What you need to know about studying abroad and living in Hungary
2022-05-18
What you need to know about studying abroad and living in Hungary
Why studying abroad in Hungary is so popular among international students
Located in the heart of Europe, Hungary and its capital city, Budapest attracts tens of thousands of international students.
It is no wonder Hungary is becoming a more and more popular destination for international students looking to study abroad.
Budapest is an energetic capital city with lots of international students and a lively cultural life. Budapest is home to more than 30 theatres, over 200 museums and around 1000 art galleries, and several UNESCO world heritage sites. The city has numerous festivals, events and free-time activities popular among students and young people throughout the whole year. Budapest even won the European Best Destination 2019 title!
Offering all the best possibilities of European life and culture, living expenses are much more affordable in Hungary and Budapest than in Western European countries.
Sounds great, doesn’t it? Discover what awaits you if you want to have the best study abroad experience by coming to study in Hungary!
Before starting your studies abroad in Hungary
Student Visa
- EU and EEA (European Economic Area = EU + Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein) citizens do not need to hold a student visa to enter Hungary.
- Non-EEA citizens must have a valid student visa to study in Hungary. We highly recommend all applicants to study carefully the current legislation concerning the visa and the residence permit at the Hungarian Embassy or Consulate in their home country.
Non-EEA citizens also need to apply for a residence permit together with the visa application before arriving to Hungary.
You can find further information about the relevant legislation in Hungary on our website under ‘Residence permit and visa’.
Health Care
All full-time students must have a valid health insurance during their studies in Hungary. A valid health insurance is also needed to get and renew your Residence Permit.
We strongly advise all non-EEA students to insure themselves in their home countries, or to apply for Medicover Health Insurance offered by METU before coming to Hungary. Students from EEA member countries should apply for a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) in their home countries to receive basic health care.
We offer a special, reasonably priced health insurance to our foreign students in cooperation with Medicover. The Medicover Health Insurance package provides unlimited (except for dental treatment) access to medical services in nearly 30 fields, is planned for long-term students with the minimum payment of six months and it costs 150 EUR per half year.
Find out more about METU’s Medicover Health Insurance here.
Living in Hungary during your studies abroad
Accommodation and dormitory
An amount of approximately 500-700 EUR is needed monthly to cover the costs of living in Budapest. This sum includes rent, grocery, food, personal hygiene, local transport, telephone bills and other expenses apart from the tuition fee.
Accommodation is the most significant single expense in your budget, and the final amount will vary depending on the accommodation of your choice.
- Youth-hostel (utilities included): 230-350 EUR / person / month
- Two-bedroom apartment: 300-400 EUR / person / month
- One-bedroom flat (utilities not included): 300-500 EUR / person / month
Check out Metropolitan dormitories here!
Living costs in Hungary
To give you a rough idea about monthly living costs, see the following list of average prices in Budapest in EUR. The prices in this guide depend on the exchange rate.
- Monthly public transportation pass for students: 10 EUR
- 1 loaf of bread: 0.6-1.5 EUR
- 1 liter of milk: 0.6-1 EUR
- 1 cup of espresso: 1 EUR
- 1 bottle of beer: 0.6-1.5 EUR
- 1 bottle of wine: 2-10 EUR
- Eating out: 6-15 EUR
