Frequently asked questions: international applicants

In general, Corvinus does not offer scholarships for international applicants.

If you are a non-EU citizen, you may be eligible to apply for the Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship, financed and administered by the Tempus Public Foundation. To visit the scholarship’s official website and find out more, click here.

If you have Hungarian roots and you live outside of Hungary, the Diaspora scholarship can be an exciting option for you! Click here to access their website for more information.

Citizens of the Czech Republic, Polad and Slovakia applying to Corvinus University of Budapest as self-funded applicants can apply for the Visegrád Scholarship Programme for financial support. Click here for more information.

Note: scholarship application deadlines differ from the university’s. Technical requirements may differ from the university’s. Make sure to check out the entry requirements of any institution you are applying to and read the “Call for applications” document on the scholarship’s website.

Our academic year starts in September.

For our self-funded applicants, we open our application platform in the preceding October/November (for example: if you would like to start your studies in September 2024, the application portal will be open from October/November 2023). You will be able to submit your application until the end of April.

For scholarship applicants, Tempus Public Foundation opens the application portal in mid-November. The application period is open until mid-January for Stipendium Hungaricum applicants and the end of January for Diaspora scholarship applicants.

For self-funded full-time undergraduate and graduate programmes the application fee is 75 EUR. You will receive an invoice (payment instructions) once you start an application in our online self-funded application system, DreamApply. You can pay the fee via bank transfer (through Revolut or Wise as well) or SimplePay.

For a comprehensive guide on how to pay the application fee via bank transfer, click here.

For a comprehensive guide on how to pay the application fee via SimplePay, click here.

The application fee is mandatory for all applicants, no exemptions apply. Please do not contact the Admissions team with waiver requests, as they are not possible.

You will be asked to upload proof of making the payment in DreamApply. Without paying the fee by the application deadline, your application will be automatically withdrawn.

If you apply for the Stipendium Hungaricum or Diaspora scholarship, there is no application fee. If within the application portal there is a section, requesting proof of application fee payment, you are creating the application in the wrong portal.

For the preparatory programme, there are application and administration fees.

For the Executive MBA programme(s), the application fee is 9,000 HUF. You will receive an invoice (with payment instructions) once you start an application in our online self-funded application system. The SimplePay option will be available soon as well.

If you are applying as a transfer student, the application fee is 18,600 HUF.

Corvinus University of Budapest reserves the right to change administration and programme fees.

All information – including entry requirements, syllabus, learning hours, and tuition fees – on our programmes is available on individual programme pages. Find the programme(s) you want to browse from the link(s) below:

Note: curricula can vary from year to year – the documents on our website should be considered only as a general guide of what you will study.

Tuition fees vary from programme to programme, so make sure to check out our website for more information. You can find the tuition fees for English language programmes here – note: these are per semester fees, not annual or total fees.

If you are an EEA citizen or have a permanent residence permit in Hungary, you need to pay the tuition in Hungarian Forint (HUF).

If you are a non-EEA citizen, your tuition fee must be paid in Euro (EUR). Note, that the tuition fees may be updated at the start of the calendar year for the following academic year. Corvinus University of Budapest reserves the right to change the published tuition fees.

Usually, due to limited spaces and high demand, it can be hard to secure a place in one of our dormitories. However, Stipendium Hungaricum and Diaspora scholarship holders and/or first-year students will be prioritised.

Therefore, it can be challenging for self-funded student to secure a dormitory place and we encourage you to pursue third-party alternatives. Click here and explore our housing guide to find the best accommodation for your personal needs.

Application for dormitory places is managed by the accommodation managers themselves, not the International Student Recruitment or Admissions team. The application period usually commences in August – you will be notified via email.

Before you apply:

If you are applying for BA/BSc programme, you will need to have completed high school in your country (minimum 11 years of schooling). There are no subject, GPA or grade requirements for Corvinus.

If you are applying for an MA/MSc/MBA programme, you will need to have a full Bachelor’s degree. There are also minimum credit requirements. Typically, you will need to have some previous credits related to your chosen programme of study. Check that you are likely to meet the minimum credit requirements before you decide on and apply for a particular programme.

For MBA programmes – minimum work experience requirements apply. Check the MBA programme pages for details. Only work experience after completing a Bachelor’s degree counts – work experience before or during a Bachelor’s degree will not be considered.

If you are completing your studies in the summer before you start your studies at Corvinus, that is generally fine. However, you will need your final diploma and transcripts before September, when your studies at Corvinus will start!

Once you have applied – see the “Entrance exams” and “After entrance exams” sections.

You need to upload the following documents to your DreamApply application profile when submitting your application:

After you have submitted your application with all the necessary documents you will be invited to participate in the entrance exams (if those are required for your chosen programme), provided you meet the requirements. During the entrance exam period, you will need to pass a written and/or oral exam (depending on the programme you applied to).

Do your best to prepare for and perform well in entrance exams because it is competitive to secure a place on our programmes! Points thresholds are set by our Deans. The higher the score in the entrance exam, the better chance you have of being accepted (on conditional basis).

Entrance exam preparation materials are available on our website:

For BA/BSc applicants: 
Corvinus accepts the following language certificates with minimum scores required listed below.

Note: the above are valid for two years after you take the test. For example, if you are applying to study at Corvinus in September 2024, your test date should be later than 1 September 2022, otherwise, you will need to renew the certificate (unless you meet the exemptions below).

English language exemptions

You are exempt from needing an English language proficiency certificate if (and only if) any of the following apply.

For MA/MSc/MBA applicants:

Your English language skills should be a minimum of B2. This is assessed from your NMAT, GMAT/GMAT FE or GRE General Test score, or a degree from AACSB, EQUIS-accredited or CEMS-member university with an average grade equivalent to “B”. Note: you must have already graduated.

Please note: requirements differ for the MSc Management and Leadership and MBA programmes. You can find these requirements for MSc Management and Leadership here and for MBA programme – here.

Please provide proof of English proficiency or exemption upon making your application – you will not be invited to proceed in the application process without this.

The deadline to provide your proof of English language proficiency for self-funded students is the application deadline.

If you are applying for a scholarship programme (e.g. Stipendium Hungaricum or Diaspora), please see the call for applications.

Self-funded applicants click here to make your online application through Corvinus University of Budapest’s online application portal DreamApply.

Stipendium Hungaricum applicants click here to apply.

Diaspora scholarship applicants click here to apply.

Note: You will need a valid email address to create the profile. Please do not apply through multiple systems. For example, if you are a Stipendium Hungaricum applicant, you do not need to make another application through the Corvinus self-funded system too!

Self-funded applicants

Once you have submitted your application and paid the application fee, we will review the application and supporting documents.

If any documents are missing or insufficient, you will receive notification and regular automated email reminders. If a particular document (called a Task in the system) is approved, there is nothing more you need to do related to that specific Task.

You will receive an invitation to proceed to the next step in the application process, which for some programmes means participate in the entrance exam(s). You will receive this notification for every programme you are applying to, if you have all the necessary documents (or Tasks) uploaded and approved.

Entrance exams (if required for your chosen programme) will be held in February for self-funded applicants who are eligible then. A second period of entrance exams will be held in May for all other eligible applicants.

Please check your inbox, including the junk folder, regularly once you have made an application. You may receive notifications about upcoming entrance exams.

Stipendium Hungaricum & Diaspora scholarship applicants

For scholarship applicants, the document check will happen in the second part of March. We follow the guidelines of the scholarship and only check those documents which were required by the 15 January deadline. The entrance exam period is usually scheduled for April and May (the dates may differ depending on whether Corvinus is your 1st or 2nd priority school when applying).

Please note: As the schedule is very tight due to the rules and deadlines of the scholarship, there is no possibility of rescheduling any exams.

Scholarship applicants collect their admission points based on their performance during the entrance exams (if applicable). Your future teachers and instructors evaluate both the written and oral elements (depending on your chosen programme). After the exams, due to the high number of applicants, on top of the passing marks, the Dean will set a threshold for each programme – only those who achieved points above the threshold will pass and be conditionally accepted.

Entrance exams

The mathematics exam (only applicable for specific Bachelor programmes, for detailed list click here) will be conducted online. If required, you will receive an email inviting you to participate before the exam. Please be sure to regularly check your inbox (including spam/junk folders). Failure to participate in the exam may result in your application being rejected.

For “oral exams” (interviews), you will have to book an appointment within a given time frame. You will receive an email with the invitation and a link to the scheduling software, so make sure to regularly check your inbox (including spam/junk folders). If you miss your appointment there is no possibility of rescheduling and your application will be rejected. It is the responsibility of each applicant to ensure that they are in a distraction-free environment with reliable internet connection when their interview takes place.

Please note: certain MA/MSc programmes have no entrance exams, but require only GMAT/GMAT FE, GRE General Test or NMAT certificate.

After entrance exams

To be unconditionally accepted there are a few extra steps you need to undertake.

BA/BSc applicants can view the list of programmes which require mathematics exam and/or an interview as part of entrance exams, as well as preparation materials for each by clicking here.

MA/MSc applicants must provide a GMAT/GMAT FE, GRE General Test or NMAT certificate for admission onto the programme. All Master applicants must upload one of the above certificates with a minimum required score, outlined here. You will receive a score based on your GMAT/GMAT FE, NMAT or GRE General Test score or average final grade from your accredited university (AACSB or EQUIS-accredited or CEMS-member only). If you have an admission score between 65 and 74, based on your test score and have applied for one of the programmes listed here, you will be invited to do an interview that you must pass to gain acceptance.

MBA applicants will be invited to participate in an online interview. Your performance in the interview will determine your admissions score.

Please note: A point threshold will then be set for every programme by our Deans. Those scoring greater than or equal to the points threshold will be conditionally accepted. Those scoring below the points threshold will be rejected.

BA/BSc applicants can review preparation materials by clicking here.

MA/MSc/MBA applicants can review preparation materials by clicking here.

Pay your semester 1 tuition fees (if you are a self-funded applicant).

You cannot get a visa (if you require one) if you do not pay your semester 1 tuition fees, in full, upfront.

Applicants, who do not require a visa (e.g. EU nationals), still need to pay their semester 1 tuition fees to reserve their place on the programme.

Make sure you pay in the right currency and follow the instructions we give you. You cannot pay in installments.

Pay as soon as possible, particularly if you need a visa – failure to do so promptly may result in you not being able to start your programme. All programmes start in September – late enrollment cannot be guaranteed.

Have your diploma formally recognised by our Legal Affairs department

As of 2023, Hungarian Law no longer requires international diplomas and transcripts to be formally legalised (e.g. Apostille or notarisation process).

However, our Legal Affairs department still needs to check the authenticity of your diploma and transcript. The level of your qualification will be checked to ensure it meets the requirements stated in Hungarian Law to be admitted onto the programme(s) of study you have applied to. We also check that you have completed your qualification.

Make sure you have uploaded copies of the final diploma and transcript as soon as possible to your application record, once available.

Formally meet the minimum credit requirements (if you are an MA/MSc/MBA applicant)

For every Master programme in Hungary, there are minimum credit requirements to meet. These requirements vary from programme to programme and are published in the “Credit Requirements” section of each programme page on our English language website.

You must be able to estimate your credits in ECTS (the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System) if you have studied in a country that uses a different credit system. There are compulsory ECTS requirements for various subject areas. If you do not meet these requirements, you will not be admitted.

It is very important to check the requirements and undertake your own analysis before you apply for any programme.

Once you have completed all the above (as required) and each has been approved, you will receive an unconditional letter of acceptance.

Receive your “Letter of Award” (if you are a scholarship applicant)

Regrettably, passing entrance exams does not guarantee you a place on the programme if you are a scholarship applicant. There are quotas for each programme and sending partner (country) makes the final decision regarding your placement.

Letters of award are issued in July. You can start the visa application process if you have a letter of award from Tempus Public Foundation, letter of acceptance from Corvinus University of Budapest and accommodation in Budapest secured.

Note: if you are a BA/BSc applicant, you do not need to worry about this procedure.

The credit recognition procedure is required by Hungarian Law. You need to have a certain amount of completed credits relevant to the programme you are applying to from your undergraduate degree. Every Corvinus programme has unique credit requirements. Minimum requirements can range from 5-50 ECTS.

Credit requirements are stated in ECTS (the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System) – the system used in Hungary. The Hungarian authorities recognise approximately 30 learning hours as 1 ECTS. Therefore, if your credits are not given in ECTS (which will apply to most applicants who have studied outside of the EU!), you can calculate the correct value (in ECTS) by establishing your total learning hours and then dividing by 30. Learning hours should include teaching hours, private study hours, and assessments. Your current/previous university will be able to provide you with learning hours for modules or courses completed in your programme. If this is not stated in your academic transcript, request a “programme specification” or individual “module specification(s)”.

It may also be helpful to keep in mind that one year of full-time academic study in Europe is 60 ECTS. So, if you’ve studied 10 modules in a year and they are all equally weighted, each module might be worth around 6 ECTS. If you’ve studied 20 modules in a year and they are equally weighted, a module could be worth 3 ECTS, etc.

You can easily do a quick check by consulting the “Credit Requirements” section of each programme page on our English language website and matching up the modules/courses you have studied with the subject areas listed.

You may be better suited to another programme if you don’t think you will meet the minimum requirements.

In some cases, applicants meet the minimum credit requirements, but not the maximum requirements for the programme. If this applies to you, you will be asked to complete “catch-up courses” in your first two semesters whilst studying at Corvinus. Do not worry, this is common, many students have catch-up courses, but it will mean extra work for you in the short term.

Be proactive in completing this process as soon as we advise you to, so that you are not delayed in receiving unconditional acceptance (and therefore, a visa if you need one!).

See previous sections. Unconditional letters of acceptance will be issued after you have passed entrance exams (if applicable) and have met all the aforementioned requirements.

Note: international payments can sometimes take 5-10 working days to process, which may delay you receiving an unconditional acceptance letter.

We will notify you if:

Self-funded applicants can log in to the DreamApply system at any time and review the status of each of their Tasks in the Checklist section of their application. Task statuses can be any of the following:

Scholarship (including Stipendium Hungaricum) applicants will not necessarily receive confirmation that documents have been approved. No news should generally be considered good news! Always keep an eye out for communications from our Admissions office, in case your documents have not been approved though!

You will receive limited communications from our Admissions office, due to the high volume of applications we receive.

Our Admissions email address is also a no reply email address. You won’t receive a reply if you write to us. Please make use of all the resources on the website; read the newsletters we send out and attend any webinars we invite you to.

You will usually only hear from us if:

Of course, if you find out in March that you have not been nominated for a scholarship, you still have time to apply to Corvinus as a self-funded applicant.

If in July, you have been academically accepted, but find out you will not be awarded a scholarship for the next academic year, we will invite you to apply to Corvinus as a self-funded applicant (provided you have requested this in your online application form in DreamApply!).

Note: you should be prepared to fully fund your studies and living costs for the duration of your programme if you wish to pursue self-funded studies.

In some countries, high school ends at a lower level than in Hungary. We, therefore, will ask certain applicants to start on the University Preparatory Programme (depending on the level of their high school qualification). However, you are welcome to apply for an undergraduate degree. We will refer you to the preparatory programme if this is a better fit for you. 

If you have B1 English language knowledge, we will refer you to the preparatory programme, as the requirements for our undergraduate, postgraduate and executive programmes are B2 leveled.

If your English language level is below B1, it would be deemed too low for the preparatory programme.

The University Preparatory Programme focuses heavily on English language. Participants also benefit from Hungarian classes, mathematics and subject-specific introductions in business, economics and social sciences. The programme offers mentoring, support and helps students to adapt to life in Hungary. Participants leave the programme well-prepared for further studies at Corvinus.

4600 EUR + 75 EUR application fee + 295 EUR administration fee for 2 semesters and 3100 EUR + 75 EUR application fee + 295 EUR administration fee for 1 semester.

Corvinus University of Budapest reserves the right to change administration and programme fees. For most up-to-date fees, please click here.

Not for the preparatory programme. However, you can for any further studies (if your programme and nationality makes you eligible – check your eligibility here).

We have two intakes per year for the preparatory programme – September and February. 

Yes, subject to satisfactory attendance and passing our internal English test, as well as successfully completing the application and admission processes outlined in above sections.

We recommend you allow at least 30 days.

You should have your letter of offer, original qualifications and English-language certificates. You should pay your first semester’s fee.

Yes, you can work up to 30 hours per week.

No. However, they can obtain a 3-month visa and apply for residency (though they must work or study to be a resident).

You can remain in Hungary if you secure employment before graduation. Many multinational firms in Budapest hire talented English-speaking staff.

If you are a Stipendium Hungaricum student, you do not need insurance.
If you are a self-funded student, you should obtain medical insurance.