ELTE, Eötvös Loránd University, is Hungary's largest comprehensive university, with about 40,000 students, 5,300 of them international, nine faculties and more than 100 programmes for international students. It ranks 595th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, first among Hungarian universities. You can enter an English-taught bachelor's straight from secondary school with your school-leaving certificate, proof of English (usually B2; B1 for computer science), a motivation letter and an entrance interview or exam. Bachelor's tuition runs roughly $2,270–5,340 (€2,000–4,700) a semester depending on the programme; the Computer Science BSc, for example, costs $3,640 (€3,200) a semester ($7,275 a year), with applications for September 2027 open until 30 April. Deadlines, fees and exam formats differ by faculty.
| At a glance | Details |
|---|---|
| City | Budapest; Savaria Campus in Szombathely |
| History | traces its roots to the university founded in 1635 in Nagyszombat (today Trnava, Slovakia) |
| Students | about 40,000, including 5,300 international students from 100+ countries |
| Faculties | 9: Economics, Education and Psychology, Humanities, Informatics, Law, Primary and Pre-School Education, Science, Social Sciences, Bárczi Gusztáv Faculty of Special Needs Education |
| Rankings | QS World University Rankings 2027: 595th, first in Hungary; ARWU 2026: 501–600 |
| Programmes for international students | more than 100 bachelor's and master's programmes, 14 doctoral schools for international students, preparatory courses |
| Tuition | $2,260–5,340 (€1,990–4,700) a semester for bachelor's, mostly $2,390–5,340 (€2,100–4,700) for master's |
| Application fee | $115–225 (€100–200) depending on programme and application period |
| Dormitories | $155–217 (HUF 50,000–70,000) a month in 2026/27; about 500 places for fee-paying international students in Budapest and 64 in Szombathely |
| Applications | online at apply.elte.hu |
Who ELTE suits
ELTE fits students who want a large research university in central Budapest with programmes in science, computer science, psychology, international relations, economics, languages and education. Tuition is lower than at most private Budapest universities and far below medicine: language and literature bachelor's programmes start at $4,547 (€4,000) a year (English and American Studies is $5,229 [€4,600]), computer science $7,275 (€6,400).
Look elsewhere for medicine, dentistry or pharmacy: ELTE's medical faculty became a separate university in 1951, today's Semmelweis. ELTE's English-taught engineering is limited to Mechanical Engineering at the Faculty of Informatics; for a broad engineering choice, see BME in our overview of universities in Hungary. For applied business, design and media in small groups, consider the private Budapest Metropolitan University.
What you can study in English
Bachelor's programmes (per the admissions system for September 2026):
| Faculty | Programmes | Length | Fee per semester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Informatics | Computer Science BSc; Mechanical Engineering BSc | 3 years; 3.5 years | $3,640 (€3,200) |
| Economics | International Business Economics BA; Finance and Accounting BA | 4 years; 3.5 years | $4,090 (€3,600) |
| Education and Psychology | Psychology BA; Pedagogy BA | 3 years | $5,340 (€4,700); $3,300 (€2,900) |
| Social Sciences | International Relations BA; Sociology BA; Applied Economics BSc | 3 years | $3,070 (€2,700) |
| Humanities | English and American Studies BA; Germanic studies; Romance philology (French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Romanian); Hungarian BA | 3 years | $2,610 (€2,300); others $2,270 (€2,000) |
| Science | Chemistry BSc | 3 years | $3,580 (€3,150) |
| Primary and Pre-School Education | Early Childhood Education BA; Kindergarten Education BA | 3 years | $2,960 (€2,600) |
| Special Needs Education | Special Needs Education BA | 4 years | $2,260 (€1,990) |
Master's programmes: at Informatics, Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Computer Science with four specialisations (cybersecurity, fintech, digital factory, software architecture), Autonomous Systems, Geoinformatics, Cartography and Mechanical Engineering ($3,640 [€3,200] a semester each); at Science, mathematics, applied mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, astronomy, geology, meteorology, geography, materials science and environmental science ($4,760 [€4,190] each); Psychology ($5,340 [€4,700]) and Computational and Cognitive Neuroscience ($2,390 [€2,100]); international relations and social sciences ($3,980 [€3,500]); and about thirty humanities programmes, from English studies and film studies to Assyriology and Buddhist studies ($2,840–3,980 [€2,500–3,500]), including Russian and Ukrainian language and literature.
Preparatory programmes: English Foundation Course ($3,410 [€3,000] a semester), an intensive Hungarian foundation year ($3,410 [€3,000]), a computer science preliminary semester and a Computer Science MSc foundation year ($3,640 [€3,200] each).
Doctoral studies: 14 doctoral schools for international students; the Doctoral School of Informatics charges $5,120 (€4,500) a semester, education and psychology $6,250 (€5,500).
Language and literature programmes at the Faculty of Humanities are taught in the language studied; all others in English. All programmes are accredited by the Hungarian Accreditation Committee and use ECTS credits.
How to apply for a bachelor's degree
ELTE has no single deadline or procedure: each faculty sets its own application periods, fees and exam format, all listed on the programme's page at apply.elte.hu.
General requirements
- A school-leaving certificate that gives access to higher education in your country, plus transcripts for your last two school years with official English translations. If you are still at school, submit proof of student status and bring the certificate at enrolment; the Faculty of Economics expects final documents by 1 August.
- English. Most programmes require B2: International Relations BA asks for IELTS 5.5 or TOEFL iBT 46–59; English and American Studies for IELTS 5.5, TOEFL 72–94 or Duolingo 100; International Business Economics for IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL iBT 80; Psychology BA for IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL 79–93. Computer Science BSc accepts B1 but looks closely at maths grades.
- Motivation letter for almost every programme; International Relations asks for 1,500–4,000 characters, and the Faculty of Economics explicitly asks for original writing rather than AI-generated text.
- References: at least two signed and stamped letters for International Business Economics.
- Age. The Faculty of Economics admits applicants under 18 at the start of studies only in exceptional cases.
If you do not have the required certificate yet, some faculties let you commit to submitting it by 1 August (the Faculty of Economics does). International Relations assesses English in the interview if you have no certificate.
Exams and interviews
Most programmes hold an entrance exam in person where possible, or online. International Relations uses an online oral interview and recommends Baylis, Smith and Owens, "The Globalization of World Politics". Informatics combines a written test with a Teams interview; Humanities holds an oral exam in English. You will not be invited to the exam until the application fee is paid.
Deadlines and fees: examples for September 2027
| Programme | Application periods | Application fee |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Science BSc | until 30 April 2027 | $170 (€150) |
| English and American Studies BA | 1 Oct–30 Nov 2026 and 1 Feb–31 Mar 2027 at the early-bird rate; 1 Apr–31 May 2027 | $115 (€100) early, $170 (€150) in the last period |
| International Relations BA | 1 Oct–15 Nov 2026, 20 Nov 2026–15 Jan 2027, 20 Jan–30 Apr 2027, 5–31 May 2027 | $115 (€100), $115 (€100), $170 (€150), $225 (€200) |
| Psychology BA (2026/27 cycle) | early-bird until 31 January; main periods 1 Feb–25 Mar and 26 Apr–15 Jun | $70 (€60) early-bird, $135 (€120) in the main periods; the late period was cancelled for this programme |
| International Business Economics BA | see programme page | $175 (€155) |
Faculties may close a later period once they have enough students, so applying early saves money and keeps more options open. The Faculty of Humanities warns that it may issue an acceptance letter for a later intake if an applicant clearly cannot complete the visa process in time.
After admission
The Letter of Acceptance arrives in the online system and by post. You confirm your place in the system, pay tuition and work through the pre-arrival checklist: housing, insurance and visa. The residence permit process is explained in our guide to the Hungary student visa.
Master's and doctoral admission
Master's programmes require a relevant bachelor's degree; Artificial Intelligence, for example, requires a computer science bachelor's or at least 60 ECTS in informatics and maths. Final-year students submit transcripts for their last two years. English is usually B2; at Informatics a certificate is preferred but any certificate is accepted. Doctoral applicants prepare a research plan and agree on a potential supervisor; each doctoral school sets its own terms. General Hungarian admission rules are covered in applying to Hungarian universities.
What ELTE costs
| Scenario | Per year | Whole programme |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Science BSc | $7,275 (€6,400) | $21,825 (€19,200) over 3 years |
| International Relations BA | $6,138 (€5,400) | $18,415 (€16,200) over 3 years |
| International Business Economics BA | $8,184 (€7,200) | $32,737 (€28,800) over 4 years |
| Psychology BA | $10,685 (€9,400) | $32,055 (€28,200) over 3 years |
| MSc Artificial Intelligence or Data Science | $7,275 (€6,400) | $14,550 (€12,800) over 2 years |
| MSc in the natural sciences | $9,526 (€8,380) | $19,051 (€16,760) over 2 years |
Tuition is paid by semester. Application fees are $115–225 (€100–200), and some programmes charge a separate exam fee. An ELTE dormitory place costs $155–217 (HUF 50,000–70,000) a month in 2026/27; a room in a shared Budapest flat is about $435 (HUF 140,000) according to Study in Hungary's calculator. Full budgets with food and transport are in our guide to the cost of studying in Hungary.
Scholarships
- Stipendium Hungaricum. ELTE takes part; for Russian citizens all levels and fields are open. The scholarship covers tuition, pays $135 (HUF 43,700) a month and provides a dormitory place or housing allowance and insurance. Scholarship holders can join the Stipendium Hungaricum Mentor Network.
- Hungarian Diaspora Scholarship and the Hungary Helps programme for Christian young people, for specific groups of international students.
Housing and campuses
ELTE runs seven dormitories in Budapest and several in other cities. For 2026/27 about 500 places in Budapest are set aside for fee-paying international students, plus 64 at the Szombathely campus dormitory. Prices are $170–215 (HUF 55,000–70,000) a month in a double room and $155–170 (HUF 50,000–55,000) in a triple. More than half of international students request a dormitory place, so apply as soon as you are admitted; the waiting list is reset in early September. The Housing Office helps find private flats or rooms through partners.
There is no single campus. Science, Informatics and Social Sciences share the Lágymányos campus by the Danube (District XI); Humanities is on Múzeum körút in the centre, Law on Egyetem tér and Economics on Rákóczi út. From the Kőrösi Csoma Sándor dormitory, for instance, faculties are 20–50 minutes away, so check the commute to your faculty, not just the rent.
Student life and careers
ELTE belongs to the Coimbra Group (since 1991), UNICA and the Danube Rectors' Conference, and is part of the CHARM-EU European university alliance. International students have an Erasmus Student Network section, mentors, a counselling centre, the BEAC sports club and a career centre. Six Nobel laureates are ELTE alumni, including physiologist Georg von Békésy and economist John Harsanyi.
After graduation, while your study permit is still valid, you can switch to a residence permit for job-seeking or starting a business for up to 9 months. During studies you may work up to 30 hours a week in the study period.
Strengths and limits
| Why students choose ELTE | What to know in advance |
|---|---|
| First in Hungary in QS 2027 and ARWU 2026 | 595th worldwide: the brand is stronger regionally than globally |
| Wide choice in science, computer science, psychology, languages | No medicine and little English-taught engineering |
| Humanities tuition from $2,270 (€2,000) a semester | Deadlines, fees and exams differ by faculty and are easy to mix up |
| Early application periods with lower fees | Faculties may cancel late periods once places fill |
| Own dormitories at $155–217 (HUF 50,000–70,000) | Few places for international students; buildings spread across the city |
FAQ
Can I apply to ELTE straight after secondary school?
Yes. Bachelor's programmes accept a school-leaving certificate that gives access to higher education, with translated transcripts for the last two years, proof of English and a motivation letter; most programmes add an interview or exam.
How much does ELTE cost?
From $2,260 to $5,340 (€1,990 to €4,700) a semester for bachelor's degrees; popular programmes cost $3,640 (€3,200) (computer science), $4,090 (€3,600) (international business economics) and $5,340 (€4,700) (psychology). Application fees are $115–225 (€100–200).
What IELTS score do I need?
It depends on the programme: 5.5 for international relations, English studies and chemistry, 6.0 for International Business Economics, 6.5 for psychology. Computer science requires B1, and some faculties assess English in the interview.
When should I apply for 2027/28?
Each programme has its own periods. The first open on 1 October 2026 (Humanities and Social Sciences), the last close at the end of May 2027; computer science closes on 30 April 2027. Early periods have lower fees.
Can I study at ELTE for free?
International students can through Stipendium Hungaricum; Russian citizens may apply for any level and field. The deadline is mid-January, with a separate application to the national sending partner.
Is there a dormitory for international students?
Yes, about 500 places for international students in Budapest dormitories at $155–217 (HUF 50,000–70,000) a month. Demand is high, so apply as soon as you are admitted.
Does ELTE teach medicine?
No. Its medical faculty became a separate institution in 1951: today's Semmelweis University.
Sources
- ELTE admissions catalogue (DreamApply): apply.elte.hu/courses, programme pages for fees, deadlines and application fees
- Computer Science BSc: elte.hu/en/computer-science-bsc; apply.elte.hu/courses/course/149-bsc-computer-science
- Psychology BA: apply.elte.hu/courses/course/20-ba-psychology; International Relations BA: apply.elte.hu/courses/course/299-ba-international-relations; International Business Economics BA: apply.elte.hu/courses/course/311-ba-international-business-economics; English and American Studies BA: apply.elte.hu/courses/course/83-ba-english-and-american-studies
- ELTE for prospective students: elte.hu/en/prospective-students; application steps: elte.hu/en/content/for-self-funded-applicants
- History: elte.hu/en/history; faculties: elte.hu/en/faculties; rankings: elte.hu/en/ranking-news; QS 2027: elte.hu/en/qs-ranking-elte-regained-the-lead-in-hungary; dormitory places and fees 2026/27 (PDF): elte.hu/en/dstore/document/330723/Comparison%20of%20the%20dormitory%20fees%20and%20international%20places_2026-27.pdf
- Dormitories and 2026/27 fee comparison: elte.hu/en/dormitory-centre; Housing Office: elte.hu/en/housing-office
- Study in Hungary, cost of living calculator: studyinhungary.hu/living-in-hungary/menu/your-costs-of-living.html
- OIF, work rights and post-study permit: oif.gov.hu/tajekoztatok/a-hallgato-tanulo-tartozkodasa
Dollar amounts use the ECB reference rate of 24 September 2026: €1 = $1.1367 = HUF 366.15. Information checked on 28 September 2026. More study options in the country are on our study in Hungary page.
Help choosing an ELTE programme and application period to match your English level and timeline is provided under an agreement with StudyU; to discuss it, send us a request.
During the free initial consultation, we clarify your goal, profile, timing, and budget and identify the next realistic step.
Next steps
- Semmelweis University
- Universities in Hungary: which one to choose as an international student
- Hungary student visa: the residence permit for study in 2026
- Applying to Hungarian universities: requirements, documents and deadlines
- Budapest Metropolitan University (METU)
- Studying in Hungary for international applicants
