2026 - 2027 SAA Rankings for Best Value Universities In Hungary For International Students

40 Best Value Institutions in Hungary for International Students

Here are the 40 best-value institutions in Hungary for international students. Here, you’ll learn more about their rankings, international student population, and their background.

Eotvos Lorand University, shortly known as ELTE, is Hungary’s premier university. It takes pride in being part of the world’s top institutions, an elite achievement that speaks volumes of its quality education and training. Such excellence may result from centuries of experience, given that the institution was established in 1635. The programs ELTE offers are diverse, but among the most notable is its wide array of foreign language courses and degree programs, including English-taught programs. These courses not only introduce locals to new cultures but also makes it easier for international students to transition into the Hungarian institution.

The University of Szeged is a public academic institution known for its internationally-competitive programs in medicine, natural sciences, engineering, and humanities. It also prides itself on having a sustainable campus and carrying out several initiatives that promote environmental responsibility. The university’s student-teacher ratio allows students to have more individual interactions with their professors and gain a more personalized academic experience. 

Budapest University of Technology and Economics is one of the most prestigious universities in Hungary and Europe. It was established in 1782 to provide top-notch engineering education and training. At present, around 70% of all engineering degrees in the country are issued by the university. Graduates of the Budapest University of Technology and Economics are known for possessing strong technical, theoretical, and practical knowledge in the applied sciences that allow them to provide innovative solutions to different industrial and societal challenges. 

Founded in 1538, the University of Debrecen is the oldest and one of the largest universities in Hungary. Having provided excellent education, training, and research for over four hundred years, the university has played a vital role in the educational and economic development of Debrecen. It currently offers undergraduate and graduate programs in a wide range of study areas, such as agriculture, legal sciences, health sciences, and economics.

The University of Pecs was founded in 1367 making it one of Europe’s earliest educational institutions. Having a long tradition of excellence and innovation, the university offers undergraduate and graduate programs and conducts research in different areas of business, arts, humanities, and applied sciences designed to help build a better and more harmonious society. 

Semmelweis University is an internationally-renowned academic institution that specializes in medicine and health sciences. Graduates of the university make up the majority of the country’s doctors, pharmacists, dentists, and other medical practitioners. It is also known for providing world-class patient care in its clinical centers that also serve as training grounds for aspiring healthcare professionals. 

The Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences has an international reputation for being one of Europe’s largest and best agricultural universities. It was founded in 2021 through the integration of several top institutions in Budapest, but its history and tradition of educational excellence can be traced back to 1787. The university offers high-quality academic and research programs that focus on improving agricultural production, food safety, and sustainability. 

The University of Miskolc is a public institution for higher education dedicated to the acquisition, application, and dissemination of scientific knowledge. It comprises seven faculties and one institute that offer programs in more than 300 study areas. The university also collaborates with different organizations from Hungary and overseas to conduct research and development projects to help the local community.

The University of Pannonia is a public institution in western Hungary with a prominent international reputation for its high-quality research programs that focus on sustainability and making sustainability-related knowledge accessible to everyone. It is composed of two campuses and five faculties that offer a variety of programs taught by accomplished instructors. The university also maintains close ties with different sectors of the community in conducting projects and training programs for its students. 

Established in 1879, Obuda University is known for providing some of the best programs in engineering and computer science in Hungary. Its unique educational model takes a collaborative network-based approach which allows its students and faculty to work together and exchange ideas in planning and carrying out their studies. One of the university’s main objectives is to develop critical thinkers and innovators who possess the competencies required in the international labor market. 

The Corvinus University of Budapest is Central Europe’s premier institution in business and social sciences. Its expertise in economics and management is highly regarded, and the university maintains such quality by concentrating only on its forte disciplines, whether at the undergraduate or graduate level. The university also ensures that its excellent training is inclusive by offering English-taught programs, which allows international students to pursue students at such a premier university without worrying about language barriers.

Szechenyi Istvan University is a public academic institution known for its top-notch engineering programs focused on contributing to the social and economic development of the region. It is situated by the Danube River and close to major cities in Slovakia and Austria. The university also has an extensive network of universities outside the country with which it conducts academic programs and research and development activities. 

Pazmany Peter Catholic University is a private institution founded in 1635 and operated by the Hungarian Catholic Bishops’ Conference. It was named after its founder,  Archbishop of Esztergom Peter Pazmny who lived during the Ottoman occupation in Hungary and believed in education as a powerful instrument for the country’s intellect, morality, and spirituality to live on. At present, the university comprises four faculties that offer undergraduate and graduate programs in theology, social sciences, law, and information technology.

Located in the historic city of Eger, Eszterhazy Karoly Catholic University has played an important role in the development of Hungarian higher education for 250 years. It also takes pride in the baroque-style architecture of its buildings and its high-quality educational programs that provide a dynamic blend of traditional and modern approaches to learning. The university also strives to extend its international reach by partnering with different institutions outside the country to conduct joint research and development projects and other international activities. 

Situated in the beautiful town of Sopron in northwest Hungary and in close proximity to main cities in Slovakia and Austria, the University of Sopron is best known for its outstanding programs in the wood industry and forestry. It is also famous for having a green and sustainable campus that reduces its negative impact on the atmosphere. The university also welcomes students from all around the world and provides various opportunities for international mobility. 

Moholy-Nagy University of Arts and Design is a public institution for higher education committed to raising open-minded and innovative designers and artists who can help solve the most current issues in society. It offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs designed to provide strong theoretical foundations and practical skills. The university aims to promote the vital role of art and design in the cultural and economic development of Hungary.

Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music is a public musical and cultural institute that opened in 1875 after the establishment of Budapest as the capital of Hungary. It aims to cultivate talented individuals and provide theoretical and instrumental training to aspiring musicians. The academy also consistently appears as one of the world’s top-performing arts schools in multiple global rankings. 

The University of Nyiregyhaza is a regional frontrunner in technical and agricultural training, education, and research. It has also gained popularity on the national and international scale because of its state-of-the-art infrastructure that helps facilitate an environment conducive to learning and conducting different research and development projects. The university’s primary aim is to contribute to the economic and social development of the region through practice-oriented education and active cooperation with different sectors of the community. 

Karoli Gaspar University of the Reformed Church in Hungary is a public academic institution that specializes in theological studies. It was founded in 1993 as the successor of the Reformed Theological Academy of Pest. The university also offers programs in liberal arts, management, and education that integrate the teachings and principles of Reformed theology.

The University of Dunaujvaros traces its roots to the Technicum of Metallurgy and Mechanical Engineering, a specialized tertiary institution founded to meet the demand for engineering specialists. Such a connection is still evident as the university still specializes in metallurgical and mechanical engineering. However, it has since expanded to other engineering branches and non-engineering disciplines, such as business and communication.

Although the University of Dunaujvaros only opened its doors to international students in 2006, it has maintained active efforts to attract them by offering more English-taught courses. This has led to positive results, as the population of foreign learners in the institution keeps growing.

International Business School is a private educational institution in Budapest that provides high-quality and innovative business programs. Its cooperation with the University of Buckingham and Dublin Business School allows its students to earn not only a Hungarian but also an Irish or British business degree. The university is dedicated to raising independent and critical thinkers with strong practical entrepreneurial skills that are sought after by employers.

Kodolanyi Janos University is a private university recognized for being a national pioneer in e-based learning. Its pedagogical framework strongly focuses on equipping students with the management, communication, and organizational skills that they need for their future professions. The university also takes pride in its distinguished faculty which is composed of academic and industry experts as well as international lecturers. 

Having existed for over 150 years, the Hungarian University of Fine Arts has set the standard for art education and research in the country. It offers top-notch programs in different fields of fine arts which are styled to incorporate traditional methods with contemporary and experimental approaches to the study and practice of art. The university is also known for its beautifully-decorated building as well as its many exhibition spaces where its students and professional artists can display their work. 

The University of Theatre and Film Arts Budapest is a public institution for education and training in theater and motion picture arts. It is dedicated to imparting strong foundations on the theoretical, practical, and creative aspects of theater and film to develop talented and independent artists. The university also strives to contribute to the promotion and survival of Hungarian art and culture and enrich the lives of its citizens. 

Budapest Metropolitan University is a private institution that began as a communication and business college. Although it has expanded its range of disciplines, the university remains focused on only a few fields: the arts, communication, social sciences, economics, and tourism. In doing so, its students are assured that training is specialized and the knowledge they receive is unique, which gives them an edge against the tight labor competition.

Established in 2001, Andrassy University Budapest is the only university outside Germany that offers programs fully taught in the German language. It stands among the leading educational institutions in the country that has been awarded the status of a “University of National Excellence” by the Hungarian Ministry of Human Capacities. The university aims to promote German as the language of science and produce experts who can contribute to the economic, social, and educational transformation of society. 

Hungarian Dance University is a public institution in Budapest that aims to contribute to the development of Hungarian society and the promotion of Hungarian culture through its high-quality programs in dance art. It was established in 1950 as the State Ballet Institute and earned its status as a dance university in 2017. At present, the university offers undergraduate and graduate programs in dance art and choreography with specializations in classical ballet, folk dance, and modern dance. 

Dennis Gabor University is a private educational institution established in 1992 by the Dennis Gabor Technical Informatics College Distance Education Foundation. Its eponym, Dennis Gabor, is a physicist and electrical engineer world-famous for his invention of holography. The university offers four English-taught bachelor’s programs in computer engineering, tourism, management, and business informatics. 

John von Neumann University is a leading educational and research institution for economics, agriculture, and technical sciences. It was established in 1993 and has gone through a series of mergers with different colleges in the region. The university is also known for carrying out numerous research and development projects that benefit the region. 

Founded in 2020, Milton Friedman University is a private academic institution owned and maintained by the Hungarian Unified Jewish Congregation. It provides secular programs designed to impart future professionals with skills that meet the demands of employers, especially those from industries with a scarcity of qualified human resources such as sports management and community service management. Currently composed of four faculties, this fast-growing university plans to further expand its academic offerings by including programs in arts, commerce, and tourism. 

Edutus University was founded in 1992 through the merging of two colleges in Tatabanya, namely the Janos Harsanyi College and College of Modern Business Sciences. It offers a wide range of business and engineering-related programs tailored to produce competitive candidates in the international labor market. The university strives to facilitate a supportive and  student-oriented atmosphere. 

John Wesley Theological College is a private educational institution operated by the Hungarian Evangelical Fellowship. It was established in 1987 and named after John Wesley, an English preacher known as the founder of the United Methodist Church. The college strives to live up to its mission statement by encouraging all its faculty and students to always choose to do good and serve their fellow men. 

Eotvos Jozsef College is a public university that specializes in business management, economics, and teacher education. It is located in Baja, a multicultural town situated near the Danube River, and is a popular venue for water sports and other recreational activities. The university also has several services and programs in place to facilitate a supportive and friendly environment for international students.

Debrecen Reformed Theological University is a private academic institution affiliated with the Reformed Church of Hungary that offers both teacher training and faith-based programs. It was established in 1538 and is considered one of the oldest universities in the country. The university aims to train future pastors and teachers who embody the values of Christianity, possess high-level professional skills, and a strong commitment to serving humanity. 

Tomori Pal College is a regional frontrunner and center of knowledge in different fields of business and liberal arts. It was established in 2004 and was named after Pal Tomori, a Catholic monk known for his military success and bravery in battle during the Ottoman occupation in Hungary. The university offers undergraduate programs in management, international relations, accounting, and liberal arts and plans to expand its course offerings to include academic programs in technical sciences and information technology in the coming years. 

The Adventist Theological College is a private evangelical Christian school in Pecel, Hungary that offers bachelor’s, master’s, and continuing education programs in theology and social work. The university believes in the vital role of education as a means for people to learn about salvation and take them back to their relationship with Christ. It is dedicated to training future religious leaders and teachers who possess thorough knowledge, skills, and Christlike characteristics. 

Esztergom Theological College is a private higher education institution that provides programs in Catholic Religious studies to fulfill its mission to spread the Good News to the world. Its programs include basic and advanced theology courses for student priests and aspiring catechist-pastoral workers. The university also partners with other religious colleges in Hungary such as the Peter Pazmany Catholic University in conducting its programs. 

Wekerle International University is a leading institution for higher business education in Budapest. It was named after Sandor Wekerle, a Hungarian politician and former prime minister who had significant contributions to the country’s economic and social development. The university is known for its high-quality academic and research programs in different areas of management, marketing, and commerce. 

The Ludovika University of Public Service (UPS) is a young, specialized institution with a rich and credible teaching history. It was founded in 2012; however, its formation was borne out of a merger of decades-old colleges and faculties, such as the Zrínyi Miklós National Defence University and Corvinus University’s Faculty of Public Administration. Its parent institutions’ experiences allow it to offer high-quality and expert programs in public administration, military, and law enforcement.

Budapest University of Economics and Business is dedicated to equipping future professionals with the relevant skills and experience necessary to thrive and meet the constantly shifting needs of the business industry. It is a private institution with a vast network of international partners that provides various opportunities for academic and professional development. The university also has a mentorship program that supports and helps international students adjust more easily and make their academic journey more memorable.