Hungary vs Malta for African Students: Cost, Visa and Work Rights
Hungary is the cheaper and more work-friendly of the two: general BA/MA tuition runs roughly USD 6,000–8,000 per year against the University of Malta's €8,500–10,800 for bachelor's degrees, and Hungary allows 30 working hours per week during term versus Malta's 20. Hungary's Stipendium Hungaricum is highly accessible to African students; Malta has no equivalent. Both are Schengen member states.
At a glance: the numbers side by side
All figures as of June 2026. Volatile — re-check before applying. Tuition in USD-denominated Hungary figures converted at €1 ≈ USD 1.14 (World Study Africa verified figures, June 2026).
| Factor | Hungary | Malta (University of Malta) |
|---|---|---|
| General BA tuition | ~USD 6,000–8,000/yr (~€5,300–7,000) | €8,500 (arts/business) – €10,800 (science) |
| General MA tuition | ~USD 7,000–8,000/yr (~€6,150–7,000) | €10,800 (arts/business) – €13,400 (science) |
| Medicine tuition | USD 16,900–20,900/yr (or EUR 15,200–15,800) | €26,000/yr |
| Living costs | ~€600–700/month (~€7,000/yr) | ~€1,400–1,600/month (~€17,000/yr) |
| Visa/permit fee (abroad) | €110 | €100 (D-visa) + €50 (e-Residence) |
| Proof of funds | No fixed sum — advise tuition paid + ~€7,000/yr living + insurance + return fare | €746/mo (visa); €950/mo (permit) |
| Work hours (term) | 30 hrs/wk | 20 hrs/wk |
| Work hours (breaks) | Full-time, max 90 days/yr | 20 hrs/wk (no break uplift confirmed) |
| Post-study job-search | 9 months, all levels, non-extendable | ~12 months, MQF 7/8 only |
| Stipendium Hungaricum | ✅ NG/GH/KE/SA; ❌ ZW/ZM | ❌ Not available |
| Malta MFA Scholarship | — | ✅ NG/GH only |
| Free public transport | ❌ (student passes available; approx. €10/mo in some cities) | ✅ (with e-Residence permit) |
Tuition and living costs
Hungary
Hungary’s public universities — most of which are now operated under the KEKVA foundation model — charge international students in USD or EUR per programme. General bachelor’s and master’s degrees run approximately USD 6,000–8,000 per year at universities like Debrecen, Pécs, and Szeged. Medicine is considerably higher: Debrecen charges USD 16,900/year, Szeged EUR 15,800/year, and Semmelweis approximately USD 20,900/year (billed per semester — watch the unit).
Living costs in Hungary are materially lower than in Malta. The official Study in Hungary portal estimates a student budget of approximately €600–700 per month (€5,000–7,000 per year), with students in smaller cities like Debrecen, Szeged, and Pécs spending closer to the lower end. Budapest is more expensive, with private flat rentals reaching approximately HUF 225,000 per month (~€636).
Malta
The University of Malta (QS World ranking: band 741–750, 2026) charges:
– €8,500/year for arts and business bachelor’s degrees
– €10,800/year for science bachelor’s degrees
– €10,800/year for arts/business master’s degrees
– €13,400/year for science master’s degrees
– €26,000/year for the Doctor of Medicine & Surgery (MD)
All figures from Subsidiary Legislation 327.177 (non-EU rate; volatile — verify per course).
Living costs in Malta are notably higher: the University’s own guide estimates €1,400–1,600 per month in shared accommodation (Msida area). The upside is that e-Residence permit holders travel free on public transport.
Visa and residence permit
Hungary
Non-EU students apply for a Residence Permit for the Purpose of Studies through a Hungarian consulate abroad. The fee applied abroad is €110 (this also covers the entry visa). No fixed proof-of-funds threshold is published — Hungary requires “sufficient resources” assessed case by case. As practical guidance: evidence tuition paid + ~€7,000/year living + health insurance + return airfare. The permit is typically valid for one year and renewable; decisions take up to 60 days.
Malta
Students apply for a National Long-Stay D-Visa via VFS at least nine weeks before their course starts. The D-visa fee is €100 (ages 12+). After arriving in Malta, students apply for an e-Residence Permit within 90 days (fee: €50). Proof of funds is a two-stage requirement:
- D-visa stage: ≥75% of Malta’s national minimum wage per month of study (≈ €746/month, as of June 2026; volatile).
- e-Residence stage: ≥ €950/month excluding tuition.
UM and MCAST/ITS students are exempt from the €100,000 health insurance requirement that applies to private college students; they need only the €30,000 Schengen cover for the D-visa stage.
Work rights during study
Hungary: up to 30 hours per week during the study period, plus full-time work for a maximum of 90 days per year outside term. No separate work permit is needed within these limits. Hungary’s minimum wage in 2026 is HUF 322,800 gross/month (~€912 at June 2026 rates).
Malta: up to 20 hours per week once the e-Residence permit is issued. Malta’s minimum wage in 2026 is €229.44/week (€5.74/hr) for workers aged 18 or over.
For a student wanting to offset study costs through part-time work, Hungary’s 30-hour weekly allowance is meaningfully more generous — approximately 50% more working hours per week.
Post-study work options
Hungary
The Residence Permit for the Purpose of Seeking a Job or Starting a Business is available to graduates whose intended work aligns with their completed studies. It lasts a maximum of nine months, is non-extendable, and applies to all degree levels (bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral). You must apply while still holding a valid study permit, at least 15 days before it expires. On finding a job: convert to a Hungarian Card, EU Blue Card, or guest self-employment permit.
Critical watch-out for Hungary PR: study-permit time does not count toward the three-year national permanent residence clock. You must first convert to a work permit before PR years begin.
Malta
The Graduate Seeking Employment permit is available to non-EU graduates of MQF level 7 or 8 courses (master’s and doctoral degrees) earned in Malta. Reported duration is approximately 12 months (EU Directive 2016/801 sets a minimum of nine months — confirm the exact duration with Identità at application time). Bachelor’s graduates do not qualify for this route, making Malta’s post-study pathway weaker than Hungary’s for undergraduate students.
On securing a job offer, the next step is a Single Permit (work + residence, one year, renewable).
Scholarship access for African students
Hungary — Stipendium Hungaricum
The Stipendium Hungaricum is one of the most valuable scholarships available to African students in Europe. Coverage includes:
- Tuition-free study
- Monthly stipend of HUF 43,700 (~€123 at June 2026 rates) for BA/MA students
- Free dormitory accommodation (or HUF 40,000/month contribution)
- Medical insurance up to HUF 65,000/year
Eligible African origins: Nigeria ✅, Ghana ✅, Kenya ✅, South Africa ✅. Zimbabwe ❌, Zambia ❌ (no bilateral agreement — verified against the 2026/27 Call for Applications and official country pages). The deadline was 15 January 2026 for the 2026/27 cycle — re-verify dates for the next cycle on stipendiumhungaricum.hu.
Over 66,000 applications were submitted in 2024/25 (record), with Nigeria, Ghana, and Kenya among the top five source countries. Competition is intense.
Malta — government schemes
Malta’s flagship Endeavour II Scholarship requires foreign nationals to hold a permanent residence permit — ruling out students arriving from abroad. UM’s institutional awards are for research degrees only. The Malta MFA Scholarship is available to Nigeria and Ghana only (not Kenya, South Africa, Zimbabwe, or Zambia); it is not specifically for taught degrees.
Which country suits which student?
| Student profile | Better fit |
|---|---|
| Wants a full scholarship (NG/GH/KE/SA) | Hungary (Stipendium Hungaricum) |
| Needs maximum work hours to self-fund | Hungary (30 hrs/wk vs 20) |
| Wants the lowest overall cost | Hungary (living + tuition both lower) |
| Doing a bachelor’s degree, wants post-study options | Hungary (BA graduates qualify; Malta does not) |
| Wants English instruction in a small island with warm climate | Malta |
| Studying medicine and comparing costs | Hungary cheaper (Debrecen MD ~USD 16,900 vs UM €26,000) |
| ZW or ZM national seeking Stipendium Hungaricum | Neither — SH not available; both still viable self-funded |
How World Study Africa helps
We compare your specific profile against both countries — academic background, budget, work intentions, and scholarship eligibility — and give you an honest recommendation. Our advisory is free for most students (funded by a 15–25% university referral; no upfront fee to you for placement support).
Check your eligibility for Hungary or Malta, explore the full compare page, or message us on WhatsApp to discuss which path is right for you.
Frequently asked questions
For general (non-medical) programmes: Hungary runs roughly USD 6,000–8,000 per year in tuition at public universities (approximately €5,300–7,000 at June 2026 rates), while UM in Malta charges €8,500–10,800 per year for bachelor's degrees. Living costs are lower in Hungary — approximately €600–700 per month vs Malta's indicative €1,400–1,600 per month. Overall Hungary is cheaper, especially for students outside Budapent.
Yes. The Stipendium Hungaricum covers tuition, provides a monthly stipend of HUF 43,700 (~€123 at June 2026 rates), free dormitory accommodation, and health insurance. It is open to students from Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa. Zimbabwe and Zambia are not eligible. Malta's government schemes require a permanent residence permit, making them inaccessible to fresh international students.
Hungary: up to 30 hours per week during the study period, plus full-time work for up to 90 days per year during breaks. Malta: up to 20 hours per week once your e-Residence permit is issued. Hungary's allowance is materially higher, which matters if you are partially self-funding through part-time work.
Both offer approximately nine to twelve months to job-search after graduation. Hungary's permit is capped at nine months, non-extendable, and applies to all degree levels (BA and MA). Malta's Graduate Seeking Employment permit is available primarily to MQF 7/8 graduates (master's and doctoral), leaving bachelor's graduates with a weaker pathway. For bachelor's graduates, Hungary has the more accessible route.
Both are EU member states and both are in the Schengen Area. Your Schengen residence card (from either country) lets you travel freely within the Schengen zone, though it does not grant you the right to work in other member states.