More than 101,000 students are set to begin higher education at Hungarian universities this September, including a significant number from abroad. We have gathered the key points newly admitted students need to watch, the most popular universities and courses, and what the new government is promising those embarking on their studies.
Admission thresholds for 2026 have been published nationwide for 140,427 applicants, while 101,572 students have received text messages confirming where they will begin their studies in just over six weeks’ time, the Minister for Education and Children announced on social media.
Judit Lannert noted that 77,853 students secured state-funded places. The most popular field of study is business and economics, with 21,274 admissions, while the single most sought-after course is business administration and management, attracting 5,929 students, according to the Hungarian news agency MTI.
Government pledges international opportunities
The admission rate this year stands at 72 per cent, meaning nearly three-quarters of applicants have been accepted, the Ministry for Education and Children said.
Reforming higher education is a long-term investment in Hungary’s future, the ministry stressed, aiming to ensure universities offer competitive knowledge, modern research environments and international opportunities.
Most popular universities and courses
The leading fields this year are business and economics (21,274 students), teacher training (16,199), engineering (13,314), humanities (9,855), IT (7,753), social sciences (7,447), and medical and health sciences (7,432).
The most popular courses include:
- Business administration and management (5,929)
- Master-level teacher training (3,845)
- Law (3,811)
- Nursing and patient care (3,185)
- Commerce and marketing (3,036)
- Special education (2,800)
Teacher training continues to grow, with 16,199 admissions this year. A record 4,656 students have enrolled in primary teaching (2,039) and undivided teacher training programmes (2,617).
Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE) once again admits the largest number of students, with 13,723 entrants, while three technically focused institutions also feature in the top ten.
The highest entry score was required for Corvinus University’s English-language international business programme, followed by ELTE law (467 points), Pázmány Péter Catholic University law (467), Pázmány psychology (462), Corvinus international studies in English (459), and ELTE psychology (455).
Although the latest report does not specify the number of newly admitted foreign nationals, preliminary statistics from the Central Statistical Office show that 49,458 international students studied in Hungary in the 2025/2026 academic year, the vast majority — 46,813 — in full-time programmes.
At Corvinus, 990 students were admitted through international procedures, either self-funded or via bilateral scholarship schemes. ELTE reported that 1,059 new students will begin English-language courses this September, while the Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences (MATE) expects more than 700 foreign students across its English-language programmes.
Scramble for rentals as prices surge
University cities remain key hotspots in Hungary’s property market, characterised by strong rental demand and rising prices. Following the publication of admission thresholds, rents may increase by up to 5 per cent over the summer, according to Zsolt Molnár of MBH Mortgage Bank.
Gábor Soóki-Tóth of Otthon Centrum added that the market may ease by October, with prices falling by 2–4 per cent.
In Budapest, monthly rents near university hubs range between 205,000 and 304,000 forints, with District VII the cheapest and District IX the most expensive. Over the past five years, rents have risen by at least 50 per cent — and in some areas have doubled.
Among provincial cities, Debrecen stands out with average rents around 200,000 forints, while Szeged and Pécs hover near 150,000.
Who gets the house? Property inheritance in Hungary for international owners
Demand spikes sharply after results are announced, with enquiries rising by around 30 per cent, said András Pásztor of Fundamenta Ingatlan.
Molnár added that property prices per square metre in university cities have nearly doubled over the past five years.
Rent or buy?
For those planning to stay longer than five years, buying is generally more economical than renting, according to Pásztor. For shorter periods, renting remains the better option.
With market-rate loans, purchasing in Budapest typically only becomes more cost-effective after more than ten years. In major provincial cities, the timeframe is similar, though in Miskolc it may be as short as five years. With subsidised financing and partial letting, this period can shrink to three to five years.
Hungarian house prices remain among the fastest-growing in Europe: since 2015, they have quadrupled, compared with an EU average increase of just 65 per cent, said Flóra Horti of MBH’s analytical centre. Growth is expected to moderate, with nationwide price rises of 8–13 per cent forecast for 2026.
A longstanding shortage of student accommodation continues to push many towards the private rental market.
Property market weakens in Hungary, but above average market still holds on
