Academycon
Study abroad in Hungary: As an EU country, Hungary recognises your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), and with a German passport you do not need a visa. The University of Szeged gives living costs of 700 to 800 euros per month, including accommodation and meals, depending on the type of accommodation. Erasmus+ students are exempt from tuition, registration and examination fees at the host institution.
Study abroad in Hungary at a glance
| Point | Information (as of October 2026) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Health insurance | The European Health Insurance Card applies, repatriation is not covered, a travel and repatriation insurance is recommended | German Foreign Office, European Commission (FAQ) |
| Visa | Not required for EU citizens, registration after three months may be requested | Your Europe, German Foreign Office |
| Tuition and travel document | Erasmus+ students are exempt from tuition, registration and examination fees. Travel document preferably valid, expired documents are not accepted for onward travel to neighbouring countries | Erasmus+, German Foreign Office |
| Living costs | University of Szeged: 700 to 800 euros per month including accommodation and meals. The page shows no change date, the metadata give 25 January 2015 | University of Szeged |
| Study grant abroad (Auslands-BAföG) | Possible, responsible office: Studentenwerk Chemnitz-Zwickau | German Student Services Organisation (DSW), flyer as of January 2026 |
All information is general guidance and not individual advice. The linked official pages are authoritative in each case.
How are you health insured in Hungary?
European Health Insurance Card and statutory health insurance
Hungary is part of the EU, so the European Health Insurance Card applies there. It is printed on the back of your German health insurance card. The European Commission lists medically necessary benefits in kind during a temporary stay as covered. Treatment follows the rules of the host country, so the card does not guarantee benefits that are not provided there. For students, the Commission states that they receive the treatment that is necessary for the duration of their stay.
For statutory insured patients, the German Foreign Office additionally refers to the German-Hungarian social security agreement, with the card serving as proof. Whether your cover continues unchanged during your semester abroad depends on your enrolment in Germany and on your health insurer (gesetzliche Krankenversicherung, GKV). Ask for the answer in writing before you leave. If you are privately insured, you will find the basics in our guide Krankenversicherung im Auslandssemester (in German).
Advance payment and co-payments on site
The German Foreign Office notes in general that bills in many countries must be settled or advanced before discharge. A hospital may refuse departure if the bill is not paid. The page does not give a rule for Hungary specifically, and it does not state concrete co-payment amounts. Keep all receipts and clarify with your insurer which proof it requires after your return.
Private travel health insurance and repatriation
The card does not replace travel health insurance. Repatriation to Germany is not covered, and neither are treatments that can wait, such as most dental procedures. The German Foreign Office recommends travel health insurance with repatriation insurance. You will find background information in our guide Auslandskrankenversicherung für Erasmus, USA und Work and Travel (in German).
Do you need a visa for Hungary?
No. For EU citizens, the European Commission does not state a visa requirement for studying in another EU country. The German Foreign Office lists the following travel documents for German citizens: passport, temporary passport, identity card, temporary identity card and children’s passport. Documents other than the temporary identity card may be up to one year expired on entry. For onward travel to neighbouring countries, expired documents are not accepted. A driving licence or a child’s birth certificate is not sufficient as identification. The page does not state a visa-free duration or entry permits.
For stays longer than three months, the European Commission requires enrolment at a recognised higher education institution, comprehensive health insurance and sufficient resources. Your resources must be such that you do not depend on social benefits. After three months, Hungary may require you to register your residence. The Commission’s page is written for EU countries in general, so clarify the exact procedure with the Hungarian authorities. Keep these documents ready:
- Valid passport or identity card
- Proof of enrolment at the host institution
- Proof of comprehensive health insurance, for statutory insured students the European Health Insurance Card
- A declaration that you have sufficient financial resources
According to the German Foreign Office, there is no travel warning for Hungary (page status 25 October 2026). The page names petty crime such as pickpocketing, car theft and break-ins into holiday flats, especially at Lake Balaton, as well as overpriced bills in bars and clubs. In summer there is a risk of bush and forest fires, and in spring floods along the Tisza. Recommended vaccinations include hepatitis A, and for long stays also hepatitis B, rabies and TBE.
What does studying abroad in Hungary cost?
Tuition fees
Erasmus+ students are exempt from fees at the host institution for tuition, registration and examinations, as well as for laboratory and library access. Small fees for insurance or student union membership may still apply. Which fees apply in an exchange outside Erasmus+ depends on the exchange agreement of your home university. We do not give a general amount because we have not found an official figure we could verify. Ask your home university and the host institution before you accept a place.
Living costs
The University of Szeged (in German) states living costs of 700 to 800 euros per month, including accommodation and meals, depending on the type of accommodation. The page does not break the figures down by item and says nothing about health insurance for exchange students. It shows no change date, and its metadata give 25 January 2015. The figure may therefore be outdated and differ considerably. Ask your host institution for its current budget for exchange students.
Funding: Erasmus+ and Auslands-BAföG
According to the European Commission, the Erasmus+ grant is a contribution to travel and daily living costs. Its amount depends on several conditions, among them the difference in living costs between your home and host country. The Commission does not state a monthly amount. Ask your international office about the level of funding for Hungary. More details are in our guide Erasmus und Auslandssemester planen (in German).
Auslands-BAföG, the German study grant for study abroad, is possible for a part of your studies abroad. For Hungary, the flyer of the German Student Services Organisation (DSW, status January 2026) names the Studentenwerk Chemnitz-Zwickau as responsible. A permanent residence in Germany is required. The application should be submitted online, ideally six months before the start of your studies abroad. Funding starts in the month of application, but at the earliest with the start of the study abroad. The flyer lists a one-off travel allowance, a health insurance supplement and tuition fees of up to 5,600 euros for one year at most, if required. You will find all details in our guide Auslands-BAföG: Voraussetzungen, Höhe und Zuschläge (in German).
Sample calculation: For a semester of five months, the University of Szeged figure gives 3,500 to 4,000 euros for accommodation and meals. Erasmus+ students pay no tuition at the host institution, but small fees may apply. Flights or train travel and travel health insurance are not included. The total is a guide, not a commitment.
How to prepare before you leave
- Ask your health insurer to confirm in writing how you are insured in Hungary before you sign the Learning Agreement.
- Check that your European Health Insurance Card is valid for the entire stay and order a new one in good time if needed.
- Take out travel health insurance with repatriation cover, because the card does not cover repatriation.
- Check your vaccinations. The German Foreign Office recommends hepatitis A, for long stays also hepatitis B, rabies and TBE, and the STIKO standard vaccinations, especially measles protection.
- Check that your travel document is valid, because expired documents are not accepted for onward travel to neighbouring countries.
- Submit your Auslands-BAföG application to the Studentenwerk Chemnitz-Zwickau ideally six months before the start, if you want to apply for funding.
- Keep your enrolment and insurance proof ready for a possible registration after three months.
Frequently asked questions
Is my European Health Insurance Card valid in Hungary?
Yes, for medically necessary treatment under the rules of the Hungarian system. Treatments that can wait and repatriation to Germany are not covered.
Do I need a visa for Hungary?
No. With German citizenship, a passport or identity card is enough. After three months, Hungary may require registration.
Do I have to pay tuition fees in Hungary?
As an Erasmus+ student, not for study, registration or examinations. Small fees for insurance or student union membership may apply. For other exchange formats, your home university will clarify the fees under the exchange agreement.
How high are living costs in Hungary?
The University of Szeged gives 700 to 800 euros per month including accommodation and meals. The page shows no change date, and its metadata give 25 January 2015.
Does my health insurer pay for repatriation?
The European Health Insurance Card does not cover repatriation to Germany. Ask your health insurer which benefits it provides abroad, and arrange repatriation cover with a separate travel insurance.
Who is responsible for Auslands-BAföG for Hungary?
The Studentenwerk Chemnitz-Zwickau. This is stated in the flyer of the German Student Services Organisation (status January 2026).
Sources
- German Foreign Office, Hungary: Travel and security advice (page status 25 October 2026)
- European Commission, Your Europe: Studying in another EU country (last amended 30 September 2026)
- European Commission, FAQ on the European Health Insurance Card (no date)
- European Commission, Erasmus+: Studying abroad (last updated 18 December 2025)
- University of Szeged, Costs of living (no change date, metadata 25 January 2015)
- German Student Services Organisation (DSW), Flyer on Auslands-BAföG (status January 2026)
Sources retrieved on 25 October 2026, unless stated otherwise.
Related reading
- Krankenversicherung im Auslandssemester: Was gilt? (in German)
- Auslands-BAföG: Voraussetzungen, Höhe und Zuschläge (in German)
- Auslandskrankenversicherung für Erasmus, USA und Work and Travel (in German)
- Study Abroad in Austria: Insurance, Visa, Costs 2026
- Study Abroad in Slovakia: Insurance, Visa, Costs 2026
- Alle Länder für dein Auslandssemester im Überblick (in German)
You can find the online check at check.academycon.de.
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice. The German version is authoritative.
