Why are there so many Norwegians in Hungary?

A recent revelation has shed light on the significant number of Norwegians who are currently residing in Hungary, with a particular focus on a large cohort of students pursuing medical and veterinary degrees.

Medical studies in Hungary

As we wrote earlier, based on the latest census data from the Hungarian Central Statistical Office (KSH), there are more than 98 thousands foreign citizens living in Budapest. Over 1,000 Norwegians have made Budapest their home, surpassing the populations of other nationalities such as Poles, Americans and Spanish individuals.

According to Telex, the reason behind this unusually large influx of Norwegian residents can be attributed to Hungary’s renowned medical and veterinary universities, which have become a favoured destination for aspiring doctors and veterinarians from Norway. Hungary is home to several medical universities, including Semmelweis University in Budapest, the University of Veterinary Medicine and institutions in cities like Pécs, Szeged and Debrecen. For the 2023-2024 academic year, 156 Norwegians have enrolled at Semmelweis University, while the University of Veterinary Medicine, located in the capital, has also attracted 57 Norwegian students, making it a popular choice for those pursuing veterinary studies.

Additionally, Norwegians studying at universities outside Budapest contribute to the increasing number of medical students coming to study in Hungary. Institutions like the University of Szeged and the University of Pécs have 17 and 451 Norwegian students, respectively, primarily in medical faculties.

Norwegian students in comparison

The data reveals a substantial contrast in the proportion of Norwegian students in Hungarian universities compared to other nationalities. While approximately 15 % of the Norwegian population living in Budapest studies at Semmelweis University, only 2.4% of the Spanish population and 3.7% of the American population living in the capital are enrolled in this institution. Intriguingly, the University of Pécs boasts more Norwegian students than the combined number of American, Spanish and Iranian students. This trend underlines the attractiveness of Hungarian medical education to Norwegian students.

Exploring the reasons

Norwegian students’ inclination towards studying medicine in Hungary can be explained by the substantial demand for doctors in Norway. More than 30% of practicing doctors have obtained their degrees from foreign universities. Due to the shortage of medical courses in Norwegian institutions, many students opt to study abroad. Most Norwegian students finance their studies through student loans provided by the Norwegian State Education Loan Fund.

Changing trends

Despite the growing number of Norwegian students, the trend appears to be shifting. Most universities have seen a gradual decrease in the proportion of Norwegian students over the last five years. Semmelweis University, for instance, has witnessed an 8-9% drop in the number of Norwegian students, while the University of Veterinary Medicine has observed a steady fall from 147 students to 57. On the contrary, the University of Pécs has experienced a surge in numbers, marking a dynamic increase since 2018. This shift highlights the evolving preferences of Norwegian students when choosing Hungarian universities for their medical studies.

Residential distribution

Source: Telex