Number of international university students in Hungary 2009-2024

The number of foreign full-time university students in Hungary showed a steady increase between 2009 and 2020 with their number slightly dropping in the school year of 2020/2021. In that year, over 32 thousand international students were enrolled at Hungarian universities. By the school year of 2023/2024, their number increased to 37.5 thousand. 

 Stipendium Hungaricum holders

Stipendium Hungaricum is a scholarship program sponsored by the Hungarian government. It was established with the aim of attracting top-performing international students to who would contribute to the country’s international recognition by building economic, political, and civil relationships. In the fall semester of 2020, there were nearly 11 thousand Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship holders in the country compared to 1.3 thousand recorded in 2015.

 Leading Universities

Hungary is home to several internationally recognized higher educational institutions. According to the Times Higher Education World University Ranking, in 2024, the research-led medical school, Semmelweis University achieved the highest score of all higher educational institutions in the country. At the same time, based on the QS World University Rankings, the University of Szeged was the top-ranked University in Hungary.