Are international school fees affordable in Budapest?

Yes — significantly cheaper than most European capitals. Annual fees range from €5,100 to €10,300 (vs €15,000–30,000+ in London or Munich). Quality is high with IB and British/American curricula available.

Can expat children attend public school?

Yes, if you’re a legal resident. However, all instruction is in Hungarian, which is a significant barrier. Some bilingual schools (Hungarian-English) exist and are a good middle-ground option between public and international schools.

What is the Stipendium Hungaricum?

It’s a Hungarian government scholarship offering free tuition and a living stipend to international students from 80+ partner countries. Highly competitive but an excellent opportunity. Covers bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs at Hungarian universities.

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🇭🇺 Hungary

Education

Budapest has 15+ international schools at significantly cheaper fees than most European capitals. Hungary’s 30+ universities offer English-taught programs, particularly in medicine and engineering.

15+

International Schools

IB, British, American curricula

€5,100–€10,300

Annual Fees

Significantly below Western Europe

€3,000–€8,000/yr

University Tuition

English-taught programs

Free tuition

Stipendium Hungaricum

80+ partner countries

Last updated: March 2026

Overview🏛️Budapest 🏫Debrecen ☀️Szeged

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Overview

Budapest has 15+ international schools at significantly cheaper fees than most European capitals. Hungary’s 30+ universities offer English-taught programs, particularly in medicine and engineering. The Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship provides free tuition for students from 80+ countries.

Key Takeaways

British International School Budapest (BISB): 5.1M–10.3M HUF/year
Free for all legal residents — funded by the Hungarian state
Top universities: ELTE, BME, Corvinus, CEU, University of Debrecen, University of Szeged
ELTE Hungarian Language School: intensive courses from €500/semester

International Schools in Budapest

Budapest has over 15 international schools offering IB, British, American, and other curricula. Fees are significantly lower than London, Paris, or Munich — making it attractive for expat families.

British International School Budapest (BISB): 5.1M–10.3M HUF/year
American International School of Budapest (AISB): 5.1M–9.6M HUF/year
Britannica International School: 6.7M–9.5M HUF/year
REAL School Budapest: 4.6M–6.9M HUF/year
Additional costs: application 100,000–344,000 HUF; registration 380,000–470,000 HUF (one-time); deposit 200,000–250,000 HUF (refundable)
Curricula: IB, British, American, bilingual Hungarian-English options available

Hungarian Public & Bilingual Schools

Public education is free for legal residents. The system has a good reputation in STEM subjects. Some bilingual options exist for expat families on a budget.

Free for all legal residents — funded by the Hungarian state
Good reputation in mathematics and sciences
All instruction in Hungarian — challenging for expat children without language skills
Some bilingual schools exist: Hungarian-English, Hungarian-German
School year: September to mid-June
Compulsory education: ages 3–16 (kindergarten from age 3 mandatory since 2015)

Universities & Higher Education

Hungary is a popular international study destination with affordable tuition and many English-taught programs, particularly in medicine, engineering, and business.

Top universities: ELTE, BME, Corvinus, CEU, University of Debrecen, University of Szeged
Many programs taught in English — medicine, engineering, business, IT
International student tuition: €3,000–€8,000/year (vs €10,000+ in Western Europe)
Stipendium Hungaricum: free tuition + living stipend for students from 80+ partner countries
Medical programs are particularly popular with international students (Debrecen, Szeged, Pécs)