Top career choices for university students in Hungary revealed

Engineering, programming, and medicine are the careers that STEM (science and technology) students would most like to pursue, according to a recent, local survey. In addition to the above, university students consider a managerial career, professions related to data science or artificial intelligence, and a career in healthcare to be ‘cool’. Nearly half (49%) of the students foresee their career at a foreign-owned multinational company or at a large domestic company (44%) after completing their higher education. Meanwhile, two-fifths (39%) of the respondents would like to get a job at a domestic small or medium-sized enterprise.

Siemens Zrt. and the UNIside higher education portal conducted an online survey on the career profile and future career plans of university students in Hungary. More than two hundred undergraduate students participated in the survey, including those studying in the fields of computer science (28%), engineering (42%), and natural sciences (30%). Most respondents (55%) are studying in an educational institution in Budapest, more than a quarter in a county seat (28%), and nearly a fifth (17%) in other cities.

The research shows that two-thirds (64%) of the students decided where to study independently, a third (32%) were influenced by their parents or a family member, and only 3% were encouraged by their teachers. In terms of career orientation, most of the respondents (32%) were guided by their career aspirations and professional interests, followed by expected salary (24%), and then university rankings (11%).

According to Lívia Pintér, co-founder and editor-in-chief of the UNIside portal, the results show students’ awareness in STEM fields.

‘Our own previous research on pupils across the whole educational spectrum tends to show a more mixed picture: they are more likely to rely on their friends and other less specific information to make decisions. Here, we can see how much the study area determines pupils’ approaches to decisions.’ – she said.

Mathematics and IT: both the most and least popular subjects

The survey also ranks students’ favorite and least favorite subjects. Responses show that mathematics and IT divide students, with both subjects ranked among the top three most and least popular subjects. The top three favorite subject groups were computer science and programming (27%), management and economics (15%), and mathematics and statistics (14%). The least favorite subjects also included mathematics and statistics (29%), followed by physics and mechanics (17%), and then computer science and programming (12%).

Coherence between what you learn at university and your initial expectations

59% of those who completed the questionnaire consider the topics and subjects they study at university to be fully in line with their initial expectations. In relation to their own abilities, three quarters of respondents (77%) think that initial expectations are more or fully in line with those they experienced at university. Almost half of students (42%) feel that it is easy to cope and meet the requirements of higher education, but a third (34%) find it much harder to do well, and around a quarter (24%) think that it is challenging to complete university.

Among many other challenges, they mentioned the pressure of pace and workload, the small number of lesson hours, or the disproportion between semesters and credits. More than half of the respondents see the internship as a challenge, but for many it is an additional burden to participate in further training and research.

Extending studies abroad

More than half of the respondents (55%) would like to expand their knowledge abroad for a shorter or longer period. The most popular destinations are Germany, Spain, and Austria. However, they would also like to study in the Netherlands, England, and the United States.

This is where young people would like to work

Recent graduates look for a job first and foremost by browsing job advertisements. They then use all other possible channels, including media advertisements, job fairs, or personal contacts, and lastly, through recommendations from friends.

Almost half of those completing the survey (49%) want to start a career at a foreign-owned multinational company. However, starting a career at a large domestic company (44%) or a domestic small or medium-sized enterprise (39%) are also popular choices. A quarter of respondents (24%) would be open to start their own business. Only 4% of the participants said that they would be happy to work for either a for-profit or a non-profit employer (more than one answer was possible).

‘This aligns with our own experience. We observe that today’s newcomers seek faster career advancement opportunities compared to previous generations. In the age of Industry 4.0, continuous learning and openness to professional development are essential.’ – added Judit Sápi, Head of HR at Siemens Zrt. According to her, young people also value trendy job titles.

Popular professions

Among students in technical fields, engineering and managerial-design careers appear to be the most realistic job prospects, including positions such as electrical engineer, mechanical engineer, civil engineer, and design engineer. Students in the IT field are preparing for jobs as programmers and software developers, but data, AI and business-related professions also seem to be popular.

Students in the natural sciences identified medical and pharmaceutical professions (such as pharmacist and pharmaceutical researcher) as the most likely career paths. However, it is also evident that they are considering careers loosely related to their field (for example, in marketing).

‘We have conducted the survey to map and understand better the motivations of young people engaged in the latest industrial technologies and to use this knowledge to match job opportunities with the desired future prospects.’ – the above-mentioned experts emphasized.

As we wrote earlier, here are the 10 best universities in Hungary for international students. The details are HERE.

As we wrote a few days earlier, the top Hungarian university may close due to serious financial problems. Details are HERE.