Before your arrival
Applying for Study Visa
Applying for Study Visa
If you apply to our programmes from a country outside the EEA/EU, you may need to apply for a Residence Permit Visa (D-visa) to enter Hungary. To apply for a D -visa you must contact the closest Hungarian Consulate to your home.
Please note that the visa application process is lengthy, it can take up to two months, therefore arranging your appointment with the consulate as early as possible is strongly recommended. Mid-July appointments need to be booked in May or early June.
Upon successful admission to the selected programme, we will provide you with a letter of acceptance which you can use for your visa application. You will also receive a certificate of enrolment once you have completed the registration process at the beginning of the semester.
Please find more information on the student visa (D-visa) application process on the Consular Services' site.
To find out whether you need a visa to enter Hungary, please check the Consular Services' site.
Students from 3rd countries coming from a visa waiver country must also apply for a Residence permit for study purposes upon arrival in Hungary. Our Student Affairs office will assist you in the residence permit application process.
The application for residence permit can also be submitted online, via the electronic administration platform of the Immigration Office, EnterHungary. To find out more on how you can arrange your application online please download the manual.
Health insurance
Arranging your health insurance
Students should arrange for an appropriate health insurance in their home country. Those with chronic illnesses should check whether they are also covered by the health insurance. Students taking any medication regularly should make sure that they will have access to it during their stay in Hungary. It is not possible to receive medication via post from your home country as it can get held up at customs due to the difference between regulations of the EU and non-EU countries.
Making these arrangements in your home country will almost certainly be less expensive than making them here in Hungary.
Please make sure to check before signing up with an insurance company the number of health centres they are contracted with in Hungary/ Budapest and the range of services included.
Currently in Hungary the following Hungarian insurance company offers individual student health insurance plans for international students: Generali
You can contact their English-speaking customer service for getting a price quote at: +36 30 211 2770 or contact them by filling in their online information request form.
You can find below a list of private health centres which may be useful when searching for an insurance provider: These health centres all have English speaking doctors and assistants and provide a wide range of health specialist services. Please note that there are several private clinics / health care centres in Budapest, but you need to ensure that your insurance is contracted with the place you are visiting. Some examples:
Emergency Numbers in Hungary
In case the worst happens here are the national numbers you’ll need for an emergency, including a 24-hour hotline for English speakers:
Ambulance: 104
Police: 107
Fire Department: 105
English-Speaker Hotline: 112
Hungarian national healthcare centres
Your district GP, and hospitals will also provide care for you with a valid health insurance, however, in Hungary it may take some time to receive an appointment with a specialist.
Mobile phone service provider
Planning your mobile phone service provider
Talk to your MOBILE NETWORK provider!
Look for the best DEAL at your current provider for your needs throughout your stay here in Hungary/Europe.
You may as well bring a PHONE with you and purchase a SIM card here to get extra data. Make sure though that your phone is unlocked!
Potential local prepaid SIM card deals:
- Vodafone: Pay as you go plans - English | Vodafone
- Telekom: Prepaid plans - Magyar Telekom Group
- Yettel: https://en.yettel.hu/prepaid
Planning your budget
Expenses to consider
Planning your budget is an important part of your preparations before moving to Hungary. The information below will give you a rough idea about the cost of living in Budapest. A useful guide for those on a tighter budget: a list of affordable restaurants.
Breakfast
coffee (average:HUF 600-1300) and a pastry = average HUF 1,600 (EUR 4-5). FYI: Starbucks and Costa Coffee are the most expensive options (prices can go as high as HUF 1,700 for a coffee), but there are several little independent coffee shops in Budapest.
Lunch
Hot lunch menu at the University Canteen (2 courses): from HUF 1,300 (EUR 4-5) (typical student places) up to HUF 2,500 (EUR 7-8) depending on where you eat.
Dinner
A pizza for example in a cheaper restaurant would be around HUF 2,500-2,800 (EUR 6-8).
Check out these links for a good estimate of prices in Hungary:
numbeo.com
Housing Guide
Arranging your accommodation
Students who are not eligible to apply for a dormitory room or prefer to arrange their own boarding can use our Housing Guide booklet which contains suggestions and recommendations on how to find accommodation in Budapest.
Please note that MOME does not take responsibility for any privately arranged accommodation or the content of the Housing Guide booklet.