Living in Hungary
Living in Hungary
Student Card
All Erasmus students will receive a Hungarian student card. You will get it at the International Office from the Erasmus coordinator at the first meeting. Please be aware that this is a temporary ID document, and has to be renewed every 60 days (it is not our responsibility to keep track of when the 60 days are up).
The student card provides you 50% discount at all transport out of Budapest also – just don’t forget to show it when you buy the ticket! Museums also give you discount with student card – especially Fine Art museums.
Computer / Internet Access
There is a free wi-fi in the Main Building of the University, and each department has its own too (but they are protected with a password). There are computers that can be used by students free of charge in the Library.
Student restaurants and cafeterias
Meals, cafe, refreshments and cakes at affordable prices are served in student restaurant and cafeterias. There is one in the Epreskert and one in the main building at Andrássy 69-71.
Living & Studying in Budapest
Budapest, Hungary
Budapest has a temperate continental climate. Hungary is in the Central European Time Zone. In the winter months this means clocks are set at GMT+1 hour, and in the summer (end of March to the end of October) GMT+2 hours.
Public holidays
During the public holidays mostly every store and public services are closed. Public transportation usually works on holiday or weekend schedule.
1st of January – New Year
15th of March – commemoration of 1848 Revolution
April – Easter Sunday and Monday
May - Pentecost Monday
1st of May – Labour Day
20th of August – St. Stephen’s Day
23rd of October – commemoration of 1956’s Revolution
1st of November – All Saints Day
24-26th of December - Christmas
Names in Hungary
Names are written in the opposite order as elsewhere. The family name comes first, followed by the surname.
Public Transportation
With a valid local student ID you can buy a monthly pass for students (3450 HUF ) at every ticket office, located at almost every metro station. A monthly pass is valid for 30 days for almost all vehicles of public transportation in Budapest.
You can also buy tickets or daily tickets, but the penalties are very high so please remember to always validate your tickets or have a valid pass and keep hold of it! There are many ticket inspectors all around public transportation: some are uniformed and others are dressed average, but they always wear a red armband and carry a photographic identification badge.
More information about the timetables and services can be found on the offical website of the public transportation company: http://www.bkk.hu/
Taxi
Taxis are more expensive in Budapest. They have a yellow registration number plate or they are painted in bright yellow. It is compulsory for them to use a taximeter that also gives a receipt. The price is calculated according to the distance travelled but also includes a fixed booking fee and a waiting fee (if appropriate). You can pay with a credit card and by cash.
You can find them in front of all major hotels, the train and bus stations and at numerous other central locations, or you can call them. It is well worth noting down their telephone numbers because a taxi ordered by phone is cheaper than one called on the street.
Other information
Currency:
Forint (HUF,Ft) is the currency in Hungary.
There are coins of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 forints. Banknotes have denominations of 500, 1000, 2000, 5000, 10000, 20000 forints.
Credit Card Services
Mastercard - Eurocard, VISA, Diners Club and American Express are widely accepted in shops, hotels and restaurants. There are many ATMs in the city.
Banks
Banks are generally open to the public between 8 am and 4 pm. You may change foreign currency in forint at all banks. In money exchange offices, the exchange rate is somewhat more favourable and the service is generally faster. There are many such offices in the city and they are usually open between 8 am and 6 pm. All visitors advised to exchange currency only at accredited places. It is both risky and illegal to attempt to do so in the street. All banks have their ATM machines all over the city and you can always withdraw cash from them.
On Saturdays, Sundays and holidays banks are closed. Currency exchange is, however, possible at hotels’ reception desks.
Telephone, Postal and Internet Services
The international code for Hungary is 36, the area code for Budapest is 1. For local calls, dial phone number, for domestic calls dial 06 + area code + phone number, for international calls dial 00 + country code + area code + phone number. Budapest telephone numbers comprise seven digits, all other areas’ have six digits (excluding the area code in both cases).
Useful phone numbers
Hungarian country code 36
Budapest city code 1
Police 107
Fire brigade 105
Ambulance 104
Emergency Call Service 112
Drinking Water
Water is drinkable from the tap all over in Hungary.
Embassies in Budapest
You will find the list of the European embassies located in Hungary here.
Academic Vocabulary Glossary
Course – tantárgy
Department – tanszék
Doctoral Studies or Doctoral Programme – doktori iskola
Exam (oral-szóbeli, written-írásbeli) – vizsga
ECTS credits – ECTS kreditek
Graduate studies – diploma
Higher Education – felsőoktatás
Learning Agreement – tanulmányi megállapodás
Postgraduate Study – posztgraduális képzés
Study year – tanév
Transcript (of records) – index
Tuition Fees/Tutorial Fees – tandíj
University - egyetem
Everyday Language Glossary
Good morning – Jó napot
Good evening – Jó estét
Goodbye – Viszlát
Answer – válasz
Building – épület
Direction – irány
Excuse me – Elnézést
Exit – kijárat
Entrance – bejárat
Forbidden – tilos
Help! - Segítség!
Hi – Szia
How much is it? – Mennyibe kerül?
How are you? – Hogy vagy?
Illness – betegség
Location – hely
No – nem
Please – kérem
Pull! – húzni
Push! – tolni
Question – kérdés
Square – tér
Street – utca
Thank you – köszönöm
Welcome – üdvözlet
What is your name? – Mi a neved?
Where do you come from? – Honnan érkeztél?
Yes – igen
Learn Hungarian
You can get a lot more of your stay in Hungary if you know a little of the local language and the social codes. Even if your courses are in a foreign language, you should have at least the basic knowledge of Hungarian for everyday use and administrative needs. You can apply for a course here in the University.
Before returning home
Before you leave don’t forget:
- inform your Erasmus coordinator about the planned date of your departure at least a week before,
- pay the fees of your flat,
- get your official documents from the local Erasmus coordinator in the International Office (Transcript of Records, Confirmation of Attendance), and the documents required by your University will be signed too and give back your magnetic card (required to enter the University).