Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE) is a public research university in Budapest with nine faculties and about 5,300 international students from more than 100 countries.[1] It is ranked 595th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, the highest position of any Hungarian university in that edition.[2]
Tuition for international students is charged in euros per semester and depends on the faculty and programme. In the Faculty of Humanities, most bachelor’s programmes cost €2,000 and most master’s programmes €2,500 per semester for students enrolling from 2026/27; the Faculty of Science lists €4,190 per semester for its MSc.[3][4] English-taught programmes usually ask for English at level B2.[5]
Key facts
| Official name | Eötvös Loránd Tudományegyetem (ELTE) |
| Location | Budapest, Hungary (main address Egyetem tér 1-3, H-1053 Budapest)[1] |
| Type | Public research university[6] |
| Founded | 1635 in Nagyszombat (today Trnava, Slovakia) by Cardinal Péter Pázmány; current name since 1950[7] |
| Faculties | Nine: Economics; Education and Psychology; Humanities; Informatics; Law; Primary and Pre-School Education; Science; Social Sciences; Bárczi Gusztáv Faculty of Special Needs Education[1] |
| International students | About 5,300 from more than 100 countries (figure on the university’s home page)[1] |
| Total students | About 27,000 according to Wikipedia (no year given)[6] |
| QS World University Rankings 2027 | 595th (584th in the previous edition)[2] |
| Programmes for international students | Over 100, applied for through the DreamApply portal[8] |
| Tuition, Humanities (enrolled 2026/27) | €2,000 per semester for most bachelor’s programmes; €2,500 for most master’s programmes[3] |
| Tuition, Science MSc | €4,190 per semester (EU/EEA and non-EU/EEA)[4] |
| English requirement (example: International Relations BA) | B2, for example IELTS 5.5 or TOEFL iBT 46–59, or an assessment at interview[5] |
| Official website | elte.hu |
Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 7 November 2026.
About Eötvös Loránd University
ELTE was founded in 1635 in Nagyszombat (today Trnava in Slovakia) by Cardinal Péter Pázmány as a Catholic institution for theology and philosophy. It later moved to Buda and then to Pest. In 1950 it was reorganised and took its present name from the physicist Loránd Eötvös, who had taught there.[7]
The university has nine faculties and its home page gives the address Egyetem tér 1-3 in Budapest.[1] Wikipedia lists further sites in Lágymányos, in the Trefort Garden and elsewhere in Budapest, and the Savaria University Centre in Szombathely. It also notes that ELTE remained state-owned when other Hungarian universities moved to the foundation model.[6]
How is Eötvös Loránd University ranked?
In the QS World University Rankings 2027, published on 18 June 2026, ELTE is 595th in the world, down from 584th in the previous edition. It is the highest-ranked Hungarian university in that edition, ahead of the University of Debrecen (600th) and the University of Szeged (633rd).[2][9]
Rankings differ by publisher and year, so treat one position as one view. How we compile rankings. Compare with the other Hungarian universities on our Hungary page.
What can you study at Eötvös Loránd University?
The university’s application portal says that more than 100 programmes are open to international students.[8] They are spread over nine faculties:[1]
- Economics
- Education and Psychology
- Humanities (for example English and American Studies, Film Studies, Chinese Studies, Hungarian)
- Informatics
- Law
- Primary and Pre-School Education
- Science (with MSc and doctoral programmes)
- Social Sciences (for example International Relations, taught in English)
- Bárczi Gusztáv Faculty of Special Needs Education
The fee pages we read cover Humanities, Social Sciences and Science.[3][5][4] We did not read fee or programme pages for the other faculties, so use the course list on the application portal for the current offer.[8]
How much does Eötvös Loránd University cost?
ELTE sets fees per semester in euros, and they differ by faculty. The figures below are the ones published on the faculty pages we read.
| Programme | Fee per semester | Which students |
|---|---|---|
| Humanities, most bachelor’s programmes | €2,000 | Enrolled 2026/27 or later[3] |
| English and American Studies BA | €2,300 | Enrolled 2026/27 or later[3] |
| Motion Pictures BA | €4,300 | Enrolled 2026/27 or later[3] |
| Humanities, most master’s programmes | €2,500 | Enrolled 2026/27 or later[3] |
| English Studies, American Studies, Film Studies, Communication and Media Studies MA | €3,500 | Enrolled 2026/27 or later[3] |
| International Relations BA (Social Sciences) | €1,200 (EU/EEA) · €2,700 (non-EU/EEA) | Intake 2027/28[5] |
| Science, MSc | €4,190 | Same for EU/EEA and non-EU/EEA; page updated 20 Jan 2026, year not stated[4] |
The Humanities page also has columns for students who enrolled in earlier years, and these can differ. For example, the foundation courses cost €3,000 for the 2026/27 intake and €2,400 for earlier ones.[3] The page is dated 8 August 2018 but contains the 2026/27 figures, so the date shown does not reflect its content.[3]
Other costs
The Science faculty charges a non-refundable application fee of €160 for the MSc.[4] Other faculties may charge different amounts, so check the faculty page of your programme. Doctoral students of the Science faculty pay either HUF 1,000,000 (EU/EEA) or €4,000 (non-EU/EEA) per semester if the research is done at the faculty.[4] For rent and living costs, see our Hungary guide.
Scholarships
The Science faculty’s page mentions nominated Stipendium Hungaricum applicants, who do not pay its application fee.[4] Stipendium Hungaricum is a scholarship programme of the Hungarian government; its official site says it covers tuition fees in full and part of the accommodation cost. Applications for 2026/27 are closed there.[10]
How do you apply to Eötvös Loránd University?
Applications for international degree programmes go through the university’s online system, DreamApply.[8] The steps on the portal are:[8]
- Choose a degree programme from the list.
- Complete the online application form.
- Upload the required documents; the portal page itself does not list them, so read the programme description.
- Submit the application online.
Entrance procedures differ by programme; the International Relations BA, for example, assesses English at an interview for applicants without a certificate.[5] We give no deadlines because they change every year and differ by programme. Read the programme page for the current intake and ask the faculty’s international office when anything is unclear.
Which language level do you need?
For English-taught programmes the example we read is the International Relations BA, which asks for English at level B2 (upper-intermediate on the CEFR scale, which runs from A1 to C2), both written and oral. Accepted evidence includes IELTS 5.5, TOEFL iBT 46–59 and Cambridge English Scale 162. Applicants without a certificate have their English assessed at the admission interview, and applicants whose earlier education was entirely in English can submit a notarised attestation and a detailed transcript.[5]
Requirements for other programmes may differ, and the pages we read do not state the Hungarian language level needed for Hungarian-taught programmes. Check the programme page before you book a test.[8]
Frequently Asked Questions
How is Eötvös Loránd University ranked?
How much is tuition at ELTE for international students?
It depends on the faculty. In Humanities, most bachelor’s programmes cost €2,000 and most master’s programmes €2,500 per semester for students enrolling from 2026/27.[3] The Science MSc costs €4,190 per semester.[4] The International Relations BA costs €1,200 per semester for EU/EEA students and €2,700 for non-EU/EEA students (2027/28 intake).[5]
Do I need an English certificate to study at ELTE?
For English-taught programmes you usually need level B2. For the International Relations BA, applicants without a certificate are assessed at the admission interview.[5]
How do I apply to ELTE as an international student?
Choose a programme on the application portal, complete the online form, upload your documents and submit the application. The portal uses the DreamApply system.[8]
Is ELTE a state university?
Wikipedia describes it as a public research university that remained state-owned when other Hungarian universities adopted the foundation model.[6]
More about studying in Hungary
- Hungary: best universities
- Cost of Studying Abroad
- International Student Scholarships
- University Ranking Methodology
More university profiles in Hungary
- Budapest University of Technology and Economics
- Semmelweis University
- University of Debrecen
- University of Szeged
Sources
[1] ELTE: Home page (English) (page without a date; footer 2026)
[2] Daily News Hungary: Hungarian universities in the QS rankings (article of 18 Jun 2026; QS 2027 edition (QS publishes it at topuniversities.com, which blocks automated access))
[3] ELTE Faculty of Humanities: Fees and Finances (page dated 8 Aug 2018 but with 2026/27 figures)
[4] ELTE Faculty of Science: Information related to finances (page updated 20 Jan 2026)
[5] ELTE: International Relations BA (page for the 2027/2028 academic year)
[6] Wikipedia: Eötvös Loránd University (type, campuses and student count; no year given for the count)
[7] ELTE: History (page without a date)
[8] ELTE: Apply to ELTE (page without a date)
[9] XpatLoop: New QS Ranking: How do Hungarian Universities Compare Internationally? (article of 1 Jul 2026)
[10] Stipendium Hungaricum: Home page (page without a date; latest items 31 Jul 2026)
Figures may change; check official sources before you decide. How we compile our data · Found an error? Tell us.