International schools in Hungary

Are you looking for an international school in Hungary? You can find a list of selected schools at the bottom of this page. Use the search filters to select only girls' or boys' schools, prep schools, senior schools or sixth forms; or you can search for schools that offer a particular curriculum, such as the International Baccalaureate, the UK or US national curriculum or the International Primary Curriculum.

Noted for its ancient universities and strong educational tradition, Hungary is home to a vibrant international school sector. There are schools offering the curriculums of the UK, Germany, France, Japan, Russia, Serbia and the International Baccalaureate Organisation.

Centred on the capital Budapest, the sector also includes a range of bilingual schools that teach in Hungarian and a second language such as German, Spanish, French or Chinese, as well as Christian foundations and a Jewish community school. Coeducational day schooling predominates.  

There are 10 IB World Schools, which all bar one offer the IB Diploma and teach in English. Among the oldest is the American International School of Budapest, which has been offering the IB Diploma since 1993, while the newest is the International School of Budapest, which gained authorisation in June 2020. The International School of Debrecen teaches the Primary Years Programme in English and Hungarian.

International school groups with campuses in Hungary include Nord Anglia Education, which runs the British International School, Budapest; Spain’s SEK Education Group, which operates SEK Budapest International School, and Slovenian group Quality Schools International, which owns the QSI International School of Papa.  

Accrediting bodies active in the country include the Council of International Schools and the Council of British International Schools.  

Education is compulsory for 13 years from age three to 16. Three years of kindergarten is followed by eight years of primary school and up to five years of secondary education, culminating in the Matura university entrance exam. In the global TIMSS study, Hungary regularly features among the top 20 countries for students’ attainment in maths and science.

Hungary is a growing international study destination. It has 70 universities and colleges, some of which offer programmes in English. Higher education is free for around three quarters of full-time students, including those from some other European Union countries, while tuition fees for international students are modest. Scholarships are offered for high-achievers.