Are Hungarians friendly to international students? According to a 2026 survey of 300+ Hungarian residents, the answer is mostly yes. 80% said international students are a good thing for Hungary, 83% said they are glad students choose Hungary, and only 13% said they would prefer fewer international students in their town.
For students considering studying in Hungary, this is an important question. Moving to another country means more than choosing a university. It also means living alongside local people, making friends, finding accommodation and becoming part of everyday life.
To find out how welcoming Hungary feels from the local perspective, Budapest International College (BIC) surveyed Hungarian residents between June and September 2026. Respondents came from Budapest, Debrecen, Szeged, Pécs, Győr and dozens of smaller Hungarian towns.
So, what do Hungarians actually think about international students? Here is what the survey found, including the positive results and the concerns.
Key findings: how Hungarians feel about international students
- 80% say international students are a good thing for Hungary; only 7% disagree.
- 83% are glad that international students choose Hungary.
- 76% describe international students as generally friendly.
- The average overall warmth rating is 70 out of 100, where 50 represents a neutral opinion.
- 75% would be comfortable with an international student as a classmate, colleague or new friend.
- 66% would be comfortable having an international student as a neighbour.
- 65% would be comfortable with an international student becoming a family member through marriage.
- 83% are comfortable with daily life in university cities partly taking place in English.
- 75% say international students contribute to the Hungarian economy.
- 71% want Hungary to host the same number or more international students in the future.
- Housing is the main concern: 41% think international students make affordable housing harder to find.
Are Hungarians welcoming to international students?
Overall, the survey suggests that most Hungarians have a positive view of international students. Large majorities of the residents surveyed said they were glad that international students choose Hungary and considered their presence a benefit to the country. Most respondents also described international students as friendly.
We also asked respondents to rate their overall opinion of international students from 0 (very unfavourable) to 100 (very favourable). The average score was 70 and the median was 75. Overall, 70% of respondents gave a rating above the neutral midpoint of 50. Another 18% gave a neutral rating, while 11% rated their opinion below the midpoint.
There is also relatively little demand for fewer international students. Only 13% said they would be happier if there were fewer international students in their town, while 73% disagreed with that idea.
Would Hungarians welcome an international student as a friend or neighbour?
The survey also looked beyond general attitudes and asked how comfortable Hungarian residents would actually be with an international student becoming part of their everyday lives.
Around three out of four respondents said they would be comfortable with an international student as a classmate, colleague or new friend. About two-thirds would also be comfortable with an international student as a neighbour or as a family member through marriage. Clear discomfort was relatively uncommon, ranging from 6% to 14% depending on the situation.
Everyday communication also appears to be comfortable for most people. 77% said they would feel calm and natural talking with an international student, while only 8% said they would feel awkward.
Is Hungary a good place for international students who do not speak Hungarian?
For international students, one of the biggest practical questions is whether they can live and study in Hungary without speaking Hungarian fluently. The survey suggests that English is widely accepted in university cities, although learning some basic Hungarian can help international students connect with local people.
| Statement | Agree | Disagree |
|---|---|---|
| It's acceptable that daily life in university cities partly runs in English | 83% | 7% |
| It bothers me when English is used instead of Hungarian in shops, cafés or public spaces | 9% | 79% |
| English-taught programmes threaten the role of Hungarian in higher education | 7% | 83% |
| International students should make more effort to learn Hungarian | 31% | 38% |
| Source: Budapest International College survey of Hungarian residents, 2026 (n = 302). Remaining respondents were neutral or unsure. | ||
83% of respondents are comfortable with daily life in university cities partly taking place in English, while 79% are not bothered when English is used in shops and cafés. Opinions are more divided on whether international students should make an effort to learn Hungarian. 31% agree that students should make more effort, while 38% disagree.
In practical terms, international students can study and manage much of their everyday life in English in Hungary’s university cities. However, learning a few basic Hungarian expressions can be a useful way to show respect and make social interactions easier. You do not need to speak perfect Hungarian. Even simple words such as köszönöm (thank you), szia (hi) and jó étvágyat (enjoy your meal) can make a good impression.
Do Hungarians think international students benefit Hungary?
Yes. Most respondents see international students as contributing positively to Hungary, particularly through the economy, higher education and cultural exchange.
| Statement | Agree |
|---|---|
| International students improve the international reputation of Hungarian universities | 80% |
| They make university cities livelier and more diverse | 80% |
| International students contribute to the Hungarian economy | 75% |
| State scholarship programmes bringing students to Hungary are useful for the country | 66% |
| Source: Budapest International College survey of Hungarian residents, 2026 (n = 302). | |
When respondents were asked to describe the most positive effects of international students in their own words, several themes appeared repeatedly. The most common were cultural diversity and openness, the opportunity to learn about other cultures without travelling, personal connections and language practice, the international reputation of Hungarian universities, and the money international students spend in local communities.
For international students, this means that their presence is not viewed only through the lens of education. Many local residents also associate international students with cultural exchange, international connections and economic activity.
What are the main concerns about international students in Hungary?
The picture is positive overall, but not every response was positive. The survey identified two particularly noticeable concerns: housing and social separation.
Does the presence of international students make housing more expensive in Hungary?-Housing is the clearest area of concern in the survey.
41% of residents feel that international students make affordable housing harder to find, while 34% disagree.
This result reflects a broader housing squeeze in Hungarian university cities that affects both local residents and students. For international students planning to study in Hungary, finding accommodation early is therefore important.
Students should also check what housing support their university or college offers before arriving, particularly if they are planning to study in Budapest or another major university city.
Do international students in Hungary stay separate from Hungarian society?- This is the second major concern identified by the survey.
57% of respondents think international students often stay separate from local society, while 69% feel that international students’ values and customs often differ from Hungarian norms.
However, these differences do not necessarily translate into negative attitudes. 75% reject the idea that international students weaken Hungarian traditions, and 75% say cultural diversity enriches Hungary.
There is also clear interest in greater interaction. 54% say they would be happy if international students were more integrated into everyday Hungarian society.
In other words, the survey suggests that the issue may be less about rejection and more about limited contact between international students and local residents.
Do Hungarians see international students as a burden?- Most respondents do not.
Only 10% see international students as a burden on local services. Similarly, 21% worry that international students take university places away from Hungarian applicants, while 57% disagree with that statement.
Around a quarter of respondents think a large international student population could create tension in some neighbourhoods or change the character of a town. In both cases, however, more respondents disagree than agree.
How many Hungarians have personal contact with international students?
One of the most interesting findings is that many Hungarian residents simply have not had much personal contact with international students.
- 27% do not know a single international student by name.
- Only about 1 in 7 have an international student among their friends, close friends or family members.
- 64% either already attend events where they can meet international students (21%) or would like to try one (43%).
- 68% think universities should do more to help Hungarian and international students get to know each other.
This suggests there is considerable room for more interaction between international students and Hungarian residents.
Hungarians may also be more modest about their own hospitality than expected. Only 34% think international students see Hungarians as kind, while 40% were unsure.
At the same time, reported experiences with international students are generally positive. 63% of respondents said their experiences with international students are often or always positive, while only 15% said the same about negative experiences.
Do Hungarians want more international students in the future?
| In the future, Hungary should host… | Share |
|---|---|
| About the same number of international students | 45% |
| More international students | 26% |
| Fewer international students | 11% |
| No opinion | 18% |
| Source: Budapest International College survey of Hungarian residents, 2026 (n = 302). | |
Most respondents would be comfortable with Hungary maintaining or increasing the current number of international students.
71% want Hungary to host the same number or more international students in the future. Only around one in ten would prefer fewer.
For students considering Hungary as a study destination, this suggests that the presence of international students is broadly accepted among the Hungarian residents included in the survey.
How can international students feel more at home in Hungary?
The survey points to a few simple ways international students can build connections with Hungarian people.
- Say yes to mixed events. Most local residents appear open to meeting international students, but people need opportunities to meet. Cultural events, sports clubs and language exchanges can provide an easy starting point.
- Learn some basic Hungarian. You do not need to become fluent. Even a few everyday phrases can show that you are making an effort to engage with Hungarian culture.
- Get outside the international student bubble. Staying mainly within an international community can make it harder to build relationships with Hungarian residents. The perception that international students keep to themselves was the most common social concern in the survey.
- Arrange housing early. Housing was the clearest area of concern among respondents, and accommodation can become more difficult to find before the start of the university semester.
- Look for a university or college that supports integration. 68% of respondents think universities should do more to help Hungarian and international students meet each other.
Planning to study in Hungary?
Budapest International College offers Foundation programmes in English, Engineering and Business for international students preparing to study at a Hungarian university. The programmes combine academic preparation with support for settling into life in Hungary.
About the survey
- What: An online survey of adults living in Hungary about their views on and experiences with international students.
- When: June–September 2026.
- Who: 302 respondents (Hungarian citizens and long-term residents who speak Hungarian) after quality checks. Respondents lived mainly in Budapest, Debrecen, Szeged, Pécs and Győr, as well as dozens of smaller towns.
- By: Budapest International College, as part of an ongoing academic research project on host-community attitudes toward international students.
- Important limitation: this is not a nationally representative poll. Respondents were recruited online and skew younger, more highly educated, more liberal-leaning and more university-connected than the Hungarian population as a whole. Almost all live or work in a city with a university that hosts international students.
- This means the respondents are largely people who live or work in the same communities where international students study and spend their everyday lives. The findings therefore provide useful descriptive information about attitudes among this particular group, but they should not be interpreted as representing the views of all Hungarian residents.
- Percentages are rounded to whole numbers. “Agree” combines “strongly agree” and “rather agree”.
- These are early, descriptive results. In-depth analyses will be published in peer-reviewed academic journals.
