Hungary's three best-known medical universities, Semmelweis in Budapest, Debrecen and Pécs, all teach a six-year, 12-semester MD in English with a September start. Official tuition, set in US dollars, is USD 20,900 a year at Semmelweis (2026/27 entrants), USD 16,900 at Debrecen (2026/27) and USD 16,750 at Pécs (2027/28). Each school runs its own entrance exam in biology and chemistry or physics, and all three programs are accredited by an agency recognized by the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME).

The three main English-taught programs

The three schools below run English-language programs alongside their Hungarian ones. They share a common structure: basic sciences first, then pre-clinical and clinical modules, and a final year spent rotating through hospital departments.

Comparison of tuition and intakes

School City Official annual tuition Fee year Intake
Semmelweis University Budapest USD 20,900 (USD 10,450 per semester) 2026/27 September
University of Debrecen Debrecen USD 16,900 2026/27 September
University of Pécs Medical School Pécs USD 16,750 (USD 9,000 plus USD 7,750) 2027/28 September

All figures come from each university's official fee pages. Some details that affect what you will actually pay:

  • Semmelweis sets fees per semester and keeps you at the rate of the year you enroll. Its admissions page for the intake with a May 2027 deadline lists EUR 9,340 per semester plus one-time fees, so the currency and amount differ for the next cohort.
  • Debrecen says its USD 16,900 fee includes health insurance, a medical checkup and a student card. The application fee (USD 150) and entrance procedure fee (USD 350) are extra.
  • Pécs splits the year into a USD 9,000 first semester and a USD 7,750 second semester. Application, entrance exam and registration fees are extra.

Because fees are quoted in dollars or euros, students paying from other currencies carry exchange-rate risk. See the Hungary country page for each school's full profile.

How admission works

Hungarian universities do not use a national entrance exam for English-taught programs. Each school tests applicants itself, and Semmelweis and Pécs both let you take the written exam online.

Semmelweis University

Semmelweis's entrance exam covers biology and chemistry, together with general and biomedical English, and includes an oral component as well as the written test. The written part runs online. The university says it looks for applicants with a strong background in biology and chemistry, a good command of English and clear motivation for medicine.

University of Debrecen

Debrecen's entrance exam is compulsory, with no exemptions. It tests biology and either physics or chemistry, in written and oral parts, and also assesses English. If you are not ready for the exam, the university runs a one- or two-semester Basic Medicine Course, priced at USD 7,500, which serves as a preparatory route into the MD.

University of Pécs

Pécs asks for English at B2 level and an entrance exam, which can be taken online.

What you need Semmelweis Debrecen Pécs
Science subjects tested Biology, chemistry Biology, physics or chemistry Entrance exam (check current subjects)
English Tested in the exam Assessed at the exam; B2 expected B2 level
Oral part Yes Yes Check current rules
Preparatory year Not listed Basic Medicine Course Not listed

Exam formats and subjects change from year to year, so confirm the current rules on each university's admissions pages before you apply.

What the six years look like

The programs follow a similar arc:

  1. Years 1 to 2: basic sciences such as anatomy, biochemistry and physiology.
  2. Year 3: pre-clinical subjects, at Semmelweis described as a pre-clinical year.
  3. Years 4 to 5: clinical modules in the main specialties.
  4. Year 6: a rotational internship year. At Pécs, rotations last 4 to 12 weeks per department. At Debrecen, final-year internships cover internal medicine, surgery, gynecology, neurology, psychiatry and pediatrics. Semmelweis rotates students through its clinics in Budapest.

Learning Hungarian

Lectures are in English, but most patients speak Hungarian. Debrecen, for example, teaches basic Hungarian so students can talk with patients from the third year. Plan for language classes in the early years at any of the three schools; they are part of the clinical preparation, not an optional extra.

Living costs

As the capital, Budapest tends to cost more than Debrecen and Pécs, which are smaller university cities. Overall, living costs in Hungary are typically below those in Western Europe and large US cities. Your budget should cover rent, food, transport, books and any health insurance your school does not include. The universities publish their own estimates, which are the best starting point.

Recognition and licensing

Accreditation

All three programs are accredited by the Hungarian Accreditation Committee (MAB), which holds WFME recognition:

  • Semmelweis's Faculty of Medicine was accredited against WFME 2020 standards by a decision dated 30 June 2023, valid for eight years.
  • Pécs's general medicine program is accredited against WFME 2020 standards from 3 March 2022 to 3 March 2030.
  • Debrecen's medical program is accredited on WFME criteria until 22 April 2030; the university notes MAB's WFME recognition dates from March 2022.

Working in the United States

To sit the USMLE and enter US residency, you need ECFMG Certification, and your school must appear in the World Directory of Medical Schools as meeting ECFMG eligibility requirements. Accreditation by a WFME-recognized agency also satisfies ECFMG's Recognized Accreditation Policy, which ECFMG began implementing in November 2024. All three Hungarian schools cite this status. Our guide to the USMLE for international medical graduates explains the steps, and our guide to the cost of attending an international medical school helps you compare the total bill with other routes.

Working in the UK and EU

Hungary is an EU member, so its medical degrees are EU qualifications. The UK's General Medical Council accepts a "relevant European qualification" from an EEA country for registration without the PLAB test, and says nationality is not relevant for this route. Language checks and other registration requirements still apply. Practising in Hungary itself requires meeting Hungarian licensing and language rules.

Is Hungary a good fit?

Hungary offers well-established English-language programs at tuition that is lower than private options in the Caribbean, Ireland or the US, with entrance exams you can often take remotely. In exchange, you commit to six years, learn enough Hungarian for patient contact, and take extra exams if you want to train in North America.

Key takeaways

  • Semmelweis, Debrecen and Pécs each run a six-year, 12-semester MD in English with a September intake.
  • Official tuition is USD 20,900 at Semmelweis (2026/27), USD 16,900 at Debrecen (2026/27) and USD 16,750 at Pécs (2027/28); Semmelweis quotes EUR 9,340 per semester for its next intake.
  • Each school runs its own entrance exam in biology and chemistry or physics; Debrecen also offers a Basic Medicine Course as a preparatory route.
  • Expect to learn basic Hungarian for clinical work from around the third year.
  • All three programs are accredited by Hungary's WFME-recognized agency, MAB, which supports US and international recognition.