University of Pécs
Pécsi Tudományegyetem
Heir to Hungary's first university (1367), now teaching about 5,700 international students in English and German.
- Students
- 25,000
- International
- 23%
- of students
- Student–faculty
- 15.2:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- €4,700
- From · 2027-28
- Founded
- 1367
About PTE
The University of Pécs traces its roots to 1367, when Pope Urban V, at the request of King Louis the Great, authorised Hungary's first university in Pécs; that medieval university closed around 1390. The modern institution descends from the Elisabeth University founded in Pozsony (Bratislava) in 1912, which moved to Pécs after the First World War, and took its present form in 2000 when the medical university merged with Janus Pannonius University.
Today it is one of Hungary's largest universities, with about 25,000 students, more than 5,700 international students from over 140 countries, 2,400 lecturers and researchers and 10 faculties: Business and Economics; Cultural Sciences, Education and Regional Development; Engineering and Information Technology; Health Sciences; Humanities and Social Sciences; Law; Arts; Pharmacy; Sciences; and the Medical School. It offers more than 100 full degree programmes in English and other foreign languages, including General Medicine and Dentistry in both English and German.
Pécs suits students who want a full English-taught degree, especially in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy or health sciences, at fees well below Western European private options, in a southern Hungarian city with a low cost of living. Most international programmes admit by entrance exam or online interview rather than by grade cut-offs.
Why students choose PTE
General Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacy are taught in full in English (Medicine and Dentistry also in German), with 2027 tuition of USD 16,750 a year for Medicine.
Over 100 English-taught programmes, from Computer Science (EUR 2,500 per semester) to Psychology and Business Administration, the latter accredited by EFMD.
About 5,700 international students from more than 140 countries study alongside Hungarian students.
The university estimates a minimum budget of about EUR 700 a month for living in Pécs, and dormitory rooms start at HUF 79,900 a month.
Admissions
Fall 2027 entry (programmes start 1 September 2027)
Selectivity
The University of Pécs does not publish admission rates. International applicants are assessed on their documents and then sit an entrance exam or online interview; Medicine and Dentistry use a complex oral and written entrance exam.
Typical entry requirements
| Secondary school leaving certificate | Completed upper secondary education giving eligibility for higher education in your home country, with an officially attested English translation of diploma and transcript |
|---|---|
| General Medicine / Dentistry (English) | Strong grades in Chemistry, Physics and Biology, B2 English (no certificate required) and a pass in the complex oral and written entrance exam |
| Other English-taught bachelor's | B2 English, e.g. IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL iBT 72 (Psychology) or TOEFL 90 (Computer Science), plus programme entrance exam or interview; applicants below B2 start with an English preparatory programme |
| English language | IELTS 6 · TOEFL iBT 72 B2 English is the minimum; requirements vary by faculty. Psychology accepts TOEFL iBT 72 or IELTS 6.0; Computer Science asks for IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL 90. Medicine and Dentistry test English at the entrance exam and do not require a certificate. |
Deadlines
- Business Administration and Management BSc Non-binding Next deadline · In ~8 months31 May 2027
Fall 2027 intake, starting 1 September 2027.
- Mechanical Engineering BSc Non-binding In ~8 months15 June 2027
Fall 2027 intake.
- Most programmes, incl. General Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Psychology, Computer Science, Nursing Non-binding In ~9 months30 June 2027
Fall 2027 intake; entrance exams are scheduled after the application fee is received, so earlier applications get earlier decisions.
Deadlines are programme-specific and taken from the programme pages for the fall 2027 intake. Stipendium Hungaricum and other scholarship applicants follow the scholarship's own, earlier calendar.
How to apply
Choose a programme and apply online through the University of Pécs application portal: fill in the form, upload your documents and pay the application fee (EUR 140 to 200 or USD 150 to 200 depending on the programme). After the fee arrives you are invited to an entrance exam or online interview; successful applicants receive a Conditional Acceptance Letter and pay the first tuition instalment, after which the Letter of Admission is issued for the visa process.
What admissions looks for
- A secondary qualification that makes you eligible for university in your home country.
- For medicine and dentistry, strong grades in Chemistry, Physics and Biology and a pass in the entrance exam.
- At least B2 English for English-taught programmes.
- Performance in the programme's entrance exam or online interview.
Tips for applying to PTE
- 1 Apply early: evaluation only starts once your application fee arrives, and the entrance exam or interview follows.
- 2 Check the currency on your programme page: medicine, dentistry, architecture and engineering fees are quoted in US dollars, most others in euros.
- 3 EU citizens pay less on some programmes, e.g. EUR 1,150 instead of 2,750 per semester for Business Administration, and EUR 2,900 instead of 3,900 for Psychology.
- 4 If your English is below B2, you can start with an English Language Preparatory Program; for medicine there is also a preparatory course.
Costs & financial aid
2027-28 · figures in EUR
International students can apply for the Hungarian government's Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship (full scholarship), the Scholarship for Christian Young People, the Diaspora Scholarship and bilateral state scholarships, as well as faculty and external scholarships listed by the university. The university also runs the Pannónia Scholarship Programme for mobility.
- EUR 140-200 or USD 150-200, depending on programme
- Application fee
- USD 250
- Medicine / Dentistry entrance exam fee
- HUF 79,900 to 103,600 a month
- Dormitory rent
- Full government scholarship for eligible international students
- Stipendium Hungaricum
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters (fall intake starting 1 September)
General Medicine (MD, English or German)
Six-year MD taught entirely in English or German at the Medical School; USD 16,750 a year for fall 2027 entry.
Dentistry (DMD, English or German)
Five-year programme with a complex entrance exam; USD 17,350 a year.
Pharmacy (English)
Five-year programme at the Faculty of Pharmacy, EUR 4,400 and 4,000 per semester.
Business Administration and Management BSc
Accredited by EFMD Global, with a reduced EUR 1,150 per semester fee for EU students.
Psychology BA
Three-year English-taught programme with an entrance exam (in person or via MS Teams).
Architecture (BSc-MSc)
Five-year integrated BSc-MSc programme taught in English, USD 4,000 per semester.
Research
- The university runs the Szentágothai Research Centre alongside its clinics and research institutes.
- The Medical School's graduates include neuroscientist György Buzsáki, now Biggs Professor of Neuroscience at NYU.
- The medieval university building excavated next to Pécs Cathedral houses a permanent university history exhibition, opened in 2015.
Schools & faculties
- Medical School
- Faculty of Pharmacy
- Faculty of Health Sciences
- Faculty of Sciences
- Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology
- Faculty of Business and Economics
- Faculty of Law
- Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
- Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Education and Regional Development
- Faculty of Arts
Student life
With more than 5,700 international students, Pécs has an English-German Student Council, a buddy programme, student organisations and university sport and dance groups. The university runs ten dormitories; those open to international students (Szántó, Damjanich and Balassa) have rooms with bathrooms, study rooms, a cafeteria and a student club, with rent from HUF 79,900 to 103,600 a month. Many students rent privately: the university quotes HUF 100,000 to 250,000 a month for a private flat and HUF 80,000 to 100,000 for a shared flat. Everyday costs are low: a canteen meal is about HUF 2,500 to 3,500 and a monthly student bus pass HUF 4,100.
- English-German Student Council representing international students.
- Buddy Program pairing newcomers with current students.
- Ten university dormitories, three of them open to international students.
- Campus Legal Aid Clinic and student counselling services.
Housing. Dormitory places are available for international students at Szántó, Damjanich and Balassa (HUF 79,900 to 103,600 a month); others rent privately.
Location
Pécs is a city in southern Hungary and the main higher-education centre of the Transdanubian region; the university also runs a faculty in Szekszárd and programmes in Kaposvár, Szombathely and Zalaegerszeg. Living costs are low by European standards. The nearest major international airport is Budapest Ferenc Liszt, and a student-discounted Intercity train ticket from Pécs to Budapest costs HUF 2,970.
Nearest airport: Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport (BUD)
Notable alumni
- LS László SólyomPresident of Hungary (2005-2010) and first president of the Constitutional Court; law and political science graduate (1965)
- FG Ferenc GyurcsányPrime Minister of Hungary (2004-2009); teacher training (1984) and economics (1990) degrees
- GB György BuzsákiNeuroscientist and NYU professor; MD (1974)
- ZP Zoltan PozsarEconomist known for analysis of shadow banking; graduate
- CM Cecília MüllerHungary's Chief Medical Officer; medical degree cum laude (1984)
- AR Anna RudolfChess International Master, Woman Grandmaster and commentator; studied Russian and English
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to study medicine at the University of Pécs?
For fall 2027 entry, General Medicine in English costs USD 16,750 a year (USD 9,000 in the first and USD 7,750 in the second semester), plus a USD 200 application fee, USD 250 entrance exam fee and USD 220 registration fee.
What is the application deadline for the University of Pécs?
Most programmes, including Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacy, close on 30 June 2027 for the September 2027 start; Business Administration closes on 31 May 2027 and Mechanical Engineering on 15 June 2027.
Do I need IELTS to study at the University of Pécs?
Most English-taught programmes require B2 English, for example IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL iBT 72 for Psychology. Medicine and Dentistry check your English at the entrance exam instead of requiring a certificate.
Is there an entrance exam for medicine at Pécs?
Yes: a complex oral and written entrance exam, which can be taken online, alongside your secondary-school results in Chemistry, Physics and Biology.
Are there scholarships for international students at the University of Pécs?
Yes: the Hungarian government's Stipendium Hungaricum, the Scholarship for Christian Young People, the Diaspora Scholarship, bilateral state scholarships and faculty scholarships.
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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