Iranian students at Hungary’s Pécs University issue desperate plea amid mounting woes: studies at risk of collapse

Economic hardship means that Iranian students in Hungary are struggling not only to cover tuition and living costs but also to receive funds during the war. A petition has already garnered widespread support.

Foreign students pay steeply for studies in Hungary

In Hungary, those who fail to meet the minimum entry scores for degree programmes can only study on a fee-paying basis in higher education. Successful applicants qualify for state scholarships, studying effectively tuition-free. Yet Hungarian fee-payers contribute far less than their foreign counterparts.

A Hungarian aspiring dentist in Pécs, for instance, who misses the state scholarship threshold, pays just under HUF 2 million annually. By contrast, a foreign “self-funded” student, typically on English-taught courses with less state subsidy, must pay HUF 5.8 million in dollars or euros. Naturally, some foreigners secure scholarships via quotas, but most foot the bill themselves.

Iranian students in Hungary battle severe challenges

Iran has grappled with acute economic crisis for months, with the rial’s value plummeting, leaving the roughly 300 Iranian students at Pécs particularly vulnerable. Families now face added hurdles transferring money due to the war. In response, the students have launched a petition, signed by more than 100 Iranian peers. They urge the University of Pécs leadership to show understanding and prevent their studies from derailing. The university has yet to rule on the matter, reports the local press.