Hungarian Student ID

How to use your student ID

Being a student has many perks and benefits, and one of these things is that you own a student ID. In Hungary, this card is one of the best things that can happen to you, as it unlocks a world of discounts and special offers. read our article to find out how you can get the most out of your ID.

This is a sample ID.

The basics

Anyone enrolled at a Hungarian institute of higher education is eligible for a student ID. The student ID has two basic functions. For one, it has an identification number which proves that you are a student in the education system. This code is unique to each card holder. And second, it entitles you to using student discounts, at the same time proving that you are eligible for them.

Besides the card's ID number, it also has your name, personal data, a black and white photo, the name of your university, your major, the training method, and a date of validity.

The card itself only works if you validate it. This is quite simply done by placing a sticker on it: the stickers are different each semester, and their individual number is registered to your name and ID number. You can get the sticker at the validation points, or the Registry. Stickers for the fall semester are valid until March 31, while stickers for the spring semester are valid until October 31. This means that you can use your ID in the breaks, and also for a couple of months after you've finished your studies.

A sticker for the fall semester

How to apply for a student ID

Foreign students can apply for two types of student card:

  1. If you stay one-year, or a shorter period, you can get the temporary certificate without a permanent student card.
  2. If you stay longer than one year, you have to apply for permanent student card.

Keep it in mind that you cannot apply for the temporary certificate without doing the student card application!

The application process is pretty simple, and usually starts as soon as you've enrolled at your university. Usually, you have to be registered in the university's online system (either Neptun or ETR). In most cases, the Central Registrar’s Office is responsible for foreign students’ ID numbers. This office applies for this identification number at the Educational Authority, so you don't really have much to do besides submitting a photo and your signature. For this, you have to:

ID, passport or driving license or
birth certificate (anyakönyvi kivonat) and address card (lakcímkártya) with you.

You can go to any Document Registering Office. You can find their locations on Google Maps by typing in "okmányiroda".
You will receive a NEK-code from the office which you will have to use in Neptun when you fill in the application.


Your student card will be posted to the address registered in the online system, so make sure you have one.
If you need help with the application, you can contact your school's Registar, or the Student Council.

Discounts

The biggest benefit of having a student ID is that it makes traveling a lot cheaper. Both your monthly Budapest pass and your train/coach tickets will cost 50% less. When buying a monthly pass, select Student pass, higher education. When purchasing a train or coach ticket, ask for the student discount.

You can also use your card in museums and cinemas. In museums, the discount is usually 50%, while the rate differs with every cinema. Some concert venues and theaters also offer discounts for students, such as MÜPA, or the National Theatre. You also get a 50% discount when you go to libraries.

At the moment, the webpage listing all available discount only works in Hungarian (and is not fully uploaded), you can get a general idea of your options. Click here. As you can see, you get discounts on food, travel, culture, health, education, and other services.

As a rule of thumb, you can ask for a student discount everywhere you go. Some places do not list it, but have discounts nonetheless. The worst that can happen is that they don't ave any.

Outside Hungary

Hungary is part of the European Youth Card Association, an organization that offers a large number of discounts on culture, travel, accommodation, shopping and services in most European countries. The Hungarian student ID is already an EYCA card, and has its logo, so you don't need to purchase a separate one. You can read all about the organization and the discounts in each country on this webpage.

How to prepare for autumn in Hungary

What??? Yes, it's almost here! Both autumn and the start of the new academic year. Although today is still only the last day of August and the weather doesn't really show signs of turning colder, we can't really push the idea of going back to school entirely out of our head. Here's a handy guide of what you can expect in Hungary in the autumn.

About the weather

As you might already know, Hungary has four distinct seasons. According to astronomers, autumn officially starts at the time of the autumn equinox, on the 22nd of September, however, you might notice changes in the weather even sooner than that.

Hungary has humid continental climate, which means very hot summers and freezing winters. Although we fall into the cool summer sub-type of the continental climate, you could feel how scorching our summers can be. We like extremes. Spring and autumn are somewhere in-between regarding temperature, but they have lots of rain and often frost in the mornings.

In the coming weeks, you'll experience a slight cooling ofday temperatures with short showers and sometimes wind. You can expect anything between 18°C and the low 20s. During the night, temperatures will go under 15°C, so you'll have to carry a jacket with you if you go out.

The beginning of September is usually still warm, however, and we also have what we call "Indian summer" or "Old women's summer", which means an unseasonably warm and dry period during the autumn.

What to wear?

Try to keep in mind that the weather might change quickly. Wear layers so that you won't feel cold in the brisk mornings, and so you can take some layers off when it's warmer in the early afternoon. Cardigans, shawls, and light jackets do the work just fine.

Buy an umbrella or a raincoat. Quick showers are fun in the summer, but not when you are soaked on your way to the university. A small foldable umbrella or a rain poncho that fits in your bag is a good solution for humidity, and you don't have to remember every morning to pack it.

A lot of people buy rain boots or wellingtons for the rainy months. Although we have a good amount of rain, streets usually don't get flooded, so technically, you can do without them just fine. Make sure, however, that your shoes are waterproof, otherwise you are in for a bad case of cold and wet toes.

What to do?

Traditionally, September is the start of the school frenzy. Meeting new people, looking for textbooks, and discovering the campus and the nearby area usually fill up the first few weeks quickly. You won't even notice how quickly time passes in the beginning of the semester!

If you get bored with thinking about school all the time, here's a couple of things to try and liven up your autumn:

Here's a couple of events you might find interesting:

Vingardium Vine Festival: Sept 1-3 Budapest
26th Budapest Vine Festival: Sept 7-10 Budapest
1st National Sloth Meetup: Sept 2 Budapest
13th Fehérvár Lecsó Festival: Sept 16 Székesfehérvár
Autumn Gastronomy Festival: Sept 22-24 Budapest
Jewish Cultural Festival: Sept 3-14 Budapest
Liquid Love - Harvest at Badacsony: Sept 8-10 Badacsonytomaj
Győr Pálinka Festival: Sept 15-17 Győr

The big túró rudi poll

Which Pöttyös Túró Rudi is your favorite?

If one thing is for certain, it's that Hungarians take their Túró Rudi very seriously. One of the biggest producers of these small sweet wonders is Pöttyös, offering a wide range of flavors. This is the time to let your voice be heard: which one is the best? Are you on the side of the classics, or are you more adventurous? Milk chocolate or dark chocolate? Strawberry or peach?
Cast your vote!

The poll had been closed.

10 things you didn't know about McDaniel College

 

A surreal moment ? #classof2017 #grateful

sarah sunday (@sarahlaren) által megosztott bejegyzés,

#1 McDaniel grants an American degree

#2 You can spend the last 2 years of your degree in Maryland

#3 All credits earned in Budapest are accepted, and thus can be transferred to any college in the States

 

#CampusPhoto #Repost from @mcdanielabroad . We hope all of our visiting students enjoyed the first three weeks of the semester at #McDanielCollegeBudapest ! #McDBudapest

McDaniel College Budapest (@mcdanielbudapest) által megosztott bejegyzés,

#4 McDaniel College is focused on its students: you usually have classes of 8 people

#5 Students at McDaniel College don't have to apply for a specific program like most students do in Hungary. Instead, they can complete whichever courses interest them, and decide what to major in later.

#6 You can do dual degrees at McDaniel: can't decide whether you'd like to do Art or Communication? Why not do both!

 

Literature after a millennium ?. As a medical student, I Never thought I'd be so engaged. #abdes #fairview #ernest #hemingway

Amir Pirasteh (@mr_verdant) által megosztott bejegyzés,

#7 The College not only welcomes students from over 40 countries but also works as an international study center, so there's always something interesting going on. Since the students come from very different backgrounds and cultures, discussions are never boring!

Source: http://mcdaniel.hu/student-life/student-body-2/?lang=hu

#8 The College bears the name of William Roberts McDaniel, who, among other noteworthy achievements, invented a sport called Club swinging

#9 The campus in Budapest is the staellite campus of McDaniel College, Maryland. This college is special in many ways, but they are very proud of the fact that they were one of the first colleges to offer entrance to all students without regard to race, religion, color, gender, or national or ethnic origin. McDaniel is the first coeducational college south of the Mason-Dixon Line, and one of the first coeducational colleges of the United States.

#10 The motto of the College is 'E Tenebris in Lucem Voco', 'I call you out of darkness into light'.

10 things you didn't know about the University of Debrecen

#1 That the University of Debrecen is the #1 choice of international students. UniDeb welcomes 4000 international students from more than 100 countries, creating a truly unique multinational community.

#2 That UniDeb offers 50 English language degrees over 14 faculties, covering all major fields of study.

#3 That UniDeb is located in a forest - the definition of a green university!

 

5 years with some wonderful people. Med school almost coming to an end. All I have is love for you guys. #medics#almostdoctors #bestgroupever #group11 #unideb

Kate Tanen (@amazingkatty) által megosztott bejegyzés,

#4 That UniDeb has 874 bilateral agreements with 615 partner institutions in 44 countries.

#5 One student completed 9 degrees at Debrecen between 1994 and 2011.

#6 Debrecen is home to some of the most famous Hungarian writers, whose names are written on the walls of the hall. Two spaces are empty to remind students to strive for greatness.

 

?? #university #today #szorgalmasdiaknakunnepavizsga #elegures

A L E X A N D R A U N G A I (@alexandraungai) által megosztott bejegyzés,

#7 The University Library's special collection is home to more than 30 000 books published before the 1800's, many of them one of their kind.

 

Books are help us to escape from the reality

✖️Molnár Eszter✖️ (@molnar_eszty) által megosztott bejegyzés,

#8 UniDeb has been voted to have the most beautiful campus in the country.

#9 The University also has campuses in Nyíregyháza and Hajdúböszörmény.

#10 The Botanical Gardens were opened in 1807 and have been collecting plants every since, thus becoming one of the biggest gardens in the country.

 

#unideb #Debrecen #debreceniegyetem

Zsuzsanna Csetneki (@csetn.zsuzs) által megosztott bejegyzés,

Summer freedom on the bridge

You probably already know that Budapest is divided into two parts by the river Danube: Buda on the western bank, and Pest on the eastern bank. The two parts of the city have a very different atmosphere and layout, which is clearly visible if you are standing on one of the 12 bridges connecting them.

 

#budapest #hungary #eurotrip

Marcin Chwesiuk (@chwes) által megosztott bejegyzés,

Some of the bridges are big and winding, with hundreds of thousands of people passing them each day, while others only connect smaller islands to the mainland upriver. Be them big or small, old and new, the bridges are the focal points of the city, and everyone living in the city has a favorite. Some people like the timeless elegance of Lánchíd:

 

What colours shall we paint this bridge today? How about sunset? #budapestagram #budapest #lánchíd #bridges #citylife #architecture #aroundtheworld #aroundeurope #sunset

Cristina Roman (@cristinasmess) által megosztott bejegyzés,

While others prefer the bustling, happy noises of people heading to Margitsziget through Margithíd:

 

#margithíd #margithid #duna #danube #danuberiver #hajó #dunaihajós #június #juny #budapest #budapestview #budapestcity #budapestagram #budapeststreets #budapesthungary #budapestlife #budapestlove #budapestvisuals #budapeststyle #hungary #magyarország #magyarország #iloveyoubudapest #momentsinbudapest #storyofbudapest

Pindroch Szilárd (@pindrochsz) által megosztott bejegyzés,

It is quite certain, however, that this summer, one bridge wins the heart of all. Szabadság híd, the Bridge of Freedom, was built in 1896, and connects the 9th and the 11th districts. Its place in the city is a rather prominent one, since it continues directly from Szent Gellért square, reaching Pest at Vámház avenue, the southern part of Kiskörút. In the summer of 2016, civilian groups started a 'bridge occupation movement', whose goal was to free Szabadság híd from traffic on the weekends and transform it into an outdoor meeting place for those who would like to chill on their days off on a special location.

 

#welovebudapest #summerinthecity #summerinbudapest #thisisbudapest #budapestagram #studyinbudapest #studyabroad #andrassyuni #budapest #hungary #szabihid #szabihíd #valyo

Andrássy Universität Budapest (@andrassy_uni) által megosztott bejegyzés,

Not surprisingly, people loved the idea.

 

? City lights ? #szabihíd #BudaPest

Gabesz Csobánki (@gaben_) által megosztott bejegyzés,

Activities include early morning yoga classes, acrobats, live music, people smoking hookah, or drinking wine. Basically, you can do anything and everything that you want, as long as it's not illegal, and doesn't disturb others. In the meantime, the river in gently lulling under you, and you can watch the sun set above the city from the best possible vantage point.

The project got the name Szabihíd, which combines the shortened form of szabadság, meaning freedom, and híd, meaning bridge. Szabi also means holiday, or a time when you don't have to work, emphasizing the fact that you don't have to go out of the city if you want to have a quick weekend getaway. Sometimes, transforming a space that you already know, using it in a way that you haven't thought possible before is enough to do the trick.

 

#szabihíd #piknik #valyo photo: @tomee80

Valyo - Város és Folyó (@valyovalyo) által megosztott bejegyzés,

Strange Hungarian Proverbs

One of the most fantastic things about learning a new language, or a new culture, is encountering its proverbs. Proverbs give you a way into the heads of native speakers: it highlights the sometimes very strange ways of thinking they have - and sometimes, it's just plain funny. Proverbs are so familiar to native speakers that they do not recognize them strange, even is they sound rather twisted to someone who hears them for the first time! Here are a couple of gems from Hungarian proverbs to give you a taste of the rather peculiar Hungarian thought process.

Illik, mint szamárra a bársony nyereg.

It fits like a velvet saddle fits a donkey. - Something is not suited for the occassion or the person.

Közös lónak túros a háta.

A shared horse has puss on its back. - People don't take very good care of shared property.

Egy seggel két lovat ülni nehéz.

It's hard to ride two horses with one ass. - You can't do multiple things well at the same time.

Kenyérre lehet kenni.

You can spread him/her on bread. - He or she is very kind.

Apád nem volt üveges!

You dad was not a glazier! - You are not invisible and you are blocking my sight.

Szegény embert még az ág is húzza.

Even the branches pull on a poor man. - Additional bad things befall one who is already in a bad situation.

Még a kákán is csomót keres.

He/she is looking for a knot on a bulrush. - Someone who is never satisfied and looks for something to criticize all the time.

Szégyen a futás, de hasznos.

Running is a shame, but useful sometimes.

Vén kecske is megnyalja a sót.

An old goat licks the salt, too. - Being old doesn't mean people don't enjoy things.

Belejött, mint kiskutya az ugatásba.

He got into it like a puppy into barking. - Someone gets really good at something with a bit of practice.

Több nap, mint kolbász. 

More days than sausages. - Be mindful of your resources, try to economize.

Fejétől büdösödik a hal.

Fish stinks from its head. - It's the leader's fault if an enterprise goes south.

Szegény ember vízzel főz.

Poor man cooks with water. - In bad situations, make us of what you have.

Egy fecske nem csinál nyarat.

One swallow doesn't make summer. - One person is not enough to bring changes.

Sok kicsi sokra megy.

A lot of small parts can do a lot.

Nem eszik olyan forrón a kását.

They don't eat scalding porridge. - Don't rush into it, the situation is not that bad.

Vakok között félszemű a király.

A one-eyed man is king among the blind. - Everything depends on the circumstances.

Jobb ma egy veréb, mint holnap egy túzok.

Better a sparrow today, than a bustard tomorrow. - Focus on what you have at the moment, and don't expect something better to come along in the future.

Hiking Challenge: Kéktúra

Being a student in Hungary means that you get to discover an entirely new culture during your university years. A lot of people take the chance to get to know not only the culture, but also the natural beauty of their permanent home. While big cities like Budapest, Debrecen, or Szeged are immensely exciting and hold a lot of treasure to discover, there is nothing quite as beautiful as the countryside. If you like hiking and enjoy the outdoor lifestyle, you'll definitely love one of Hungary's most famous challenges, the Kéktúra.

What is the Blue Trail or Blue Tour?

Országos Kéktúra translates as National (or Country-wide) Blue Trail in English. The curious name covers a path-following hiking challenge, which crosses the whole country! The color blue stands for the iconic blue waymarker, which guides the rambler along the 1160 km long footpath. The Blue Trail was introduced in 1938, being the first such long distance walking path in Europe.  Although its route was a bit shorter back then, not much has changed in how it looks. Hungarian hikers started completing the route as early as WW2, and to make it a bit better known, Lokomotív Sport Club of Budapest announced the National walk on the "blue" hiking path in 1952. From the name Lokomotív, you might have already guessed that the hike has something to do with trains. The funding sport club was basically using trains to reach hiking areas in the country, which is visible is how the trail was marked. The Blue Trail has 27 smaller sections, ranging from 14 km to 73 km, whose starting points are easily accessible by train.

Up for a challenge?

Moreover, the trail also has 149 checkpoints, or stamping places. Although the trail can be completed for the sheer fun of it, most hikers get the official stamping book (which can be purchased from the Hungarian Rambling Association and from tourist info points), which serves as a proof of completing the challenge. The hikers validate their booklets at each checkpoint with a stamp, which they send to organizers when they finish the hike. If everything is well, they receive the Blue Trail pin, which is a great source of pride. There are also three bigger sections on the route of the Blue Trail which have their own badges. These can be obtained without completing the whole Trail; however, by completing the Trail one is also eligible for these.

Why should you do this?

1160 km seems like a lot, but you have to keep in mind that you don't have to do the whole trail in one go. Some sections can easily be completed with a day's leisurely walking, while others are perfect for a short weekend. In the meantime, you'll see parts of Hungary that not many tourists get to see - and not many locals either, as a matter of fact. And, let's be honest, how cool is that when you can say that you've walked across the whole country? So far, almost 6000 people completed the challenge, some of them did it more than once! If you get a few outdoorsy friends together, this is a perfect way to do something big and fun while you are in Hungary!

So, are you ready to take on the challenge? Contact us at studentguide.hu to get more info about the Blue Trail!

City Profiles: Balatonfüred

Whether you are planning to spend your summer holiday at Lake Balaton, or just looking for a quick weekend getaway, Studentguide.hu is here to help you choose your destination. This time, we are looking at the Capital of the Northern Shore, Balatonfüred.

Where it is and how to get there

Balatonfüred lies on the northern shore of Lake Balaton, close to the Tihany peninsula. Since it's rather close to the eastern basin, you can get there very quickly from Budapest, both by car and by public transport. Although the distance is only 130 km, the motorway can get really crowded and jammed in the summer months, so you might want to check traffic news and seek alternative routes. The most popular way to get there is by taking M7 from Budapest to the eastern shore and then turn left onto Route 71, which takes you along the shore to Balatonfüred. The less crowded option is to exit M7 at Székesfehérvár and continue on Route 8 to Veszprém, where you can take Route 73 towards Csopak, only a few minutes away from Balatonfüred. Fewer people come this way, although it's only 5 km longer and a lot less crowded than the first option.

If you don't have access to a car, you can get to this pearl of a city easily by train. MÁV, the Hungarian railway, operates on summer schedule from the 16th of June till the 26th of August, which means that there are at least two trains every hour. Depending on the kind of train you select, the journey can take from 1:59 up to 2:39. You can board these trains both at Déli train station and at Kelenföld. The train station in Balatonfüred is located close to the city center? it is 1 km, so about a 10-12 minutes walk away from Tagore Promenade, which stretches for miles along the shore of the lake. 

What to do

Balatonfüred is the cultural capital of the Balaton region, but it's also perfect for partying. The city has recently been replanned and renovated, so you can admire the city's signature classicist buildings in all their glory. Füred also has a busy port, with ships transporting people and bikes both to nearby Tihany, and to the southern shore as well, so you can easily explore the nearby area if you stay for more than a few days.

Füred offers a pretty cool selection of gastronomical curiosities, whether you are looking for minimalist food experiments, or for typical Hungarian cuisine. Prices are pretty cheap compared to the other parts of Balaton, and the quality is always consistent. Some must-try places include Malackrumpli, Hatlépcsős, and Baricska csárda. If you have a sweet tooth, you'll probably keep returning to Karolina, as many people do from all around the shore, and you can also discover Bergmann and Kedves, both top-of-the-line pattiseries.

Balatonfüred offers numerous bathing possibilities. Esterházy beach is a bit on the pricier side, but Kisfaludy beach is close enough if you'd like to have something on the cheaper side. The area is also famed for its thermal water, whose benefits you can enjoy in Annagora Aqua Park.

Füred is home to a number of festivals, most of them focusing on wine. The summer starts with the Wine-Book-Jazz festival on the 6th of June, followed by VinAgora, an international competition on the 16th. But the most famous is probably the Borhetek, which means weeks of tasting superb wines on the shore from the 13th of August till the 3rd of September.

The most popular place for parties is SunCity, a small mediterranian party village near Füred's shopping mall. This is almost like being in a city within the city, where the music never stops, and you suddenly have thousands of friends. The curiosity of this place is that it copies the architecture of Greek villages, but it's actually a lively party town with pubs, bars, and discos. There are also a couple of houses that you can rent, which adds a cool twist to your holiday on the shore of the Hungarian Sea.

Hiking for Beginners

Since the weather is great this time of the year - hot enough to stay out late, but not so hot as to make you want to lie under the AC instead of heading out - people flock out to enjoy nature and to explore the country. Hiking is one of the favorite sport of Hungarians. In the weekends, you can see families with small children roaming the hills next to dedicated Nordic Walkers wearing special equipment. It's tempting to head to the nearest store and get a full hiking gear, but before you blow a ridiculous amount of cash on stuff you probably end up carrying around, check out our list of essentials.

The following checklist was put together for a one day late spring/early summer hike for someone with no medical conditions. If you have any medical issues, consult your GP and adjust the list accordingly.

1. Weather-appropriate clothes

    Quick-dry technical shirt
    Quick-dry hiking pants, army pants, shorts, or running shorts
    Long sleeved shirt: this provides the best protection from the sun without overheating you
    Hat
    Hiking boots/shoes, trail running shoes
    Seamless running/hiking socks

2. Getting around

    Maps of the area
    Headlight or flashlight
    GPS or SATNAV: your phone comes in handy
    Powerbank for your phone

3. First Aid kit

You might ask why the kit is so important if you are only heading out for a couple of hours. The truth is, it's always better to be prepared, and small accidents can be really annoying. What is more, although this list looks long, it actually barely takes up any space at all.

     Compress dressing
     Adhesive bandages
     Cloth tape
     Antiseptic wipes
     Cold compress
     Nonlatex gloves
     Painkillers
     Antibiotic ointment
     Scissors
     Roller bandages
     Sterile gauze pads
     Tweezers
     Space blanket

4. Tools

    Knife or Swiss Army Knife
    Matches and lighter in a waterproof bag
    Kindling of your choice in a waterproof bag
    Duct tape (you never know)

5. Food and fluids

This is entirely up to you, but chocolate, trail mix, protein bars, and nutbars are always good to have on you.

     Water bottle
     Purifier tablets if there is no drinking water in the area
     Isotonic tablets if it's going to get rough/really hot

6. Protection

Unless you think it a distinct possibility that you'll spend the night under the stars, you don't need to carry a tent or a tarp

    Sunglasses
    Suntan lotion
    Bugspray
    Wet wipes