University of Szeged

Key facts

Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 7 November 2026.

About the University of Szeged

The university traces its origins to a Catholic university founded in Cluj (Kolozsvár) in 1581 under Prince István Báthory. The Royal Hungarian Franz Joseph University was established in Cluj in 1872, and its first academic year in Szeged opened in 1921 after the move. In 1940 the Franz Joseph University returned to Cluj and Miklós Horthy University was founded in Szeged, with Albert Szent-Györgyi as its rector. In 2000 several institutions merged to form the present University of Szeged.^[7]

The university has 12 faculties, from the Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School to the Bartók Béla Faculty of Arts, and lists the 1937 Nobel laureate Albert Szent-Györgyi and the 2023 Nobel laureate Katalin Karikó as associated with it.^[1] Wikipedia says that in 2021 the senate voted for a change of operating model under which a state-established foundation sustains the university instead of the state.^[6]

How is the University of Szeged ranked?

In the QS World University Rankings 2027, published on 18 June 2026, the University of Szeged is 633rd in the world, down from 597th. Within Hungary it is third, behind Eötvös Loránd University (595th) and the University of Debrecen (600th).^[2][9] The previous edition, QS 2026, placed it 597th and third among ten Hungarian universities.^[10]

The university’s facts page also cites the Shanghai ranking (ARWU), placing it 401st–500th worldwide and first in Hungary, without naming the edition.^[1] Rankings differ by publisher and year, so treat one position as one view. How we compile rankings.

What can you study at the University of Szeged?

The university lists more than 75 full-time programmes for international students: 15 bachelor’s, 31 master’s, 19 doctoral, 7 preparatory and 4 undivided programmes, plus non-degree courses.^[1] The 12 faculties are:^[1]

• Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School
• Bartók Béla Faculty of Arts (Faculty of Music)
• Faculty of Agriculture
• Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
• Faculty of Dentistry
• Faculty of Economics and Business Administration
• Faculty of Engineering
• Faculty of Health Sciences and Social Studies
• Faculty of Law and Political Sciences
• Faculty of Pharmacy
• Faculty of Science and Informatics
• Juhász Gyula Faculty of Education

Some programmes are taught in other languages, for example French, German, Italian or Spanish Studies, as the fee list shows.^[3]

How much does the University of Szeged cost in 2026/27?

The university publishes one fee list for international degree programmes for the academic year 2026–2027, in euros per semester.^[3] Examples from that list:

The list also gives doctoral fees, for example €5,000 per semester for Biology, Chemistry and Physics and €3,500 for History and Linguistics, and a fee for each master’s programme.^[3] Programme pages can show other amounts: the application portal lists the MSc International Economy and Business at €3,000 and the MA English Studies at €2,200 per semester.^[11][12]

Other costs

The application fee shown on those two programme pages is €79 per programme, and the MA English Studies adds a one-off online entrance exam fee of €250. Health insurance is not included in the MSc International Economy and Business fee.^[11][12] Applicants from visa-restricted countries must pay the full fee for the first two semesters; the admission letter gives details.^[12]

Scholarships

The university’s FAQ lists Stipendium Hungaricum as a scholarship option but gives no criteria on that page.^[4] The scheme is run by the Hungarian government; its site says it covers tuition fees in full and part of the accommodation cost, and applications for 2026/27 are closed.^[13]

How do you apply to the University of Szeged?

International applicants apply through the DreamApply platform at apply.u-szeged.hu. You choose a programme, click the online application button, complete the form and upload your documents.^[4] Typical documents are a passport copy, certificates of previous studies in English and proof of language proficiency; some programmes also ask for a CV, a motivation letter, a reference letter or medical records. Original documents always need an English translation.^[4]

You pay the application fee in the currency on your DreamApply invoice. After the technical check of your documents you are notified automatically and then take the entrance exam or interview where the programme requires one.^[4] The MSc International Economy and Business, for example, requires an individual online interview instead of an exam; the MA English Studies requires an online exam.^[11][12] We give no deadlines because they change every year and differ by programme.

Which language level do you need?

You must submit proof of English proficiency, and some faculties accept only international exams such as IELTS or TOEFL.^[4] The level depends on the programme. The MSc International Economy and Business asks for B2, proven by an exam from an accredited language centre.^[11] The MA English Studies requires C1 (for example IELTS band 7 or TOEFL iBT 93–113) and does not accept the Duolingo English Test.^[12]

B2 and C1 refer to the CEFR scale, the European scale from A1 to C2. Programmes taught in French, German, Italian, Spanish or Russian have their own language requirements, which we did not read; check the programme page.^[3]

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
• Eötvös Loránd University
• Semmelweis University
• University of Debrecen