YOUR SCHOLARSHIP IN EUROPE

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Your Scholarship in Europe 2008-2009
Hungary
BASIC INFORMATION ABOUT HUNGARY
Hungary is a landlocked country in Central Europe, hemmed in by the Carpathians, the
Alps, and the Dinaric Mountains, yet plains account for three-quarters of its territory.
It has a population of around 10 million. The core ethnic group consists of Hungarians
(or Magyars), who make up 97% of the country’s population. Hungarian is the country’s
offi cial language, although English and German are taught in schools as secondary
languages.
HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM
Hungarian higher education has a long history. The fi rst Hungarian university was founded in
Pécs in south Hungary over 600 years ago, in 1367. Hungarian higher education institutions
are autonomous, state or non-state (private and religious) institutions recognised by the state.
Hungarian higher education has a dual system consisting of universities and colleges.
Some colleges are associated with universities and are known as «college faculties» of
those universities. A university may offer college-level courses, too. Courses at college
level (corresponding to B.Sc. level) last a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 4 years; at university
level (corresponding to M.Sc. level) courses are a minimum of 4 and a maximum of
5 years long (with the exception of medical universities, where courses last for 6 years).
Hungary has been participating in the Bologna Process since 1999, the most important
goal of which is the creation of a European Higher Education Area. As a part of this process,
the two-cycle system according to the Bologna model (bachelor and master courses)
started from 1 September 2006 in all fi elds of study.
At present, Hungary’s higher education system comprises 18 state-fi nanced universities,
one public university, 12 state-fi nanced colleges, 26 religious educational institutions, and
nine colleges operated by public foundations.
SCHOLARSHIPS
The Hungarian Scholarship Board (HSB website: http://www.scholarship.hu) is in charge
of awarding scholarships.
In 2005, the Hungarian Education Minister instituted a “Scholarship Pool” to help promote
student mobility at higher educational institutions and give foreign nationals an
opportunity to broaden their learning experience at Hungarian higher educational institutions.