Unlike in many other professions, nurses have strong opportunities to move abroad and build an international career. This is understandable because nurses play a major role in local and international health care systems.
Qualified professionals who want to continue a nursing career in Hungary need to meet professional recognition and registration requirements. If a nurse holds a general nursing qualification from an EU/EEA country that meets the relevant EU requirements, the qualification may qualify for automatic recognition. Nurses with qualifications from outside the EU/EEA usually need to go through a formal recognition procedure before they can practice in Hungary.
If a person has a degree that is not related to nursing, they will need to obtain a nursing qualification before pursuing nursing practice. In Hungary, English-taught nursing programs are available at the bachelor’s and master’s levels. The process of studying nursing in Hungary involves tuition fees, admission documents, English-language requirements, and, for many non-EU applicants, immigration steps. This is what we are going to discuss today.
What Degrees are there for Nursing in Hungary?
As a rule, full-time bachelor’s programs last longer than master’s degree courses in nursing. The English-taught nursing bachelor’s programs highlighted in this article usually last 4 years, or 8 semesters, and carry 240 credits. The nursing master’s programs covered here are now generally 2 years, or 4 semesters, rather than 3 semesters.
At present, the English-taught bachelor’s degree courses covered in this article are offered by Semmelweis University, the University of Pécs, and the University of Szeged. English-taught master’s degree options in nursing are available at Semmelweis University and the University of Pécs.
Cost of Studying Nursing
The cost of studying nursing in Hungary is mainly made up of tuition fees. Based on the current official program pages, bachelor’s degree students should budget roughly EUR 2,900 to EUR 4,050 per semester at the universities covered here. The University of Pécs lists its BSc in Nursing at EUR 2,900 per semester, the University of Szeged lists its Nurse BSc at EUR 3,500 per semester, and Semmelweis University lists its Nursing BSc at EUR 4,050 per semester. You can check the current pages for the University of Szeged, the University of Pécs, and Semmelweis University.
Master’s degree programs usually involve similar or higher tuition fees. The University of Pécs lists its MSc in Nursing APRN programs at EUR 3,500 per semester, while Semmelweis University lists its Nursing MSc at EUR 3,950 per semester.
Apart from tuition fees, universities may charge additional fees. At the University of Pécs, the nursing application fee is EUR 200 and the registration fee is EUR 100. At the University of Szeged, the application fee plus entrance exam fee for the Nurse BSc is EUR 300. At Semmelweis University, the admission procedure fee is EUR 340 for the Nursing BSc and EUR 475 for the Nursing MSc, while the enrollment fee is EUR 230.
Students should pay close attention to the deadlines in their admission letters or application portals and should not leave payments until the last moment.
Requirements to Study Nursing in Hungary
Applicants to a bachelor’s degree program in nursing are usually expected to submit a set of documents with their application form. At the University of Pécs, the BSc in Nursing application file includes an official copy of the secondary school leaving certificate, transcript of academic records, intermediate or B2-level English certificate, CV, motivation letter, passport copy, and medical documents, including the General Medical Certificate and specified test or vaccination records.
Semmelweis University also requires applicants to upload documents through its Semaphor online admission platform. For the Nursing BSc, required documents include a secondary school leaving certificate, English-language certificate or equivalent document, medical report, passport-size photo, CV in English, passport or ID copy, and proof of payment if the applicant does not use the online payment system. Recommendation letters are welcome but not obligatory.
Applicants seeking a master’s degree in nursing generally need a nursing bachelor’s degree. At Semmelweis University, Nursing MSc applicants must submit a BSc diploma in Nursing, proof of English-language knowledge, a medical report, passport-size photo, CV, passport or ID copy, and payment certificate where applicable. Recommendation letters from a university professor or science instructor are welcome but not obligatory. At the University of Pécs, APRN master’s applicants need a Bachelor of Nursing degree, transcript, B2-level English certificate, CV, motivation letter, passport copy, and medical documents.
Some universities also require entrance exams or interviews. Semmelweis University currently lists an oral orientation entrance exam for both the Nursing BSc and Nursing MSc. The University of Szeged lists a written entrance examination and a motivational conversation for the Nurse BSc. The University of Pécs Faculty of Health Sciences states that, after receiving the application fee, it evaluates the application and organizes an entrance interview on Microsoft Teams.
Foreign applicants should also check Hungarian immigration requirements. For many third-country nationals, a residence permit for the purpose of studies is required. If the applicant is not covered by visa-free travel, the residence permit application is normally submitted at a Hungarian diplomatic or consular mission abroad, and a separate visa application is not required because the residence permit application includes the entry visa process. Hungary’s immigration authority lists 15 days as the procedural administration time for study-related residence permit cases, while also stating that the authority adopts a decision within 60 days from submission. Students should apply as early as possible and follow the instructions of the relevant Hungarian consulate or immigration authority.
In What Languages Do You Study Nursing in Hungary?
The nursing programs covered in this article are taught in English. Applicants must be ready to prove that they can study in English, usually through an English-language certificate or an equivalent document.
Semmelweis University expects applicants to speak and understand English at an upper-intermediate level and lists accepted results such as IELTS 5.5, TOEFL 50+, CEFR B2, Duolingo 85+, PTE 51+, Cambridge 162+, and several other accepted tests.
The University of Szeged requires demonstrated English proficiency at B2 level or an equivalent result, such as TOEIC, TOEFL, or IELTS. The University of Pécs also lists an intermediate, or B2-level, English language proficiency certificate among the required application documents for its BSc in Nursing and APRN master’s programs.
In general, applicants should plan for at least B2-level English unless the university gives a different requirement for a specific intake or applicant category.
Best Nursing Schools in Hungary
1. Semmelweis University
The history of the university’s nursing department started with the College of Health Care of the Postgraduate Medical School, now part of the Semmelweis University Faculty of Health Sciences. The department was founded in 1975, and the college was the first in Hungary to award diplomas to health care teachers in 1977. Academic-level nurse training began with part-time courses in 1989/1990, and a full-time course has been offered since 1990/1991.
Currently, this nursing school in Hungary has undergraduate and postgraduate degree programs in nursing. The Nursing BSc lasts 4 years, or 8 semesters, and is a full-time English-language program worth 240 credits. The course is designed to educate professional nurses with a solid knowledge base and essential clinical skills.
The Nursing MSc is designed for qualified nurses who want to improve their skills at an advanced level. It is a 2-year, 4-semester, full-time English-language program worth 120 credits. The program focuses on advanced practice nursing, including primary and community health care, nursing management, research, and clinical decision-making.
2. University of Pécs
- Nursing Program Link: Bachelor/Master
- Degrees Offered: Bachelor, Master
The next institution on our list of the best nursing schools in Hungary is the University of Pécs. Its roots date back to 1367, and the university describes itself as one of Hungary’s largest higher education institutions, with 10 faculties, about 25,000 students, more than 5,700 international students, and 2,400 lecturers and researchers.
The University of Pécs offers a wide range of international degree programs and preparatory courses taught in English and German. It is also active in mobility programs and organizes summer schools and short-term programs for international students.
Within the 4-year BSc in Nursing, students complete theoretical modules and practice medical procedures as part of their training. The basic course in nursing may be followed by a postgraduate degree program. The current English-taught APRN nursing master’s options listed by the University of Pécs include Intensive Care and Primary Care. These master’s programs last 2 years, or 4 semesters, and require a Bachelor of Nursing degree for entry.
3. University of Szeged
With about 4,100 international students, the University of Szeged is one of the most popular Hungarian universities for international applicants. The university states that it offers more than 60 full-time degree programs for international students.
Moreover, the university functions as a research university with achievements across 700 research areas and 19 doctoral schools. International study programs have been available at the University of Szeged for three decades, and the university offers international bachelor’s, master’s, PhD, and preparatory programs in English and Hungarian.
The basic nursing program available at this university lasts for 4 years, or 8 semesters, and carries 240 credits. Apart from fundamental courses in a variety of subjects, attention is paid to psychological care, nursing research, nursing management, and counseling. Students start clinical practice at the end of the first year, and the last two semesters mainly consist of field practices in clinics.
I hope that this article was helpful. If you are interested, visit the Europe Scholarships Page and Open Courses in Europe for International Students!
