipend for eligible applicants, so check your country's eligibility before you rule out a fully funded place.
EU students should also look at Erasmus+ exchange places through their home university, which can cover a semester or a full degree in Budapest without the tuition most non-exchange international students pay.
Cost of living in Budapest
Budapest costs less than Vienna or Munich, and this gap shows up most in rent and eating out, while imported goods and electronics carry a similar price to the rest of the EU. Hungarian supermarket chains and university canteens keep the weekly food bill manageable, and markets like the Great Market Hall offer fresh produce at a lower price than tourist-area restaurants.
Build a monthly budget covering rent, food, a BKK pass, phone and internet, and course materials, then add a buffer for your first month, when a rental deposit and any kollégium fees fall due before your first scholarship payment or income arrives.
Where students live
ELTE, BME and Semmelweis all run dormitories, called kollégium, spread across the city, usually cheaper than private rentals and located close to a metro or tram line. Rooms fill up quickly, especially for first-year international students, so apply through the university housing office as early as the portal allows.
Students who rent privately look mainly in districts VIII, IX and XIII, all within easy reach of the main campuses by public transport. Sharing a flat with two or three flatmates is standard among students and keeps the monthly cost manageable.
| District | Why students choose it |
|---|---|
| District VIII (Józsefváros) | Close to ELTE and Semmelweis, budget-friendly |
| District IX (Ferencváros) | Near Corvinus, good tram links to the center |
| District XIII | Popular with international students, close to the river |
| District VII (Jewish Quarter) | Central, nightlife-heavy, higher rent |
Getting around the city
BKK , Budapest's public transport authority, runs the metro, trams, buses and trolleybuses on one ticket system covering the whole city. Students buy discounted long-term passes, and the network runs late enough on weekends to get you home after a night out. The city center stays walkable and flat, which makes cycling and walking realistic options for short trips between campus buildings.
Banking, SIM cards and everyday admin
Open a Hungarian bank account soon after you arrive, bringing your passport, proof of address and proof of enrollment, since some landlords and university offices prefer local forint transfers over international payments. A prepaid Hungarian SIM card or eSIM connects you within your first day and helps with transport apps, university systems and government registration.
Health insurance and residence formalities
EU/EEA students bring their European Health Insurance Card and register their address at the local government office if staying long term. Non-EU students need approved health insurance before arrival and must apply for a residence permit shortly after arriving in Hungary, in addition to the student visa obtained before travel through the Hungarian embassy in their home country.
Working while you study
EU/EEA students work without restriction while studying. Non-EU students on a residence permit for study purposes are normally allowed to work part time during term and full time during holidays, though the exact rule depends on your permit type, so confirm the current limit with your university's international office.
Student life in Budapest
Budapest's ruin bars, set inside old buildings in the Jewish Quarter, anchor much of the city's student nightlife, alongside a large program of concerts, festivals and thermal bath evenings aimed at younger crowds. Erasmus Student Network Budapest and university clubs organize regular trips, language exchanges and city tours for new international students.
The city's thermal baths, river cruises and museums offer student discounts, and Budapest's central position in Europe makes weekend trips to Vienna, Bratislava or Zagreb straightforward by train or bus.
A valid student card gets you a reduced rate at most museums, cinemas and cultural sites, so carry your university ID or an ISIC card whenever you plan an outing.
ELTE, BME, Semmelweis and Corvinus all run student sports clubs and associations, from football and rowing on the Danube to debate societies, and joining one is a fast way to build a social circle outside your course.
Applying to study in Budapest
Pick your program and check whether it is state-financed, tuition-based, or eligible for Stipendium Hungaricum.
Submit your application and documents through the university's own admissions portal, typically months before the semester starts.
Complete any entrance exam, motivation letter or interview required by your program.
Once accepted, apply for your student visa or residence permit if you come from outside the EU, and arrange health insurance.
Apply for kollégium housing as soon as the portal opens, or start looking for a private flat two to three months before you arrive.