Education
School education:
Basic education lasts for eight years divided into two stages of four years each. Secondary education is provided in comprehensive/academic secondary schools (gimnázium) or vocational secondary schools (szakközépiiskola). Schools often offer more than one programme (e.g. academic and vocational, academic four- or six-year courses). The typical institutions offering general education and an Upper Secondary School Leaving Certificate are known as comprehensive/academic secondary schools (gimnázium) and may be attended for four, five (e.g. bilingual secondary schools), six or eight years. Secondary vocational schools (szakközépiskola) and vocational schools (szakiskola) train in the fields of humanities, technical, agricultural sciences and services. Secondary vocational schools provide general education in the first four years and award the Secondary School Leaving Certificates. Vocational education generally begins after the fourth year, although some introductory vocational subjects may be taught during the first four years as well. Length of vocational courses may vary from one to three years up to vocational programmes. Vocational schools do not award secondary school leaving certificates and the level of the vocational qualification is lower than that in the vocational secondary schools.
Higher education:
Hungarian higher education has a dual system with colleges and universities. Some colleges are associated with universities and operate as college faculties of the universities. A university can also offer college level courses. The duration of training at college level is minimum 3 years, maximum 4 years; the duration of education at university level is minimum 4 years, maximum 5 years (with the exception of medical universities where it is 6 years). According to the binary pattern, colleges and universities grant Föiskolai Oklevél (college level degree) and universities grant Egyetemi Oklevél (university level degree). Universities organize three-year PhD courses, specialized further education courses (with a normal duration of two years) and various continuous education courses. The Act LXXX of 1993 on Higher Education established two institutions to provide professional advice on the development and control of higher education: the Hungarian Accreditation Committee (HAC) and the Higher Education and Scientific Council (HESC). On 1 June 1999, Parliament passed Act LII of 1999 on Restructuring the Institutions of Higher Education and amended Act LXXX of 1993 on Higher Education. By passing the above law the number of state run universities and colleges decreased significantly. The number of higher education institutions was 89 (55 run by the State, 28 by Churches and 6 by foundations). At present, the new network of higher education institutions consists of 17 state universities, 1 non-state university, 13 colleges, 26 Church universities and colleges and 9 colleges run by foundations.
Economy
Hungary's economy is 67.2 percent free, according to our 2008 assessment, which makes it the world's 43rd freest economy. Its overall score is 2.8 percentage points higher than last year, reflecting improved scores in seven of the 10 economic freedoms. Hungary is ranked 23rd out of 41 countries in the European region, and its overall score is slightly lower than the regional average.
Hungary enjoys strong trade freedom, business freedom, property rights, investment freedom, financial freedom, and freedom from corruption. Investing in Hungary is easy, although it is subject to government licensing in security-sensitive areas. Foreign capital enjoys virtually the same protections and privileges as domestic capital. The rule of law is strong, a professional judiciary protects property rights, and the level of corruption is low.
The size of government is Hungary's biggest weakness, with a score in that category that is fully 41 percentage points below the world average. High tax rates and tax revenues also cause its score for fiscal freedom to fall below average.
Climate
Hungary is best visited over the summer period, when the weather is warmer and the attractions are all open. The weather in spring and autumn can be very pleasant, but temperatures drop to around 20°F (9°C). Over winter temperatures approach freezing. Some rain can be expected throughout the year.
With the Alps to the west and the flat, open Great Plain to the east, Budapest has warm summers and bitterly cold winters, with plenty of rain all year round. Winters are fairly short, the very cold weather arriving in mid-December, usually cloudy and damp with odd bright sunny days and frequent, but light, snow. In summer, from April to September, Budapest has a high proportion of sunny, warm days with relatively high humidity, the sun shining for about 10 hours a day.
List of Universities in HUNGARY
North America
North America
GRE
