Incoming exchange mobility - Before the mobility

You will be contacted by the Faculty of Social Sciences’ International Office via email after the nomination deadline. In case on autumn semester or full academic year mobility after 10th of May, in case of spring semester mobility after the 10th of November.  

If you would like to be an exchange student in one of the other ELTE faculties, please contact your international coordinator at the sending university. 

After you were nominated, you will be informed via e-mail about the application process. Please follow the steps provided in the email.  

Step 1:  Fill in the online application form 

Step 2: Prepare your study plan (preliminary list of courses you wish to study at ELTE, not the Learning Agreement) and send it to the international@tatk.elte.hu e-mail address as an e-mail attachment (pdf or doc format). 

• You should choose two-thirds of your courses from Faculty of Social Sciences, the remaining can be chosen from other faculties (maximum 10 ECTS) 
• The exact timetable contains date, time and place of the courses will be communicated in the beginning of each semester. Therefore, the study plan is considered as a preliminary list that can be modified. 
• Your home institution specifies your workload. They usually require you to gain 30 ECTS credits per semester, but it can differ according to your university's requirements. 
• Undergraduate students (BA/BSc) are not entitled to choose MA programmes’ courses. 
• If you wish to follow courses in Hungarian, please contact us via e-mail. 

If you have been accepted at Eötvös Loránd University, Faculty of Social Sciences, you can start to organise your stay in Budapest. 

• Check the academic calendar 
• Ask for a mentor (optional) 
• Prepare your Learning Agreement (for Erasmus+ students) 
• Apply for a visa to Hungary (for non-EEA students) 
• Arrange a travel and health insurance for the period until you enrol at ELTE 
• Arrange your travel to Hungary 
• Arrange accommodation in Budapest 
• Read all “Practical matters” on our homepage 
• Read the academic regulations at ELTE 
• Follow the life of the University on social media 

The exact timetable contains date, time and place of the courses will be communicated in the beginning of each semester. Therefore, you are allowed to modify your Learning Agreement during the semester, according to your final course list chosen at ELTE. 

B2-level of English language proficiency is needed to actively and successfully participate in the classes and complete the courses. During the registration period the faculty does not require the submission of an official language certificate as the proof of language proficiency. 

Feedback will be sent after the deadline of the registration period. In case of autumn or full academic year mobility after the 30th of May, in case of spring semester mobility after the 30th of November. Please note, that it may take some time to review all submitted applications and study plans. If you do not receive any feedback for more than 10 working days after the application deadline, please contact the International Office via email. Please make sure that you provide the correct email address on your application. 

Yes, it is possible to submit the online application after the deadline. However, an email notifying the International Office about the delayed application must be sent. 

Please contact the international coordinator of your sending university at your earliest convenience regarding your request, who will contact the International Office of the Faculty of Social Sciences, ELTE.  

To cancel the mobility, students need to notify their home university and also send an email about the decision to the International Office. 

The study plan should list all the courses the student intends to take during their mobility at ELTE TáTK, specifying each course's name, code and credit value. Students can register for courses worth a maximum of 40 ECTS credits at ELTE, while the minimum number of ECTS credits required to be completed are determined by the sending institution. Please note, that two-thirds of your courses must be offered by the Faculty of Social Sciences, the remaining can be chosen from other faculties, but no more than 10 ECTS. 

Yes, the study plans can be modified. If any change occurs, it should be communicated to the International Office via email. 

An institution-wide list of courses offered for international exchange students is available on the official ELTE website. Here, students can filter courses according to faculty, exchange programme and educational level, and find the detailed syllabus for each course. In order to see the accurate list of courses, which are offered during the given semester of their mobility, please click on the filter ‘Published’ and choose the semester of your mobility. 

Students can attend courses at other faculties of ELTE.  However, at least 2/3 of the total ECTS credits registered for must come from courses taught at the Faculty of Social Sciences, while the remaining 1/3 of ECTS credits can be acquired from courses taught at other ELTE faculties but should not exceed 10 credits. 

BA students can register for MA/MSc courses only if the course is published as open to both BA/BSc and MA/MSc students. The availability can be checked on the website listing the courses offered for international exchange students. 

MA/MSc students can register for BA/BSc courses if the course is published as open to both BA/BSc and MA/MSc students, or if the home university approves such course selection. 

Courses can be chosen for the study plan based on the previously published list of available subjects. Nevertheless, it may happen that some courses previously published and/or usually published in the given semester will not be launched. The exact course list and schedule is uploaded to Neptun at the beginning of the semester, in time for the course registration period. 

The contact person for incoming exchange students is the International Coordinator (currently Fanni Magát; email address: international@tatk.elte.hu) of the Faculty of Social Sciences.  

No, international exchange students do not pay application fee. 

When you arrive in Hungary, make sure that you have a health insurance with you that you can use for health care services during your stay in Hungary. 

If you are a non-EEA student (coming from outside of the European Economic Area), you should consider which option suits your situation the best and what are you entitled to have. 

If you are an EEA student, it is advisable to apply for a European Health Insurance Card from your health insurance institution in your homeland before you leave.  

A residence permit is an official document that allows you to stay in Hungary for more than 90 days. In most cases, third-country nationals studying in Hungary are required to apply for a Residence Permit for Study Purposes, which is tied to an active student status. Other types of residence permits may apply, particularly after graduation, if you wish to stay in Hungary for work or other reasons.  

• EEA Students (EU/EEA citizens): You do not need a visa or residence permit. After arriving in Hungary, you only need to apply for a registration certificate. For more information, visit this link.  
• Non-EEA Students from Visa-Waiver Countries: You do not need to apply for a residence permit before arrival. You can travel with your biometric passport (up to 90 days), and after arriving in Hungary, you can apply for the residence permit online. For a step-by-step guide, visit: EH Manual for Case Uploading - Student.  
• Non-EEA Students from Visa-Obligated Countries: If you are from a visa-obligated country and do not already have a valid residence permit in Hungary, you must apply for both a visa and a residence permit simultaneously, usually at the Hungarian Embassy or Consulate in your home country. Once your visa is approved, the authorities will begin issuing your residence permit card, and you will receive it after arrival.  

Once ready, study purpose residence permit cards are sent to the Quaestura Office, and you will receive a message on Neptun with pick-up details.  

Keep in mind that your residence permit has an expiration date! If you wish to remain in Hungary, you must extend it before it expires. For detailed information on how to extend your residence permit, visit this ELTE webpage.  

Please note that it may take some time to process and manufacture the residence permit cards, especially at the start of the academic year. Please put your travels on hold until you obtain your residence permit card unless you're certain you have visa-free days left, as the temporary permits are valid only in Hungary.   

If your address has changed since your residence permit application, report it to the National Directorate General for Aliens Policing through EnterHungary.  

For more details, visit the “Visa and immigration” section of this FAQ page or our university’s dedicated webpage. 

Please inform the international coordinator via email about your delay. You will be able to enrol and register later, after your arrival. 

For more information, please contact the ELTE visa coordinator via email (visa@elte.hu - please include your full name, Neptun code (if available), and nationality for efficient processing).   

Please note that although your Letter of Acceptance indicates a dormitory address, it is provided solely to assist with your visa application and does not guarantee a dormitory placement.  

To apply for dormitory housing or receive housing assistance, please check the available options here: ELTE Dormitory Centre.   

If you wish to apply for dormitory or housing assistance, you must submit your dormitory application. Please find the call on the above link!  

Dormitory applications are typically open from May to the beginning of July, with the results expected in mid-July. After the initial application deadline, waiting list applications remain open.  

For students applying for the February intake, applications are usually open between November and January, with results expected in January.  

Please keep in mind that we cannot guarantee that you will get dormitory placement, as our capacities are unfortunately limited. If you will not get dormitory placement, please find further information about our housing office and ELTE's housing partners at this link.  

Tips for securing accommodation:  

1. Act Early: Given the challenges in the Hungarian accommodation market, we strongly recommend starting your housing search as soon as possible. Dormitory places are limited, and demand for housing is high, especially at the start of the academic year.  
2. Prepare for Alternatives: In case you do not receive dormitory placement, consider private housing options. ELTE's Housing Office can help guide you through the process. For more details and assistance, visit the ELTE Housing Office website.  
3. Stay in Contact: Keep communication open with fellow students, as they can share tips on trusted landlords or affordable housing. Many may have already found accommodations and can offer useful advice. The faculty’s student mentor coordinator can also connect you with students in similar situations for additional support. Please find further information at the Prepare for your arrival section.  
4. Be Proactive: If you are considering off-campus housing, be sure to contact potential landlords early to secure a place. You will also need to ask for necessary documents like a rental contract or proof of accommodation for the visa/residence permit process.  
5. Check Your Spam Folder: Important housing emails, including dormitory notifications, might end up in your spam folder. Be sure to regularly check both your inbox and spam folder.  
6. Temporary Solutions: If you cannot secure long-term accommodation before arrival, consider temporary options like short-term rentals or hostels while you continue your search. 

You can apply for dormitory and housing services using the same application form. ELTE students should submit their applications through the Neptun study system, while applicants who do not yet have Neptun access can apply via an online form. Both options are only available to international students, who are not required to upload any documents during the process. Applications are cross-checked with central and faculty databases before processing.  

Dormitory applications typically open in May and close in early July, with results announced in mid-July. 

Please find further information at: ELTE Dormitory Centre.   

All applicants are notified of the decision simultaneously. Dormitory application results are typically released around July 10th for the autumn semester, January 5th for the spring semester, and June 10th for summer dormitory placements.   

In case you do not receive dormitory placement, consider private housing options. ELTE's Housing Office can help guide you through the process. For more details and assistance, visit the ELTE Housing Office website.