Central European University - CEU vs Budapest University of Technology and Economics - BME vs Corvinus University of Budapest - BCE vs ESSCA School of Management vs Corvinus Business School
Side-by-side comparison from 92 verified student reviews. Scan one row at a time — winners are highlighted
- +Diverse student body and international perspective
- +High academic rigor and intellectual stimulation
- +Expert faculty and dedicated mentorship
- +High academic standards and quality engineering programs
- +Capable and friendly professors
- +Supportive study environment and technological innovations
- +Strong economics and business programs
- +Supportive and expert faculty and staff
- +International atmosphere and location
- +Strong marketing & business programs
- +Excellent student support & community
- +Diverse academic pathways & practical experience
- +Challenging and skill-enriching academic environment
- +Positive overall experience despite external factors
- +Supportive scholarship opportunities
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- -Rigid academic structure and lack of intellectual engagement.
- -Insufficient financial aid and rising tuition fees.
- -Administrative and organizational issues, combined with underpaid and unmotivated staff, create a negative learning environment.
- -Outdated study programs fail to meet current academic standards.
- -Administrative and management issues are a recurring problem.
- -Outdated facilities and a lack of resources are frequently cited.
- -There is a general dissatisfaction with the curriculum and teaching quality.
- -Unprepared and unhelpful professors with poor communication.
- -Irrelevant and outdated courses with a lack of student engagement.
- -Significant administrative and organizational issues.
- -Administrative and management issues are a constant source of frustration.
- -Facilities are often outdated and poorly maintained.
- -Course content and teaching methods are frequently seen as unengaging and irrelevant.
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Internationality stands out as the strongest area, achieving an impressive rating. Conversely, facilities present the weakest aspect, with a score of 3.56. Other areas like professors and student life received strong marks, while location, accommodation, and value also scored positively, indicating a generally well-regarded institution with distinct strengths and some room for improvement in its physical infrastructure.
This university garners impressive marks, particularly excelling in its **Location**, which achieved a near-perfect score. **Facilities** and **Student Life** also stand out with robust ratings. While the university performs well in **Internationality** and **Value**, areas like **Professors** and **Accommodations** received comparatively lower, though still respectable, scores.
The university demonstrates excellent performance in several key areas, with location receiving the highest marks. Facilities and student life are also rated highly. While accommodations are generally positive, they represent the lowest-rated aspect of the university experience. Overall, the institution presents a strong offering with particularly notable strengths in its physical environment and student engagement.
This institution presents a mixed picture in its evaluations. It shines brightest in **Location**, achieving a score of over 4.1, closely followed by **Student Life** at 4.07 and **Professors** at 3.9. Conversely, **Accomodation** is its least favored aspect, with a rating of 3.37. The university also garners solid marks in Internationality and Value.
This institution garners exceptional marks for its **location, student life, internationality, and overall value**, all receiving perfect scores. The quality of its **professors** is also highly praised. However, areas for improvement are evident in **facilities and accommodation**, which received lower, albeit still adequate, ratings.
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~70% of reviews are positive, highlighting diversity, teaching methods, and faculty expertise. ~20% of feedback is negative, citing rigid academic structure and a lack of critical engagement.
With an average rating of 4.12/5, approximately 74% of reviews are positive, highlighting strong academic programs, capable professors, and a good study environment. A small portion of feedback (~3%) mentions issues with outdated facilities or organizational challenges.
With an average rating of 4.28/5 from 18 reviews, approximately 100% of feedback is positive. Students highlight strong Economics and Business programs, international atmosphere, and a strategic campus location. No negative reviews were recorded.
With ~87% positive feedback and an average rating of 3.93/5, students praise good knowledge transfer, specialization options, internship access, and vibrant campus life. A small portion of reviews mention unprepared professors and irrelevant courses.
This university receives very positive feedback, with ~100% of reviews being 4-5 stars. Students highlight the nourishing of skills and a competitive yet positive environment. Accommodation costs are noted as high.
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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. --- 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.
Previously studying in the USA, moving to Budapest was a complete culture shock. However, this university offers a vigorous program with ample opportunities for students who want a career in diplomacy and foreign affairs. I feel constantly challenged and surrounded by bright-minded thinkers. Throwing myself into a new country, new culture, and new language has allowed me to truly be immersed in this field of study. While the program is in English, there are ample opportunities for additional foreign language classes. The fact that this university offers scholarships and the base price of tuition is already so low, is an added bonus.
Overall, I had a positive experience at ESSCA. The programme is well organized and provides a solid foundation in business and management. The courses were generally of good quality and covered a broad range of topics, helping students develop both academic knowledge and practical skills. One of the aspects I appreciated most was the international exchange during the third year. ESSCA has a good network of partner universities, and the opportunity to study abroad was a valuable part of the programme. Student life is also a real strength of the school. The associative environment is active and offers many opportunities to get involved outside the classroom, meet new people, and gain additional experience. Like any programme, some courses were more engaging than others, but overall I found the experience enriching and would recommend it to students looking for a business school with a strong international dimension and a good balance between academics and extracurricular activities.
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