The Education System in Hungary

The regular public education system in Hungary is composed of the general (or basic) school (általános iskola), the general secondary school (gimnázium), the vocational secondary school (szakközépiskola) and the vocational school (szakmunkásképző iskola). There also are some special short-term vocational schools (speciális szakiskola) that take two years1 (see Figure 4.1 on the next page). Pre-school programmes are provided in the nursery schools (also called kindergartens), which are compulsory from the age of 5.

Hungarian higher education typically has two sectors, longer universities and shorter, rather practice-oriented colleges. In terms of quality of education, Hungary is among the leading countries.