Education and Schools in Budapest

You won’t have to worry about finding good schools in Budapest. Hungarians place a high value on education, and this is evidenced by the quality of both local and international schools. As an expat parent, you’ll find plenty of excellent options for your child’s education.

Public schools in Budapest  

The government funds Budapest's public schools, and they can be attended at no cost, although parents must pay for books, stationery, and other equipment.

Many schools in Budapest offer bilingual education. Public schools offering bilingual programmes include the Chinese-Hungarian School, Lemhenyi Dezso English-Hungarian Bilingual Primary School, and the Serbian Kindergarten, Primary School, High School and Students' Home.

Budapest also has public and private religious schools. Public religious schools in Hungary tend to be better equipped than regular public schools and usually have more comprehensive facilities. This is because they are funded by both the government and the church. 

If space permits, local schools will allow expats to enrol, but this can be a difficult environment for a non-Hungarian-speaking child. That said, if you're moving to Hungary permanently, you may find public schools ideal for your children to immerse themselves in the notoriously difficult Hungarian language as early as possible.

Education System in Hungary 

Private schools in Budapest

Budapest is home to a fair few private schools, with many teaching through a religious lens. Private religious schools include international schools such as Greater Grace Christian Academy and the International Christian School of Budapest. 

Similar to other international schools, fees at these schools can be high. Be that as it may, parents who want their children to be taught in a religious environment but aren't willing to send them to a non-English school might find this worth the extra cost.

International schools in Budapest

Most expats in Budapest choose international schools because they allow their children continuity in their studies and home language, as well as for cultural diversity and the ease of making friends.

There are often waiting lists for international schools in Budapest, so you are advised to contact schools as soon as possible to apply for a place and find out if there are entrance or assessment exams. Some schools may ask for reference letters from previous schools, as well as past grade reports. Children may also be requested to come in for an interview.

If you are relocating for work purposes, you should try to negotiate an education allowance as part of your relocation package to help reduce the cost of fees at international schools.

International Schools in Budapest 

Special educational needs in Budapest

Parents of children with special educational needs can rest assured that their children will be well taken care of. Budapest schools (be they mainstream or specialised schools, depending on the severity of the disabilities) are set up to cater for any disabilities or behavioural issues. 

An education rehabilitation committee assesses children with special educational needs. The committee can either recommend that the student be placed in a specialised class or institution or propose integration into mainstream education. The Act on Equal Opportunities states that parents have the right to be involved in any decisions that are made.

Presently in Hungary, children with special needs are integrated into the education system in the following ways: an inclusive mainstream class, a special class in a mainstream school or in a special school. Children with special educational needs may start elementary school at the age of eight at the latest.

Tutors in Budapest

Many expat and local parents in Hungary opt to have their children tutored. Tutoring is helpful in cases where children require assistance in specific subject areas such as maths, science, or Hungarian; studying for important entrance exams, or for learners with learning difficulties. An excellent tutoring company in Budapest is Tutoroo, where parents can browse and find the perfect fit for their children's needs.

Useful links

• Tutoroo
• TeacherOn
• Apprentus