Budapest Handbook

The Budapest program is open to anyone who is:

• At least 18 years old on day 1 of the program
• Meets the Hungarian language requirements
  
  • Has successfully completed the most recent Indiana University Level 1 Hungarian Workshop;
  • Has successfull completed the most recent University of Pittlburgh Summer Language Institute Level 1 Hungarian program;
  • Has the equivalent of at least 2 semesters of Hungarian and no more than 3 and passes a placement exam administered by program administration.

Students receive 4 Indiana University undergraduate credits* for their participation and will be admitted to Indiana as Summer Students if they are not already Indiana University students.

*Degree-seeking Indiana University graduate students instead receive 3 graduate credits.

• Resident Director, Valeria Varga | +1 812 219 7360 | vvarga@iu.edu
• MRI Emergency Contact | +36 30 9645935 hegedus@mri.hu
• Indiana University Language Workshop | +1 812-855-2889 | languageworkshop@iu.edu
• Indiana University Study Abroad Office | +1 812-855-9304 | overseas@iu.edu 
• U.S. Embassy in Budapest, Citizen Services | +36 1 475-4164 | acs.budapest@state.gov

• Indiana University Staff
  • Resident Director, Dr. Valeria Varga | vvarga@iu.edu
• Central European University Staff
  • CEU Summer Programs Director, Ms. Eva Gedeon | gedeone@ceu.edu
  • CEU Dorm Administration Director, Ms. Edina Varga | vargae@ceu.edu
    • CEU Dorm Address: H-1106 Budapest, Kerepesi út 87
    • CEU Dorm Tel: (36-1) 327-3150
    • CEU Dorm Site: http://residencecenter.ceu.edu
• Metropolitan Research Institute Staff
  • József Hegedüs:  | 06 30 9645 935  | hegedus@mri.hu
  • Ildikó Horváth: | 06 30 576 1472
  • Balázs Bekker: | 06 20 511 3706
  • Address: Budapest, 1093 Lónyay 34 3 floor 21 (Doorbell: 31)
  • Website ( http://mri.hu)

• Language Workshop Director | Dr. Kathleen Evans | ke1@iu.edu
• Language Workshop Coordinator | Mr. Wilson Mosley | wmosley@iu.edu
• Business Manager | Mr. Alonso Saldivar | jasaldiv@iu.edu
• Address: 355 N Eagleson Ave.
  Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies
  Global and International Studies Building, Room 1030 
  Bloomington, IN 47401
• Phone: +1 812-855-2889
• Site: http://languageworkshop.iu.edu

• July 13 - Arrive in Budapest
• July 14 - Program orientation
• July 15 - Classes begin
• August 9 - Final exams and exit testing
• August 10 - Departure from Budapest

Participants are responsible for their own travel to Budapest. Participants should plan to arrive in Budapest by the arrival date listed under IMPORTANT DATES.  

The program will meet you at your point of arrival (usually the airport or train station) and assist you with checking into your accommodations in Budapest.

Students live in the Central European University Residence Center (http://residencecenter.ceu.edu).  

The Residence Center provides wifi. Upon arrival, on-site staff will help everyone connect their devices to CEU campus internet in the dorms and classrooms. 

Residents agree to abide by the rules and regulations of the Residence Center, available at: (CEU Residence Center).  

Participants may opt out of program housing and make their own arrangements. If they do so, they must inform the program in advance and must receive approval from the Program Director. (This is a legal requirement. Indiana University is required to review the housing arrangements of all participants on its programs.)  

Participants who make their own housing arrangements will not be charged for program housing. 

The housing component of scholarships or fellowships that provide housing will be removed for participants who make their own housing arrangements. Indiana’s Scholarships and Fellowships are not able to provide housing stipends for participants not staying in the IU housing. 

Here is a list of eateries close to the CEU dorms and/or classrooms

Eating on Campus 

CEU has several catering options to offer at the downtown campus and in the Residence Center: 

CEU, downtown  

Cafe Brunch Budapest - Bazilika (Nádor u. 9, Ground floor) Opening hours: Monday – Sunday: 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. 

CEU Residence Center  

Cafeteria Opening hours:  
Weekdays: 7 a.m – 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. 

CEU Residence Center Coffee Lounge/ Bambus Bar Opening hours:  
Bambus Bar 
Monday – Tuesday: 6 p.m. – midnight 
Wednesday: CLOSED 
Thursday – Friday: 6 p.m. – midnight 
Saturday – Sunday: CLOSED 

Mini market 
Weekdays: 8 a.m – 1 p.m. 5 p.m. – 10 p.m.  
Weekends: 10 a.m. – 10 pm 

Self-service restaurants near CEU 

Roosevelt Self-service Restaurants (Szechenyi Square and Bank Center 1054 Szabadság square 7.) 

Hungarian cuisine 

Strudel House (Október 6. utca 22.) Apart from home-made strudel, you can have breakfast or a hot meal there while watching authentic strudel being made. 

Kisharang (Október 6. utca 17.)  

Costes Izakaya (Október 6. utca 8.)  

International cuisine 

Hummus Bar (Október 6. utca 19.) Salads, soups, meat dishes and vegetarian meals, welcome mint tea and freshly baked laffa. 

Bombay (Október 6. utca 17.)  

La Trattoria (Október 6. utca 13.)  

Bamba Marha (Október 6. utca 6.)  

Hot Stone Steakhouse (Október 6. utca 7.) 

Padthai Wok Bar (Október 6. utca 4.),  

Istanbul Kebab (Október 6. utca 24)  

Hachapuri (Bajcsy-Zsilinszky út 17.)  

Vegetarian and Vegan  

Govinda (Vigyázó Ferenc utca 4)  

Nemsüti Bisztró (Jászai Mari tér 4b and Hold utca 9.)  

Vegan Garden Étterem (Budapest, Király u. 8-10) 

Napfényes Vegán Étterem, Cukrászda és Rendezvényterem (Ferenciek tere 2.) 

Tahina Bite Vegan Food (Wesselényi u. 2.) 

10 Best Vegan Restaurants in Budapest, Hungary - 2023 - HappyCow 

Salad Bars, Sandwich Places 

Fruccola (Open Society Archives Building, Arany J. utca 32.). Excellent soups, hot and cold baguettes, coffee, salads, croissants, healthy yogurt and bio drinks. Freshly squeezed juices.  

Artizán Bakery (Hold utca 3.) Artisanal breads & pastries and daily menus served in a laid-back cafe with understated decor & a cozy vibe. Outside seating, too.  

Cafes, Pastry shops, and Ice-cream 

Espresso Embassy (Arany Janos utca 15) Best coffee in town, friendly staff, wifi, great place to hang out. 

Kávétársaság (Nádor utca 14.)  

István Cukrászda (Október 6. utca 17.) 

GelARTo –Gelarto Rosa (Szent István tér 3.) Rose-shaped scoops of fresh, home-made ice cream without artificial additives. Diet versions available, too. 

Gelateria Pomo D’oro (Arany János u. 12.) One of the best Italian ice cream parlors in town.  

Starbucks (Hercegprímás utca 7.) 

California Cafe (Szent István tér 4-5) 

More sophisticated and expensive places around CEU  

Tom George Osteria (corner of Zrinyi and Október 6. utca)  

Cafe Kör (Sas utca 17.)  

Trattoria Pomo D’Oro (Arany J. utca 9.)  

Japanika (Szent Istán tér 7.) 

Caffé Gian Mario (Bajcsi-Zsilinszky út 35.) 

Essência Restaurant - Tiago & Éva(Sas utca 17.) 

Gresham Coffeehouse (Roosevelt tér 5., in the Four Seasons Hotel)  

Badhanna (Hercegprímás utca 18.) 

Iguana (Zoltán utca 16.)  

Aszu Restaurant (Sas utca4.) 

Participants with special dietary requirements should approach the course coordinators or the SUN office staff for information on special restaurants or grocery stores.  We can, however, recommend checking the following places: 

Gluten-free: Trattoria Pomo D’oro (Arany János utca 9.); HerBar ( Budapest, Haris köz 3.); DrumF Bistro (Teréz körút 9.) 

THE 30 BEST Gluten-Free Restaurants in Budapest, Hungary - 2023 (findmeglutenfree.com) 

Halal food: Szeráj (Turkish restaurant, Szent István körút 13.); Leila’s Authentic Lebanese Cuisine (Paulay Ede utca 6.)  

Kosher food: Carmel Restaurant (Kazinczy utca 31.); Kosher MeatUp (Nagy Diófa u. 4); Hanna Garden (Kazinczy utca 29-31.) 

Free of gluten, lactose: Kata Restaurant (Hajós utca 27.);  

Check out Tripadvisor Dietetary Restrictions (Vegan, Vegeterian, Halal, Kosher, Gluten-free) and click  on the establishment types, the Inner City parts are preselected: THE 10 BEST Restaurants in Budapest - Updated May 2023 - Tripadvisor 

To maximize language learning, participants commit to speaking only Hungarian between the opening of the program and the close of the program. The Immersion Contract is a key component of your language-learning success. 

What Immersion Means 

By signing the Immersion Contract, you commit to speaking the language of study whenever feasible, including:  

• in the dorm, including with other Program students 
• any time you are with a tutor, skills trainer, conversation partner, visiting presenter, or guest of the program 
• any time you are with an instructor of your language 
• any time you are with another student of your language 
• any time you are at an event or activity in your language 

Exceptions to Immersion 

The immersion requirement can be lifted during class at the discretion of the instructor. Most instructors will permit limited use of English for the sake of clarity. Outside of class, instructors will not break the Commitment except in emergencies. 

The Immersion Contract does not apply to interactions with non-Hungarian-enabled Indiana University staff, including program staff, academic advisors, university administrators, etc. 

Immersion is a Communal Effort 

Maintaining Immersion is difficult and at times frustrating but can also be tremendously rewarding. Students commit not only to speaking their language of study but to supporting other students in their efforts to do the same. Faculty also commit to supporting students in their commitment. Together, faculty and staff strive to ensure that every student can take full advantage of the immersion commitment to further their language acquisition. 

Workshop classes meet for 4 hours a day. Homework loads average 1-2 hours a day. Participants are required to attend all program activities (barring medical emergencies). 

Students may miss up to 4 hours of class with prior authorization by program staff, or in an emergency. Students who miss program activities without prior authorization or who miss more than 4 hours may not receive full academic credit for the program. 

If you have an emergency and will miss more than the maximum number of hours, contact program administration – in advance if possible – to request accommodation. 

The Budapest program organizes frequent extra-curricular activities, both on-campus and off-campus. Students are required to attend all activities unless program administration communicates otherwise.  

All participants complete externally administered oral proficiency assessments at the end of the program.  

Conducted by an independent testing company, these assessments provide an unbiased view of your progress throughout the summer and come with a nationally recognized ACTFL certificate of proficiency. ACTFL certificates are accepted in many government agencies, some universities, and private businesses as documentation of language mastery. 

These assessments do not affect your grades in any way. 

Books and Materials 

All required texts and materials will be provided.  

Emails 

The Workshop will communicate with you using the email address you provided in your application. Be sure to check this email address regularly.  

Participants study 4 hours/day at Central European University’s Nador Street 13-15 facilty. 

CEU provides WiFi access. Students may use their own devices or may work in CEU computer labs at the locations below.  

CEU provides WiFi access. Students may use their own devices or may work in CEU computer labs.  

The program provides a full schedule of group activities.

Here is a tentative 2024 schedule (subject to change)

• JULY 13 - Arrive in Budapest; Transfer to CEU Residence Center 
• JULY 14 - Program Orientation
• JULY 15 - Classes begin, Academic Orientation, Welcome Party and Gül Baba Heritage Foundation visit
• JULY 18 - Tour of Parliament 
• JULY 19 - Museum of Fine Arts Activities
• JULY 20 - House of Hungarian Music, Tour and Concert
• JULY 23 - The Great Synagogue 
• JULY 25 - Bike tour of Budapest 
• JULY 26 - Budapest walking tour: Uccu
• JULY 27 -  Ludwig Museum 
• JULY 28 - Excursion to Balaton (Siófok, Szántód, Tihany) 
• JULY 30 - A Night at the Opera
• JULY 31 - Széchenyi Baths 
• AUG  1 - Szentendre 
• AUG 2 - Hosszulepes, walking tour 
• AUG 4 - Robert Capa Contemporary Photography Center 
• AUG 6 - Bike Tour
• AUG 9 - Final exams, classes end
• AUG 10 - Departure

Students should obtain an International Student Identity Card from https://www.isic.org/ before arriving in Budapest. Transit passes and many venues offer discounts to ISIC holders.

The program will provide you with GeoBlue health and traveler’s insurance (including insurance for emergency evacuation). In the case of health problem:  

FirstMed (clinic) 

1015 Budapest Hattyú utca 14 5. Floor 

Tel: +36 1 2249090 

Open weekdays from 8 AM until 8 PM 

Weekend: 9 AM until 3 PM 

Students receive a sim card for local calls and emergency calls after arrival.  

You must keep your phone charged and on your person at all times.  

If your phone stops working for any reason, tell your program director immediately.  

Participants are allowed and encouraged to conduct independent travel during downtime while they are on program. Participants must inform the Program Director of any independent travel and must ensure that personal travel not conflict with the academic or cultural activities of the Program. 

You are responsible for bringing: 

• Laptop/tablet & headset & microphone (for online courses during quarantine) 
• Computer Charger 
• Passport  
• International Student Identity Card 
• Cash: do NOT bring more than $500 USD 
• Credit and or debit card 
• Vaccine card (make sure to save a picture of this saved on your phone & laptop for safekeeping) 
• Chargers for electronic devices 
• Flash drives for class use 
• Paper clip to open SIM card drawer in phone 
• Water bottle 
• Optional Items: 
  • books, magazines, or ebook device