USERS' GUIDE to Hungary

C O N T E N T S NEXT AN INVITATION An Invitation Hungary has traditionally been one of the most popular tourist spots in Europe, especially for young people. The country is rich in historical sights and has a uniquely lively cultural scene. However, many young Europeans have recently dis- covered our country for another reason. Due to the processes of integration, today Hungary is an equal partner in higher education programmes of the European Union. Several thousand visitors come every year from universities and colleges of European countries. For them, as well as for our Distinguished Readers, the excellence and values of Hungarian higher education and academic life are represented by world famous scientific schools and achievements and by the list of Hungarian Nobel prize winners. Behind these outstanding achievements, there lies the vivid cultural sphere of higher education that – although in the process of transformation - is worth exploring. This booklet – published by the Tempus Public Foundation in Hungary and financed by the European Commission – attempts to give a brief overview of this system. The Tempus Public Foundation – managing European co-operation programmes in the area of education and training – would like to assist the orientation and first contact of students who chose to come to a Hungarian higher education institution within the framework of Tempus, Erasmus, Ceepus, Socrates, Leonardo and other student mobility schemes. This publication is not a replacement for travel guides and other professional sources of orientation. Besides giving a glimpse of Hungarian culture and history from a student’s per- spective, it gathers information about student life, culture, entertainment, the Hungarian higher education system, university towns and other issues relevant for students. The chapter on useful information intends to guide students through their initial difficulties. ı BACK CONTENTS NEXT AN INVITATION CONTENTS This volume does not contain everything a foreign student should know about this country. We hope, however, that the I.Hungary - INSTITUTES 30 information presented here provides an incentive for further a thousand years Institutional Hierarchy • Positions • exploration concerning Hungary. Today, one of the best ways to Administration in Universities • gain preliminary knowledge is through the Internet. You will in the heart of Europe 5 Student Organizations • find Hungarian literary works translated into European lan- International Relations guages, as well as encounter some of the renowned representa- tives of Hungarian music, dance and filmmaking. The most inter- BASICS 6 STUDENTS 34 esting things, however, can only be experienced first hand. Geography • National symbols • Social Support for Students • We are looking forward to seeing you in Hungary and hope Political Regime • Economy • Student Accommodation • Traditions • Facilities • that you can make good use of this booklet. Foreign Policy • TPF-Programmes - for International Students Political Parties and Public Opinion • The Regions • Religion • Human and Civil Rights • III. Surviving in Hungary 39 Discrimination • Minorities in Hungary • Hungarian Minorities Abroad PREPARING FOR HUNGARY 40 How Foreigners are Received in Hungary? • HISTORY 13 Visas • Customs • Arrival Transylvania • Great Years: ⁄8›8,⁄·∞6 • Regimes and Leaders during the ¤‚th Century • BASICS 41 The Transformation of Regimes Names - Dates • Climate • Currency • Changing Money • Time • Language MORE... 16 Prominent Hungarians on the new Banknotes • PUBLIC PLACES 44 Public Places • Puskás Embassies and Consulates • Police • Public Security • Police Matters - Residence Permit • Police Matters - Safety on Road • II. Studying in Hungary 17 Police Matters - Drugs • Medical Care EVERYDAY-LIFE 48 STRUCTURE 18 Cuisine • Hungarian Cuisine • Basics • Higher Education System • Drinks • Cafés and Confectioners • Tipping • The Hungarian Academy of Sciences Accommodation • Laundry • Shopping STUDIES 19 TRAVELLING 53 Universities and Colleges • Car Renting • Hitching • Education • Travelling within the City • Exams - Grading System • Travelling within the Country Research Activity • Libraries COMMUNITACION 55 CERTIFICATES 28 Postal Services • Telephones • Internet Diploma • Doctoral Degrees CONTENTS-NEXT 23 CONTENTSBACK NEXT CONTENTS I I.Hungary - IV. Hungarian culture SZEGED 76 at the turn of The City • a thousand Nature and Villages near City • the Millennium 57 The Universities • years in the Useful Addresses in Szeged • Special Events heart of Europe Hungarian Cultural Institutes Abroad 59 SOPRON 79 INFORMATION 59 The City • Entertainment Guides • Nature and Villages near City • Papers and Periodicals • The University • TV, Radio • Books Useful Addresses in Sopron • Special Events One often clicks on Hungary while browsing the Internet. SEEING-LISTENING 62 Click on: Budapest; click on: Bartók; on: Balaton; on: Puskás; on: Museums + Galleries • Cinema • PÉCS 82 Nobel Prize winners etc. Hungarian servers host more than Theatre • Opera • Operetta • The City • The Universities • three million web sites, a considerable number in a country of Dance • Music • Ticket Offices Useful Addresses in Pécs • ten million inhabitants. This is not surprising, considering that it Special Events was the pioneering work of the Hungarian scientist, János MISCELLANEOUS 65 Neumann that made the development of computer technology Community Centres • MISKOLC 85 possible. But no matter where we wonder within European cul- Hungarian National Holidays • The City • The University-Town • ture, history and politics we will no doubt eventually come Cultural Calendar • Nature and Villages near City • across Hungary. Today, when Hungary is about to celebrate the Foreign Cultural Institutes in Hungary • Useful Addresses in Miskolc • first millennium of its statehood, as it takes into account its past Religious Practices Special Events and future it finds constant references to Europe. This has been even more so since the ⁄··‚ turning point in ‘PARTYING’ 70 GYπR89 world history. Hungary played a crucial role in the collapse of Discos • Dance Houses • The City • The Universities • the communist world order. Freed from Soviet influence, it Get-togethers Nature and Villages near City • returned to the community of free market, democratic coun- Useful Addresses in Gy∏r • tries. FITNESS 71 Special Events However, the spirit and life-strategy that has been shaped by Sports • Thermal Baths Hungarian history and culture better define Hungary’s charac- DEBRECEN 92 Some Famous Hungarians ter. The central ideas of this national spirit are freedom, rebirth The City • The Universities • Adolph Zukor after defeats and periods of oppression, and the high value Useful Addresses in Debrecen • János Neumann attributed to the intellect. The most valued elements of our V. Cities 73 Special Events George Cukor national mythology are the wars of independence, heroic resist- George Soros Farkas Kempelen ance against and occasional victories over powerful enemies, BUDAPEST 95 Ede Teller and outstanding artistic and intellectual achievements. VESZPRÉM 73 „The Hydrocephalus” • Tivadar Puskás Although rich in historical traditions, Hungary at the turn The City The University Foreigners in Budapest Béla Lugossy of the millennia is still a young European country. The import- • • • Andrew Vajna Useful Addresses in Veszprém • The City of Diversity • The Universities János Irinyi ance of traditions is manifested in the strong emotional attach- Special Events Ignác Fülöp Semmelweis ment to folk-culture, traditional costumes, music, songs and Tom Lantos dances. These traditions are preserved mostly by young people: Baron Loránd Eötvös the audience of the characteristically Hungarian táncház (folk Judith Polgár Ern∏ Rubik dance clubs) based on authentic folk music and folk dances is 54 NEXTCONTENTSBACK I BASICS I Count Samuel Teleki composed primarily of young urban people. It is also young Pál Erd∏s people who are increasingly associated with the renewal of his- André Kertész torical religious movements. Vilmos Zsigmond National symbols Hungarian statehood has a history of a thousand years. The István Szabó László Moholy-Nagy The cockade One of the generally accepted symbols of the founder of the state, King (St) Stephen carried out a tough pro- Viktor Vasarely _ gramme of modernization and led Hungary into the spiritual György Cziffra Hungarian history is the cockade. It is a rosette sewed of a red- domain of the Roman Catholic Church, which then was the white-green ribbon that the enthusiastic people pined on their equivalent of modern Europe. The basic experience of belonging coats on the ⁄∞th March ⁄8›8. That tradition survives till today. to the West has now once again returned, as it did so many The Hungarian Coat of Arms times during the thousand years. Freed from dependence and The Hungarian Flag oppression, just as after the one hundred and fifty years of The Crown_King Stephen got the crown from the Pope, this Turkish rule, the following two hundred years of Austrian is the ancient symbol of Hungarian statehood. It can be seen in domination, and lastly the forty years of Soviet influence, we the National Museum. once again gained an opportunity to redefine ourselves. This new historical situation holds new possibilities for eco- nomic, political, cultural and everyday life. Due to this the National Anthem Appeal by Ferenc Kölcsey by Mihály Vörösmarty thousand-year-old Hungary can begin the third millennium with great momentum. O,

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