Economy 14 March 2024, 12:40pm

Higher education applications drop in Hungary

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Fewer than 121,000 people applied for higher education courses starting in September this year in Hungary, Népszava reported on Thursday, based on data from the Education Office. This is about 5,5000 less than last year, but some 22,000 more than in 2022. Last year, the number of applicants was at a level not seen since 2011.

A total of 120,990 people sought admission into higher education starting in September 2024 in Hungary, down from 126,449 in 2023, the highest number of applications since 2011 and 2010 when more than 140,000 people wanted to go to university.

But interest in higher education started to decline afterwards, in no small part due to government measures such as, such as the withdrawal of resources, restrictions on the number of places available, increases in the admission points thresholds, and the abolition or merging of university courses. (Institutions in Hungary rank the applications based on applicants’ previous studies and the grade point average (GPA), also experience in work and research might be required by some institutions.)

The number of applicants fell to an unprecedented low of 91,458 in 2020, and only last year exceeded 120,000 for the first time since 2011. The number of applications dropped 4.3% (5,459) this year after an exceptional 27.5% growth (+27,257 to 126,449) recorded in 2023 from an extremely low base of just over 99,000 applications in 2022.

The positive change again required government intervention, but unlike previous tightening and restrictions, they made it much easier to enter universities: among other things, the minimum admission scores, the requirement for an advanced level graduate school-leaving exam for admission and the language test for graduation were abolished. In addition, many universities - mainly in rural areas - were able to admit students with record low scores last year.

And from this year, higher education institutions will be able to decide for themselves which achievements and requirements they will award extra points. For example, some universities give 10-15 extra points to applicants who have a family member who graduated from the university.

This year's admission thresholds are expected to be announced on 24 July.

Decisions may also have been influenced by the fact that while the share of graduates aged 25-34 has risen year on year in the EU, the share of graduates in Hungary has declined or stagnated: in 2022 it was 32%, the third worst in the EU.