Despite austerity, some public universities in Hungary maintain an important social tradition and heritage of European education: providing relative access to university dormitories (kollégium) for students who need affordable housing. At ELTE, there is currently an ecosystem of seven dormitories in Budapest and one in Szombathely. According to the Head of ELTE Dormitories, the university also has accommodation in other Hungarian cities such as Debrecen, Pécs, and Szeged, but currently, there are no other ELTE students there.

In communication with Tibor, international coordinator of ELTE Dormitory Center, he told me this year ELTE host nearly 5,373 international students from over 100 countries, and around 564 places (of two and three beds per room) were available in university dormitories. In short, there are 500 places for foreigner students mainly in the capital city and 64 in Szombathely. As an international student, you can apply here for a chance of dormitory place and usually stay for one academic year (two semesters, typically from September to August). This opportunity helps a fraction of 12.6% and 13.5% of international students achieve better social integration while also reducing housing expenses that are a bit expensive in Budapest.

During my personal conversation with Ervin, the librarian and kind administrative worker member of the MÁSZ dormitory, I learned that this residence—one of the largest and most modern dormitory structures at ELTE—currently hosts around 200 international student places. Most of them participate in the Stipendium Hungaricum (SH) scholarship program. Therefore, half of the rent at the MÁSZ dorm is covered by SH, and you must pay the remaining amount. In other ELTE’ dorms, is fully covered.

My closest residents —the fellas of the international floor—come from Costa Rica and Colombia, Argentina and Brazil, Cuba, Mexico and Chile, Kenya, Madagascar and Algeria, Morocco, Iran, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan, Turkey, China and Japan, India, Tunisia, Mongolia, Jordan, Palestine, Syria and South Africa. It is such wonderful to interact with them, because each valuable person here is an authentic dreamer and a strong, active protagonist of their own story.

According to Ervin’s testimony, the students who live in the dormitory are “widely talented, positive, kind, and flexible”. Recently, I had an interview with Laina, a Brazilian beneficiary of Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship, master student of International Relations and supervisor of MÁSZ dormitory. During our celebration of Nowruz Day (20 March 2026) in the backyard, i.e., the New Persian year based on the Spring season, Laina told me that “international students have global experience, they’re unique, spicy and friendly”.

In a talk with Hiba, ELTE doctoral student of Linguistics from Algeria and my mentor leader when I arrived at the capital city, Budapest, based on the picture below, she recently expressed to me her mood: “Our Dorm was our home. As an international community living on the same floor, we brought to life a vibrant evening that held us all together around one big table full of delicious food, just like one big family. These moments are the ones that made our memories!”.

At the same time, according to Tibor, the dormitory is home to about 796 Hungarian students, many of whom come from the countryside cities and villages, average incomes or from Hungarian communities abroad, such as Slovakia, Slovenia, Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, Croatia, and Austria. I’ve had the opportunity to talk with some of them, and I can truly confess that some have interesting life stories, dedication, kind manners, and beauty.

I still remember the first time I arrived at the MÁSZ dormitory! It was a Friday, September 5th, 2025, during a particularly warm summer. I arrived with two large suitcases, my latino smile, and a deep sigh. From the airport, we traveled to the Óbuda neighborhood, located in the northwestern area of the Buda side of Budapest. The trip took about one hour and twenty minutes. It is a safe area where you can find everything you need, and it usually takes around fifty minutes to reach several university faculties. In my case, I attend the Faculty of Humanities (BTK), located near Astoria.

One of the emotional images that stayed in my mind and heart was the entrance of the dormitory building! Somehow it reminded me of the cosmic stylish album cover of Find A Way Home (2023) and the song “Not Today” by the American punk-rock band MxPx, which I even shared as a story on my Instagram that day.

I also remember how warmly I was welcomed by Ervin and Andrea, the staff members at the dormitory office (Iroda). Meanwhile, I’m doing my PhD path, my room window shows the inspiring and beautiful landscapes of all seasons: autumn and summer, winter and spring. I took several pictures and shared some videos on social media. From that moment on, a more independent life began to seem like a new adventure. Sometimes, with some residents, it felt great to communicate in our mother language of the last Super Bowl show of Bad Bunny, Spanish!

If you want to see what the dormitories look like—the common areas, buildings, and services—you can check out the photos on the official website and also in Google Maps reviews. Once you arrive, it is also helpful to join the dormitory’s private Facebook group and the WhatsApp private group, where residents usually help each other with daily questions and practical matters.

Life is work, effort and make human bonds

 

It’s no exaggeration, neither cliché to express that living in an ELTE dormitory feels like having a second family, and sometimes it even looks like a new cosmopolitan home in just one table. Life here is all about study and work efforts, socializing, and making human bonds.

As a music lover, I’ve had the chance and initiative to enjoy at least three MÁSZ dorm parties organized by inclusive national students: Halloween, the upcoming Autumn-Spring Break, and the Carnival party. At these events, the artificial boundaries between Hungarian and international students sometimes disappear, as music and human connections bring some of us together. These moments remind me of a verse of Pink Floyd’s humanist song Us and Them (1973) related to national and foreigners' interpersonal links.

On a micro-sociological level, conversations can start in the most random and unexpected places: stairwells, hallways, laundry rooms and kitchens, entrances, fire drill gatherings, and surrounding areas. That’s the magic of dorm life! Interpersonal communication is essential to us as linguistic creatures. The kitchens, where students cook, are also great places to meet people. I recommend trying to cook for a week, using tuppers, and keeping your food in your room fridge.

 

 

There’s also a backyard where you can step outside, take a breath, and interact with others. Don’t be shy—try to visit it! Occasionally, some Fridays and weekends, it becomes a cultural and bohemian hub where young human beings —even Gen Z and Millennials— as emotional creatures and carbon-based units (Star Trekfilm, 1979) share drinks, cook barbecue, relax in open areas, and have informal and yet meaningful conversations. Even at the gym, you exchange keys with others and chat with your dorm residents, creating small moments of connection that make dorm life memorable.

For sure, not all is a rainbow picture! There are troubles and conflicts surrounding us, but I guess it is part of the dorm living process. Disconformity and free expression are part of ongoing improvements aimed at better adaptation and welfare for international students. Some reasonable members of our beloved international community suggest that dormitory coverage should expand to half of the career program, regulate the prices, and progressively increase the rate of places available for foreign students.

Free spaces, academic corners, and community life

 

Studying at ELTE and living in a dormitory isn’t just about attending classes, coming back to your room, submitting assignments, and preparing for exams—that would be boring and psychologically empty. Life in a dormitory is much more vivid and valuable than that! Each floor has its own community study room, perfect for when your own room is unavailable or a bit noisy. At MÁSZ Dorm, you can enjoy these academic and communal spaces while maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle.

When you’re stressed or need a break, a great option is the modern gym in the basement. I used to go there three times per week. You can lift weights, cycle on stationary bikes, or run on the treadmills. Exercise helps you recharge both physically and mentally, as the Liberty Square plaque wisely expresses: A healthy soul only lives in a trained body —Ép lélek csak edzett testben él.

If you enjoy sports, the dorm also has a soccer field and a volleyball court—perfect for forming neighboring teams and meeting new people. Around MÁSZ Dorm, you can go hiking or running in the beautiful Óbuda Hills or on Óbuda Island, located just behind the dormitory. I’ve done this with my friend Saeed several times, and it’s an amazing way to clear your mind and enjoy nature.

Here’s my humble advice! Even if you have limited free time and money, try to get involved in some activities organized by supervisors, mentors, and student representatives. Enjoy your life must be an ethical hedonistic imperative here in Europe. There are parties and dancing activities, Hungarian language practice sessions, board games, puzzles, console tournaments, movie screenings, pub quizzes, excursions, short trips, and commemorations. Be creative and take the initiative to propose other meaningful and fun activities. These experiences are not just enjoyable and rewarding—they help you build community and make lasting friendships.

Funny moments, advice and improvements

 

On my first day, I asked the receptionist if towels were available for us. He replied to me: “College, not a Hotel!”. That made me laugh! What a dumb question on my part! Remember to bring your own cleaning supplies, and when communicating with staff, use simple Hungarian phrases, gestures, or AI voice notes—the majority of employees only speak Hungarian.

For daily technical issues, such as changing the light bulb, clogged sink, you can report them using your ELTE student ID through the official online form here.

Be careful! Sometimes you might leave your dorm room key inside, leaving the door unlocked. Your roommate, besides you, might be an angel who helps you out—but always be cautious and trustwisely. Another common experience is accidentally triggering fire alarms with electronic devices. It happens several times each semester, and the residents often make jokes about it. Still, take fire drills seriously, take an active break, and go to the designated safe zones in case of a real emergency.

If you have complaints or feedback for present and upcoming improvements, don’t hesitate to talk to your floor supervisor—often another international student, like the Brazilian Laina. You can also contact the national student leaders of the dorm directly, the ELTE Students Union of Dormitories (KolHök), and the International Student Advisory Committee (ISAC), check out their Instagram profile.

In summary! Believe me: you won’t feel alone if you step out of your comfort zone and interact with other pairs. You’ll laugh at small but meaningful moments. Please don’t stay in your room all the time! Take active breaks, say greetings and smile, explore the neighborhood and city, and hang out in the backyard with residents.

Who knows? Tomorrow, when you get outside of the dorm, besides your classmates, surely some of your residents might become part of your core network of friends, supporting each other in both happy and challenging situations.