Studying in another country is always an incredible experience; you get to know a new environment, a fascinating foreign culture and make new friendships! Start your journey with us!

But why Budapest?

As the capital city of Hungary, Budapest offers a great hub of student life with amazing venues, a rich cultural background, word-class festivals and a vibrant day- and nightlife.

Why ELTE?

Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE) is the oldest and largest university in Hungary and the most popular higher education institution among applicants each year. The University has nine faculties. With a wide range of student services and facilities, ELTE provides a true academic environment. Read more about ELTE here!

Why our faculty?

The Faculty of Primary and Pre-School Education has a more than 150-year heritage as a teacher training institute. Our faculty is dedicated to the early years of a child’s life from age 0 until the age of 10. Our Kindergarten Education programme offers a three years (six semesters) long course; you will learn not just the theoretical elements of being a kindergarten educator, but the methodology as well. And on top of that, you’ll gain ample experience during your placement that’s built in every semester of these three years. Thanks to this practical training, you will be able to begin your career easily, no matter where in the world you start working!

Our faculty (the Faculty of Primary and Pre-School Education) is close to the downtown area, yet still located in the beautiful, green district of Budapest. Please check out our Campus Tour!

Are you thinking about working with children aged 3-6? Start your new career as a Kindergarten Educator in the international atmosphere of Budapest! 

For Hungarian and International students, we offer a full degree Kindergarten Education BA Programme, in which the language of instruction for the entire program is English. The programme can be started immediately after graduating from secondary school.

Degree: Kindergarten Education
Level of the study programme: BA/BSc full degree
Nominal duration: 6 semesters/3 years
Intake: Fall
Language of instruction: English
Location: Budapest, Hungary
Curriculum: Programme structure 

The Kindergarten Education BA Program trains future professionals who will possess the theoretically-based knowledge, skills and competences in pedagogy needed to fulfil the expectations of pre-school education. The program’s aim is to prepare experts who have acquired a firm foundation in theory and practical skills and are capable of and dedicated to educating three- to six-year-old children. The program is conducted in person, at the Faculty of Pre-School and Primary Education in Budapest, Hungary.

One main feature of the program is to provide top-level theoretical and practical knowledge in the field of early childhood education. Our faculty is the flagship institute for pre-school teachers’ training in Hungary.

The feedback regarding our alumni’s ability to fill positions in the job market is very positive; in the past years, our students have been able to choose from a wide selection of jobs.

The Research Lab conducts research and organizes several events for students and practicing teachers, such as Workshops for Kindergarten Educators or a Play Lab for pedagogical practitioners and parents.

Information for those looking to apply to study at the University of Eötvös Loránd, Faculty of Primary and Pre-School Education, this is the complete recording of the online info session held on 31 March 2021.

Our current ambassador(s):

"ELTE gives me a second chance to figure out what my future plans are. And I can have more opportunities to fulfil my dream."

Meet Liu Kehan, our first-year Kindergarten Education BA student from China. Liu started her studies in 2025 as a self-funded student and is an ambassador since the beginning of 2026.

Please click on the following link to read more about her thoughts on studying on this programme. 
 

Our former ambassador(s):

"The teachers and the entire staff of the faculty were always willing to give me a helping hand when I needed."

Estefania Fodor graduated in 2025. Originally from Venezuela, she has Hungarian roots that gave her the opportunity to study with the Hungarian Diaspora Scholarship.

Estefania was a member of the International Student Advisory Committee (ISAC) from 2023 until her graduation.

Please click on the following link to read more about her thoughts on studying on this programme.

"Other than the wide variety of courses available you also have a wide variety of extra curriculars that you can enjoy as hobbies or self-development."

Sarah Sabek graduated in 2025. Originally from Egypt, she won a Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship that she maintained during her studies. 
Please click on the following link to read more about her thoughts on studying on this programme.
Both Estefania and Sarah contributed to the creation of the promotional video of our Kindergarten Education BA programme, and to our Campus tour video that you can watch here:
•    Kindergarten Education BA 
•    Campus Tour 
 

Our graduates will be able to plan and effectively manage the kind of process-related pedagogical activities that support child-centred, differentiated development with the aim of supporting the growth of children’s personalities. Students will gain familiarity in how to comply with the relevant educational documentation while using the theoretical and practical knowledge acquired throughout the course.

Our graduates will be able to teach children aged three to six years by applying the knowledge gained in subjects such as Psychology, Pedagogy, Methodology and Language Skills. This foundation will be effectively utilized in supporting pre-school children’s needs, encouraging motivation and developing their thought processes.

A degree in pre-school education entitles the holder to fulfil positions at pre-schools owned by various entities, such as the local town council, church foundations or privately-run establishments. This qualification enables our graduates to continue their studies at the MA level.

Job examples

Day-Care Teacher
Pre-School Teacher

For foreign citizens / Hungarian citizens with foreign high school certificates or double citizenship holder: 

If you are a Hungarian citizen or hold a double citizenship and have obtained your high school diploma in an international school in Hungary or in any foreign school abroad, you can apply through the DreamApply system of ELTE as an international self-funded applicant.

• Apply Now!

• The deadline for submitting your application for entry in autumn 2027 is: 31 May 2027. 
  Application guide

Admission fee:

For applicants from the European region, the institutional contact person will send the discount code required for payment during the admission process (please make sure to contact the person via email). By entering this discount code in the Discount code field, the amount will be reduced to EUR 120 for applicants from the European region.
 

For Hungarian citizens with Hungarian high school certificates:

• Felvi application platform

• The deadline for submitting your application is: 15 February 2027.

• For more information click here.
   

Scholarship opportunities

If you are looking for Scholarships, please click here.
 

Mandatory application documents

• Record of the final two years in secondary school;

• Secondary school certificate;

• Copy of the main pages of the passport scanned, in colour all personal details and expiry date must be shown, the passport must be valid;

• Proof of the Application fee and the Entrance exam fee transfer;

• Medical certificates: a general medical certificate and a statement about any disabilities or special needs. To confirm the medical eligibility: download the formal documents (Health statement, Physical aptitude statement) from here:

  • Health Statement

  • Physical aptitude

• Upload the Physical Fitness Video to the application system. More information about the video can be found under the ‘Entrance exam’ section;

• Language certificate (if the applicant has one).

After the faculty accepted the required document uploaded to the application platform, the applicant will take a professional online entrance examination organised by the Admission Committee of the Eötvös Loránd University, Faculty of Primary and Pre-School Education.

The online exam should take about 20 minutes and contains the following three parts:

Aptitude test in physical fitness

Physical aptitude is specially designed to assess the level of aptitude that the candidate has in basic physical skills; his/her physical ability is fit for the teacher’s profession; and the ability to acquire the curricula of pre-primary physical education.

Please note that the physical aptitude test is not part of the online session, students have to upload their mandatory videos to the DeamApply platform following the guide below:

• Video 1: max. five-minute self-made video based on the requirements.

• Video 2: self-made video based on the requirements. 

The requirements of the two videos can be found here. Watch our sample video on how to perform the exercises.
 

IMPORTANT

The candidate needs to pass all four parts of the entrance exam to be eligible to admittance for the programme.

During the entrance interview, should the examiners detect the usage of any outside source (such as a translator or the presence of a third person who is aiding the applicant), the applicant will be automatically disqualified. Reading aloud from prepared texts or notes will result in a severe deduction of points from the English assessment section. We highly encourage applicants to use their own words and express their own thoughts. The same standards of authenticity apply to the Music and Singing assessment.

Reservation fee

The reservation fee is part of the first semester's tuition fee if the student establishes legal status, in which case the fee paid does not require separate treatment and accounting. If the applicant's legal status as a student is not established for any reason, the reservation fee must be settled and accounted for from the amount of tuition paid, as follows.

The amount of reservation fee:

1. if the establishment of student status fails due to the refusal to issue a visa (i.e., through no fault of the applicant): 10% of the semester tuition fee for the given program;

2. if the establishment of student status fails for other reasons: the reservation fee is 100% of the semester tuition fee for the given program, which may be reduced by the dean of the faculty based on the applicant's individual request.
    

Scholarship holders

Scholarship holders are exempted from the payment of tuition fee.

Please use the form below to get in touch with us. We will get back to you as soon as possible.

Degree programme inquiry form