Indiana University offers a 4-week summer Hungarian Culture program in Budapest. Since the course is conducted in Hungarian, you must have intermediate Hungarian, which you can acquire in any of the following programs:
Summer intensive online Hungarian: 8 weeks with Indiana University
Summer intensive Hungarian in Pittsburgh: 6 weeks at U PITT
Academic-Year study: At least 2 and no more than 3 semesters of Hungarian language at Indiana, Pittsburgh, or another university-level program
The IU and PITT summer programs cover the same material and prepare students to study together at the same level of proficiency in Hungarian. Students using the Equivalent Study option complete take a placement exam and be approved for the program before being admitted.
Students who apply by midnight EST on December 6 receive priority consideration for admission and for funding.
It is advantegeous to apply by this deadline since there is the possibility that individual scholarships and fellowships may expend their budgets during priority admission and not be available during general admission or rolling admission.
Students may apply for admission and for funding until midnight EST on January 31, 2025.
Admission and funding opportunities will be limited to classes that did not fill during priority admission and to scholarships and fellowships that were not fully awarded during priority admission.
Students may continue applying for admission, without funding, during rolling admission.
During Rolling Admission, students may apply for admission to the Language Workshop for self-funded study (or study funded by organizations other than the Language Workshop).
Admission remains competitive. Students who apply for full classes will be waitlisted. Students come off the waitlists in order of merit, not in the order of application.
After this date, there will not be time for non-IU students to get through Workshop acceptance, IU admissions, and IU enrollment before their course begins.
IU students may continue to apply, since they do not need to go through IU admissions.
After this date, there will not be time for non-IU students to get through Workshop acceptance, IU admissions, and IU enrollment before their course begins.
IU students may continue to apply, since they do not need to go through IU admissions.
The final date for IU students to apply to the Language Workshop is midnight EST on the last Thursday before their class begins.
BCS, Czech, Hungarian, Polish: May 15
Azerbaijani and Kyrgyz: May 22.
Arabic (all levels), Chinese 1, Russian 1 & 2: May 29
All other courses: June 5
Course Options
The summer Hungarian in Budapest program provides an immersive cultural experience tailored to the needs of Intermediate students of Hungarian.
Open to any student with at least 2 semesters of Hungarian and no more than 3, the program features:
daily language and culture instruction aimed at solidifying and activating language skills students' language skills
an immersive Hungarian-only environment
faculty and staff trained in transmitting complex information with intermediate-level language
carefully planned activities and excursions intended to immerse students in Hungarian history and culture using intermediate-level language.
Students who complete the course successfully will reach a proficiency of Intermediate Low or better. They will be able to communicate in day-to-day situations, will be able to read and write effectively on familiar topics, will know how to interact in culturally appropriate ways, and will have a solid foundation for further study or travel.
Indiana University offers an 8-week online program in Hungarian for beginners, covering the same material as the 6-week in-person program at the University of Pittsburgh.
Completing either program qualifies you for priority admission to Indiana University's study-abroad program in Budapest.
The University of Pittsburgh offers a 6-week in-person program in Hungarian for beginners, covering the same material as the 8-week online program at Indiana University.
Completing either program qualifies you for priority admission to the Indiana University study-abroad program in Budapest.
If you are an Indiana University student, successfully completing the Central Eurasian Studies Department's Introductory Hungarian 1 and Introductory Hungarian 2 sequence qualifies you for priority admission to the Indiana University study-abroad program in Budapest.
If you have completed an elementary course in Hungarian equivalent to any of the prerequisites above, you may take a placement exam to determine whether your Hungarian proficiency is at a level appropriate for Indiana University's summer Hungarian in Budapest program (not too high and not too low).
Apply as usual and describe your Hungarian training in the "past language experience" section of the application.
Funding Options
The funding options below apply to study in Indiana-University programs only. For funding options for study in University of Pittsburgh programs, consult the University of Pittsburgh page for the program you are interested in.
The Department of State Bureau provides fellowships for graduate students, scholars, and researchers studying Russian, East European languages, or Central Asian languages in the Language Workshop. Fellowships provide tuition, fees, and a stipend.
Funded through an award from the U.S. Department of Education to the IU Center for International Business Education and Research, the CIBER scholarship supports students of IU's Kelly School of Business who study in the Language Workshop.
The Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies provides scholarships for undergraduate women planning international careers to study in the Language Workshop. Scholarships provide whole or partial tuition.
The Department of Education provides scholarships for summer study in the Language Workshop. This program is administered by units other than the Language Workshop. Interested students should apply directly to the FLAS program.
The Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies provides scholarships for study in the Language Workshop. This scholarship is aimed especially at students who are not eligible for any of the above programs.
About the Indiana Online and Overseas Hungarian Programs
Learn the Language then Study Abroad!
Students who study Elementary Hungarian in Indiana University's Language Workshop or the University of Pittsburgh's Summer Language Institute can combine 2 semesters of intensive language study with an optional 4-week language and culture program in Budapest.
First, Learn Intermediate Hungarian
To join the Budapest program, you need Intermediate Hungarian skills. There are two ways to acquire them:
The Indiana University Online Language Workshop: Hungarian 101 and 102 delivered in live classes, 18 hours/week for 8 weeks, online;
The University of Pittsburgh's Summer Language Institute: Hungarian 101 and 102, delivered in person, 30 hours/week for 6 weeks, in Pittsburgh.
Then, Study Hungarian Culture in Budapest
Earn 3 college credits with Indiana's on-site introduction to Hungarian Culture, designed specifically to be taught in Hungarian for students with Intermediate levels of proficiency.
The Indiana University Online Workshop and the University of Pittsburgh's Summer Language Institute each provide 2 semesters of accelerated study to help develop your speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills quickly.
In either program, you will complete 1 full year of language training in only 2 months in real-time classes conducted in the language of study, emphasizing the development of real-time interpersonal communication skills, and preparing them to study abroad with confidence at the end the program.
In Indiana's Online Workshop you will study 18 hours per week in live online classes with an instructor and with other students for 8 weeks.
In the University of Pittsburgh's Summer Language Institute program you will study in person 30 hours per week for 6 weeks.
Both programs offer college credit for 2 semesters of language study plus a range of optional cultural activities with visiting scholars, performers, and practitioners.
The small class sizes, expert instructors, and highly motivated students of these programs provide a stimulating setting for you to develop your oral and written communication skills rapidly.
Whichever program you choose, you will be part of a diverse group of talented language learners, including advanced high-school students, undergraduates, graduate students, scholars, professionals, and others.
Once you complete Indiana's Online Hungarian Workshop or Pittsburgh's Summer Language Institute Hungarian courses, or otherwise acquire intermediate Hungarian, you are eligible to join Indiana's cultural immersion program in Budapest.
The 4-week Budapest Cultural Immersion program provides 3 college credits and 18+ hours a week of instruction -- in the classroom and in extramural activities and excursions -- conducted in Hungarian at the Intermediate Low/Mid level.
In the Budapest program, you will study in classrooms of Central European University in downtown Budapest, within walking distance of the city's most prominent cultural attractions and restaurant districts, and will live in a CEU dorm, an easy commute to downtown on public transportation.
Your guide to Hungarian culture will be Dr. Valeria Varga, head of Hungarian Language Instruction at Indiana University, with support from local program staff.
Apply for the Budapest Program and for the Online Hungarian program using the
If you plan to study Hungarian in Pittsburgh then go to Budapest with Indiana, you will need to complete BOTH applications.
Be aware that Indiana and Pittsburgh each have a range of funding opportunities. For Indiana, you apply for these using the main application. For Pittsburgh, a separate application may be required. Please contact Pittsburgh for details.
Hungarian Online
Dates: May 19 – July 11, 2025
Times: Monday – Thursday, 11:00am-3:00pm, eastern daylight time, Fridays 11:00am-1:00pm.
Hungarian in Pittsburgh
Dates: June 3 – July 11, 2025
Times: Monday – Friday, 6 hours/day TBA
Hungarian Culture in Budapest
Dates: July 14 – August 8, 2025
Times: Monday – Friday, 8:00-11:00am, plus extramural activities & excursions (times may vary depending on activity/excursion schedules)
ONLINE HUNGARIAN COST ESTIMATE ($2,800*)
Language Workshop Program Cost - $2,500
Language Workshop Program Fee - $350
All rates on this page are estimates based on data available at the time of posting and are subject to change.
*This base rate applies to non-IU students attending online language courses only. Additional fees may apply to other students, for example the Student Services fee (up to $590) for regular IU students as well as any fees levied by individual IU schools and programs on their students attending summer courses.
PITTSBURGH HUNGARIAN COST ESTIMATE ($5,390**)
SLI Program Fee ($5,030)
U PITT Fees ($360)
Housing (not included)
Meals (not included)
*2024 rates. 2025 rates may differ. See the PITT Hungarian page for current rates.
INDIANA HUNGARIAN CULTURE IN BUDAPEST PROGRAM (PENDING)
Credit Loads, Online Study
All courses must be taken for credit. The Workshop does not offer courses for audit.
IU graduate students receive graduate credit if it is available for their course.
Graduate course loads are more variable than undergraduate. Contact languageworkshop@iu.edu for the exact graduate credit load if you are an IU graduate student.
Non-IU participants may petition to receive graduate credit if it is available for their course.
Approval is not automatic.
Application fees apply.
Not all courses offer graduate credit.
IU cannot guarantee that your home university will accept graduate credit.
Indiana University Online Workshop courses are open to all, including:
Students from Indiana University
Students from other universities and colleges
Graduate, undergraduate, and community college students
Lifelong learners
High-School students over age 16 on day 1 of the program
Indiana University's Program in Budapest is open to anyone who:
Has completed the Indiana University Summer Hungarian Workshop;
Has completed the University of Pittsburgh Summer Language Institute Hungarian sequence;
Has otherwise completed 2 semesters of Hungarian language or the equivalent but no more than 3 semesters and who passes a placement exam;
Is at least 18 years old on day 1 of the program
Students who have 2 semesters of Hungarian but who did not attend the Indiana University Online Summer Hungarian Workshop and did not complete the Hungarian sequence in the University of Pittsburgh's Summer Language Institute may apply for the Budapest program. Such students will complete a placement exam and interview to confirm that their mastery of Hungarian is at the appropriate level for this program.
Graduate students studying in Indiana's Budapest Workshop are eligible for Title VIII Graduate Fellowships, regardless of whether they participate in Indiana's Online Hungarian Workshop or not.
