MATE Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences (MATE) offers clear, student-friendly application pathways for self-financed BSc and MSc degrees and doctoral studies. For bachelor’s and master’s programmes, applicants use the DreamApply online platform to submit a completed application form, academic transcripts, a motivation letter, CV, English language proof (minimum B2 level ), and pay a EUR 100 application fee .

The academic year 2026/27 cycle opens 19 January and closes 30 April , after which submitted applications are reviewed and interviews conducted before issuing letters of acceptance and guidance for visa processes.

Prospective PhD candidates submit an application form with a research plan, two academic references, transcripts , and proof of English proficiency to the Doctoral Schools office. A EUR 100 registration fee is required, and international applicants may be interviewed. Conditional acceptance is granted pending payment of tuition fees.

These structured procedures support MATE’s growing global student community across diverse disciplines.

Application Procedure for Self-financed Students:

https://en.uni-mate.hu/application-procedure-for-bsc-msc

Application for Doctoral Study:

https://phd.uni-mate.hu/application-for-doctoral-study

Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences (MATE) campuses offer libraries, computer labs, sports centers, research farms, botanical gardens, and student lounges. Each campus provides academic and recreational spaces to support both study and student life.

The arboreta and botanical gardens serve as vital resources for both education and recreation at MATE. They play a key role in practical, hands-on teaching, allowing students in botany, horticulture, landscape architecture, and environmental sciences to gain experience in plant identification, cultivation, and ecological management. Beyond their academic use, these green spaces offer opportunities for relaxation, outdoor study, and community activities, fostering well-being and inspiration. By combining practical training with leisure and nature appreciation, MATE’s arboreta and botanical gardens deepen students’ understanding of plant diversity, conservation, and sustainable landscape practices.

https://uni-mate.hu/tavasz2023

Budai Arboretum

Located on MATE’s Buda Campus, this 7.5-hectare arboretum on the Gellért Hill hosts around 2,000 woody plant species, hundreds of bulb plants, and approximately 250 perennial ornamental species. It serves as a living laboratory for horticultural education, allowing students to study diverse plants under its unique microclimate while promoting biodiversity conservation. With a rich history dating back to the 19th-century horticultural school founded by Dr. Ferenc Entz, it is now a protected nature conservation area.

https://budaiarboretum.uni-mate.hu /

Botanical garden in Gödöllő

Covering 4.5 hectares, the Gödöllő garden contains over 1,400 native and exotic plant species, including herbs, medicinal plants, wild roses, bamboo, and tropical species. It provides hands-on learning opportunities for students in plant biology, ecology, and sustainable horticulture.

https://godolloibotanikuskert.uni-mate.hu/

Georgikon botanical garden

With a collection of around 500 taxa, this historic garden features conifers, evergreens, ornamental shrubs, and rare trees such as Pinus cembra and Ginkgo biloba. It supports teaching, research, and conservation projects, serving as a practical training ground for students.

https://georgikonbotanikuskert.uni-mate.hu/

Arboretum in Erdőtelek

Focused on forestry and ecological education, this arboretum contains diverse collections of trees and shrubs, offering students practical training in silviculture, forest management, and environmental sciences.

https://erdotelkiarboretum.uni-mate.hu/inform%C3%A1ci%C3%B3k

Arboretum in Szarvas

The garden also known as Pepi Garden – Home to extensive tree and ornamental plant collections, it provides an interactive space for student training, ecological research, and community engagement, combining practical learning with recreation and environmental awareness. With its 82 hectares and more than 1,600 woody plant species, making it the largest MATE arboretum.

https://pepikert.hu/kapcsolat/

Botanical garden in Soroksár

It serves both educational purposes and public engagement, showcasing sustainable landscape practices. Approximately 60 hectares featuring preserved and reconstructed Pannonian habitat mosaics, including sand dunes with Stipa borysthenica, dry marsh meadows, oak forests, and water habitats. This garden preserves a sand grassland habitat, formerly an acacia forest, now replanted with native species such as Juniperus communis, Quercus robur, and Iris arenaria.

https://soroksaribotanikuskert.uni-mate.hu/

Rose garden in Budatétény

The garden covers 2.5 hectares, with about 1,000 variety‑verified rose cultivars and around 7,000 planted rose bushes, including historical, tea hybrid, modern, and Hungarian varieties.

https://www.facebook.com/BudatetenyiRozsakert/

In about a 5-minute walk distance from Szent István Campus, Gödöllő, the swimming pool of MATE GEAC is a modern and well-equipped facility, ideal for both recreational swimming and organized training in a friendly university sports environment.

For more information visit the campus websites:

https://en.uni-mate.hu/en/campuses

https://en.uni-mate.hu/faq

Student life

Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences (MATE) offers a dynamic and supportive student experience grounded in a rich academic tradition and vibrant campus life. MATE hosts a wide range of undergraduate, graduate, and PhD programmes across disciplines including agriculture, environmental and food sciences, engineering, economics, and the arts with over 40 English-taught degrees, fostering a diverse international community.

Student life at MATE is engaging and multicultural, featuring social, cultural and sustainability events, such as international dinners, garden projects, poetry days, and campus-wide activities that connect students across campuses. Campuses are situated in scenic locations like Gödöllő, Budapest, Keszthely, Kaposvár, and Gyöngyös, each offering modern libraries, sports facilities, labs, botanical gardens, and green spaces that enhance learning and wellbeing. Accommodation options include on-campus dormitories with communal spaces and active student-led programmes. Overall, MATE blends rigorous academics with a connected, student-centric community rooted in tradition and innovation.

The Student Mentorship Programme of MATE is a unique initiative designed to support students at critical points in their academic and professional journey. By providing personalized mentorship, the program motivates students, helps them define and achieve their goals, and strengthens their sense of belonging to the university community. Mentorship participation is voluntary or recommended by instructors, with special attention given to students at risk of dropout. Participating mentors receive targeted methodological training that enhances both their mentoring and teaching skills, extending the program’s positive impact to the wider educational culture. The program offers individualized attention, targeted guidance, strong student–faculty relationships, a supportive and mentally safe environment, and encourages more deliberate academic planning. Long-term, the Mentorship Program enhances MATE’s competitiveness by supporting student recruitment and retention, fostering engagement, promoting degree completion, and contributing to the international recognition of its diplomas. Ultimately, it builds an inclusive, modern learning environment where every student can thrive. Beyond measurable results, the mentorship ethos has been integrated into the university’s teaching practices.

The Future Leaders Programme (JVP) is an innovative talent development initiative designed to cultivate the leadership skills and career potential of students. Its mission is to prepare a new generation of leaders who are globally competitive in mindset, skills, and achievements, while promoting MATE’s values and contributing to national development. Participants gain access to exceptional domestic and international professional experiences, develop multidisciplinary knowledge, and build valuable networks to advance their career goals. The program equips students with leadership competencies that are not typically offered in regular coursework, enhancing their distinction among peers and the value of their degrees. JVP offers four distinct career pathways aligned with MATE’s strategic areas: Academia, Innovation, Management, and Policy & Governance. Each pathway provides tailored training, mentoring, and project-based experiences led by expert mentors, supporting students in developing specialized knowledge, critical skills, and hands-on experience in their chosen field. The program provides financial support in the form of a monthly scholarship, which allows students to focus on their personal and professional growth, and participation can count as up to 10 academic credits.

For more information visit the following websites:

https://en.uni-mate.hu/en/students-life-at-mate

https://www.youtube.com/@ircmate9797/playlists

https://en.uni-mate.hu/en/sdg2