Hungary is one of Europe's most popular destinations for Arab students thanks to the government's Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship, which covers tuition and provides a monthly stipend, housing and medical insurance for citizens of about 100 partner countries, including most Arab countries. Its universities are known for English-taught medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and engineering at lower fees than Western Europe; the highest-ranked in QS 2026 are Debrecen, Eötvös Loránd (ELTE) and Szeged. Students may work while studying and, after graduating, get a permit to look for a job or start a business.
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scholarships & discounts
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government programmes
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academic year starts
Government scholarships & national programmes
Scholarships funded by the state or its official bodies for international students.
• European Bologna system: bachelor's 3–4 years (6–8 semesters), master's 1–2 years, doctorate about 4 years.
• One-tier master's: General Medicine 6 years, Dentistry and Pharmacy 5 years, entered directly after secondary school.
• The academic year starts in September with two semesters: autumn (September–January) and spring (February–June); some programmes also admit in February.
• Language: hundreds of programmes in English, some medical programmes in German, and programmes in Hungarian.
• Entrance exams: medicine, dentistry and pharmacy usually require a biology and chemistry test and an interview, and many programmes require proof of English.
How to get admitted
There are two ways to study in Hungary:
1) With a Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship: apply online at apply.stipendiumhungaricum.hu, choose up to two programmes in order of preference, then your national partner nominates you and the university runs an entrance exam or interview. For 2026/27 the system opened in mid-November 2025 and closed on 15 January 2026, and national partners may set different dates (Jordan, for example, 15 February). The 2027/28 call is expected to open in November 2026 but has not been officially published.
2) Self-funded: apply directly to the university through its portal. Deadlines differ: Debrecen's 2026/27 programme deadline was 15 June 2026, and BME accepts applications for programmes starting in February 2027 from 15 October to 15 November 2026.
Application and entrance exam fees usually range from $150 to $350 depending on the university.
Fees and living costs
Tuition for self-funded students (official examples):
• General Medicine: Debrecen $16,900 a year (2026/27), Pécs $16,750 (2027/28), Szeged €7,900 per semester.
• Dentistry: Debrecen $17,500 a year, Pécs $17,350, Szeged €8,000 per semester.
• Pharmacy: Debrecen $8,000 a year, Pécs €8,400, Szeged €5,420 per semester.
• Bachelor's and master's in other fields: about €1,800–4,100 per semester at Szeged and ELTE, and €3,200–3,500 per semester for BME engineering bachelor's.
Stipendium Hungaricum waives tuition entirely and pays HUF 43,700 a month for bachelor's and master's (HUF 140,000 then 180,000 for PhD), plus a dormitory place or HUF 40,000 a month for housing, and medical insurance. The programme says the stipend covers living costs only partly.
The University of Debrecen's UD International Scholarship gives up to 30% off Medicine and Dentistry and up to 90% off other programmes for citizens of listed countries (Arab countries: Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE).
Visa, residence permit and health insurance
1) After admission, apply for a residence permit for study purposes at the Hungarian consulate in your country before travelling, or through the Enter Hungary online system.
2) Fees: €110 at a consulate, HUF 39,000 in person in Hungary, HUF 24,000 through Enter Hungary. Extension: HUF 23,000.
3) The permit is issued for 1 to 3 years and is extended through Enter Hungary at least 30 days before it expires.
4) You usually need the admission letter, proof of accommodation, proof of funds or a scholarship, health insurance, and possibly a language certificate.
Residence is governed by Act XC of 2023, in force since 1 January 2024.
Working while studying
International students may work up to 30 hours a week during term and full-time for up to 90 days a year outside term. After graduation they can get a residence permit to look for a job or start a business.
Key questions and answers regarding eligibility, documents, and application steps for 2026 / 2027.
Yes, through the government's Stipendium Hungaricum for citizens of about 100 partner countries, including most Arab countries. It covers tuition and gives a monthly stipend (HUF 43,700 for bachelor's and master's), housing or a housing contribution, and medical insurance.
The call has not been officially published yet. Last cycle the system opened in mid-November and closed on 15 January, and a similar schedule is expected. Also check your national partner's deadline, which may differ.
Self-funded: about $16,750–16,900 a year at Pécs and Debrecen, and €7,900 per semester at Szeged. Stipendium Hungaricum covers tuition in full for a limited number of medicine places.
Yes. The University of Debrecen's UD International Scholarship gives up to 30% off Medicine and Dentistry and up to 90% off other programmes, but among Arab countries it is open only to citizens of Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
€110 when applying at a Hungarian consulate, or HUF 24,000 through Enter Hungary, and HUF 23,000 to extend it. The permit is issued for 1 to 3 years.
Yes, up to 30 hours a week during term and full-time for up to 90 days a year outside term. After graduation you can get a permit to look for a job or start a business.
