Higher education in Hungary - study abroad in the heart of Europe 

Hungarian higher education is famous for its quality all around Europe, attracting tens of thousands of students from all over the world. 

Hungary is becoming an increasingly popular destination country for international students from all over the world. Located in the heart of Europe, with its vibrant and quickly developing capital city, Budapest, it is a convenient and affordable option for those wanting to study abroad at high-quality higher education institutions, and those looking to gain valuable international experience and to improve their language proficiency. 

Hungary: popular country among international students in the heart of Europe 

According to a recent survey carried out by the Academic Cooperation Association, in terms of study programs provided in English, Hungary is the sixth most popular destination in Europe. 

In any given year, around 10,000 foreign students reside in the country participating in study programs offered in foreign languages. 

Internationally recognized and accredited degrees from Hungary 

Hungary is part of the European Higher Education Area and the Bologna Process since 1999, the international collaboration through which countries and institutions continuously adapt their higher education systems making them more compatible and strengthening their quality assurance mechanisms. 

In addition to receiving quality education, students studying in Hungary also have numerous mobility opportunities, and gain a competitive advantage in terms of employability. 

As other institutions of the European Higher Education Area, Hungary has a multi-cycle educational system, with bachelor’s, master’s and post-grad cycles. The number of opportunities to study in English is steadily increasing at every level. 

Study abroad in Hungary and Europe: the ECTS Credit System 

ECTS, the European Credit Transfer System, is the common credit transfer and accumulation system of European higher education institutions. 

The introduction of the ECTS Credit System means that the quality of education is consistent and transparent as the general principles for learning, teaching and assessment are commonly set throughout Europe. Therefore, the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees granted by Hungarian higher education institutions can easily be recognized in all European Union countries.  

In addition, it also enables students to easily gain international study experience by taking part in one or two semester-long exchange programs at any European universities. 

The workload of students in higher education in Hungary is expressed in terms of ECTS credits. Credits are numerical values allocated to the courses to describe the workload required to complete them. They reflect the quantity of work each module requires in relation to the total quantity of work required to complete a full year of academic study at the institution, that are, lectures, practical work, seminars, private work - in the laboratory, library or at home - and examinations or other assessment activities. 

In ECTS, 60 credits represent one year of study in terms of workload. Normally 30 credits are given for six months (a semester), and each credit represents 28 hours of work. 

ECTS credits are also allocated to work placements and to thesis preparation when these activities form a part of the regular program of study at both the home and host institutions. 

Gain international experience with study abroad opportunities at METU! 

METU students have plenty of opportunities to gain further international experience thanks to the exchange programs with METU’s 200+ partner institutions in 47 countries and 5 continents. 

  Discover METU programs and start your application now!

2022. 05. 02.