Intensive Hungarian Foundation Course

Title

Intensive Hungarian Foundation Course

Degree

Declaration of completion

Type

Preparatory program

Level

Pre-university

Department

Department of Hungarian as a Foreign Language

Language

English, Hungarian

Duration

2 semesters (1 year)

ECTS credits

47

Minimum number of students

2

Maximum number of students

50

Description

The Intensive Hungarian Foundation Course designed for anyone interested in the Hungarian language and culture is the ideal way to jump-start their future academic or professional life in Hungary.
Divided into two terms, the aim of the course is to provide students with a system of tools allowing them to successfully manage communicational situations arising in the target language environment and enabling them to comprehend factual texts containing the basic structures of the language in both reading and writing.
In the second semester, students are provided with the full formal system of Hungarian. The subjects aimed at developing the various language skills now concentrate on, among other things, independent written compositions and language use for expressing opinions. The reading program gradually leads from comprehending texts with the help of a dictionary to the independent processing of texts. The latter subjects can be expanded by developing the basic vocabulary according to students’ wishes into various study areas, such as history, literature, sociology.
In addition to intensive language classes, the additional Hungarian cultural lectures give an overview of the main events in Hungarian history, Hungarian literature, linguistics, folklore, cultural history and sociology. These lectures are held in English.
This two-semester program provides students with the necessary skills and knowledge that enables them to continue studies in Hungarian at a university level or to use Hungarian as an intermediary language at work.

Strength of program

The program is organized by the Department of Hungarian as a Foreign Language (Magyar mint Idegennyelv), which is the national centre for Hungarian teaching of internationals and teacher training in Hungarian as a foreign language.

Find the detailed structure of the program on the site of the Faculty.

The first semester has 18 working weeks (including exams), the second semester 19 working weeks (including exams), as detailed in the academic calendar. Bear in mind that there are 22´45 minute taught classes per week organized into 11 slots of 90 minute continuous classes.

Career opportunities

The language knowledge acquired by the end of the course provides Hungarian language knowledge for specific purposes: it therefore enables students to continue studies at university or to use Hungarian as an intermediary language at work.

EU/EEA students
non-EU/EEA students
Tuition fee/semester

2,400 EUR

2,400 EUR

Application fee

200 EUR (non-refundable)

200 EUR (non-refundable)

non-EU/EEA students
Tuition fee/semester

2,400 EUR

Application fee

200 EUR (non-refundable)


Offered for the next academic year

Yes

Start program

01, Sep, 2025

Deadline for applications - September intake

15, Apr, 2025

Is there a February intake

No


Admission requirements

Entry requirements

The students who can apply for the Intensive Hungarian Foundation Program are expected to present the documentation of their certificate of matriculation from a secondary school and to submit their application with the necessary attachments.
The university accepts only certificates, which are equivalent to the Hungarian certificate of matriculation, thus appropriate for continuing one’s studies in university education. If the certificate is not in English, the university needs an official translation, which could be a translation by the secondary school as well.
If the applicant completes their secondary education during the current term and their certificate is not issued before the application deadline, a proof of student status or a certification, which verifies that the applicant will receive matriculation is required instead. In case of being accepted as a student, however, the applicant must present their certificate of matriculation upon enrolment at the latest.

This program is not available for Hungarian citizens.

Documents to submit with application

 

Document

Comment

Online application form

-

Record of the final two years in secondary school

 

Secondary school certificate (graduation certificate)

Notarized copy only on request.

CV

In MS Word format with one low resolution photo

Motivation letter

 

Copy of the main pages of the passport
(needs to be valid)

 

Copy of application fee transfer

 

Other: An official English translation of the certificates and the records if the language of the original is not English

 

 

Optional documents for admissions

  • Letter of Reference
    Also called "Letter of recommendation." From a former instructor and/or employer.
  • Language certificate 
    Official test result or certificate must be provided; see program specific proficiency requirements.
Application procedure

Application deadlines

The deadline for application means the deadline of submission of the full and complete application package in the online system.

Period 1 for September intake 2025: 01/02-15/04/2025 23:59 (CET)


The application procedure may include more subperiods in order to give the applicants the freedom to submit their application when it’s most suitable for them. The applicants of each period have the same chance to get admittance for the programme. However, please note, that the Faculty of Humanities ELTE reserves the right to cancel the entrance periods in case the number of the admitted applicants reaches the limit during the previous entrance periods.

The application starts in the online application system. Students need to register in the system, fill in the online application form, upload the required documents and follow the instructions during the application process.

Applications will only be processed if the application fee (200 EUR; non-refundable) has been transferred to the Faculty’s bank account. For further information and details about transferring the application fee please visit our Faculty’s website: https://btk.elte.hu/prospective-students-financial-issues

BANK ACCOUNT DETAILS OF OUR UNIVERSITY
IBAN Bank Account: HU 03 1003 2000 0142 6201 0000 0000
BIC/SWIFT code: HUSTHUHB
Name of the University: EÖTVÖS LORÁND UNIVERSITY, ELTE BTK
Address: 1088 Budapest, Múzeum krt. 4/a, Hungary
Name of the Bank: Hungarian State Treasury Ltd. (Magyar Államkincstár)
Address of the Bank: 1139 Budapest, Váci út 71.

PLEASE DO NOT MISS TO ADD IN THE MESSAGE SECTION:
Name of applicant
AY 2025/26/1
The University’s sub-account number: AC9201/04

Results and the official decision will be announced in the application system.

For more information about the application procedures, please visit the Faculty's website

Program leader

Ildikó SZLAMKA VÁRKONYINÉ
Director of Studies

Admission
Department of International Affairs
E-mail: admission@btk.elte.hu
Address: 1088 Budapest, Múzeum krt. 4.

More information
Website

Faculty of Humanities

Faculty of Humanities

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