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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.

Data verified August 13, 2026

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

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
1

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
2

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)
3

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)
4

Hungarian Language Courses

Learning Hungarian is challenging but rewarding. Multiple options exist from intensive university courses to private tutoring and apps.

  • ELTE Hungarian Language School: intensive courses from €500/semester
  • Berlitz Budapest: structured courses for professionals
  • Private tutors: €15–€30/hour on italki or locally
  • Free language exchange meetups in Budapest (weekly at various venues)
  • University of Debrecen and Pécs: Hungarian programs for international students
  • Apps: Mondly, Drops, HungarianPod101 for self-study
FAQs

Common Questions - Education in Hungary

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