Study in the United States

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The U.S. Educational System

The United States does not have a national school system. Nor, with the exception of the military academies, are there schools run by the federal government. But the government provides guidance and funding for federal educational programs in which both public and private schools take part, and the U.S. Department of Education oversees these programs.

In the United States, a college is an institution of higher learning that offers courses in related subjects. A liberal arts college, for example, offers courses in literature, languages, history, philosophy, and the sciences, while a business college offers courses in accounting, investment, and marketing. Many colleges are independent and award bachelor’s degrees to those completing a program of instruction that typically takes four years. But colleges can also be components of universities. A large university typically comprises several colleges, graduate programs in various fields, one or more professional schools (for example, a law school or a medical school), and one or more research facilities. (Americans often use the word “college” as shorthand for either a college or a university.)

Every state has its own university, and some states operate large networks of colleges and universities. Some cities also have their own public universities. In many areas, junior or community colleges provide a bridge between secondary school and four-year colleges for some students. In junior colleges, students can generally complete their first two years of college courses at low cost and remain close to home. Unlike public elementary and secondary schools, public colleges and universities usually charge tuition.

The Fulbright Program in Hungary

The goal of the Hungarian-American Fulbright Commission for Educational Exchange is to support educational and research programs which are in harmony with the spirit of the signing partner states and which receive financial support from the two governments. The Fulbright Commission organizes the exchange of Hungarian and American graduate students, scholars, researchers, lecturers and artists. The aim of the Commission is to increase the visibility of the Fulbright Program in Hungary and to encourage possibilities for scholarly exchange between the two countries.

Student Advising

Applying to study in the United States is not a simple process, but there are good resources available to help you understand what to do. The United States Government provides education information centers in nearly every country, and there are also extensive Internet resources. As you make your plans, the best way to start is to visit the closest U.S. educational advising center. At the center, a well-trained educational adviser and a comprehensive reference collection will help you get familiar with the applications process, select the institution, seek financial aid, and prepare for the required standardized tests (TOEFL, SAT, ACT, GRE). You can find centers in Budapest, Debrecen, Pécs and Szeged. The Fulbright Educational Advising Center maintains a complete list of centers in Hungary.

Testing

If you want to enter an American college or university, you are required to take certain standardized tests such as TOEFL, SAT, ACT, GRE, GMAT, or LSAT. Most of them can be taken in Hungary.  For more information, please visit EducationUSA’s Test Center.

Undergraduate admissions:  Admissions requirements vary, so be sure to confirm which test(s) you need with the institutions that interest you.

ACT: a curriculum-based multiple-choice assessment that tests reading, English, mathematics, and science, with an optional essay section.  The ACT is widely accepted at accredited two and four-year colleges and universities in the United States, and hundreds of institutions around the world.

SAT: a test that measures critical reading, writing, and mathematical abilities.  The SAT Subject Tests measure knowledge in specific subject areas. The SAT is widely accepted at accredited two and four-year colleges and universities in the United States, and hundreds of institutions around the world.

For information on the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE), please visit the USMLE web site.

Colleges and Universities in the U.S.

To obtain further information on the colleges and universities, you may wish to visit the home page of the Peterson’s Educational Center.

Visa Information

For information about visas, please visit our Student Visas and Exchange Visitor Visas pages.

Non-U.S. Government-Supported Exchange Programs

ArtsLink supports exchange between artists and arts organizations in the United States and 37 foreign countries through separate types of awards.

ArtsLink Residencies
Structured five-week residencies for arts professionals in dance, music, theater. ArtsLink places Fellows at established U.S. non-profit arts organizations and covers associated living, working, travel, and health insurance costs. Applicants do not need to have contacts with organizations in the U.S. to apply for this program, but working knowledge of English is required.
More information with application deadlines

ArtsLink Independent Projects
Project grants in all disciplines enable artists and arts managers to carry out self-directed projects in the US.  Applicants must have a letter of invitation from a non-profit organization or individual in the U.S. to enter this competition.
More information with application deadlines

The Atlas Corps Fellowship is a 12 to18 month professional fellowship offered three times a year for nonprofit leaders from around the world. Fellows serve full-time at host organizations located in the United States working on issues that complement their expertise. Fellows develop their leadership skills while sharing best practices and supplement daily knowledge with theoretical topics presented in the Atlas Corps Nonprofit Management Series.

Atlas Service Corps, Inc. (Atlas Corps) is an international network of nonprofit leaders and organizations. This fellowship program is supported by the U.S. Department of State.
Application information and deadlines

The Elizabeth Neuffer Fellowship is open to women journalists whose focus is human rights and social justice. Applicants must be dedicated to a career in journalism in print, broadcast or online media and show a strong commitment to sharing knowledge and skills with colleagues upon the completion of the fellowship.

One woman journalist will be selected to spend seven months in a tailored program with access to MIT’s Center for International Studies as well as media outlets including The Boston Globe and The New York Times. The flexible structure of the program will provide the fellow with opportunities to pursue academic research and hone her reporting skills covering topics related to human rights.

How to apply

The Hungarian-American Enterprise Scholarship Fund’s (HAESF) objective is to promote free enterprise and development in Hungary and to continue to strengthen ties between the United States and Hungary by creating opportunities for accomplished Hungarians and those of great promise to gain professional experience in the United States, thereby enhancing their contribution to Hungarian society.

Deadlines:
April 1 and October 15 for the Professional Internship Program and Senior Leaders and Scholars Fellowships; and February 15 and September 15 for the Entrepreneurship Development Program

Sewanee: The University of the South is pleased to announce the Klein Family Scholarship available to Hungarian high school students for a 4-year full scholarship to receive a Bachelor’s Degree at Sewanee: The University of the South, a national liberal arts university with an outstanding undergraduate College of Arts and Sciences, located in the state of Tennessee in the United States.

Named in honor of National Endowment for Democracy’s (NED) principal founders, former president Ronald Reagan and the late congressman Dante Fascell, the Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellows Program was established in 2001 with funding from the U.S. Congress to enable democratic practitioners, scholars, and journalists from around the world to deepen their understanding of democracy and enhance their ability to promote democratic change.

For more information, visit Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellows Program page. Applications are accepted through the online application system.

The Trust for Mutual Understanding Grants awards grants to American nonprofit organizations to support the international travel component of cultural and environmental exchanges conducted in partnership with institutions and individuals in Russia and Central and Eastern Europe. Priority consideration is given to projects that involve direct, in-depth professional interaction, with the potential for sustained collaboration; that show evidence of professional accomplishment and innovation; and/or that respond to social contexts and engage local communities.

TMU continues to support East-West exchanges in the arts and environment, reflecting the founder’s appreciation of the importance of culture and ecology in people’s lives.

While the Initial Inquiry may be made by an individual or institution in any of the countries in which TMU is active, the Final Proposal must be submitted by an American nonprofit organization with 501(c)(3) tax exempt status, as TMU does not make grants directly to institutions or individuals abroad.

Deadlines: TMU’s Board meets to review Final Proposals twice a year. Board review meetings are typically held four months after the deadlines for receiving Final Proposals, which are:
February 1st for notification by mid-May
August 1st for notification by mid-November

The United States Telecommunications Training Institute (USTTI) is a joint venture between leaders of the U.S. communications industry and ranking officials from the Federal Government. The goal of this collaborative effort is to share the United States’ communications and technological advances on a global basis by providing a comprehensive array of free telecommunications and broadcast training courses for qualified women and men who manage the communications infrastructures in the developing countries of the world.

ICT (Information Communication Technology) officials; entrepreneurs; broadcasters, and satellite, wireless, telehealth, and emergency communications professionals who are proficient in English and employed in the public or private sector of a developing country are encouraged to apply for USTTI training.

The World Press Institute (WPI) fellowship is offered to 10 journalists from countries around the world. It provides immersion into the governance, politics, business, media, journalistic ethics and culture of the United States for experienced international journalists, through a demanding schedule of study, travel and interviews throughout the country.

The program usually begins in mid-August and end in mid-October. The fellows will spend three weeks in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota, and then travel to several U.S. cities, including New York and Washington, D.C., for briefings, interviews and visits. They will return to Minnesota for the final week of the program.

Journalism — in particular, the role and responsibilities of a free press in a democracy— is the primary focus of the WPI fellowship program.

For U.S. Government-Sponsored Exchange Programs visit our Educational Exchanges page.

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