University of Szeged
Szegedi Tudományegyetem
Hungary's southern university of Nobel laureates Szent-Györgyi and Karikó, with an English-taught MD and bachelor's degrees.
- Students
- 24,000
- International
- 21%
- of students
- Tuition
- €15,800
- 2026-27
- Founded
- 1872
About SZTE
The University of Szeged traces its roots to a Jesuit academy founded in Kolozsvár (today's Cluj-Napoca) in 1581. It was re-established as a university in 1872, moved to Szeged in 1921, and took its present form in 2000. Today it has 12 faculties, from the Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School and faculties of Dentistry and Pharmacy to Law, Arts, Science and Informatics, Engineering and Agriculture, with buildings spread across downtown Szeged rather than one campus.
Szeged has about 24,000 students, nearly 5,000 of them international from more than 130 countries. Its best-known names are both Nobel laureates in medicine: Albert Szent-Györgyi, the 1937 laureate who was rector of the university's predecessor, and Katalin Karikó, the 2023 laureate, who earned her biology degree and PhD here and is now a research professor at the university.
International students can choose from about 75 full-time programmes taught in foreign languages, including 15 bachelor's degrees such as Computer Science, Psychology and Business Administration and Management, and a six-year English-taught Medical Programme (MD) that admits close to 200 students a year. Most students pay tuition, but Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship holders study tuition-free, and the university estimates living costs at 700 to 800 euros a month.
Why students choose SZTE
A six-year English-language MD at the Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School, with about 200 places a year and online entrance exams.
Around 15 foreign-language bachelor's programmes, including Computer Science, Psychology, Business Administration and Management, and Biochemical Engineer.
Stipendium Hungaricum scholarships cover tuition and add a monthly stipend and accommodation support for students from partner countries.
Living costs of about 700 to 800 euros a month including room and board, low by Western European standards.
Admissions
September 2027 entry
Selectivity
Szeged publishes no acceptance rate. The English-language Medical Programme admits close to 200 students a year based on an entrance examination; other international programmes assess documents, language proficiency and, depending on the faculty, a motivation letter, entrance exam or online interview.
Typical entry requirements
| Medicine (MD), exemption from entrance exam: A-levels | At least three A2 levels including two of Biology, Chemistry or Physics at grade A, and a pass in the third |
|---|---|
| Medicine (MD), exemption from entrance exam: IB Diploma | Grade 5 in two HL sciences (Biology, Chemistry or Physics), plus English where the language of instruction was not English |
| Other English-taught bachelor's | Completed secondary education, English proficiency (e.g. B2, IELTS 5.5 or TOEFL iBT 72 for Computer Science), and faculty-specific motivation letter, entrance exam or online interview |
| English language | IELTS 5.5 · TOEFL iBT 72 Figures from the Computer Science BSc page (B2 level: IELTS 5.5, TOEFL iBT 72, Cambridge First, LanguageCert B2). Requirements vary by faculty; the Medical Programme tests English in its own entrance exam. |
Deadlines
- Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship - past, 2026 cycle Non-binding Passed15 January 2026, 2 pm CET
Deadline for 2026/27 scholarships; applications also go through your country's sending partner, which may set earlier dates. The 2027/28 call was not yet published.
- Medicine early bird discount - past, 2026 cycle Non-binding PassedAdmitted by 30 April 2026
Students admitted by 30 April received a 300-euro reduction on their first-semester tuition.
- Medicine (MD) entrance exams - past, 2026 cycle Non-binding PassedExams from 24-26 February to 30 June-2 July 2026; last registration deadline 23 June 2026
Online exams on CooSpace/Zoom roughly every two to four weeks, each with registration a week before. The 2027 calendar was not yet published.
Dates shown are from the 2026 admission cycle and are past; the 2027 entrance exam calendar and Stipendium Hungaricum call were not yet published. Expect a similar pattern: online medicine exams roughly monthly from February to early July, and a Stipendium Hungaricum deadline in mid-January. Check the Medical School's exam calendar and programme pages for 2027 dates.
How to apply
Apply online through DreamApply (apply.u-szeged.hu): choose one programme, fill in the form, upload documents (school-leaving certificate and transcripts in English or with authorised translation, passport, CV, general medical certificate, motivation letter) and pay the fees. For Medicine a 300-euro combined application and entrance exam fee covers up to three health-science programmes and two exam chances. After an entrance exam or interview, admitted students receive an admission letter and must pay tuition (usually the first two semesters for visa purposes) to secure their place.
What admissions looks for
- Solid secondary-school results, especially in biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics and English for Medicine.
- Performance in the entrance exam's written test and oral interview in Biology, Chemistry and English.
- English at the level each programme sets, usually B2 or higher.
- For many faculties, a motivation letter and online interview showing genuine interest in the subject.
Tips for applying to SZTE
- 1 For Medicine, register for an early entrance exam date: you get two exam chances per cycle, and choosing the last date as your first means no retake.
- 2 If you have A-levels, the IB Diploma or a first-class science BSc, apply with the 'EXEMPTION' reference code to skip the entrance exam.
- 3 Only use representatives on the university's official list; otherwise select 'No Representative'.
- 4 Apply to Stipendium Hungaricum by mid-January if your country is a sending partner, since it covers tuition entirely.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in EUR
Stipendium Hungaricum, funded by the Hungarian government, gives students from partner countries tuition-free study, a monthly stipend of 43,700 forints (about 110 euros), a free dorm place or 40,000 forints a month towards accommodation, and medical insurance. The Medical School offers a 300-euro early bird discount and 300-euro sibling and alumni discounts per semester.
- HUF 43,700 (about 110 euros), plus accommodation support
- Stipendium Hungaricum monthly stipend
- 300 euros (up to 3 health-science programmes)
- Medicine application and entrance exam fee
- 300 euros off first-semester tuition if admitted by 30 April
- Medicine early bird discount
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters (autumn start in September)
Medical Programme (MD), in English
Twelve semesters with clinical practice from year three and a 40-week internship year; close to 200 international students admitted each year.
Computer Science (BSc), in English
Run by the Institute of Informatics, which also offers English-taught MSc and PhD programmes in computer science.
Psychology (BA), in English
One of the university's foreign-language bachelor's programmes in the social sciences.
Business Administration and Management (BSc), in English
One of the university's English-taught social science bachelor's degrees, alongside Tourism and Catering and Psychology.
Biochemical Engineer (BSc), in English
Listed among the university's agriculture and engineering bachelor's degrees taught in English.
Research
- Albert Szent-Györgyi, Nobel laureate in 1937, worked at the university and was rector of its predecessor.
- Katalin Karikó, 2023 Nobel laureate for mRNA research, studied biology and earned her PhD here and is a research professor at the university.
- 19 doctoral programmes open to international students, plus English-taught MSc and PhD programmes in computer science.
- Research groups supported by the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, including MTA-SZTE Momentum research groups, and the Interdisciplinary Centre of Excellence.
Schools & faculties
- Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School
- Faculty of Dentistry
- Faculty of Pharmacy
- Faculty of Health Sciences and Social Studies
- Faculty of Science and Informatics
- Faculty of Engineering
- Faculty of Agriculture
- Faculty of Economics and Business Administration
- Faculty of Law and Political Sciences
- Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
- Bartók Béla Faculty of Arts
- Juhász Gyula Faculty of Education
Student life
Szeged is a university town: SZTE's faculties are spread across the city centre rather than on a closed campus, so student life happens in the streets, squares and riverside of the city. The university calls Szeged the sunniest city in Hungary, known for its festivals, and nearly 5,000 international students from more than 130 countries study here. Szeged was named one of Europe's best university towns by Condé Nast Traveler. Stipendium Hungaricum holders can receive a free dormitory place.
- Nearly 5,000 international students from more than 130 countries.
- Listed among Europe's 10 best university towns by Condé Nast Traveler.
- The University of Szeged Sport Centre and the Klebelsberg Library are open to students.
- An alumni mentoring programme, SZTE's Alma Mater's Mentoring Programme.
Housing. The university and Stipendium Hungaricum offer dormitory places; the university estimates total living costs, including accommodation, at 700 to 800 euros a month.
Location
Szeged is a city in southern Hungary. The university describes it as the sunniest city in Hungary, with a lively urban lifestyle and colourful festivals, and notes that living costs are reasonable compared with Western Europe. SZTE's faculties and buildings are spread across the city centre, so students live and study in the middle of town.
Nearest airport: Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport (BUD)
Notable alumni
- KK Katalin KarikóNobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2023 for mRNA research; BSc in biology (1978) and PhD in biochemistry (1982)
- MR Miklós RadnótiPoet; studied philosophy, Hungarian and French and earned his doctorate (1934)
- AJ Attila JózsefPoet; studied Hungarian and French literature from 1924 but was expelled before graduating (non-degree)
- IB István BibóLawyer and political theorist; studied law at Franz Joseph University in Szeged
- FE Ferenc ErdeiSociologist and post-war government minister; graduated from the Faculty of Law and Political Science
- KC Krisztián CserBass soloist of the Hungarian State Opera; physics graduate (2002)
Frequently asked questions
Can I study medicine in English at the University of Szeged?
Yes. The Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School runs a six-year English-language MD that admits close to 200 international students a year through an entrance exam in Biology, Chemistry and English.
How much is medicine at the University of Szeged?
For students starting in 2026/27, 15,800 euros a year (7,900 per semester), including Hungarian health insurance but not books or accommodation. Living costs add roughly 700 to 800 euros a month.
Does the University of Szeged accept Stipendium Hungaricum?
Yes. Stipendium Hungaricum holders study tuition-free and receive a monthly stipend and accommodation support; the 2026/27 application deadline was 15 January 2026.
Can I skip the medicine entrance exam at Szeged?
Yes, with at least three A-levels including A grades in two of Biology, Chemistry or Physics, an IB Diploma with grade 5 in two HL sciences, or a first-class BSc in a relevant science.
What English level do I need for Szeged's bachelor's programmes?
Usually B2. For Computer Science the university lists IELTS 5.5 or TOEFL iBT 72, and some faculties also require a motivation letter and online interview.
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.
- QS World University Rankings 2027 (topuniversities.com)
- THE World University Rankings 2026
- ShanghaiRanking ARWU 2026
- University of Szeged: Facts and Figures (archived August 2026)
- University of Szeged: How to apply (archived August 2026)
- University of Szeged: Bachelor's programmes (archived February 2026)
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