About the school
Founded in 1787 as a Chair for Animal Healing within the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Pest, the University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest (UVMB, Állatorvostudományi Egyetem) is one of the oldest independent veterinary teaching institutions in Europe. Its origins trace to a decree in the era of Emperor Joseph II.
Key milestones:
- 1851 : separate institutional status as the Royal Institute of Veterinary Medicine
- 1899 : Royal College status
- 1960 : full university status
- 2000-2016 : absorbed into the merged Szent István University
- 1 July 2016 : regained stand-alone university status — the only veterinary higher-education institution in Hungary
Student body
Approximately 1,700-1,800 students enrolled across three parallel curricula — Hungarian (state-funded), German-language (offered since 1989) and English-language. Roughly two-thirds of the student body is international, drawn from around 50 countries with strong contingents from Scandinavia, Ireland, the UK, Greece, Cyprus, Israel and Canada.
The DVM programme
The 5.5-year (11-semester) Doctor of Veterinary Medicine curriculum totals more than 5,000 contact hours, of which over 1,800 are hands-on animal work. Teaching is delivered in small clinical groups of 8-15 students.
Campuses : the main site in Budapest's XIV district (Zugló, István utca 2) houses seven specialised clinics — small animal, equine, exotic and wildlife, food animal and others — along with a modern skills lab and the Veterinary Science Library. A field station 10 km east in Üllő operates the Large Animal Clinic, an experimental biotechnology institute and an equine facility.
Accreditation & recognition ✅
UVMB has held EAEVE accreditation continuously since 1995, most recently reaffirmed in December 2023. The diploma is automatically recognised across the EU under Directive 2005/36/EC.
⚠️ USA : Preparation for AVMA (Council on Education) accreditation is under way but NOT yet completed. US-bound graduates currently reach state licensure via the ECFVG or PAVE equivalency programmes.
UVMB is widely counted alongside Košice, Brno and Warsaw as one of the "big four" Central and Eastern European destinations for English-taught veterinary studies. Notable alumni include the veterinary scientists József Marek (1868-1952) and Aladár Aujeszky (1869-1933), whose names remain attached to eponymous animal diseases.
Verified 2026-09-22 · Official sources: univet.hu · new.univet.hu · stipendiumhungaricum.hu · EAEVE Final Report Dec 2023. Corrected from initial stub: AVMA accreditation is IN PROGRESS (not granted), NAVLE not directly available, oral interview IS part of the entrance procedure, all exams online via Zoom (no physical international venues in 2026/27).
Campus & Facilities
UVMB sits at István utca 2, XIV district (Zugló) — a leafy inner-suburban neighbourhood roughly 20 minutes from the historic core of Pest by public transport.
Getting around
- Nearest metro : Keleti pályaudvar (M2, M4) and Puskás Ferenc Aréna (M2), a short tram ride from campus
- Trams : lines 1 and 3 serve the campus directly
- 💡 Monthly student BKK pass : ~HUF 3,450 (EUR 8-9) with valid student ID — 63% cheaper than the adult pass
Where to live
Most international students settle in one of three neighbourhoods:
- VII district (Erzsébetváros) — the ruin-bar and nightlife heart of the city, for those who want to be in the middle of everything
- XIII district (Újlipótváros / Angyalföld) — quieter, safer at night, popular with families and older students
- VIII district (Józsefváros) — the cheapest rents in central Pest
Housing budget (2026)
- Room in a shared flat: EUR 300-500/month
- Studio: EUR 500-800/month
- Utilities: EUR 80-150 depending on season (heating dominates in winter)
⚠️ UVMB does not operate a dedicated dormitory for internationals — private-market accommodation is the norm.
Food & daily life
Affordable: the on-campus Menza and other student canteens serve full lunches for a few euros. Realistic grocery budget: EUR 150-300/month.
Beyond study, Budapest offers a rich cultural life — thermal baths (Széchenyi, Rudas, Gellért), a large English-speaking expat community, cheap concerts and international restaurants.
Clinical teaching sites
Split between two locations:
- Main campus (István utca) — small-animal, equine, exotic and wildlife hospitals, library, skills lab
- Üllő field station (10 km east) — Large Animal Clinic, riding school and biotechnology facilities, used for food-animal and equine rotations
Academic requirements
UVMB accepts direct-entry applicants from secondary school — no prior undergraduate degree is required.
Accepted qualifications
Any recognised secondary-school leaving certificate with strong performance in Biology and Chemistry:
- 🎓 International Baccalaureate
- 🇬🇧 British A-Levels (chemistry and biology strongly recommended)
- 🇫🇷 French Baccalauréat
- 🇩🇪 German Abitur
- 🇪🇸 Spanish EBAU / Bachillerato
- 🇮🇹 Italian Maturità
- 🇺🇸 US high-school diploma
Applicants in their final year of secondary school may apply conditionally, but must submit their completed diploma before enrolment.
English proficiency
There is no formal IELTS or TOEFL cut-off — the entrance exam includes its own written English component. However, applicants whose diploma was not delivered in English are expected to demonstrate strong practical command.
Application file (via apply.univet.hu)
- Completed application form
- Passport copy
- Secondary-school certificate (or predicted grades)
- Transcript
- CV in English
- Motivation letter
- Medical certificate from a general practitioner
- Optional letters of recommendation
All documents must be in English or accompanied by a certified English translation.
Timing
Application window for the 2026/27 intake: 1 January to 30 June 2026, on a rolling basis, with additional August rounds possible if seats remain. Applicants must be 18 by 31 August of the entry year for Stipendium Hungaricum eligibility.
Work experience
UVMB does not impose a formal minimum of animal-handling or veterinary work-experience hours on applicants. This makes it more accessible than UK vet schools (which typically demand documented weeks of clinical and animal husbandry placements).
That said : hands-on experience is strongly valued during the oral component of the entrance exam. The admissions board evaluates the applicant's motivation and academic background in a 20-30 minute discussion.
Candidates who can speak concretely about clinical shadowing, farm work or animal-shelter volunteering tend to perform better than those relying on abstract statements about "loving animals".
Types of experience valued
- Shadowing a small-animal or mixed-practice veterinarian
- Farm and livestock placements
- Work in animal shelters or rescue organisations
- Wildlife rehabilitation
- Kennel or equine yard work
- Undergraduate laboratory or research assistant roles
How to present : submit an updated CV listing placements with dates, hours and supervisor contact where possible. Bring a short summary of what you learned to the oral exam. There is no requirement to have completed placements in Hungary or in a specific language.
Admission
Places 170
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Create an account on apply.univet.hu
Application window: 1 January - 30 June 2026 for the 2026/27 intake.
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Upload application documents
Secondary-school certificate or predicted grades, transcript, CV in English, motivation letter, medical certificate, passport copy, optional recommendation letters.
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Pay application fee
Non-refundable EUR 200.
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Book an entrance exam slot
From the published February-June 2026 calendar. Pay the EUR 250 exam fee.
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Sit the written exam (online via Zoom)
Biology + Chemistry + English, up to 210 minutes, starting 10:00 Hungarian time.
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If threshold scores are met: attend oral interview
Same day, 14:00-19:00 CET. Requires ≥50% overall written, 30% Biology, 30% Chemistry, 50% English.
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Receive Admissions Board decision
Same day or within 10 days. Formal notification within 2 weeks.
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On admission: pay deposit
EUR 800 within 3 weeks (visa applicants) or by 20 August 2026 (non-visa), followed by the balance of the first-semester tuition.
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Visa procedures + registration in Budapest
Register on-site for the September 2026 semester start.
Diploma : secondary-school leaving certificate with strong Biology and Chemistry (IB, A-Levels, Baccalauréat, Abitur, EBAU, Maturità, US high-school diploma all accepted).
Direct entry from high school — no prior degree required.
English : no formal IELTS/TOEFL required (tested in the entrance exam).
Mandatory documents : medical certificate, CV, motivation letter, passport copy.
Minimum age : 18 by 31 August of entry year (for Stipendium Hungaricum applicants).
Interview & exam format
The UVMB entrance procedure is a two-part exam combining a written test and an oral interview, each worth 50% of the final score.
It is not a competitive concours with a strict quota but a threshold-based qualifying exam: candidates who reach the required minimum scores are admitted until the intake (~170 seats on the English-taught programme) is filled.
📝 Part 1 — WRITTEN exam
Duration: up to 210 minutes. Three subjects:
- Biology : cell biology, genetics, physiology, ecology, human/animal biology
- Chemistry : general, inorganic, organic, basic biochemistry
- English : general and academic terminology
Content level : standard secondary-school syllabus.
Minimum scores required to progress to oral :
- 50% overall
- 30% in Biology
- 30% in Chemistry
- 50% in English
- Biology-Chemistry average not below 50%
🎙️ Part 2 — ORAL interview
Duration : 20-30 minutes with the admissions board.
Focus : motivation for veterinary medicine + discussion of academic background, including reasoning around biology and chemistry topics.
📅 Format & scheduling (2026/27)
⚠️ Important : all exams are conducted ONLINE via Zoom — no in-person requirement in Budapest, no travelling exam venues.
- Written: 10:00 Hungarian time
- Oral: 14:00-19:00 CET the same day
- Sessions: monthly, February through June 2026 (+ possible August rounds)
💰 Fees & retakes
- Exam fee : EUR 250
- Second attempt in the same cycle : free
- Results : decided the same day or within 10 days; notification within 2 weeks
There is no MMI or panel scenario — the exam is a traditional academic + motivational assessment adapted to online delivery.
Tuition fees
| Student profile | Annual fees | 5-year total |
|---|---|---|
| 🌍 International — English DVM | €12.480 | €62.400 |
| 🇩🇪 International — German DVM | €12.480 | €62.400 |
| 🇭🇺 Hungarian nationals (state-funded) | €0 | €0 |
Scholarships & financial aid
Hungarian Government scholarship (Tempus Public Foundation). Full tuition + medical insurance + HUF 40,000/month (~EUR 100) accommodation contribution + monthly living stipend HUF 43,700/month (~EUR 110) for the 5.5-year Master. Eligibility: citizens of ~90 partner countries, 18+ by 31 August of entry year. Deadline for 2026/27: 15 January 2026, 14:00 CET. Apply via home country's Sending Partner authority in parallel to the UVMB entrance exam. Highly competitive.
Small merit-based reductions awarded to existing students with strong academic performance. Not a headline funding source; no publicly published tariff. New applicants should not budget on this being available.
Monthly living allowance for study or clinical rotations at EU partner vet schools during the clinical years. Does NOT cover UVMB core tuition — supports outbound mobility only. Amount varies by destination country.
⚠️ Reality check : financial aid for international DVM students at UVMB is limited. The dominant funding route is out-of-pocket family payment.
1️⃣ Stipendium Hungaricum (the main scholarship)
Hungarian government programme (Tempus Public Foundation) covering:
- Full tuition
- Medical insurance
- Accommodation contribution: HUF 40,000/month (~EUR 100)
- Monthly living stipend: HUF 43,700/month (~EUR 110) for the Master (12 months/year)
Eligibility : citizens of ~90 partner countries (rotating list), 18+ by 31 August of entry year.
Deadline 2026/27 : 15 January 2026, 14:00 CET (window opens 1 November 2025).
Where to apply : through the home country's designated Sending Partner authority, in parallel to the UVMB entrance exam. Highly competitive.
2️⃣ UVMB merit scholarships (limited)
Very small merit-based reductions for existing students with strong academic performance. Not a headline funding source — new applicants should not budget on this being available.
3️⃣ Erasmus+ (outbound mobility only)
EUR 400-700/month for study or clinical rotations at EU partner vet schools during the clinical years. Does NOT cover UVMB core tuition — supports outbound mobility only.
❌ What's NOT available
- No need-based bursary for international self-payers
- No university-issued student loans
- No work-study system
- US federal loans NOT available (UVMB is not AVMA-accredited — private US loans may be an option)
Realistic budgeting : full tuition of EUR 12,480/year plus living costs of EUR 700-1,100/month over 5.5 years. Total: roughly EUR 115,000-145,000. Do the math before applying.
Cost of living
FAQ
How long is the veterinary programme at UVMB?
Is the UVMB diploma recognised across the European Union?
Can I practise as a vet in the United States after graduating from UVMB?
How competitive is the UVMB entrance exam?
Do I need to speak Hungarian to study at UVMB?
What is the cost of living in Budapest for a vet student?
What is the difference between UVMB Budapest and Košice, Brno or Warsaw?
All four are established Central and Eastern European vet schools with EAEVE accreditation and English-taught DVM programmes. UVMB is the oldest (1787), the most 'urban' (main campus inside Budapest with easy access to a large city), and one of the more expensive at EUR 12,480/year (Košice ~EUR 10,000, Brno ~EUR 7,900). UVMB's programme is 5.5 years vs 6 at Košice and Brno. UVMB has a distinctive Equine Clinic and a highly international student body (~67%). Košice offers university-owned dormitories (Budapest does not) and a materially lower cost of living. None of the CEE 'big four' (Budapest, Košice, Brno, Warsaw) is AVMA-accredited — on the continent only Utrecht (NL), VetAgro Sup Lyon (FR) and UCD Dublin (IE) hold AVMA COE accreditation. US-bound graduates from any of these CEE schools go through ECFVG or PAVE.
Can I transfer from another vet school to UVMB?
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