Accommodation Options for Foreign Students: Dormitories, Apartments for Rent, Hostels

When looking for an apartment to rent, it is worth collecting as much information as possible, and going over one's exact expectations in order to find the best option. Those who wish to live in a dormitory while attending a program have an easier job, as several Hungarian institutions offer dormitory services to students who arive there. Universities which do not provide dormitory placement aim to help in finding accommodation.

Several dormitories have been renovated recently in Budapest as well as in Szeged and Debrecen - this has helped improve the quality of services offered to students in several places.

Dormitory options in institutions providing medical education

Medical programs are the most popular type of program among foreign students. Foreign language medical programs are offered by universities in Budapest and three major cities in the countryside - Szeged, Pécs and Debrecen. Each institution makes efforts to offer wide-ranging services that help students coming to Hungary in finding accommodation.

Dormitory places are not available in Szeged. The university has created a centre, the Foreign Students' Secretariat for foreign students, which helps them find apartments for rent. Among other things, the Secretariat collects information about accommodation opportunities, costs, and apartments for rent. Students who wish to study in Szeged should count on monthly accommodation fees ranging from 370 to 750 Euros. A limited number of dormitory places are available at the University of Debrecen, near the higher education institution, at 150-200 Euros per month. A greater number of dormitory places are available for foreign students in Pécs, for a fee of 100-150 Euros a month. Dormitory placement is not an option at the institution receiving the greatest number of foreign students, the Semmelweis University of Budapest. However, hostels as well as rooms, aparments and houses for rent abound here with a wide variety of conditions and prices.

Accommodation in dormitories in Budapest and the countryside

Several universities and colleges offer dormitory placement for foreign students attending these institutions in Budapest, although the number of places is limited. As a result, the majority of students do not stay at the residences provided by the univesity; however, the institutions are ready to help them in finding and picking a suitable apartment or room.

Students planning to study at the Corvinus University of Budapest have to find accommodation themselves, although, naturally, university offices assist them in this. Meanwhile, the university provides foreign students accommodation for a short time - around one week - after their arrival. The Budapest University of Technology and Economics University Hostel receives a limited number of foreign students, offering accommodation near the university. However, students typically look for private apartment for rent. According to information from the university, the cost of accommodation is around 150-300 Euros per month. The hostel of the Eötvös Loránd University also receives a limited number of foreign students, at a fee of 160 Euros a month.

The BGF Student Halls of Residence is a small capacity place, so the majority of students seek rooms and apartments for rent. On the other hand, the university is prepared to provide help in finding the the right kind of accommodation to students who require this.
The International Business School Residence Hall offers three-star residence opportunities to foreign students. Single and double bedrooms are well equipped: all of them have Internet access and a bathroom.

Dormitory placement is available to a greater proportion of the students at universities in the countryside than in the capital city. On the other hand, rental fees are also lower in the countryside than in Budapest.
The dormitory of the University of A Kaposvár has double bedrooms with Internet access. The dormitory fee is around 90 Euros per month. The Pannon University, seated in Veszprém, helps students find suitable accommodation. Students who arrive here are advised to take apartments together with other students, in which case the rental fee is around 350 Euros per month. Naturally, rental fees vary on a wide scale, and we can find much cheaper accommodation opportunities around town. In Dunaújváros, university students can live in one of the two student hostels, which offer places for 1500 students at 120 Euros monthly. The hostels are close to the university. The rooms in the renovated buildings have 2, 2+2 or 3+3 beds, and each has a bathroom, television and Internet access. There is a well equipped common kitchen and a TV room as well as a washing room on each floor.
The dormitory of the College of Szolnok is located near the institution's building by the bank of the river Tisza, providing accommodation to students in double bedrooms for 110 Euros per month. A imited number of places are available at the Students' Hostel of the Tomori Pál College of Kalocsa. The institution provides additional accommodation opportunities at privately owned places of residence - they help students in finding a suitable solution without any additional fees. Tuition at this colege includes the cost of accommodation.