Europe
Hungary’s universities are betting on openness
As the QS Higher Ed Summit in Budapest fast approaches, we delve into Hungary as a destination.
By Prisha Dandwani
"Hungarian Institutions offer more than 500 courses in English, German, French and other languages."
"We have leaned into Hungary’s Scholarship programme, a government backed initiative that has turned financial barriers into open doors for students.”
"Budapest feels unique because you can spend the day attending classes in historic buildings and later study in modern cafes along the Danube."
In brief
- Hungary is emerging as a global study hub, leveraging deep academic history and generous state-backed scholarships.
- Universities offer affordable English-taught programs while building powerful research alliances with industry leaders like BMW.
- To sustain growth, experts urge better administrative support and a research environment free from political interference.
In a world where millions of students dream of studying in the vibrant cities of London, Boston and Sydney, or talk about immersing themselves in the Bodleian libraries of Oxford — the appeal of countries like Hungary appear to fade into the background
However, people tend to pay more attention when they become better acquainted with some of Hungary’s unique and understated qualities.
For one, it is home to important inventors and creative thinkers. Hungarian architect Ernő Rubik patented the Rubik’s cube after initially developing it as a teaching tool for his students. And we have Hungarian chemist János Irinyi to thank for the matchstick we light our candles with – his replacement of potassium chlorate with lead oxide formed its quiet ignition.
Geniuses aside, Hungary is a natural paradise. Hot springs that effervesce from underground have resulted in the development of thermal baths all over the country. The words ‘spa’ and ‘nature' may be enough to lure tourists. A work-life balance is not exactly hard to come by when you can spend the day cycling along the Danube river and exploring Margaret Island – Budapest’s ‘green lung’ that encompasses various gardens, 13th century ruins and a Rose Garden.
All that Hungary has to offer stretches past the parameters of the capital. QS Insights spoke with Attilia Jenei, Vice Rector for International Affairs at the University of Debrecen in Hungary’s second largest city. Asked what visitors or tourists tend to miss, Jenei also highlights an abundance of natural wonders.
“Debrecen isn’t on the typical tourist trail; that’s the point – there are no tourist traps here, it’s real local life, real culture and real food.
The UNESCO-protected Hortobágy steppe is a short drive from Debrecen, Europe’s largest natural grassland, where grey cattle and wild horses still roam and shepherds work as their ancestors did for centuries,” he says.
The higher ed landscape
According to an American International Trade Organisation report, Hungarian tertiary education goes back more than 650 years. There are 28 state-funded, 11 privately-funded and 26 church-funded universities. As a result of the commitment to internationalisation, Hungarian Institutions offer more than 500 courses in English, German, French and other languages.
Zsófia Münnich, Rankings Coordinator at the University of Debrecen, points to the multidisciplinary nature of their academic programmes, emphasising 13 faculties from the sciences to arts to medicine.
“Our medical degrees at the University of Debrecen are recognised by the World Health Organisation and accepted by regulatory bodies in the United States, the United Kingdom, India and the UAE – among others,” she says.
The university was the first to launch an English taught medical programme in 1987. It strongly values inclusion and diversity, with 7,773 international students out of a student population of 34,000.
International Students are also given a platform to adapt well to the language and social culture at Széchenyi István University in Győr.
“Beyond the classroom, the University’s Centre for Languages and Culture within the International Directorate organise weekly cultural and social programmes for international students, such as ‘The Role of Light in World Religions’ and ‘Me and My Country’, which allow students to present their own traditions and cultures while engaging Hungarian students and local residents,” Dr Eszter Lukács, Vice President of Széchenyi István University explains.
In a relatively small city like Győr with 120,000 inhabitants, the university promotes social responsibly initiatives such as visits to children’s homes to strengthen the relationship between international students and locals.
Other Hungarian institutions are also setting their sights higher. The Corvinus University in Budapest, in its recent proposed charter on academic autonomy, highlight recent achievements, such as the largest ever number of international students (23 percent of the student body) and its first historic appearance in the Financial Times Ranking for a Master’s of Finance ranked 69 globally.
There’s the rub
In spite of all the positive developments, there are hurdles to overcome. According to a country report by the European Commission, Hungary’s tertiary education attainment rate is one of the lowest in the EU. While tertiary education applications reached a ‘record high in 2025’, lingering inequality persists among social groups.
In order to address concerns about equality and wider access, Jenei refers to Hungary’s Stipendium Hungaricum programme.
“We have leaned into Hungary’s Scholarship programme, a government backed initiative that has turned financial barriers into open doors for students,” he tells QS Insights.
Lukács also brings up the SH programme and describes it as one of Hungary’s most important soft diplomacy instruments.
“It provides support to young people from more than 90 countries, primarily low and middle income nations. Currently, out of the nearly 50,000 international students that study in Hungarian higher education institutions, approximately 11,000 are supported through the programme.”
Perhaps that is one of the key selling points of Hungarian institutions – affordability. Several regional universities offer quality education at a fraction of Western European or American tuition international student fees.
Greater visibility and recognition in the global higher education market can be another challenge. For the University of Debrecen, rather than trying to compete on brand recognition, efforts are redirected toward depth by building strong research networks and alliances across Europe.
The university works with renowned international partners and investors, such as BMW and Deutsche Telekom, which contribute to reputation and growth. Having built a network of over 100 local partners, they have been proactive about recruitment and incentive.
“These industrial relations go back approximately 20 years and entail cooperative activities between the university and company, which can include company representatives acting as supervisors for students’ theses, establishing joint laboratories, off-site university departments and joint research projects,” describes Jenei.
Universities are also strengthening STEM-related education, in addition to fostering alignment between universities and the needs of industry.
Lukács mentions the important development of growing participation of women in STEM-related higher education.
“The highest number of female students can be observed at the Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences, where the number of female students increased from 573 in 2017/2018 autumn semester to 760 by the 2025/2026 autumn semester.”
From a student’s point of view
As an international student ambassador and International Business major at the Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE) in Budapest, Magdalena Toshevska sits down with QS Insights to discuss her experience.
“What initially attracted me to ELTE was its strong academic reputation and recognition as one of Hungary’s leading universities.
“I also saw studying in Budapest as an opportunity to step outside of my comfort zone. Coming from North Macedonia, I wanted an experience that would challenge me academically as well as personally and culturally,” she explains.
Not only does Toshevska value understanding different cultures, but also seems to thoroughly enjoy what Budapest has to offer.
“Budapest feels unique because you can spend the day attending classes in historic buildings and later study in modern cafes along the Danube. What I especially appreciate is how open people are to building friendships.
We asked Toshevska what decision makers could further address that would improve the lives of students. As with many other institutions around the world, there is need for further support.
“I think one of the most important things universities can focus on is helping international students feel more supported – administrative issues such as visas, accommodation and healthcare can often feel complex and overwhelming.
“Creating more opportunities for local and international students to connect is also extremely valuable, in addition to stronger career support and internship opportunities,” she concludes.
Future outlook
To come full circle, the mention of Hungary’s inventors at the beginning of this piece was not purely about fun facts.
Just several days ago, Albert-Làszló Barabási, a Romanian-Hungarian physicist at Northeastern University, shed light on Hungary’s significant research and scientific potential on science.org. He calls for neither ‘revenge’ or ‘nosalgia’ but an evergreen research ecosystem unperturbed by political agenda, which would reintroduce collaboration with Erasmus+ and Horizon Europe.
The region also has the potential to stand out among its peers in Europe. One example is their structured approached to talent management within higher education.
To elucidate, Lukács points out that the TDK system (Scientific Students’ Associations) is a method through which Hungarian universities identify and support outstanding students early on.
“It gives students the opportunity to engage in research, present their work and develop academic excellence well before graduation,” she adds.
According to Barabási, scientific achievement has "long been part of the country’s civic mythology, from the Hungarian physicists and mathematicians who emigrated to the United States to a lineage of Nobel Laureates in medicine”.
Like many others, he believes Hungary now has the opportunity to show the world what it is truly made of.