Four public universities teach medicine in English in Hungary: Semmelweis in Budapest and the universities of Debrecen, Pécs and Szeged. The programme lasts six years and leads straight to a doctor of medicine degree (a one-tier master's, with no separate bachelor's). A school-leaving certificate such as the Russian attestat is enough to apply directly, but each university runs its own entrance exam in biology, chemistry and English, often online. A year costs from $16,750 (Pécs) to $21,234 (€18,680 at Semmelweis for the 2027 intake); six years of tuition alone come to roughly $93,000–127,000. For September 2027, applications close on 15 May at Debrecen and 31 May at Semmelweis; Pécs accepts online applications until 30 June.
| University | General medicine per year | 2027/28 deadline | Entrance exam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Semmelweis, Budapest | $21,210 (€18,680), 2027 intake | 31 May 2027 | online tests in Moodle plus interview in person or on Zoom |
| University of Debrecen | $16,900 paid as one instalment ($17,900 by semester), 2026/27 rate | 15 May 2027 | written and oral: biology plus chemistry or physics |
| University of Pécs | $16,750 for students starting in 2027/28 | 30 June (online deadline on the school's fee page) | tests in biology, chemistry, general and medical English plus interview |
| University of Szeged | $17,940 (€15,800) for 2026/27 starters, insurance included | per the faculty | online tests and Zoom interview |
Why students from Russia and the CIS choose Hungary
- Entry straight from school. Unlike the US or Canada, there is no pre-med degree first; you enter with a school certificate and graduate as a doctor six years later.
- English now, Hungarian later. You learn Hungarian during the programme to talk to patients. At Semmelweis Hungarian is part of the English-language curriculum, and students meet Hungarian patients from the preclinical years.
- Long experience with international students. Semmelweis has taught medicine in German since 1983 and in English since 1989. In 2026/27 about 1,200 students started its English-language programmes and more than 350 its German-language ones.
- Recognition. The Hungarian Accreditation Committee (MAB) holds World Federation for Medical Education (WFME) recognition until 31 March 2032, which Semmelweis notes matters for graduates planning further training or a medical career in the United States.
The drawbacks are real too: prices are close to private medical schools elsewhere in Eastern Europe, every university has its own exam and calendar, and you still need to meet the licensing rules of whichever country you want to practise in.
The four medical schools compared
Semmelweis University. Hungary's oldest and largest medical university, founded in 1769, with six faculties and almost 16,000 students, a third of them from 129 countries. THE 2026 places it at 251–300 overall and 176–200 for medicine and health. The exam is fully medicine-oriented: four online tests and an interview. It is the most expensive of the four. See our full profile of Semmelweis University.
University of Debrecen. A large comprehensive university in eastern Hungary with separate faculties of medicine, dentistry and pharmacy. For September 2026 it closed medicine and dentistry applications early because of exceptionally high demand, so apply early in the cycle. Depending on exam results, applicants may be admitted to first year or to the preparatory Basic Medicine Course.
University of Pécs. A medical school in southern Hungary with 3,500 international students from 67 countries. You can sit the exam in Pécs or abroad through the university's official representatives. At $16,750 a year it has the lowest dollar tuition of the four.
University of Szeged. The Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School charges in euros and includes basic Hungarian health insurance in the fee. It offers a Foundation Year for $7,720 (€6,800) and a $340 (€300) first-semester discount for students admitted by 30 April.
How the entrance exams work
There is no national exam, and national school-leaving results or olympiad results do not replace a university's own test. Semmelweis states that it sets no minimum GPA and accepts no standardised test instead of its own exam.
Semmelweis. Four written tests in Moodle: medical biology, medical chemistry, general English and biomedical English. Each has 20 questions and 20 minutes; you cannot go back, wrong answers carry a partial penalty, and a calculator is allowed in chemistry. You sit them at home through Safe Exam Browser with camera and microphone on in Zoom. An interview follows, in person by default or online, covering motivation, English and oral questions in biology and chemistry. Exams run once or twice a week from February–March to the end of June, and results arrive within two weeks. No language certificate is required: English is assessed in the exam. The university publishes the topics and recommends Ebbing–Gammon "General Chemistry", Stoker "General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry", Solomon "Biology" and Lodish "Molecular Cell Biology".
Debrecen. A written test in biology (compulsory) and in chemistry or physics (your choice), 45 minutes each, with multiple-choice questions, definitions and calculations, then an oral exam in the same subjects. Outcomes: first-year admission, admission to the preparatory course, rejection, or an offer for another programme. Scores are not disclosed. Medical applicants need at least a B2 English certificate from a proctored test unless they studied in English.
Pécs. Tests in biology (20 questions), chemistry (20), general English (40) and medical English (20), then an interview with a professor. The exam costs $250 in Pécs; representatives abroad set their own fees.
Szeged. Online exams on the Coospace platform, proctored via Zoom, every second week from late February to late June. The test has three sections of 20 questions (biology, chemistry, general and medical English) with 60 minutes in total, and you may sit at most two exams per admission cycle. A roughly 20-minute oral on Zoom follows, with two biology and two chemistry questions. You need two devices: one for the test, one filming you and the screen.
All four test school-level biology and chemistry in English. For graduates of Russian-language schools the main hurdle is terminology, so learn it alongside the subject.
Documents and requirements
The basic set is similar everywhere:
- school-leaving certificate or, if you are still at school, transcripts for the last two or three years; Semmelweis accepts the certificate until 21 August of the admission year;
- certified English translations;
- CV and motivation letter;
- passport copy and photo;
- medical certificate: at Semmelweis you upload it when accepting your place (issued within the previous 90 days); Debrecen asks for it with the application;
- proof of payment of the application fee;
- for minors, a declaration by a legal representative (at Semmelweis issued within 30 days before upload).
Age. Semmelweis prefers applicants under 30 and requires them to turn 18 by the end of May of their first year.
Study gaps. Debrecen does not admit medical applicants whose last completed studies ended more than six years ago.
What medicine in Hungary really costs
Admission fees (paid before results, non-refundable):
| University | Application fee | Exam | After admission |
|---|---|---|---|
| Semmelweis | $400 (2027 intake; the older FAQ still says $350) | included | $2,000 deposit within 14 days (credited to first-semester tuition), $230 enrolment fee |
| Debrecen | $150 | ask the representatives | — |
| Pécs | $200 (payable by 2 July) | $250 if taken in Pécs | $220 registration fee |
| Szeged | per the faculty | — | $910 (€800) deposit, part of first-semester tuition |
Tuition by programme. Semmelweis charges $10,610 (€9,340) a semester from the 2027 intake ($21,210 (€18,680) a year); dentistry costs the same plus material fees of $1,250 a semester in year two and $2,500 in years three to five; pharmacy is $6,610 (€5,820) a semester. Debrecen's 2026/27 rates are $16,900 for medicine paid in one instalment, $17,500 for dentistry and $8,000 for pharmacy. In Pécs dentistry is $17,350 including materials and pharmacy $9,540 (€8,400). Szeged's sixth year costs $8,970 (€7,900) and covers up to half of the internships at university hospitals; more than that is charged pro rata.
The sixth year. Several schools charge less if part of the final-year practice happens elsewhere. At Debrecen the base sixth-year fee of $8,950 covers 12 weeks at the university; each further week costs $389, and all 35 weeks in Debrecen cost $16,900.
Programme totals (tuition only, at current rates): Semmelweis about $127,400, Pécs about $100,500, Debrecen $93,450–101,400 depending on the sixth year, Szeged about $98,800 (€86,900: five years at €15,800 plus €7,900 for the sixth year, which covers up to half of the clinical placements at the university's own clinics). Universities reserve the right to change fees, so budget a margin.
Living costs. The University of Debrecen estimates about $800 a month excluding tuition. Study in Hungary's calculator puts a room in a shared flat at about $435 (HUF 140,000) a month in Budapest and about $250 (HUF 80,000) in Debrecen, Pécs and Szeged. Semmelweis quotes central Budapest rents from $340 (€300) for a room and $570 (€500) for a studio. Its dormitories (five, plus two professional colleges, over 900 places) are limited and allocated in August on social grounds. More in our guide to the cost of studying in Hungary.
Can you study medicine for free?
Free places for international students exist only through Stipendium Hungaricum. For Russian citizens every field is open, including one-tier medicine; Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Moldova can also choose medicine. Competition is strong, the university sets a separate exam schedule for scholarship applicants, and the minimum score is 56 out of 100. The deadline is mid-January and results come at the end of June.
Semmelweis also offers the Pannonia In Excellence scholarship to enrolled English- and German-programme students from a specified group of countries, awarded for one year on academic, sporting or artistic merit.
What your degree is worth after graduation
- European Union. The Hungarian medical degree is issued to EU standards. Practising in a given EU country requires registration with its medical authority and command of its language.
- United States. MAB's WFME recognition runs until 31 March 2032. It is an important condition for the US residency route, but eligibility for exams and programmes is decided by US bodies, chiefly ECFMG.
- Russia. Russia and Hungary have an intergovernmental agreement of 22 November 2018 on mutual recognition of education and qualifications. Recognition of a degree is not the same as a licence to practise: doctors must also pass Russia's admission procedure for medical practice (specialist accreditation). Check the current rules with the Russian Ministry of Health before you enrol.
- Kazakhstan and other CIS countries recognise foreign medical degrees under their own national rules; check them in advance.
A plan for September 2027
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| Autumn 2026 | shortlist 2–3 universities, download exam topics, start biology and chemistry in English |
| November–January | apply for Stipendium Hungaricum if you want a scholarship (deadline mid-January) |
| When applications open | register in the university's system (SEMAPHOR at Semmelweis, DreamApply at Pécs), pay the fee, book an exam |
| February–June | sit exams; apply by 15 May at Debrecen and by 31 May at Semmelweis |
| Within 14 days of admission | pay the deposit ($2,000 at Semmelweis) |
| June–July | pay the first semester and apply for your residence permit; see Hungary student visa |
| By 21 August | upload the school certificate (Semmelweis) and complete payment |
Common mistakes
- Waiting for graduation to apply. You can apply and sit the exam in your final school year and upload the certificate in summer.
- Leaving Debrecen too late. In 2026 it closed medicine early because of demand.
- Preparing only in your native language. The exam is in English, and unfamiliar terminology costs points.
- Budgeting only the first year. Plan six years, including fee rises, housing and flights.
- Ignoring licensing at home. If you plan to practise in Russia or Kazakhstan, learn the recognition and accreditation route before enrolling.
- Missing the deposit deadline. Semmelweis requires it within 14 days of the decision or the place lapses.
FAQ
Yes. A Russian school certificate gives direct access, and a preparatory year is optional. But you need solid biology, chemistry and English; otherwise universities suggest preparatory courses (Debrecen's Basic Medicine Course, Szeged's Foundation Year).
Semmelweis does not require a certificate; English is assessed in its tests and interview. Debrecen requires at least B2 from a proctored test unless you studied in English. Check Pécs and Szeged on their programme pages.
Semmelweis and Szeged run the written part online from home; Szeged's interview is on Zoom and Semmelweis's is in person or online. Pécs and Debrecen hold exams on campus and through representatives abroad.
From $16,750 in Pécs to $21,210 (€18,680) at Semmelweis for the 2027 intake, plus admission fees, housing and living costs. Six years of tuition alone cost roughly $93,000–127,000.
Semmelweis accepts transfers into medicine only from other Hungarian universities. Students from abroad are advised to apply through regular admission and have matching courses credited afterwards.
Not to get in. Hungarian is a compulsory subject, because clinical training involves Hungarian patients.
The study permit allows up to 30 hours a week in the study period and full-time work for up to 90 days a year outside it, though the medical workload usually leaves less room.
Sources
- Semmelweis University: general medicine, semmelweis.hu/admission/programs/medicine/; dentistry, semmelweis.hu/admission/programs/dentistry/; pharmacy, semmelweis.hu/admission/programs/pharmaceutical-sciences/; entrance exam, semmelweis.hu/admission/process/entrance-exam-medicine-dentistry-and-pharmaceutical-sciences/; FAQ and payments, semmelweis.hu/admission/process/faq-for-medicine-dentistry-and-pharmaceutical-sciences/; facts, semmelweis.hu/admission/about/facts-figures/; housing, semmelweis.hu/admission/life-at/housing/
- University of Debrecen: medical tuition fees 2026/27, edu.unideb.hu/p/tuition-fees; admission and deadlines, edu.unideb.hu/p/application-and-admission; entrance exam, edu.unideb.hu/p/entrance-examinationinterview; cost of living, edu.unideb.hu/p/cost-of-living
- University of Pécs Medical School: fees, admissions.medschool.pte.hu/tuition-fees-and-costs; application and exam fees, admissions.medschool.pte.hu/application-fee; exams abroad, admissions.medschool.pte.hu/application-entrance-exams-abroad
- University of Szeged, Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School: fees 2026/27, med.u-szeged.hu/english/fees-and-discounts/tuition-fees; entrance exam, med.u-szeged.hu/english/prospective-students/entrance-evaluation
- Russian Ministry of Science and Higher Education, international recognition agreements: minobrnauki.gov.ru/action/foreign_scientists/contracts/
- Study in Hungary, cost of living calculator: studyinhungary.hu/living-in-hungary/menu/your-costs-of-living.html
Dollar amounts use the ECB reference rate of 29 September 2026: €1 = $1.1355 = HUF 366.38. Information checked on 28 September 2026.
If you want to compare the exams and budgets of these schools against your biology, chemistry and English, send us a request. For a general overview of the country, see studying in Hungary. Similar routes nearby are covered in studying medicine in Czechia and studying medicine in Slovakia.
During the free initial consultation, we clarify your goal, profile, timing, and budget and identify the next realistic step.
Next steps
- Semmelweis University
- Cost of studying in Hungary in 2026/27: tuition, housing and a student budget
- Stipendium Hungaricum: how to win a scholarship to study in Hungary
- Hungary student visa: the residence permit for study in 2026
- Studying Medicine in Czechia: Free in Czech or Paid in English — Faculties, Exams, Fees and Degree Recognition
- Studying Medicine in Slovakia: Faculties, Entrance Exams, 2026/27 Fees and 2027/28 Dates
