Eotvos Lorand University

The predecessor of Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE) was founded in the rural town of Nagyszombat (today: Trnava, Slovakia) in 1635 by Cardinal Péter Pázmány, as a catholic university for teaching Theology and Philosophy. In 1770-1780, the University was transferred to Buda and later to Pest, and with the support of Maria Theresa, the Empress of Austria and Queen of Hungary, became the Royal Hungarian University.

Over the following decades, new faculties were established to meet the expectations of a learned society. In the second half of the 19th century, the University developed into a centre of modern higher education in today's sense, covering nearly every scholarly field.

In 1950 the university was reorganized and adopted its present name. It was named after one of its professors, the world-famous physicist, Loránd Eötvös.

Recently, a new campus has been built on the scenic banks of the Danube. This campus, Lágymányos Campus is now home to three faculties: Faculty of Informatics, Faculty of Science, and Faculty of Social Sciences.

Currently, the university has eight faculties: Education and Psychology , Humanities, Informatics, Law, , Primary and Pre-School Education, Science, Social Sciences, , and the Bárczi Gusztáv Faculty of Special Education.

Eötvös Loránd University is internationally recognized and its programs are accredited by the Hungarian Accreditation Board. The diplomas issued by Eötvös Loránd University are acknowledged worldwide, and its course credits are transferable in all countries in the European Union.

Over the last hundred years, Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE) has had many world famous scientists and four Nobel Prize laureates among its teachers and alumni. The current number of students enrolled yearly has reached 28,000, and there is an academic staff of 1,800 highly-qualified teachers and researchers.

Eötvös Loránd University offers more than 60 degree programs in the field of education and psychology, humanities, informatics, law, science and social sciences.

The aim of this section is to show you the reasons why you should choose the Eötvös Loránd University. You will find every important information on the application process, the funding possibilities and about Budapest and Hungary.

Take a look at the stories of our current and former ELTE students and ask our International Students Ambassadors.

The International Office provides webinars mainly in January and February. Through this online information sessions, you will get more information on the degree programs and scholarship opportunities at ELTE.

ELTE is internationally recognized and its programs are accredited by the Hungarian Accreditation Committee. The diplomas issued by Eötvös Loránd University are acknowledged worldwide and its course credits are transferable in all countries in the European Union.

Eötvös Loránd University, and the Hungarian higher education in general, takes part in the Bologna process. Accordingly, the consecutive training cycles of the higher education leading to a higher education degree are bachelor's program (alapképzés), master's program (mesterképzés) and doctoral program (doktori képzés). Bachelor's and master's courses are taught in consecutive cycles, in the form of divided training, or in cases specified by law in the form of undivided, one-tier training.

Students studying in bachelor's and master's programs complete their studies by passing a final examination. The final examination may consist of the defence of the degree thesis, and additional oral, written or practical examinations.

The first higher education degree is the bachelor's degree (alapfokozat) along with a professional qualification. To complete a bachelor's program, it is required to collect 180-240 credits. The length of the program is 6-8 semesters.

The second higher education degree is the master's degree (mesterfokozat) along with a professional qualification. The master's program is built on a bachelor's program; i.e., you need to have a bachelor's degree to start a master's program. To complete a master's program, it is required to gain 60-120 credits during your studies. The length of the program is 2-4 semesters.

An undivided one-tier program resulting in a master's degree (mesterfokozat) is a training with the length of 10-12 semesters, requiring the completion of 300-360 credits. Besides religious education and some programs of arts, the following programs are conducted within one-tier Master courses: veterinary medicine, architecture, dentistry, pharmaceutics, law and medicine.

Built on a master's program and a master's degree, for the Doctorate (doktori képzés) it is required to gain at least 240 credits. From September 2016, the length of the program is 8 semesters (4 years). Following a Doctorate, in a separate degree awarding procedure, the scientific degree “Doctor of Philosophy” (abbreviation: PhD), or in art education “Doctor of Liberal Arts” (abbreviation: DLA) is awarded.