MA / MSc programs application information

There are three main application routes for international applicants – online applications can be made for each via the links provided:

All application deadlines are final. Apply early to avoid disappointment.

To apply for a postgraduate/Master (MA, MSc) degree or MBA, at Corvinus University of Budapest you will need to complete an online application and provide the following supporting documentation:

*If you are still studying, you can provide your “in-progress” academic transcripts when you make your application (i.e. submit your transcripts up until your last fully completed academic year/term). Your final documents can be submitted later.

**Letter of motivation is required for Stipendium Hungaricum and Diaspora scholarship applicants only (not for self-funded applicants).

Work experience (for Full-time MBA applicants)

Full-time MBA applicants require a minimum of three years of work experience since graduating from an undergraduate degree (e.g. BA or BSc). For example, if you plan to apply for an MBA in September 2024, the latest possible graduation date is September 2021. Those who hold an MA or MSc require just two years of work experience since graduating from their MA/MSc.

Note: work experience gained during or before studies is not counted.

There are no application fees for Stipendium Hungaricum or Diaspora scholarship applicants.

There is an application fee of €75 for self-funded applicants – this is easy to pay when you make your online application. The application fee is compulsory – do not ask for a waiver or to pay later, your application will not be considered until it is paid.

Any doubts, still? Check our guide on how to pay the application fee.

To proceed in the application process, you must:

In Hungary, there are legal pre-requisite credit requirements to study MA, MSc and MBA programmes. 

Please make sure you meet the minimum requirements for your programme before applying. You will be rejected if you do not meet the minimum credit requirements.

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

Generally, you will need to have completed some credits related to the programme you are applying to study.

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:

Notes

Minimum requirements can range from 15-50 ECTS and vary from programme to programme.

Do not just count teaching hours, as you will be disadvantaged.

Your current/previous university should be able to provide you with learning hours and credit value 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)”.

You should do this for each relevant module or course that you want to be recognised.

Before applying: estimate your credits in ECTS for each module/course you have passed in your BA/BSc programme. Check the credit recognition form(s) (see below) for the programme(s) you are applying for. Make a preliminary assessment that you will meet the minimum credit requirements – only apply if you are confident you will. You should not complete the form at this stage.

After being conditionally accepted: we will contact you with instructions on what to do to complete and submit forms.

Please note: requirements differ for the MSc Management and Leadership and MBA programmes, please see the dedicated section below.

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

As of 2024, we no longer require English language certificates (i.e. TOEFL, IELTS, etc.), but instead accept only GMAT/GMAT FE, NMAT or GRE General Test certificates.

You can be automatically admitted, if you can provide a BA or BSc from an AACSB, EQUIS (EFPD) or EAPAA accredited faculty/university or accredited programme with a final (average) grade of “B” (or equivalent).*

All other applicants applying to MA/MSc programmes must provide a GMAT/GMAT FE, GRE General Test or NMAT certificate (see the next section below).

MSc Management and Leadership applicants (see designated section below) will still need to sit and pass an interview (entrance exam).

*Note: you must have already graduated to meet this requirement.

Please note: requirements differ for the MSc Management and Leadership and MBA programmes, please see the dedicated sections below.

For admission onto MA/MSc programmes, you must provide a GMAT/GMAT FE, GRE General Test or NMAT certificate. Note: you are only required to sit one of these exams.

All MA/MSc applicants must have one of the following within the minimum scores stated:

You are exempt from this requirement if you have already graduated from an AACSB, EQUIS-accredited or CEMS-member university and have an average grade equivalent to “B”. Please note, being exempt from the GMAT/GMAT FE, GRE General Test or NMAT requirement does not guarantee you automatic admission. Your final GPA/grade will be converted to a percentage and a point threshold will be set by our MA/MSc Dean.

Stipendium Hungaricum and Diaspora scholarship applicants must provide a GMAT/GMAT FE, GRE General Test or NMAT certificate by 1 April 2024.

Self-funded applicants are recommended to sit the GMAT/GMAT FE, GRE General Test or NMAT as soon as possible (in order to receive a conditional offer as soon as possible) – the very latest date to provide a certificate is 30 April 2024.

If you do not achieve the minimum score requirements, your application will be rejected.

Programmes without interviews

You will receive a percentage score based on your NMAT, GMAT/GMAT FE, GRE General Test score or average final grade from your accredited university.

A points threshold will be set by our MA/MSc Dean. Those scoring greater than or equal to the points threshold will be conditionally accepted. Those scoring below the points threshold will be rejected.

Points thresholds are set for each admissions period and programme. For example, for MSc Marketing, if the points threshold is set at 80%, every applicant applying to this programme scoring 80% or above will be conditionally accepted. Those scoring 79% or lower will be rejected.

If you do not provide a GMAT/GMAT FE, GRE General Test or NMAT certificate on time, your application will be rejected.

Programmes with circumstantial interviews

You will receive a percentage score based on your NMAT, GMAT/GMAT FE, GRE General Test score or average final grade from your accredited university. If you have an admission score between 65 and 74, based on your test score (the conversion table is available in our Admission Regulations), you will be invited to do an interview that you must pass to gain acceptance.

A point threshold will then be set by our MA/MSc Dean. Those scoring greater than or equal to the points threshold will be conditionally accepted. Those scoring below the points threshold will be rejected.

For our MBA programmes, you will be invited to participate in an online interview. Your performance in the interview will determine your admissions score (out of 100). During the interview, your level of English will also be assessed.

A points threshold will be set by our MBA Dean. Those scoring greater than or equal to the points threshold will be conditionally accepted. Those scoring below the points threshold will be rejected.

Points thresholds are set for each admissions period and programme. For example, for the Full-time MBA in 2024, if the points threshold is set at 90%, every applicant applying to this programme scoring 90% or above will be conditionally accepted. Those scoring 89% or lower will be rejected.

Our MSc Management and Leadership programme is available to self-funded international applicants only.

MSc Management and Leadership students will be simultaneously enrolled for the CEMS Master in Management. Therefore, additional entry requirements apply to meet the CEMS requirements.

For a visual overview of below entry requirements, please click here. Please note: only the first page is relevant for international applicants.

You will achieve a score out of 100. For each programme, the Dean will set a points threshold. Applicants scoring above the points threshold will be conditionally accepted – the points thresholds can vary from year-to-year and programme-to-programme.

Stipendium Hungaricum and Diaspora applicants will be notified of their results via the DreamApply application platform by May.

Self-funded applicants will receive the results in the Corvinus University DreamApply system, typically within 2-3 weeks of the entrance exam period.

Please click on the links for the preparation materials.

Note: Programmes listed below have no entrance exams, but require only GMAT/GMAT FE, GRE General Test or NMAT.

Our data processing notice is available here.

Corvinus University of Budapest has no influence on sending partner nominations or allocating places to offer holders placed on reserve lists (for Stipendium Hungaricum and Diaspora scholarship programmes).

We are unable to write to Hungarian Embassies or the National Directorate responsible regarding visa applications.

We receive a high volume of enquiries. To provide an efficient service to you and other applicants, please only get in touch with our Admissions office if you have taken all of the following steps and still can’t find the answer:

1) You have read this page

2) You have studied all the information available on our website about the programme(s) you have applied to

3) You have read our frequently asked questions page (for international applicants)

If you still don’t have an answer and need to get in touch with our Admissions office, please click here to make an enquiry. Please allow up to two days for our staff to respond.