Which Universities in Budapest Are Best for International Students?

Budapest pulls in more international students than almost anywhere else in Central Europe, and it's not just the rent. The city has a genuine cluster of strong universities, each with a distinct specialty, and most run entire degree programs in English. The short answer: ELTE for the widest choice of English taught subjects, BME for engineering and IT, Corvinus for business and economics, and Semmelweis for medicine, dentistry and pharmacy. CEU, which still appears on many lists, now teaches its degrees in Vienna. Here's what each one is known for, so you can pick based on your subject rather than just the city's reputation.

ELTE: The Broadest Range, and the Oldest Name

Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE) is one of Hungary's oldest and largest universities, and the one most likely to have an English-taught version of whatever you want to study. Strongest name recognition sits in economics, computer science, international studies, humanities and law, with its humanities faculty on the Trefort kert campus on Múzeum körút in District VIII, its law faculty at Egyetem tér in District V, and computer science and the sciences on the Lágymányos campus by the Danube in District XI. If you're not fully sure yet which specialism you want, ELTE's breadth makes it a safe default.

BME: Hungary's Engineering Powerhouse

Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME) is Hungary's most prestigious technical university and one of the oldest institutes of technology in Europe. English-taught programs run across engineering, computer science and architecture at bachelor's and master's level, based at the BME campus in Újbuda (District XI) on the Buda side. If your subject is engineering, IT or the physical sciences, BME is generally the first name that comes up.

Corvinus: Business, Economics, and the CEMS Network

Corvinus University of Budapest is Hungary's clear leader for business, economics and international relations, and its membership in the CEMS network (a global alliance of top business schools) gives graduates access to a strong international corporate pipeline. The campus sits in District IX, right by the Liberty Bridge, in one of the city's better connected student areas.

Semmelweis: Medicine, Dentistry and the Highest Tuition on This List

Semmelweis University is Hungary's leading medical university, and its English-taught medicine, dentistry and pharmacy programs draw students from across Europe and beyond specifically for these subjects. Tuition here runs well above the other universities on this list: for students starting in 2026, medicine and dentistry cost USD 10,450 a semester and pharmacy USD 6,620 a semester, plus material fees from the second year for dentistry and pharmacy, reflecting the length and intensity of medical and dental training. Worth budgeting for accordingly if this is your field.

CEU: Now in Vienna, Not Budapest

Central European University (CEU) still turns up on many Budapest university lists, but it moved its main campus and degree teaching to Vienna in 2019. Its Budapest site now hosts research institutes, the CEU Summer University and other non-degree programmes, and in June 2026 the university said its degree programmes stay in Vienna with no concrete plans to change that. If a CEU master's or PhD fits your field, plan your housing for Vienna, not Budapest. Fuse has no rooms in Vienna yet: it is coming soon, and you can leave your email on the Vienna city page to hear first.

At a Glance

• ELTE: the widest range, from humanities, law and international studies to economics and computer science. Bachelor's, master's and PhD. Most English taught bachelor's programmes cost about €2,000 to €3,600 a semester, depending on the faculty and your citizenship.
• BME: engineering, computer science and architecture. Bachelor's, master's and PhD. Most bachelor's programmes cost €3,200 to €3,500 a semester for non-EU students and €1,100 to €2,250 a semester for EU citizens in 2026/27.
• Corvinus: business, economics and international relations, plus the CEMS network. Bachelor's programmes cost €6,600 to €7,000 a year for non-EEA students and HUF 1,700,000 to 1,980,000 a year for EEA students; most master's programmes cost €7,000 to €12,000 a year for non-EEA students (2026/27).
• Semmelweis: medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and health sciences. For students starting in 2026, medicine and dentistry cost USD 10,450 a semester and pharmacy USD 6,620 a semester.
• CEU: postgraduate only, and taught in Vienna since 2019, not in Budapest.

UniversityBest known forLevelRough tuition (English programs)

BMEEngineering, computerBachelor's, Master's ~€3,000–6,500/year science, architecture

CorvinusBusiness, economics, international Bachelor's, Master's~€4,000–8,000/year relations, CEMS network

SemmelweisMedicine, dentistry, pharmacyBachelor's, Master's~€8,000–18,000/year

CEUPostgraduate, US-accredited,Master's, PhDHigh sticker price, aid covers most admits strong financial aid

Treat every figure here as a starting point rather than a quote. Tuition, program lists and admission requirements shift year to year, always confirm directly with the university's own admissions page before you apply.

Matching Your University to a Home Base

Once you know which university you're aiming for, where you live matters more than it might seem, commute time adds up fast over a semester. ELTE's humanities campus and Semmelweis both sit in or near District VIII, Corvinus is in District IX, and BME is across the river in District XI. Fuse homes in Budapest are spread across Districts V, VII, VIII and IX on the Pest side, and Gát utca 19 in District IX is close to the Corvinus and Semmelweis campuses, so most lectures are a short tram or metro ride away.

Browse available rooms in Budapest at Fuse's listings page.

Frequently Asked Questions