The Chain Bridge, Budapest
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Central Europe

Hungary

Five partner universities, a visa filed in Colombo, and one of Europe’s best-value capital cities.

Language
EnglishFull degrees taught in English
Work during study
24 / 24Hours a week — UG / PG
After graduating
9Month job-search permit
Visa route
VFS ColomboNo New Delhi appointment
Area
EU & SchengenTravel across 29 countries
01 — Overview

Why Sri Lankan students choose Hungary

More partner universities than any country on this list except Latvia and Lithuania.

Hungary has five institutions on our partner list, the widest choice we can offer outside the Baltics — a large research university in Debrecen, three specialist institutions in Budapest, and an applied university in Kecskemét.

The residence permit is filed at VFS Colombo, with no New Delhi appointment. Students may work twenty-four hours a week during term, and graduates get nine months to find work.

Hungary is outside the eurozone and uses the forint, which keeps everyday costs noticeably below the euro-denominated countries around it. Budapest in particular offers a capital-city experience at a fraction of Vienna’s cost, ninety minutes up the Danube.

  1. 01Five partner universities, from a large research university to specialist business and sports institutions.
  2. 02Visa filed in Colombo, with no third-country appointment required.
  3. 03Twenty-four hours of permitted work a week during term.
  4. 04A nine-month job-search permit after graduation.
  5. 05Costs well below the eurozone, with the forint rather than the euro.
  6. 06EU-recognised qualifications under the Bologna framework and the ECTS credit system.
  7. 07Schengen mobility across twenty-nine countries on your residence permit.
  8. 08A long tradition of teaching international students, particularly in the sciences.
02 — Institutions

The five universities we represent

University of Debrecen
Debrecen · Featured

University of Debrecen

Hungary’s largest higher education institution outside Budapest and one of its oldest, with a long record of teaching international students in English across medicine, sciences, engineering and business.

MedicineSciencesEngineeringBusiness
03 — At a glance

The facts, in one place

Capital
Budapest
Language of instruction
English
Currency
Hungarian forint
Bachelor’s
3–4 years
Master’s
1–2 years
Credit system
ECTS · Bologna
Visa route
VFS Colombo
Dependents
After studies
Intakes
On enquiry
Work rights

What you are allowed to work

24
Hours a week during undergraduate study.
24
Hours a week for postgraduate students.
9
Months to look for work after you graduate.
After
Dependents may join once studies conclude.
04 — Entry

What Hungary asks you for

Requirements vary by institution and by programme. These are the documents every file needs.

  • Completed secondary education, or equivalent, for bachelor’s entry
  • A recognised bachelor’s degree for master’s entry
  • Academic transcripts, translated and attested
  • Evidence of English proficiency
  • Valid passport with sufficient remaining validity
  • Statement of purpose or motivation letter
  • Financial documentation for the residence permit
  • Health insurance valid in Hungary
Send us your transcripts We will tell you what is missing and which programmes you qualify for.
05 — Costs

What a year in Hungary actually costs

Hungary is among the best-value destinations in the European Union, and it is outside the eurozone.

Tuition varies widely by field, and each university sets its own fees. Living costs depend on the city, on whether you take university accommodation or a private flat, and on how much you cook. The residence permit carries its own financial requirement, set by the migration authority and reviewed periodically.

We prepare a written cost estimate for every student we work with. Tuition for your specific programme, realistic monthly costs for the city you will actually live in, the current requirement for the permit, and the scholarships you may be eligible for. Built around your circumstances rather than a generic table — and there is no charge for it.

Request your cost sheet

06 — Living

Living in Budapest

Hungary

Budapest is a genuine European capital at a fraction of the cost of Vienna, which is ninety minutes away by train. The city is split by the Danube, served by a comprehensive metro, and has a student population large enough to shape it.

Debrecen, in the east, is Hungary’s second city and a major university town in its own right, with lower costs again and a large international student community built up over decades.

English is widely spoken in the university sector. Hungarian is unrelated to its neighbours’ languages and nobody will expect you to learn it for your degree, though universities offer courses.

07 — Our work

What we handle for Hungary

  1. 01University and programme selection
  2. 02Application filing and follow-up
  3. 03Statement of purpose guidance
  4. 04Document preparation and attestation
  5. 05Financial documentation review
  6. 06Scholarship search
  7. 07Residence permit filing at VFS Colombo
  8. 08Accommodation support in Budapest
  9. 09Pre-departure briefing
  10. 10On-arrival registration support
08 — Questions

What students ask us

Can I study in Hungary in English?
Yes. All five institutions we represent teach degree programmes in English, and Hungary has taught international students in English for decades, particularly in the sciences.
Where is the Hungarian student visa processed for Sri Lankans?
At VFS in Colombo. Hungary is one of the destinations that does not require a New Delhi appointment.
Can I work while studying in Hungary?
Yes. Undergraduates may work up to 24 hours a week during term, and postgraduates up to 24 hours. Hours are counted across the academic year, and we will explain how that works for your programme.
Can I stay in Hungary after I graduate?
Yes. Graduates can apply for a nine-month residence permit to remain in Hungary and look for work.
Which Hungarian city should I choose?
Budapest if you want a capital city and the widest range of programmes; Debrecen if you want lower costs and a tighter student community; Kecskemét if you are after applied engineering with industry close by. We will match the city to the programme rather than the other way round.
Can my spouse or family join me?
Dependents can join once your studies conclude rather than during them. If bringing family during your degree is a priority, Sweden, Finland, Germany and Spain all allow it.
Are Hungarian degrees recognised internationally?
Yes. Hungary is part of the Bologna Process and uses the ECTS credit system, so qualifications are recognised across the European Higher Education Area and transfer readily for further study or professional registration.
Can I travel elsewhere in Europe on my permit?
Yes. Hungary is a full member of the Schengen area, so your residence permit allows short-stay travel across the zone without a separate visa.
How much will it cost me in total?
That depends on the programme, the university and the city, and a generic figure would mislead you. We prepare a written estimate for each student — tuition, living costs, permit requirements and any scholarships you qualify for — at no charge. Request yours here.

Talk to someone who has filed this application before

A free consultation at our Colombo or Kurunegala office, or online. Bring your transcripts and we will tell you where you stand.

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