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

Side-by-side comparison from 139 verified student reviews. Scan one row at a time — winners are highlighted

Quick verdict
Higher overall rating: University of Pécs Faculty of Business and Economics (4.50)
Central European University - CEU: wins 1/7 categories
University of Szeged: wins 1/7 categories
ESSCA School of Management: wins 0/7 categories
Széchenyi István University - SZE: wins 1/7 categories
University of Pécs: wins 0/7 categories
Kodolányi János University - KJU: wins 0/7 categories
University of Pécs Faculty of Business and Economics: wins 4/7 categories
Comparing
Best programme: Philosophy
Szeged, Hungary
4.40
Read more reviews
19 reviews
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Best programme: Agricultural Engineering
Best programme: Programme Grande Ecole (PGE)
Best programme: Teacher Education with Political Science
Best programme: Psychology
Best programme: MSc Management & Leadership
Category ratings
Facilities
3.56
4.00
3.83
4.00
4.18
Not rated
4.36
Win
Location
3.44
4.29
4.32
4.27
4.44
Not rated
4.57
Win
Professors
4.22
4.32
3.96
4.20
4.14
Not rated
4.36
Win
Internationality
4.78
Win
4.26
3.88
4.40
4.53
Not rated
4.64
Student life
4.00
4.47
Win
4.22
4.29
4.44
Not rated
3.80
Value
3.78
4.16
3.83
3.87
4.26
Not rated
4.50
Win
Accommodation
3.75
3.74
3.46
4.36
Win
4.19
Not rated
4.21
Pros & Cons
Pros
  • +Diverse student body and international perspective
  • +High academic rigor and intellectual stimulation
  • +Expert faculty and dedicated mentorship
  • +Strong academic programmes and learning support
  • +Approachable and knowledgeable faculty
  • +Welcoming and supportive international student environment
  • +High-quality education with specialization options and practical experience
  • +Vibrant campus life and strong community with supportive peers and professors
  • +Excellent career preparation through industry connections and internships
  • +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

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  • +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 create frustration and inefficiency.
  • -Outdated facilities and resources hinder learning experiences.
  • -Poor communication and lack of transparency cause confusion and dissatisfaction.
  • -Unprepared and unhelpful professors with poor English communication.
  • -Poor organization and irrelevant, expensive courses.
  • -Lack of student engagement and focus on partying.
  • -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.

Nothing to show

  • -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, the university demonstrates a solid performance across several key areas. Student Life is a clear standout, achieving the highest rating. Professors and Internationality also receive strong marks. However, Accommodations present the weakest area, with a comparatively lower score. Facilities, Location, and Value fall within the generally positive range.

Among the evaluated aspects, the university excels in its **Location**, receiving a high rating of 4.32, and **Student Life**, with a score of 4.22. **Accomodation** stands out as the weakest area, scoring 3.46. Other categories like Facilities, Professors, Internationality, and Value are all rated favorably, generally falling between 3.8 and 3.96, indicating a well-rounded experience with room for improvement in housing.

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.

Nothing to show

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.

University of Szeged receives overwhelmingly positive feedback, with ~84% of reviews rating it 4-5 stars. Students praise the diverse faculties, excellent library, and strong support for international students. There are no 1-2 star reviews.

Most reviews (~74%) praise the quality of education, practical experience, and vibrant campus life. A small percentage (8.3%) mention unprepared professors and organizational issues.

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.

Nothing to show

~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%
53%
33%
47%
44%
0%
57%
4★
40%
32%
46%
33%
47%
0%
36%
3★
10%
16%
13%
13%
9%
0%
7%
2★
10%
0%
4%
7%
0%
0%
0%
1★
10%
0%
4%
0%
0%
0%
0%
Most useful review
Most liked

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Well-rounded programme

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.

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.

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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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