Student Wei Ting Liu explains why she chose a university in Hungary over one in the UK and shares some of her favorite things to do in Budapest.
When choosing a university for her undergraduate degree, Wei Ting Liu applied mainly to universities in the UK – but ultimately decided to study in Hungary, at Corvinus University of Budapest.
She explains what motivated her decision, and why she believes more students should add the Hungarian capital to their short-list.
Originally from Taiwan, Wei Ting (or Christine, as many friends know her) has in fact spent most of her life so far in Budapest. But having attended American schools throughout this time, she says English – rather than Mandarin or Hungarian – became her mother tongue.
With this in mind, it made sense for her to apply to universities in the UK, which after all have the added attraction of ranking among the best universities in Europe, and indeed the world.
There was, however, one Hungarian university on Wei Ting’s list: the Corvinus University of Budapest, which offers degree programs taught both in Hungarian and in English.
Why study in Hungary?
“I chose to stay in Hungary for several reasons,” Wei Ting explains. “First, at Corvinus University, we are required to do a compulsory internship at the end of our studies, and I believe that this is a great opportunity.
“Second, the tuition fees and living costs arerelatively low when compared to the UK. Finally, Budapest is a beautiful and vibrant city which is full of adventures.”
Having now completed the first year of her undergraduate degree in business and management, she’s confident she made the right choice.
She describes the university’s professors as “amazing”, and says she’s had ample opportunity to benefit from their expertise, thanks to the small class sizes.
In addition, while Wei Ting had already spent 14 years in Budapest (pictured), there’s no danger of her getting bored of the city any time soon.
“There’s always something going on,” she says. “For those who like to shop, there’s the renowned fashion street, Váci utca. For drinks, there are many pubs and clubs, great for meeting new people and socializing.”
Her own favourite way to enjoy the city is to seek out new places to eat out with friends. For newcomers to Budapest, she recommends a visit to Raday utca, a street next to Corvinus University which is famed for its restaurants.
An international student experience, close to home
Despite having chosen to study in the same city where she grew up, Wei Ting’s student experience still has something of an international flavour.
First, she says the move from the Buda to the Pest side of the city has actually been quite a big change, not least meaning she’s had to speak more Hungarian than previously.
Getting to grips with the language has been a challenge, but one she’s keen to master. “In today’s world, multiculturalism is very important and it is essential to know several languages.”
As well as working on her language skills, Wei Ting is also grasping the opportunity to experience another country and culture, by participating in the Erasmus exchange program. She’s looking forward to spending a semester at McGill University in Canada next spring.
With two years of her undergraduate degree yet to go, there’s plenty of time to think about options for the future. However, she is keen to complete a master’s degree, either immediately after graduation, or perhaps after gaining a few years of professional experience.
Whichever path she chooses, her time studying at Corvinus University should be good preparation, having allowed her to gain practical experience, challenge herself academically and linguistically, and also spend time studying abroad.
