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Eötvös Loránd University


About

Are you looking for a university that combines a rich history, top-tier education, and vibrant student life? Welcome to Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE) – Hungary’s leading public higher education institution since 1635. Choose from the 100+ degree programs offered to international students fully in English, and become part of the community of our 5,300 international students.

Are you looking for a university that combines a rich history, top-tier education, and vibrant student life? Welcome to Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE) – Hungary’s leading public higher education institution since 1635.

Renowned for academic excellence, ELTE is Hungary’s top-ranked research university and the alma mater of five Nobel laureates and many influential figures in technology, public policy, and culture. It's also the most popular choice among Hungarian students.

International relations

With a diverse community of over 35,000 students across nine faculties and one specialized institute, ELTE welcomes about 5,300 international students from more than 100 countries. You can select from 100+ degree programs offered fully in English to international students.

Our friendly campus life includes a wide range of student services and active associations to help you feel at home in the lively city of Budapest.

As a trusted partner of many universities and organizations, we have strong connections all over the world. At ELTE, you’ll benefit from a global network of opportunities through partnerships with 956 universities worldwide and membership in 10 strategic alliances and networks.

These connections open doors to mobility programs, international collaborations, and exciting research opportunities. By means of our outstanding programs such as Erasmus, CEEPUS and bilateral cooperations, more than 1000 of our students go abroad or come from abroad each year.

Learn from the best

ELTE is also Hungary’s largest scientific hub, offering 17 doctoral schools and 128 PhD programs. Research here is all about innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and access to state-of-the-art facilities. Our researchers lead groundbreaking projects funded by the European Union and the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. ELTE regularly plays host to a number of international conferences and puts special emphasis on inviting leading researchers of various fields to intensive workshops and lecture series.

Join ELTE to be part of a university where history meets modern excellence and where students from all over the world come to achieve their dreams.

Summer universities

You can also visit us in the summer and participate on any of your summer university programs. ELTE Budapest Summer University offers one- and two-week courses in English on a wide range of fields.

Interested in business and economics? Join us for ELTE Business & Economics Summer University.

Interested in mathematics? Learn from the best in the country of world-known mathematicians at the Summer School in Mathematics.

Curious about Hungarian language and culture? The ELTE Summer University of Hungarian Language and Culture welcomes over 100 students each summer.

The ELTE Hungarian Summer University of the Carpathian Basin offers the youth of Hungarian minorities in neighboring countries the opportunity to expand their scientific knowledge in the study area of their respective fields.

CHARM-EU

CHARM-EU is a European University alliance, co-funded by the Erasmus + Programme, between the University of Barcelona (coordinator), Trinity College Dublin, Utrecht University, the University of Montpellier and Eötvös Loránd University Budapest. CHARM-EU works together to design and create a new university model to become a world example of good practice to increase the quality, international competitiveness and attractiveness of the European Higher Education landscape.
CHARM-EU represents a Challenge-Driven, Accessible, Research-based and Mobile model for the co-creation of a European University aligned with the European Values, the European Green Deal and the sustainable development goals (SDGs).

Excellence in education

  • Wide educational portfolio: 100+ degree programs for international students (no Hungarian required)
  • Large and diverse student body: 35,000 students in total
  • 5,300 international students from 100+ countries
  • 50 bachelor's programs
  • 120 master's programs
  • 17 doctoral schools
  • The largest number of doctoral candidates in the country
  • Talent support

Excellence in research

  • 5 Nobel laureates
  • 36 Horizon Europe/ERC és más nagyobb kutatási projektek
  • 27 research groups funded by the HUN-REN Hungarian Research Network
  • 17 Momentum research groups for young researchers funded by the Hungarian Academy of Sciences) - 20% of all research groups in Hungary
  • 68 members of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (20% of all members of the Academy) are linked to ELTE.
  • On a yearly average ELTE researchers publish 3,000+ articles in scientific journals, 1,200 among them Q1
  • On a yearly average ELTE researchers publish 1,500+ books and book chapters
  • 30 researchers at ELTE have over 10,000 citations each
  • 22 researchers at ELTE have a Hirsch-index above 50

    Budapest, the capital of Hungary is the most popular tourist destination in the country. If you stay in Budapest, the whole Europe is easily reachable by plane from the airport. With its vibrant cultural life, Budapest is an exciting mix of tradition, culture and entertainment for young people. It is a popular destination for students also because the city offers safe and green environment and affordable costs of living.

    In short we can say that ELTE campus is Budapest itself as ELTE buildings are located in various locations in the capital of Budapest, in the city center and on the river bank of the Danube. They are easily accessible by bike or public transport. After numerous renovations in recent years, they stand out in many places from their surroundings.

    Their appearance bears the duality of tradition and innovation, just like ELTE itself. The turn-of-the-century buildings on the Trefort Campus (Faculty of Economics and Faculty of Humanities) and Egyetem tér (Faculty of Law) give a unique character to the image of the city center, while the modern architecture of Lágymányos Campus (Faculty of Informatics, Faculty of Science, and Faculty of Social Sciences) is a defining element of the Danube riverside view, and the ELTE building on Kazinczy Street (Faculty of Education and Psychology) is part of the vibrant life of the area.

    As of February 2017, the number of ELTE campuses has expanded with the Savaria University Center in the city of Szombathely in Western Hungary.

      Tuition fees:

      2,000-4,900 EUR/semester (varies by program)

      Applications period for February intake:

      From September 1 until end November (exact dates vary by program)

      September intake:

      Start of applications: October-February (exact dates vary by program)

      End of applications: between end April - end June (exact dates vary by program)

      You need to submit your application via the online application system.

      Hungary, located in Central Europe, is member of the European Union and the Schengen Area.

      Read more about visa regulations on the website of the Consular Services and on the university website.

      Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE) participates in a number of scholarship programs, funded by the Hungarian government and the university also welcomes students with other external scholarships.

      Read more on funding options on the university website.

      Scholarships for degree-seeking student funded by the Hungarian government:

      Stipendium Hungaricum

      Stipendium Hungaricum is a scholarship program for foreign students, which was launched by the Hungarian Government in 2013. The program aims to promote cultural understanding, economic and cultural relations between Hungary and other countries.

      The scholarship can be awarded to citizens from almost 70 countries and sending partners for full degree or partial (exchange) studies.

      The benefits for scholarship holders include:

      • Exemption from paying application and tuition fees,
      • Place in a dormitory depending on the capacity of the higher education institution or HUF 40,000/month accommodation allowance for 12 months of the year during the whole period of full-time programs or for the duration of the partial studies,
      • Health care services (social services) and supplementary private health insurance,
      • Free visa and residence permit administration,
      • Use of the services of the library free of charge.

      ELTE offers a wide range of degree programs to international students, and almost all of them are available for Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship holders in the fields of Education Sciences and Psychology, Humanities, Informatics, Science, Social Sciences, Primary and Pre-School Education and also Business.

      Studies are offered on the following levels:

      • Preparatory course in the Hungarian language (non-degree; 1 year)
      • Bachelor's programs (undergraduate; 3 or 3 and ½ years)
      • Master's programs (graduate; 2 years)
      • Doctoral programs (2+2 years)

      Hungarian Diaspora Scholarship

      The Hungarian Diaspora Scholarship aims to support the professional advancement of the scholarship holders with high-quality Hungarian higher education while improving their Hungarian language skills and strengthening their Hungarian identity.

      After graduation, scholarship holders return to their home country with competitive skills and knowledge that enables them to support their community, preserve Hungarian values and reinforce the relations between the diaspora and Hungary.

      General informations about the application:

      • The Application is completely free.
      • You can submit your application in the online application system at apply.diasporascholarship.hu. Please note that if you apply for the Hungarian Diaspora Scholarship Programme, you do not need to submit a separate application to ELTE and it is enough if you submit your application in the online application system of the Diaspora Scholarship Programme
      • You are kindly advised to read the Call for Application 2025/2026 and the Operational Regulations carefully.

      Orientation Week

      For international students

      HVG national ranking: Nr 1 (student excellence)

      In top 2% of universities worldwide:
      QS: 564 worldwide and 190 in Europe
      ARWU: 501-600
      THE: 801-1000

      Here you can read recent news about the ranking positions of ELTE.

      Studying at ELTE is fantastic because of its strong focus on international perspectives in business economics. One aspect I particularly appreciate is the structured approach to thesis writing, which is broken down into three semesters. This method not only helps us develop our research skills progressively but also ensures that we receive valuable feedback at each stage.

      Read more

      Welcome to ELTE: Services for International Students

      At Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE), we offer a wide range of services and vibrant student communities to help you make the most of your time in Budapest.

      Orientation Week

      Start your journey with Orientation Week, held at the beginning of each semester. This program introduces you to ELTE’s campus, staff, and student organizations while offering tips to help you settle into university life and the city of Budapest.

      Mentor Systems

      Feel at home with the support of our mentors—friendly ELTE students who help international students navigate daily life and make the most of their experience in Budapest. Mentors also organize fun social events to help you meet new friends.

      Quaestura Office of Student Services

      Get assistance at Quaestura with all your administrative needs, including setting up your student ID, health insurance, tax card, residence permit, and Neptun login.

      Housing Support

      Whether you prefer a spot in one of ELTE’s affordable dormitories or private housing, our Dormitory Center and Housing Office can help you find a comfortable and safe place to stay. The Dormitory Centre offers hundreds of high quality and affordable places and strong community in the ELTE dormitories. Housing Office helps you with finding a place in the private market via trustable real estate agent partners of ELTE.

      University Library Network

      ELTE’s library network is a valuable resource for your studies and research, available across all faculties.

      Hungarian Language Courses

      Immerse yourself in Hungarian culture with language courses available year-round, from beginner to advanced levels. You can even join summer courses for extra practice.

      Summer and Winter Courses

      Visit ELTE during the summer or winter for short-term programs where you can connect with students and professors while exploring new subjects.

      Career Counseling

      Prepare for your future with guidance from ELTE’s Career Centre, offering personalized career planning and job preparation support.

      Life Management Counseling

      If you face personal challenges during your studies, ELTE’s counseling services are here to provide free, confidential support to help you overcome difficulties.

      Support for Students with Disabilities

      Our Disability Coordinators ensure that all students have equal opportunities to fully participate in university life.

      Pastoral Services

      ELTE students have access to pastoral services through a partnership with Pázmány Péter Catholic University.

      Sports at ELTE

      Stay active with over 40 sports options, from casual activities to competitive teams. You can even earn academic credit for certain sports courses.

      Cultural and Social Life with Student Organizations

      Dive into cultural events and student-organized activities that showcase the vibrant community at ELTE. From clubs to festivals, there’s something for everyone.

      Join the ELTE “Eötvös” Art Ensemble

      Whether you sing, play an instrument, or dance, the Eötvös Art Ensemble invites you to join their choir, orchestra, or folk dance group.

      At ELTE, your academic journey is supported by a strong community and services to make your stay unforgettable!

      • District V.

        Egyetem tér 1-3, 1053, District V.

      Questions

      Eötvös Loránd University