study in Szeged
A southern university city on the Tisza — strong in the sciences and medicine, reputedly the sunniest place in Hungary, and among the cheapest.
Szeged sits near Hungary's southern border and is dominated by its university, which is one of the country's strongest research institutions — particularly in the sciences, where it has a notable history including a Nobel laureate in physiology.
Like Debrecen and Pécs it teaches medicine in English to a substantial international cohort, and like them it does so in a city where living costs sit well below Budapest's.
The city itself was rebuilt after a flood in the nineteenth century, which left it with an unusually coherent centre of wide boulevards and a large main square. It is a genuinely pleasant place to spend several years, and it is small enough to cross on a bicycle.
A research-strong university with English-taught medicine and sciences.
University of Szeged
Medicine, pharmacy, sciences, law and humanities, with a strong research base and English-taught programmes.Szeged is a low-cost city by Hungarian standards, and Hungarian standards are already among the lowest in the EU. The saving against Budapest is substantial and comes with no change to the degree, the scholarship or the permit.
Against the other cities we cover in Hungary, Szeged is one of the cheaper. That is our reading of this country’s own spread, not a published index.
Living costs across Hungary run roughly €500–700 a month — and the gap between Budapest and the regional cities is the largest single saving you control.
The practical texture of the place — what a week actually looks like.
Climate
The sunniest part of Hungary, with hot summers and cold winters. Continental, like the rest of the country.
Getting around
Trams, buses and a very flat, bikeable centre. A small city you can cross easily.
Housing
University dormitories and a cheap private market. Among the lowest student housing costs in the country.
Working
National rules, but a small market with little English-language work. Not a place to plan on earning.
Language
Hungarian dominates. Medical students should expect clinical work in Hungarian regardless of the teaching language.
The city
Rebuilt after the 1879 flood with wide boulevards and a large square — coherent, walkable and student-dominated during term.
One thing the city genuinely does not affect: Stipendium Hungaricum covers tuition, a stipend and accommodation at around thirty universities nationwide — the award does not depend on which city you choose
What it does affect: roughly €500–700 a month
This is worth stating because it changes how you should choose. Since Stipendium Hungaricum covers tuition, a stipend and accommodation at around thirty universities regardless of location, a scholarship holder's city choice is a choice about how far the stipend goes — and it goes considerably further here than in Budapest. For a funded student, the regional cities are simply better value with no offsetting loss unless you want the capital's job market.
Szeged is one of 4 cities we cover in Hungary. Tap any pin to compare — the city you pick moves your total cost more than almost any other choice you make.