Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Magyar Agrár- és Élettudományi Egyetem
An agriculture and life sciences university on five campuses, with English-taught degrees and Stipendium Hungaricum places.
- Students
- 9,478
- International
- 16%
- of students
- Student–faculty
- 11.0:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- €3,000
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 2021
About MATE
The Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, known as MATE, was formed on 1 February 2021 and continues the traditions of its predecessor, Szent István University. It describes itself as one of the largest agriculture-focused, multidisciplinary higher education institutions in Europe. Its history reaches back further: MATE's history page says the Georgikon in Keszthely, which began operating on 1 July 1797, is the oldest regular agricultural higher education institution in Europe.
MATE is organised by campus rather than by faculty: Szent István Campus in Gödöllő (headquarters, about 30 km from Budapest), Buda Campus in Budapest, Georgikon in Keszthely on Lake Balaton, Károly Róbert Campus in Gyöngyös, and Kaposvár, which hosts its art courses. Its English-taught offer is broad for an agricultural university: the English programme list covers 12 bachelor's and 29 master's programmes, from agricultural and food engineering to business, finance, tourism, film and media, and photography.
Self-financed international students pay EUR 1,500 to 3,300 per semester, and many programmes are also open to Stipendium Hungaricum scholars, who pay no tuition. The university suits students who want a practical, hands-on degree in agriculture, food, environment, landscape or engineering at a moderate cost in Central Europe.
Why students choose MATE
Affordable English degrees: self-financed tuition runs from EUR 1,500 to 3,300 per semester depending on the programme.
Many programmes are open to Stipendium Hungaricum scholars, which covers tuition, a monthly stipend and an accommodation contribution.
Specialised programmes that are hard to find elsewhere, such as Viticulture and Oenology Engineering, Wildlife Management Engineering, Aquaculture and Landscape Architecture and Garden Design.
Five campuses with their own dormitories, including Gödöllő next to a train line into Budapest and Keszthely on Lake Balaton.
Admissions
Academic year 2026/27 (latest published)
Selectivity
MATE publishes no acceptance rate. Self-financed applicants are admitted after a review of the full application package and an interview.
Typical entry requirements
| Bachelor's programmes | Official copy of the secondary school final examination certificate |
|---|---|
| Master's programmes | Official copy of the bachelor's degree certificate and transcripts |
| All applicants | Letter of motivation, CV, evidence of English at B2 level, EUR 100 non-refundable application fee; documents must be in English and authenticated, with certified translations |
| English language | IELTS 5.5 · TOEFL iBT 72 English at B2 is required. Accepted examples include TOEFL 72 iBT (or 550 paper), IELTS 5.5, Cambridge First (C or 160), Pearson PTE 59, EuroExam B2, ECL C (B2), TELC B2, LanguageCert B2 and the Oxford Test of English (B2). |
Deadlines
- Stipendium Hungaricum (Tempus Public Foundation) Non-binding Passed15 January 2026, 2 p.m.
Previous cycle: the 2026/27 call (document dated October 2025, deadline 15 January 2026, 2 p.m.) is closed. The 2027/28 call is expected around November 2026, going by last year's October 2025 publication of the call, but it was not yet published on 30 September 2026; watch the Tempus Public Foundation site. Your home country's sending partner may set an earlier national deadline.
- Self-financed BSc and MSc (DreamApply) Non-binding Passed3 July 2026, 23:59 CET
Previous cycle (2026/27): the page said applications were open again until this date. Dates for 2027/28 were not yet published.
These are the 2026/27 dates, the latest published, and apply to the previous cycle. The Stipendium Hungaricum 2026/27 call closed on 15 January 2026; the 2027/28 call is expected around November 2026 (Tempus Public Foundation) and was not yet published when checked. MATE's self-financed 2027/28 dates were not yet published either (application page last modified 25 June 2026).
How to apply
Self-financed applicants use the DreamApply platform: complete the application form, upload a motivation letter, academic documents, English evidence and CV, and pay the EUR 100 fee. After review you are invited to an interview, receive a Preliminary Letter of Acceptance with instructions to pay the first two semesters' tuition, and after proof of payment a Letter of Acceptance for your study visa. Stipendium Hungaricum applicants apply instead through the separate platform run by Tempus Public Foundation.
What admissions looks for
- A complete application with a motivation letter explaining why you chose the course.
- Evidence of English at B2 level.
- Authenticated academic documents: secondary school final certificate for bachelor's, degree certificate and transcripts for master's.
- A convincing interview after the application package is reviewed.
Tips for applying to MATE
- 1 Check the English programme table first: it shows the campus, length, tuition and which scholarships each programme accepts.
- 2 If you want Stipendium Hungaricum, apply on the Tempus Public Foundation platform; it is separate from MATE's own application.
- 3 Budget for paying the first two semesters of tuition before admission and before entering Hungary, which is a condition of the admission decision.
- 4 Non-EU students should start visa and residence permit steps at least two months before the course starts, as MATE's welcome page advises.
- 5 Consider the Foundation Course for Studies in English (EUR 4,100 per academic year, Gyöngyös) if you need a preparatory year.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in EUR
Stipendium Hungaricum, the Hungarian government scholarship, covers tuition, a monthly stipend of HUF 43,700 (about EUR 110 according to the call, at the 13 October 2025 exchange rate), a free dormitory place or an accommodation contribution of HUF 40,000 a month (about EUR 100) and medical insurance. MATE also lists the Hungarian Diaspora Scholarship, the Scholarship for Christian Young People, its own MATE International Scholarship Program, and the FAO-Hungarian Government scholarship for some master's fields.
- HUF 43,700 (about EUR 110), 12 months a year
- Stipendium Hungaricum monthly stipend (bachelor's and master's)
- Free dormitory place or HUF 40,000 (about EUR 100) a month
- Stipendium Hungaricum accommodation
- EUR 100, non-refundable
- Application fee (self-financed)
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters; the 2026/27 academic year starts on 7 September 2026
Viticulture and Oenology Engineering (MSc, Budapest)
English-taught, EUR 3,000 per semester and open to Stipendium Hungaricum and Diaspora scholarship holders.
Wildlife Management Engineering (BSc and MSc, Gödöllő)
Offered in English at both levels; the bachelor's is the cheapest of the engineering programmes at EUR 2,000 per semester.
Food Engineering and Food Science and Technology Engineering (Budapest)
English-taught food programmes at Buda Campus, listed with several scholarship options.
Landscape Architecture and Garden Design (MSc, Budapest)
The most expensive English master's at EUR 3,300 per semester, and open to Stipendium Hungaricum scholars.
Film and Media Studies (BSc) and Photography (MSc), Kaposvár
MATE's art courses, taught in Kaposvár, with bachelor's tuition of EUR 1,500 per semester.
Danube AgriFood Master (DAFM, joint master)
A joint master's programme taught across Gödöllő and Budapest, EUR 3,000 per semester.
Research
- MATE lists research areas including digitalisation in agricultural and food production, sustainable environment and food chains, food security and nutrition, and climate adaptation and biodiversity.
- It runs MATE100, a cooperation platform of leaders from 100 major companies in its sector, and takes part in EUDRES, a project on smart and sustainable regions.
- The MATE 2030 strategy sets a goal of becoming one of the thirty best agricultural universities in the world.
Schools & faculties
- Szent István Campus (Gödöllő)
- Buda Campus (Budapest)
- Georgikon Campus (Keszthely)
- Károly Róbert Campus (Gyöngyös)
- Kaposvár Campus
Student life
Student life is spread over five campuses. Gödöllő is the headquarters, with a large green campus and a train station next to it with fast links to central Budapest; Keszthely sits by Lake Balaton and Gyöngyös by the Mátra mountains. Dormitories exist on the campuses, with newly arrived scholarship holders given priority. The university runs an annual International Dinner (the 2026 one was its fifth under the MATE name), orientation programmes, sport and a Scientific Student Conference (TDK), and publishes welcome information for new students each year.
- Annual International Dinner with food from many countries and Hungarian folk dance.
- Orientation programmes and an obligatory arrival form for all new international students.
- Scientific Student Conference (TDK) and the Future Leaders Program.
- Sport life and career counselling listed on the English site.
- Dormitories on the Gödöllő, Budapest, Kaposvár, Keszthely and Gyöngyös campuses.
Housing. MATE has dormitories on its campuses; places are limited and new scholarship holders have priority.
Location
MATE's headquarters in Gödöllő is about 30 kilometres from Budapest and is known for its royal palace. The train station next to the campus gives fast access to the capital, per the university. The other campuses are in Budapest (Buda Arboretum), Gyöngyös at the foot of the Mátra range, Kaposvár in Somogy county, and Keszthely on Lake Balaton. The university describes living costs in Hungary as generally lower than in many Western European countries.
Nearest airport: Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport (BUD)
Notable alumni
- JÁ József ÁngyánAgricultural engineer and politician; graduated from the Gödöllő University of Agricultural Sciences (a predecessor of MATE) in 1977 and served as State Secretary for rural development from 2010 to 2012
- TB Tibor BenkőFormer Hungarian Minister of Defence (2018 to 2022); studied human resources management at Szent István University (a predecessor of MATE) in 2004 to 2006 (English Wikipedia does not say whether this was a degree)
- ÁG Árpád GönczWriter, translator and President of Hungary 1990 to 2000; after the war he enrolled in a correspondence course at the Gödöllő Agricultural University, specialising in soil erosion and protection (English Wikipedia; completion of a degree is not stated)
- LV László VarjuHungarian politician and mining engineer, member of the National Assembly and Secretary of State for National Development and Economy 2008 to 2010; studied economics at Szent István University in 2005 and graduated from Károly Róbert College (both now part of MATE)
- MH Martin HelstábHungarian film director and visual artist; BA in Film and Media Studies from the University of Kaposvár in 2020 (now MATE's Kaposvár campus)
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to study in English at MATE?
Self-financed tuition in 2026/27 is EUR 1,500 to 3,300 per semester depending on the programme, for example EUR 2,200 for Agricultural Engineering and EUR 3,000 for most master's programmes. The first two semesters must be paid before admission.
Can I get a Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship for MATE?
Yes, for many programmes. Stipendium Hungaricum covers tuition and gives a monthly stipend, an accommodation contribution and medical insurance. You apply through the Tempus Public Foundation platform. The 2026/27 call closed on 15 January 2026; the 2027/28 call is expected around November 2026 but was not yet published on 30 September 2026.
What English level does MATE require?
B2, for example IELTS 5.5, TOEFL iBT 72 or Pearson PTE 59.
Is there an application fee?
Yes, self-financed applicants pay EUR 100 through the application platform, and it is non-refundable.
What was the 2026/27 application deadline?
Self-financed BSc and MSc applications were open until 3 July 2026 (23:59 CET). Dates for 2027/28 were not yet published.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
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