Centrally located at the heart of the European continent, Hungary's proud past resonates from its beautiful architecture to amazing artwork, while the country's dynamic present is seen in its evolving economy and welcoming people.

Hungary's past is rooted in the arrival in Europe of the Magyars, led by their chief Árpád. His great grandson, Saint Stephen, was crowned with a crown sent by Pope Sylvester in the year 1000, signaling Hungary's birth as a nation and transition to Christianity. The Hungarian state's identity can be directly traced for over 1000 years, although its development has gone through many stages, as it experienced revolutions and conflicts from various empires and regimes dividing and fighting over it. After World War II, Hungary spent years under the influence of the Soviet Union, but it has emerged along with many of its Central European neighbors with a challenging, yet bright future before it.

Hungary is currently undergoing a variety of changes after a decade of democratization and shifts in the country's economy. It has transitioned to a market economy, which is demonstrating strong growth built on a number of industries including mining, metallurgy, construction materials, processed foods, textiles, chemicals (especially pharmaceuticals), and motor vehicles. Hungary joined the European Union in May 2004, a great step toward the country's integration within a greater European community.

The higher education system in Hungary provides many diverse opportunities for international students. For instance, Central European University - where all instruction is conducted in English - is recognized internationally for its graduate education in the humanities and social sciences and its dedication to open societies in Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. Corvinus University of Budapest, an excellent school with a focus on business, economics, and public administration, works with government and business partners to expand the prospects for their students. The Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Hungary's premiere technical university, boasts a large and diverse international studies program. The first university in Hungary was the University of Pécs, founded in 1367. With a truly international flavor, the university offers more than a hundred different classes in English, German, French, and Italian, in addition to all of its standard classes. These are just four of the superb institutions that contribute to Hungary's diverse educational opportunities.

Hungary's capital city, Budapest, has been called the "Pearl of the Danube." The city has been at the center of Hungary's cultural, political, and historical development, and is known for its great architectural beauty. Approximately two million people, or 1/5 of Hungary's population, live in Budapest, which was originally three cities, Buda, Pest, and Óbuda, which were officially united in 1873.

Students in Budapest can experience a richly classical culture balancing rapid economic development and Western luxury with modest Central European roots. One highlight is the plethora of traditional European cafes, some hundreds of years old, which serve fantastic pastries and cakes, and are a great place to study, meet friends, and people- watch. The Hungarians pride themselves on their musical talents, and Budapest is a great city for live music of all types, from classical and opera to jazz, rock, and pop. It hosts one of Europe's largest outdoor modern music festivals, the "Sziget" Festival, every August on an island in the Danube.

Beyond the Danube, Hungary offers wonderful opportunities for those who love water, despite the fact that the country is landlocked. Lake Balaton in western Hungary is the largest lake in Central Europe. More unique perhaps, is the country's profusion of springs and thermal spas. Hungary has more than 1,000 hot springs due to its location in the Carpathian Basin where the earth's crust is thin and water rises easily to the surface. The country has enough spa facilities to accommodate 300,000 people at the same time. The baths, spas, and swimming pools serve as cultural meeting places, in addition to offering thermal waters known for their healing properties.

Students in Hungary can choose from an array of cultural activities and excursions. Due to its central location, students are well positioned to visit Hungary's neighboring countries including Austria, Croatia, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Ukraine, as well as nearby Poland and the Czech Republic and the rest of Europe. Within Hungary, students can explore Eger, the site of a historic siege where 2,000 soldiers fended off 100,000 Turks for a month. The medieval capital of Hungary, Esztergom, is home to the nation's largest church and a 12th century palace on Castle Hill. The city of Pécs is an education in architecture with its Ottoman influences and two former mosques, and is called the "city of art" because of its fine modern art collections. The list goes on, but rest assured that wherever you study in Hungary, the cultural wealth and heritage of the country will enrich your study abroad experience and give you the best of the new and the old Europe.

Resources -

Hungarian Government Portal: http://www.magyarorszag.hu/angol/
Hungarian Ministry of Education: http://www.om.hu/main.php?folderID=137
National Higher Education Admissions Office: http://www.felvi.hu/index.ofi?mfa_id=4
Hungarian Scholarship Board (HSB): http://www.scholarship.hu/static/angol/
Kempelen Farkas Student Information and Resource Center: http://www.hik.hu/index.asp?r=183
Campus Hungary: http://www.campushungary.hu/
Hungary Tourism Board: http://www.gotohungary.com/
Hungary Tourism: http://www.hungary.com/
Budapest Portal: http://english.budapest.hu/
Academic Programs International: http://www.academicintl.com/EE/hungary/
Lonely Planet: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/
World InfoZone: http://www.worldinfozone.com
Central European University: http://www.ceu.hu/
University of Pécs - International Studies Center: http://www.iro.pte.hu
Corvinus University of Budapest: http://www.uni-corvinus.hu/index_angol.php?org=2&LNG=eng