In Hungary, education is mandatory between ages 5-18. The structure includes kindergarten from ages 3-6, primary and lower secondary education from ages 6-14 in 8-grade schools, and upper secondary education from ages 14-18 in general secondary, vocational secondary, or vocational schools. Higher education is offered at universities and colleges, including BA/BSc programs, MA/MSc programs, and doctoral programs. Kindergarten is optional starting at age 3 and compulsory at age 5, and provides education and care. Public schools are free while private schools may charge fees.

1. THE SYSTEM OF
EDUCATION
IN HUNGARY

2. Public Education
 Participation in education is mandatory between
the ages of 5 and 18.
 Public education institutions may be established
and maintained
- by the state,
- local governments (public sector
schools)
- legal entities (foundations, churches,
etc.)
- natural persons.

3. The structure of education
 Kindergarten education and care is available
for children aged 3-6 and is compulsory from
age 5.
 Primary and lower secondary education is
provided in 8-grade single structure schools.
(General secondary schools are also allowed to
offer single structure programmes starting from
Grade 5 (8-grade secondary programmes) or
Grade 7 (6-grade secondary programmes)

4.  Upper secondary education:
In general secondary schools, vocational
secondary schools or vocational schools.
General secondary schools provide general
education and prepare for the secondary school
leaving examination (érettségi) which is the
prerequisite for admission to higher education
Secondary vocational schools provide general
and pre-vocational education in grades 9-12,
prepare for the secondary school leaving
examination

5. Vocational schools provide general and
pre-vocational education in grades 9-10
and vocational education in grades 11-12.
They do not prepare for the secondary
school leaving examination.
 Higher education programmes
are offered by universities and colleges

6. Early childhood education and care
 Kindergarten (óvoda) provides education and
care for children aged 3 to 6 (7) years.
 Most kindergartens also provide full day care
with meals.
 Optional from the age of 3 and is compulsory
from the age of 5, when children are obliged to
participate 4 hours a day in guided activities.

7.  Although mandatory primary school entry age is
6 years, children may stay in kindergarten for an
extra year, up to age 7, upon parental request or
expert recommendation.
 Children with special education needs may
attend kindergarten up to age 8.
 Public kindergartens are free: they can only
charge for extra services not included in their
basic tasks, e.g. for meals, excursions.
 Private kindergartens may charge a fee.

8. Primary and Lower Secondary
Education
 At the primary levels, i.e. in Grades 1-4,
the classroom teacher teaches all
subjects.
 Subject teaching starts in Grade 5.
 The maximum number of students per
class cannot exceed 26 in Grades 1-4,
and 30 in Grades 5-8.

9.  The school year starts on the first working
day of September and ends in mid-June.
 In this period 185 days are teaching days,
five days a week from Monday to Friday.
 There is a school holiday in the autumn,
the winter and in the spring.
 Lessons typically last for 45 minutes.
 The school may also organize longer
(maximum 60-minute) or shorter lessons.
 The school day typically starts at 8 a.m.
and ends between 12:30 and 2 p.m.

10. Upper secondary education
 secondary general programmes
(gimnázium)
 secondary vocational programmes
(szakközépiskola)
 vocational programmes (szakiskola)
 Special vocational programmes (speciális
szakiskola) are available for students with
special educational needs.

11. Higher education
 There are two types of higher education
institutions: non-university
institutions/colleges (főiskola) and
universities (egyetem).
 BA/BSc programmes of 6 to 8 semesters
lead to a first degree.
 Master level programmes (MA/MSc) of
another 2 to 4 semesters require a first
degree as admission criterion.
 The pre-requisite to entering doctoral
programmes is a MA/MSc degree.

12. Further information about the
Hungarian Education System:
http://english.tpf.hu/upload/docs/angol/Magy
ar_oktatasi_rendszer_en.pdf