Welcome Information - Buda Campus - EN
Welcome Information
Welcome Information
Last modified: 05. July 2023
Dear Students,
Welcome to Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences - MATE. Hereunder, the necessary information is shared about your stay and living as well as your studies in Hungary.
Welcome information with active links will be sent via Dream Apply to SH, SCYP students, in an email to DFP, MISP, FAO, DAFM, Erasmus emPLANT+ students and self-financed students soon.
Please, check and save our summary of what is good to know for Freshmen.
ARRIVAL IN HUNGARY
Please note that the academic year starts on 4th September 2023 with our Orientation Week. Classes for 1st year students only start on 11th September.
Updated ACADEMIC CALENDAR: here
ERASMUS and any EXCHANGE STUDENTS info: here
USEFUL CONTACTS at MATE
VISA
Students outside EU countries should turn to the relevant authorities (and their websites) at least 2 months before the beginning of their studies.
They should hand in their application for a D-type student visa at the Hungarian Embassy in their home country. With a valid student visa they can apply for a residence permit also from the embassy or when they arrive in Budapest. The student visa may take up to 60 days to obtain.
The regulations for the registration of the place of residence and the residence permit can also be found on the website of Hungarian National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing (Immigration Office) and/or of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (http://konzuliszolgalat.kormany.hu/en).
You will need the following items for your visa application if you need visa.
- visa application form
- passport (must be valid for at least 18 months, but preferably valid until the end of your studies.)
- three passport-size photographs
- Letter of Acceptance from the university
- (transit visa if needed)
- bank receipt of transfer of tuition fee payment or a Payment Certificate from the university OR Letter of Admission from the donor institution of the scholarship if you are a scholarship holder
- the Embassy may ask for your airplane reservation confirmation or ticket
- the Embassy may ask for the proof of accommodation
ACCOMMODATION / DORMITORY
Buda Campus - Budapest
Somogyi Dormitory, Budapest
Address: 1118 Budapest, Szüret utca 2–18.,
Phone: +36 1 305 7581
Coordinator: Ms. Ildikó Fedor buda.kollegium@uni-mate.hu
The dorm offers only double rooms for students.
https://bc.uni-mate.hu/en/dormitories-of-the-campus
For the first year, rooms are automatically booked for Stipendium Hungaricum, Scholarship for Christian Young People (SCYP) scholars and for two years for FAO scholars in Somogyi Dormitory.
Please send the Dormitory application form directly to the coordinator, Ms. Ildikó Fedor in Budapest. Please note that since the dormitory has limited places, newcoming scholarship holders have priority.
TRANSPORT FROM AIRPORT
Transport to Budapest
There is a good public transport between Liszt Ferenc Airport and Budapest:
Transport from the Airport to Budapest City centre
If you choose public transport, plan your trip here: Trip Planner
In any case, please fill in this ARRIVAL FORM and note if you need help to find your way to your accommodation in Budapest and we'll try to arrange buddies or mentors to help you. Our useful introductory information is available after you submitted your form.
STAYING IN HUNGARY
RESIDENCE PERMIT
You will need a residence permit to stay in Hungary during your studies. For detailed information, please read carefully the webpage of the Hungarian National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing (Immigration Office) and the page focusing on Residence Permit for the Purpose of Studies as well as our relevant webpage.
During the first weeks after your arrival, some administration days will be organised so that you can arrange your residence permit as smoothly as possible.
PRACTICAL MATTERS (opening a bank account, insurance etc.)
For more information, please visit and bookmark Practical Matters.
Stipendium Hungaricum, Diaspora, SCYP and FAO scholars, please note that your insurance is expected to be valid only one month after your arrival, so please take care of the coverage of your first month’s insurance. Similarly, your scholarship for September is expected to be paid at the beginning of October, so please make sure to have enough money for the living costs of the first month.
LIVING IN HUNGARY
SURVIVAL GUIDE compiled by ESN SZIE.
General Information: Student life
If you are not familiar with our country, please read the Wikipedia page on Hungary
There are a lot of sights to see and things to do in Hungary. Have a look at these pages:
Gödöllő, Budapest, Hungary
FACILITIES
In the dormitory rooms (and most houses in Hungary) you will have clean running water (drinkable without boiling), electricity, central heating, and internet.
FOOD and DRINKS
You can have a variety of foods and drinks, in grocery stores, market places as well as in restaurants. Vegetarian food is available also in the two restaurants/canteens of the Gödöllő Campus.
Halal food is available in Budapest. Some well-known restaurants that serve Halal food in Budapest include Szeraj, Al-Amir, Cairo Café, and Antalya Kebab. There are a few Halal meat shops in Budapest. More information regarding the best Halal restaurants in Budapest can be found at one of the mosques or Islamic Centers in the city, such as the Budapest Mosque which is located at H-1119 Budapest, Fehérvári út 41.
CLOTHING
Those who come from tropical countries should note that there are colder seasons in Hungary including a winter, so be prepared to bring or buy warmer clothes.
STUDIES
Having a laptop for researching and writing is strongly recommended, although the university campus has computer facilities.
For details of your programme and faculty, visit the various homepages of the institutes.
You can follow us on Facebook and there are two main Facebook groups for SZIU international students to share quick info about academic and social events. Please join both of them:
MENTOR SYSTEMS
We provide mentoring to Stipendium Hungaricum and Young Christian sholarship holders in the SH mentor group and all other students in Erasmus Student Network (ESN). See details at http://sziu.hu/mentoring-system-1
You should also feel free to seek contact with senior students already here, they can help you a lot. In addition, our Hungarian students will be also eager to help you.
We hope you will have a pleasant time at MATE, and we are looking forward to meeting you soon in Hungary!