Budapest University of Technology and Economics - BME (reviews)

When I was admitted to BME, I had high expectations. Coming from a successful high school background with strong foundations in algebra, informatics, and physics, I was confident and motivated to thrive in a top European engineering university.

Unfortunately, my experience at BME has not lived up to my expectations—especially as an international student.

1. Administrative and Structural Discrimination

One of the biggest disappointments has been the clear separation between Hungarian, Erasmus, and international students. Almost every event is divided by nationality, creating silos instead of an inclusive academic community. Even basic facilities like dormitories are unequally allocated—Hungarian students are placed near the campus, while many international students, including myself, are forced to live in dormitories located in entirely different cities. This makes commuting to university both time-consuming and costly.

Administrative support is also extremely lacking for non-Hungarians. The bureaucracy is slow, confusing, and often indifferent toward international students’ concerns. It often feels like we are not valued or even acknowledged unless we are fluent in Hungarian.

2. Unequal Treatment and Favoritism

Although BME promotes itself as an international institution, there is clear favoritism in student selection and treatment—particularly towards Arabic students. While the university’s rector is of Arabic origin, it seems that this has led to an overwhelming admission of students from the same background (up to 80% in some departments), and unfortunately, favoritism in how rules are applied. There are PhD students, also from similar backgrounds, who act as teaching assistants and display bias based on religion or ethnicity.

I personally faced hostility after expressing differing views in a discussion, and it escalated to verbal and physical aggression from fellow students. Even worse, some instructors allow academic dishonesty to take place openly, turning a blind eye when favored students cheat during exams.

3. Quality of Teaching

Academically, the quality of instruction has also been underwhelming. Many professors are very senior, but unfortunately, many are disconnected from modern technological developments. They are often unapproachable, angry, and do not welcome questions. Some professors struggle with basic English, which makes lectures difficult to follow, especially in technical subjects. This severely affects the learning experience for international students.

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Final Thoughts

If you’re considering studying at BME as an international student, especially if you’re seeking a collaborative, forward-thinking academic environment and fair treatment, I urge you to do thorough research and consider your options carefully. My personal experience has been marked by exclusion, inequality, and a lack of academic and personal support.

Higher education should be a space for growth, innovation, and inclusion,but sadly, that has not been my experience at BME.