Erasmus experience in Budapest, Hungary

Why did you choose to go to Budapest, Hungary?

I was going to do my Erasmus in either Hungary or the Czech Republic; and after talking with friends who spent a semester in Hungary, I decided on Budapest, which was a great choice!

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How long is the scholarship? How much money do you receive to help you with living costs?

About 10 months, about €500 per month.

What is the student lifestyle like in Budapest?

I did my Erasmus at the BME, which is the University of Engineering, and one of the main Universities in Hungary. My experience at BME was very good, as both the mentors (Hungarian students helping in the Erasmus program) and the international students environment were very supportive.

Would you recommend the city and the University of Budapest to other students?

Definitely yes. Budapest is an amazing city, filled with students from many countries giving it a very unique metropolitan feeling. There is so much to see and do in the city. Not to mention that the living prices are considerably lower than other European capitals, allowing a good living experience in an affordable cost. Also, the University is very focused on helping the student with their learning experience, and combined with a high quality teaching. I was 100% satisfied.

What is the food like?

A bit spicy for my taste, but generally very good. If you like to eat well, and a lot, then you are at the right place.

How did you find your accommodation?

The University was very helpful with assisting the arriving students with finding accommodation. The Erasmus mentors have arranged detailed offers of available apartments to chose from which was great. I found an appartment to rent on the internet.

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What are the accommodation prices like? What are prices like for other things in general?

I shared a very nice apartment with 2 other flatmates. It was right in the city center, close to the major public transportation lines, which is very important if you plan on going out at night. It costed us €200 each (including utilities).

Is the language easy to get to grips with? Are there language courses available in the University?

Well, unless you plan to focus on learning Hungarian 24/7, it seems almost impossible to handle. Although on the other hand, my English skills improved to a great degree! Being surrounded with so many international students, both during the day and night, really sharpened my basic English to a fluent one.

What's the easiest or most economical way to travel to Budapest from your city?

Plane to Budapest + train to the city center. The train takes about 20 min and the cost is around €2.

Where would you recommend to go on a night out in Budapest?

The night life in Budapest is something I really miss.

Not only there are so many places to hang out and awesome parties, but the Hungarian girls are amazing. The guys are fun to hang out with, and the multinational group of students which you always hang out with makes every night an adventure. You always know when you start the night, but you never know where you will finish it!

So when getting to Budapest, I suggest checking out the Morrison's bar or the Szimpla kery which have a very easy going feeling and very cheap alcohol. If you are looking to go crazy, then there are also a few clubs like the Bed beach or Studio clubs (but be careful with the drinks there, as these are totally over priced).

And for eating? Can you recommend some good restaurants in Budapest?

Actually, it is hard to get wrong. If you are looking for some authentic food, then Lugas on Bajcsy-Zs or the 4sale (I forgot the street, but in the Vaci area) have very good goulash stew, which is a traditional cuisine.

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

As a classical European city, Budapest has a lot of art and culture experiences to offer. From huge museums to small, local culture events. For me just to view the amazing architecture of the buildings, the ancient bridges and unique monument such as the Bazilika, or the parliament was a uplifting experience every day. Although I lived in Budapest for 10 months, I couldn't see all the cultural sites the city has to offer.

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Is there any other advice that you could give to future students who are going to Budapest?

Prepare for an experience of a life time! But remember that leaving Budapest is very hard.