A practical guide to the Hungary Study Visa.

Why study in Hungary

Hungary has emerged as one of the most significant European destinations for Indian students — particularly for English-medium medical degrees. Semmelweis Medical University in Budapest is one of the most-applied European medical schools for Indian students; the University of Szeged Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen Faculty of Medicine, and University of Pécs Medical School also run English-medium MD programmes with significant Indian enrolment.

Beyond medicine, Hungary offers a broader catalogue at moderate non-EU tuition — ELTE (Eötvös Loránd University) is the largest Hungarian university with English-medium programmes; BME (Budapest University of Technology and Economics) is the leading Hungarian engineering university; Corvinus University Budapest is a leading Hungarian business school. The Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship programme covers tuition and provides a stipend for selected international students — including a significant number of Indians annually.

Hungarian higher education structure

The Hungarian higher education sector includes:

• Semmelweis Medical University (Budapest) — Hungary's premier medical university; English-medium MD, Pharmacy, Dental programmes popular with Indian applicants.
• ELTE (Eötvös Loránd University) — largest Hungarian university; broad academic with English-medium Masters in sciences, humanities, social sciences.
• BME (Budapest University of Technology and Economics) — engineering, computer science, architecture; substantial English-medium offering.
• Corvinus University Budapest — leading Hungarian business school; English-medium Masters in International Business, Marketing, Finance.
• University of Szeged — broad academic; English-medium medicine, pharmacy, dentistry.
• University of Debrecen — large eastern-Hungarian university; English-medium medicine, dentistry, agricultural sciences.
• University of Pécs — historic university in southern Hungary; English-medium medicine, business.

Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship

The Stipendium Hungaricum is a Hungarian government scholarship for international students, covering full tuition plus a monthly stipend (approximately EUR 45,000 HUF / EUR 115 for Bachelors and Masters, approximately HUF 140,000 / EUR 350 for PhD). India is among the largest recipient countries — typically 200+ Indian scholarships annually across Bachelor, Master, and PhD level.

Applications are made through the Stipendium Hungaricum portal (tka.hu/scholarship) with a competitive process: academic transcripts, motivation letter, language test scores, programme selection. Scholarships are merit-based.

English-medium programmes

Hungarian universities have expanded their English-medium offering significantly, particularly:

• Medicine — Semmelweis, Szeged, Debrecen, Pécs all run English-medium 6-year MD programmes. Admissions are competitive — typically requiring strong 12th grade with Biology, Chemistry, Physics, plus often a programme-specific entrance test.
• Pharmacy and Dentistry — Semmelweis, Szeged, Debrecen offer English-medium Pharm and Dent programmes.
• Engineering and Sciences at BME — English-medium Masters in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Architecture.
• Business at Corvinus and CEU — English-medium Masters in International Business, Marketing, Finance, Management.

For Hungarian-medium programmes, students need B1/B2 Hungarian — a challenging Uralic language for non-Hungarian speakers.

The long-stay D student visa

The Hungarian long-stay D visa is the visa category for studies lasting more than 90 days. It is submitted at VFS Hungary in Delhi.

The Hungarian long-stay visa fee is EUR 110. Required documents centre on the admission letter, financial proof (~HUF 1,800,000 / EUR 4,700 per year minimum), health insurance, accommodation evidence, language proficiency, police clearance certificate, and a health declaration. The visa takes typically 60-90 days from submission.

OIF registration within 30 days

After arrival on the D visa, you have 30 days to register at the Hungarian National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing (Országos Idegenrendészeti Főigazgatóság, OIF) for the residence permit (tartózkodási engedély). The residence permit replaces the D visa for the remainder of the academic year and is renewed annually.

Tuition and living costs

Medical programmes (English-medium MD at Semmelweis, Szeged, Debrecen, Pécs) typically charge EUR 16,000-19,500 per year in tuition. The 6-year programme totals approximately EUR 96,000-117,000 in tuition alone.

Other English-medium Masters at Hungarian publics (BME, Corvinus, ELTE) typically charge EUR 4,000-12,000 per year.

Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship holders pay zero tuition and receive a monthly stipend.

Living costs vary by city:

• Budapest — total monthly EUR 500-800 (rent EUR 250-450 in shared student accommodation, food/transport EUR 250-350). Budapest is significantly more affordable than Vienna or Prague.
• Debrecen, Szeged, Pécs — total monthly EUR 400-600 (smaller cities, lower rent).

Top Hungarian universities for Indian applicants

• Semmelweis Medical University (Budapest) — premier Hungarian medical school; English-medium MD, Pharmacy, Dentistry.
• ELTE (Eötvös Loránd University) — largest Hungarian university; broad academic with English-medium Masters.
• BME (Budapest University of Technology and Economics) — leading engineering university.
• Corvinus University Budapest — leading Hungarian business school.
• University of Szeged — strong English-medium medicine, pharmacy, dentistry.
• University of Debrecen — large eastern-Hungarian university; English-medium medicine, agricultural sciences.
• University of Pécs — historic university; English-medium medicine, business.
• Central European University (CEU) — private graduate university (originally based in Budapest, now partly in Vienna); English-medium Masters and PhD in social sciences, humanities, public policy.

How we can help

We are a PTA-licensed visa consultancy based in Patiala, Punjab. We handle Hungarian student visa pathways end-to-end: programme shortlist matched to your profile (with particular experience guiding Indian applicants to Hungarian English-medium medicine programmes), Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship application support, university application coordination, financial-proof strategy, document apostille and police clearance, VFS Hungary submission, and on-arrival OIF registration briefing. One consultant from first consultation to landing in Hungary. Book a free 30-minute assessment.