Central European University - CEU vs University of Debrecen vs ESSCA School of Management vs Széchenyi István University - SZE vs University of Pécs

Side-by-side comparison from 194 verified student reviews. Scan one row at a time — winners are highlighted

Quick verdict
Higher overall rating: Tie
Central European University - CEU: wins 0/7 categories
University of Debrecen: wins 4/7 categories
ESSCA School of Management: wins 0/7 categories
Széchenyi István University - SZE: wins 1/7 categories
University of Pécs: wins 0/7 categories
Wekerle International University: wins 1/7 categories
University of Pécs Faculty of Business and Economics: wins 1/7 categories
Comparing
Best programme: Philosophy
Debrecen, Hungary
4.50
Read more reviews
85 reviews
×
Best programme: Chemistry
Best programme: International Business
Best programme: Teacher Education with Political Science
Best programme: Psychology
Best programme: MBA
Best programme: MSc Management & Leadership
Category ratings
Facilities
3.56
4.68
Win
3.58
4.00
4.18
4.00
4.36
Location
3.44
4.33
4.08
4.27
4.44
5.00
Win
4.57
Professors
4.22
4.46
Win
4.00
4.20
4.14
4.00
4.36
Internationality
4.78
4.83
Win
4.00
4.40
4.53
4.00
4.64
Student life
4.00
4.49
Win
4.17
4.29
4.44
4.00
3.80
Value
3.78
4.43
3.67
3.87
4.26
4.00
4.50
Win
Accommodation
3.75
4.24
3.25
4.36
Win
4.19
3.00
4.21
Pros & Cons
Pros
  • +Diverse student body and international perspective
  • +High academic rigor and intellectual stimulation
  • +Expert faculty and dedicated mentorship
  • +Approachable and invested lecturers
  • +Well-structured, engaging programmes with practical application
  • +International environment and community building
  • +Practical, experiential learning with real-world application.
  • +Strong international focus, diversity, and global opportunities.
  • +Supportive faculty and high-quality teaching.
  • +Supportive and approachable academic staff
  • +Modern campus facilities and pleasant environment
  • +Opportunities for practical learning and international interaction
  • +Practical and theoretical course balance
  • +Approachable, experienced faculty
  • +Supportive, multicultural community
  • +Friendly, international learning environment
  • +Supportive professors, practical business concepts
  • +Organized classes, useful study materials
  • +Practical, up-to-date curriculum with real-world focus
  • +Affordable, international study environment
  • +Welcoming city with good social opportunities
Cons
  • -Rigid academic structure and lack of intellectual engagement.
  • -Insufficient financial aid and rising tuition fees.
  • -Administrative and management issues cause significant stress.
  • -Lack of teacher support and career counseling hinders student progress.
  • -Study quality is often poor, especially in non-medical fields.
  • -Expensive tuition for irrelevant courses and unqualified instructors.
  • -Lack of student motivation and engagement in academics.
  • -Lack of social life and engaging events
  • -Insufficient or poorly managed administrative support
  • -Outdated or inadequate facilities
  • -Outdated facilities and equipment create a poor learning environment.
  • -Excessive administrative burdens and inefficient management cause frustration.
  • -Lack of accessible and timely support exacerbates student difficulties.
  • -Administrative and management issues cause significant frustration.
  • -Outdated facilities and resources hinder learning.
  • -Lack of clear communication and support from instructors is a common complaint.
  • -Administrative and management issues cause significant frustration.
  • -Outdated facilities and a lack of resources hinder learning.
  • -The curriculum is often perceived as irrelevant and poorly delivered.
Rating summary
What students say

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.

Overall, this university garners strong ratings across most aspects. Internationality stands out as a particularly high-scoring area, reflecting a well-developed global presence. Conversely, accommodation received the lowest rating among the surveyed categories. Other areas like facilities, student life, and professors also received favorable scores, indicating a generally positive university experience.

This institution garners particularly high marks for Student Life, averaging over 4.16, with Location also scoring well at 4.08. Professors and Internationality are also rated positively at a solid 4.0. Conversely, Accomodation stands out as the weakest area, receiving a 3.25 rating, while Facilities and Value are mid-range.

Among surveyed categories, student life and internationality stand out with strong ratings of 4.28 and 4.4 respectively. Accommodation also scores well at 4.36. The university's weakest area is value, with a rating of 3.87, while facilities receive a solid 4. Professors and location are also rated positively. Overall, the institution demonstrates a generally favorable standing across its evaluated aspects.

This institution garners excellent marks in key areas, with Internationality standing out at 4.53, closely followed by Location (4.44) and Student Life (4.44). Value for money is also highly rated at 4.26. While Facilities and Accommodations also score well (around 4.18), Professors received slightly lower, though still strong, feedback at 4.14.

Overall, this institution demonstrates a solid performance across multiple facets of student experience. Its location receives the highest mark, a testament to its desirable setting. Conversely, accommodation stands out as the weakest area, suggesting potential room for improvement in this regard. Other aspects like facilities, professors, student life, internationality, and value are all rated positively, indicating a well-rounded educational environment.

This university garners high marks in several key areas, with Internationality and Location being particularly strong at 4.64 and 4.57 respectively. Facilities, Professors, and Value also receive excellent scores, all above 4.35. Accommodations are rated well at 4.21. Student Life, however, is the weakest area with a rating of 3.8.

Reviews summary
Highlights

~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.

~74% of reviews are positive, highlighting beautiful buildings, friendly lecturers, and a diverse international community. A small percentage (~4%) express concerns about academic support and specific program quality.

Around 74% of reviews are positive, praising practical and international teaching, supportive staff, and a great environment. One review (around 8%) expressed dissatisfaction with course relevance and teaching quality.

With a 4.2/5 average rating from 15 reviews, ~80% of feedback is positive, highlighting a modern campus, supportive academic staff, and good facilities. A small amount of negative feedback (~7%) mentions a lack of social life and events.

University reviews are overwhelmingly positive (~91%), highlighting a strong academic foundation with a practical and theoretical balance. Professors are praised for fairness, real-world experience, and approachability, creating a dynamic learning environment. Limited on-campus job opportunities were a minor concern.

With one review available, the university has a 4/5 average rating. The feedback highlights a friendly, international environment and supportive professors. No negative feedback was received.

~93% of reviews are positive, highlighting practical, up-to-date curricula and hands-on learning. Negative feedback, representing ~0%, was not provided.

Rating distribution
5★
30%
38%
25%
47%
44%
0%
57%
4★
40%
49%
42%
33%
47%
100%
36%
3★
10%
20%
25%
13%
9%
0%
7%
2★
10%
1%
8%
7%
0%
0%
0%
1★
10%
4%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
Most useful review
Most liked

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A well-rounded programme

The university offers a strong academic foundation with well-structured courses and a wide range of modules to choose from. I appreciated the flexibility of the programme, which allowed me to explore my interests while still gaining core knowledge in my field. Lecturers were approachable and genuinely invested in students’ growth, and the academic support available was excellent. However, I found that some courses were a bit too theoretical and would have benefited from more hands-on or industry-relevant components. Despite that, the overall environment encouraged self-discipline, curiosity, and collaboration. I would recommend this university to students who are self-motivated and eager to take ownership of their learning journey.

Engaging

ESSCA School of Management is known for its international approach and diverse programs. In my opinion, many students appreciate its emphasis on experiential learning and the opportunities for international exposure through exchange programs and internships. However, some may find the workload demanding and challenging but that's the way it operates. Whether I recommend it would depend on your specific academic and career goals, as well as your preferences for learning style and environment. Likes/ Dislikes: *Essca provides enormous opportunities to improve and enhance your skill. *Diversified culture *Provides webinars and seminars across all the campuses. *Workload Management could be seen as an disadvantage. As sometimes, you may find it very challenging.

Social life & Study experience

Due to unexpected circumstances of the Covid-19 pandemic students faced some issues regarding accommodation in which they were moving from dormitory to another within one week. during the online study and since this is the first time the university conducts such an approach the outcome was satisfactory due to some delays in response and lack of some material ( sessions on Zoom meeting ), However, overall study experience is good. Not only the study experience was good also the university organized events for international studies on a monthly basis for site seeing to explore cities in Hungary in addition to other indoor events within the university premises, but the university also has several sports training and activities, social gathering to maintain the well-being of the students

Practical Hours/ Language Barrier

My honest opinion of PECS University has evolved significantly over the years. When I first started, I faced numerous challenges, including language barriers, a lack of lecturers who spoke English, and insufficient support for learning Hungarian, especially in my department. However, Pécs listened to our complaints and made strides to improve the situation. If someone had asked me whether I would recommend Pécs while I was still there, I would have said no. However, based on what I see now, I truly believe the improvements are worth giving it a chance. The university has enhanced its resources, offered more diverse course options, and fostered a more inclusive environment. It's also important to mention that Pécs is such a peaceful and serene city, which adds to the overall experience of studying there. If the opportunity arises for me to return for a master's degree, I would certainly consider it, as I believe the university is now better equipped to support its students' success. Overall, I appreciate PECS University's progress and look forward to seeing it grow.

Nothing to show

Modern, practical and worth It

My experience with the Business Development Master’s program has been really great overall. It offers high-quality education with practical knowledge. The courses are well-structured. The program has been renewed and designed to match current business trends, not just old-school textbook knowledge. We worked on a bunch of case studies, group projects, and presentations. We also experienced real business scenarios in every semester from subjects like Project Management, Tutorial: Startup Lab, Marketing Analysis and Planning, ESG, etc. Another important factor is affordability. Compared to many other master’s programs in Europe, this one gives really good value for money. You’re getting a strong education, experienced lecturers, and a modern curriculum, without the crazy tuition fees you’d expect elsewhere. The programme also feels fresh and up-to-date. Topics like innovation, strategy, and business development are approached in a way that reflects what’s actually happening in the business world today. The atmosphere is great. The community is diverse, and working with people from different backgrounds adds a lot to the experience. Plus you can meet different cultures and get new friends from all around the World. Also the study department is a huge help for every student. I used to be a Student Representative and working with the staff was easy, because they supported and informed us constantly. Overall, I’d say the Business Development Master’s at PTE KTK is a great choice if you’re looking for something modern, practical, and affordable, without sacrificing quality.

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