Students in Hungary in deep trouble: financial struggles are immense
It’s increasingly common for Hungarian students to juggle work alongside their university studies. This necessity stems from the steep cost of living, sparse scholarship opportunities and limited financial aid. Although universities and government bodies offer numerous valuable scholarships, navigating the tightly regulated eligibility criteria poses a significant challenge for many students.
As revealed by Eurostudent‘s recent assessment of Hungarian students’ living and educational circumstances, one-fourth of Hungarian students disclosed facing moderate financial challenges, with an additional 23% indicating significant or severe financial hardships. Over half of the students reported financial difficulties, with 16% unable to cover expenses exceeding HUF 100,000 (EUR 257) independently, while 40% would require assistance from parents, family or partners to meet such costs. Half of the students surveyed reported no financial concerns. Delving into student accommodation statistics, it’s apparent that living arrangements pose the most significant expense; most students reside with their families, while three in ten pay rent, and an additional 18% reside in dormitories.
The motives
Half of the student workers cited covering living expenses as their primary motivation, while others aimed to address needs beyond the essentials with their earnings. Many opt to work to fund their studies or provide support for their families, while others seek to gain valuable professional experience. However, a considerable number of students find it challenging to balance work commitments with their studies, according to Economx. Among students who work while studying, 52% primarily identify as students, while the remaining 48% lean towards seeing themselves more as employees than students.
Insights into Hungarian students’ profiles
Demographic data reveals a higher representation of female students compared to males. Despite this overall trend, men dominate fields such as IT, sports, science and engineering, whereas women are notably overrepresented in disciplines like teacher training, humanities, arts education, medicine and health studies. In higher education, Hungarian nationals make up over 90% of students, followed by 3% from neighbouring countries and approximately 1% from other European nations. Students from non-European countries comprise nearly 8% of the total student population. Foreign students commonly pursue degrees in natural sciences, engineering, social sciences as well as medicine and health. Unlike fields such as law and teacher training, sports exhibit not only low representation among foreign students but also among dual Hungarian citizens. The Hungarian students represented in the statistics were primarily enrolled in bachelor’s programmes (9,260) with a notable presence in master’s (2,243) and postgraduate (2,713) programmes. Furthermore, 89% of students are enrolled full-time with the largest concentrations found in economics, engineering, medicine and health sciences. 78% of students are enrolled in state-funded courses, meaning their higher education expenses are covered.
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