Metropolitan University Budapest (METU): Programs, Fees and Admission for International Students
English-taught business, communication and design degrees in Hungary's capital, with non-EU fees from €3,500 per semester.
Metropolitan University Budapest (METU) is a private university in Hungary's capital that teaches business, communication, tourism and art and design programs in English. It started in 2000 as the Budapest College of Communication and has held university status since 1 January 2016. According to the university, it is the largest private university in Hungary.
METU suits applicants who want an English-taught business, marketing, tourism, media or design degree in an EU capital, with a September or February start. Entry is realistic for students with average grades: the bachelor's minimum is an average above 50%, and an English certificate is not mandatory.
It is not the right choice if you want medicine, or if you are counting on a full government scholarship for a business program.
| Key facts | METU |
|---|---|
Founded | 2000, as Budapest College of Communication; university since 1 January 2016 |
Location | Budapest, four campuses |
Study areas | Art, Business, Communication, Tourism |
Degrees in English | Bachelor's, master's, MBA, preparatory programs |
Intakes | September and February |
Bachelor's length | 6–8 semesters, depending on the program |
Master's length | 4 semesters |
Tuition, non-EU, current price list | €3,500–4,990 per semester (bachelor's) |
How to apply | Online via DreamApply (apply.metropolitan.hu) |
Stipendium Hungaricum | Available for 5 creative programs only |
Housing | Partner dormitory: CEU Residence Center |
Tuition fees at METU for non-EU students
METU charges tuition per semester, by program. Business programs cost €3,500 per semester (€7,000 a year); design and media programs cost €4,990 (€9,980 a year). Figures are from the university's current non-EU price list.
| Program | Degree | Fee per semester (non-EU) |
|---|---|---|
Business Administration and Management; Commerce and Marketing; Finance and Accounting; Tourism and Catering | BSc | €3,500 |
International Business Economics | BSc | €3,600 |
Human Resources Management | BA | €3,800 |
Communication and Media Studies; International Relations | BA | €3,900 |
Animation, Graphic Design, Photography, Film and Media and other design and media programs | BA | €4,990 |
Management and Leadership; Marketing; Tourism Management; Business Development | MSc | €3,600 |
MBA | MBA | €4,100 |
Communication and Media Studies; Human Resource Counselling; International Economy and Business | MA | €3,900 |
Art and Design Management | MA | €3,990 |
Graphic Design; Animation; Media Design; Fashion and Textile Design | MA | €4,990 |
Professional Foundation Semester (Business); Pre-Master; English Preparatory | Preparatory | €2,990 |
Intensive Preparatory Program; Professional Foundation for Art | Preparatory | €3,200 |
Prices for the next academic year have not been published. METU states that tuition may increase annually in line with the inflation rate published by the Hungarian National Bank. Plan your budget with a small margin above the current figures.
On top of tuition, expect these one-off and optional costs:
Other METU fees
- Registration fee: €100, non-refundable. Applicants from Pakistan, Nigeria, Bangladesh, Syria, Yemen and Ethiopia pay €200, before the document check.
- Enrolment fee: €150.
- Medicover health insurance: €150 for students under 37. You can use your own insurance instead.
- Visa assistance from the university: €150, optional.
- No separate tuition deposit. The €750 deposit applies only if you take a dormitory place.
Previously, METU's official guide listed discounts such as Early Bird (10% off the first year) and an Excellence award (15% off the first year, selected by the admissions committee). Terms for the next academic year are not confirmed yet.
What a semester at METU costs
EUR per semester, current non-EU price list
- Business, marketing, finance, tourism (BSc)€3,500
- International Business Economics (BSc)€3,600
- Human Resources Management (BA)€3,800
- Communication, International Relations (BA)€3,900
- Design and media (BA)€4,990
- Master's (MSc)€3,600
- MBA€4,100
Programs and the degree you receive
METU's English-taught programs cover four areas. Bachelor's options:
- Business and tourism (BSc): Business Administration and Management, Commerce and Marketing, Finance and Accounting, Tourism and Catering, International Business Economics.
- Communication and HR (BA): Communication and Media Studies, International Relations, Human Resources Management.
- Art and design (BA): Animation, Environmental Design, Graphic Design, Design Culture, Media Design, Photography, Visual Representation, Film and Media Studies.
Business bachelor's programs last 7 semesters (210 ECTS), International Business Economics lasts 8 semesters, and design programs last 6. Master's programs (MSc, MA and an MBA) take 4 semesters; the full list is in the fee table above. Preparatory programs cannot be taken on their own, only together with a degree program.
According to Hungarian sources, METU awards Hungarian BA, BSc, MA, MSc and MBA degrees, not British or American ones. If you plan to work for the government at home, check in advance how your ministry treats a Hungarian private-university degree.
Let's review your case in a free consultation
We will match a country, university and programme to your documents and budget, and explain deadlines and the visa.
or message us
Admission requirements for international students
METU admits international students through a 6-step online process. There is no in-person entrance exam: the key stages are your documents, an online interview and, for some programs, a short test or a portfolio.
How to apply to METU
1
Choose your program and intake. METU runs a September and a February intake. Bachelor's applicants need a completed secondary school certificate with an average above 50%. Master's applicants need a related bachelor's degree with a GPA above 50%.
2
Check your English. Bachelor's programs expect intermediate English (about IELTS 5.5+ or TOEFL 69+); master's programs expect upper-intermediate (about IELTS 6.0+ or TOEFL 79+). A certificate is not mandatory, because the online interview checks your level. If your English is weak, METU may offer 1–2 semesters of English Language Preparatory Program first.
3
Prepare and certify documents. METU accepts documents in English or Hungarian and recognizes your school certificate itself, so no separate nostrification is needed. Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Oman, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia use the apostille. Nigeria, Egypt, the UAE, Qatar and Kuwait need consular legalization, usually via the education ministry, the foreign ministry and the Hungarian embassy. Certify early: you will also need it for the residence permit.
4
Register on DreamApply (apply.metropolitan.hu) and pay the registration fee (€100, or €200 for Pakistan, Nigeria and Bangladesh).
5
Take the online interview and tests. BSc applicants sit a 30-minute online math test with 10 multiple-choice questions. International Relations applicants get extra questions on world affairs. Design applicants submit a portfolio. MBA applicants add a CV, a motivation letter and proof of at least 3 years in a managerial or professional role after a bachelor's (or 2 years after a master's).
6
Finalize your place by paying the fees, then apply for the student residence permit.
Deadlines for the September intake have not been published yet. For reference, the non-EU deadline for the February intake was 20 November. The Hungarian permit procedure can take up to 75 days, so prepare your documents well before the deadline.
What to know before you apply
METU is a practical option for business and design, but it has clear limits.
Honest limitations
- No medicine or health programs. METU is not a medical university, and its foundation programs prepare only for business, art and master's study. For medicine, see our guide to medicine in Hungary.
- Stipendium Hungaricum covers only 5 creative programs at METU, none in business. Citizens of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait are not eligible for the scholarship at all. Details: Stipendium Hungaricum.
- Applicants from Pakistan, Nigeria and Bangladesh pay a €200 non-refundable registration fee before the document check. Apply only when your documents are ready.
- Fees may rise each year with inflation. The price list for the next academic year is not published.
- Budapest is not cheap. A realistic student budget is about €800–1,300 a month on top of tuition.
- Work is limited. Students may work up to 30 hours a week during the study period. Do not plan to cover tuition from a part-time job.
Find your programme in 2 minutes
Rankings and accreditation
METU is a state-accredited private university. It gained university status on 1 January 2016, after merging with the Heller Farkas College of Economics and Tourism in 2009. METU is also a host institution of Stipendium Hungaricum, the Hungarian government's scholarship program.
We do not quote ranking positions on this page, because we publish only data checked in primary sources. If a ranking or accreditation document matters for an employer or ministry at home, we request it for your case during the consultation.
Housing and living costs at Metropolitan University Budapest
METU does not run its own dormitory. Its partner residence is the CEU Residence Center (Kerepesi út 87), 12 minutes by public transport from the main building. Current prices:
| Room | 5-month contract | 10-month contract |
|---|---|---|
Double room | €370 per month | €345 per month |
Single room | €550 per month | €515 per month |
Add a €750 deposit, an €80 move-out cleaning fee and a €50 non-refundable administration fee. The university estimates other monthly expenses at €300–500.
Our estimate is higher: about €800–1,300 a month in total, with a dorm or shared flat at the lower end. Numbeo data puts a single person's costs in Budapest at around €758 a month without rent. The BKK student monthly transport pass costs 3,450 HUF. Full breakdown: cost of studying in Hungary.
Student visa
Non-EU students need a residence permit for the purpose of studies. Citizens of Pakistan, India, Nigeria, Bangladesh and Egypt apply at a Hungarian embassy or consulate in their home country. The consular fee is €110. The authority prepares the case within 15 days and decides within 60 days, so start right after your acceptance letter.
You will need the acceptance letter, proof of funds, a Budapest address, health insurance and a valid passport. Hungary sets no fixed minimum bank balance: show that you can cover the full year. Step-by-step guide: Hungary student visa.
Other options in Hungary
If METU does not fit, compare it with IBS Budapest and McDaniel College Budapest, two other private options in the capital. For a cheaper city and more subjects, look at the University of Debrecen; for medicine, at Semmelweis University. Overview: study in Hungary.
14 questions to ask before you pay the deposit
Deposits are almost never refundable. Ask these by email before paying — and keep the university's answer on record.
- What to ask about the programme, accreditation and the degree
- What tuition does not include and when a deposit is refunded
- Who files the visa application — you or the university
- Five red flags that mean you should not pay
Other universities in Hungary
Compare the terms: fees, language of instruction and entry requirements differ.
IBS
McDaniel College Budapest
Semmelweis University
Not sure if your grades and documents meet METU's requirements? Send us your school certificate and transcript. We will check them against Budapest Metropolitan University (METU)'s requirements, tell you which documents need an apostille or legalization, and compare METU with 2–3 alternatives in Hungary that fit your budget. The first consultation is free. Write to us via the form, WhatsApp or Telegram, or visit our contacts page.