Hungary has a long history in Europe, and Hungarian is a distinctive Uralic language rather than a language connected to the Huns. The country is known for many famous composers, and the Rubik’s Cube was invented by Hungarian architect Ernő Rubik.
Hungary is also famous for thermal waters, spas, and baths, with approximately 1,500 mineral springs used across the country today. Hungary has produced many Nobel laureates and has a strong Olympic sports tradition. You’ll surely love studying here!
If you’re looking forward to studying in Europe on a limited budget, you can consider applying to Hungarian universities because many programs have lower tuition fees than similar programs in Western Europe. In this article, we will be looking at some of the most affordable universities in Hungary for international students!
Affordable Schools in Hungary for International Students
1. University of Pécs
With tuition fees starting from around EUR 4,000 per year for selected undergraduate programs and around EUR 3,400 per year for selected EU graduate programs, the University of Pécs is one of the affordable educational institutions in Hungary for international students. This university is especially strong in areas such as medicine, law, humanities, sciences, business, engineering, and the arts. The University of Pécs offers a wide range of degree programs for international students, and thousands of students apply to its programs from more than 100 countries each year.
2. Corvinus University of Budapest
The next university on our list of affordable universities in Hungary for international students is the Corvinus University of Budapest. Corvinus is known for business, economics, management, and social sciences, and it offers English-taught options for international students.
Corvinus University offers bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, MBA, executive, and postgraduate specialist degree options. It is also involved in international mobility opportunities, including CEMS, double-degree partners, and other international programs.
These links above will lead you to websites with bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD options. To find the tuition fee, click on the program that interests you and check the official tuition section.
3. Budapest University of Technology and Economics
- Admissions | Tuition Fees
- Tuition Fees: from EUR 4,500/year (Undergraduate, EU) or EUR 6,400/year (Undergraduate, non-EU) | from EUR 3,700/year (Graduate, EU) or EUR 4,400/year (Graduate, non-EU)
The Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME) offers English-language programs across engineering, natural sciences, economics, and management. Because of its strong science and technology profile, BME is a good option for students interested in research-oriented and technical fields.
Preparing students for future careers, this affordable university in Hungary provides access to technical education, research opportunities, and specialized facilities across its faculties.
4. University of Szeged
Known as SZTE, the University of Szeged is one of Hungary’s well-known public universities and is also known for its location. The city of Szeged is known for cultural events and festivals, so many young people choose to study and live in this city. This makes Szeged a lively place for university students.
Tuition varies by program, so select your program from the official tuition and fees page and check the exact amount before applying. The University of Szeged is one of the affordable universities in Hungary.
5. Eötvös Loránd University
Next on our list of affordable universities in Hungary for international students is Eötvös Loránd University. Because of its many accents and dots, we will refer to this university as ELTE. ELTE is one of Hungary’s major public research universities and offers many international degree programs at bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels. Tuition varies widely by faculty, program, and student status, so applicants should always check the official program page before applying.
6. Semmelweis University
Established as the oldest medical university in Hungary, Semmelweis University is a major medical and health sciences university in Budapest. It offers programs in Hungarian, English, and German, and international students make up almost one-third of its student body. Tuition varies greatly by program: health-science bachelor’s and master’s programs start lower, while one-tier medical, dental, and pharmacy programs are usually more expensive and may be charged in USD.
7. University of Debrecen
The University of Debrecen, one of the affordable universities in Hungary for international students, offers more than 80 English-taught degree programs, including foundation, undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs. With 13 faculties, 8 campuses, and a large international student community, UD is one of Hungary’s major higher education institutions.
Located in the city of Debrecen, this university gives students access to a large university city with cultural events, student services, and community activities.
FAQS About Studying in Hungary
Do These Cheap Universities in Hungary Offer Good Education?
The question that many international students ask is about the quality of education in these affordable universities in Hungary. As you will see in the university summaries above, many of these universities are major public institutions with English-taught programs, international partnerships, and research activity. Lower tuition in Hungary generally reflects the country’s tuition and living-cost environment, not necessarily lower academic quality. Still, students should compare accreditation, program outcomes, faculty, curriculum, and any licensing requirements before applying.
How Can You Lower Your Tuition Fee in Hungary?
You can lower the tuition fee in Hungary by applying for scholarships or tuition reductions. Common options include the Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship, university merit scholarships, and, at some institutions, lower EU/EEA rates or limited tuition reductions for high-performing students. Scholarship rules depend on the university, program, citizenship, and academic performance, so always check the official scholarship page before applying.
Hungary has several historic universities, and each institution describes its history differently. For admissions decisions, it is more useful to compare the current program structure, language of instruction, tuition fees, scholarships, and graduate outcomes than to focus only on which university is the oldest.
We hope that this article on the cheapest universities in Hungary was helpful! Make sure to also check out the Available Programs in Europe!
