The 2026 HVG university ranking once again confirmed ELTE's defining role in Hungarian higher education: the university finished in first place nationally in several areas, and continues to lead among domestic universities in student excellence.
A total of 27 Hungarian higher education institutions were included in HVG's 2026 university ranking, published on November 21. The list does not feature smaller universities, typically offering religious or arts education, nor those with fewer than 25 teachers and 500 students.
This year, the ranking was again compiled on the basis of student excellence (number of first-choice applicants, admitted students’ average points, ratio of those with language certificates, number of students with placements in high school competitions), as well as teaching excellence (number of students per instructor with an academic degree, total number of students, number and ratio of instructors with an academic degree, ratio of instructors with an MTA title).
Based on overall results, BME, ELTE, and SZTE stepped onto the podium in the same order as last year. According to student excellence, Eötvös Loránd University is once again the country’s best higher education institution. Among the specific indicators, ELTE leads the list in both first-choice applications and in achievements at student competitions.
Although ELTE saw an 18% increase in student numbers compared to the previous year, and the number of qualified instructors did not grow at the same rate as the dynamic student growth, our university still improved its previous results in teaching excellence, finishing in fourth place.
By faculty breakdown, this year ELTE’s Faculty of Science leads, with the Faculty of Humanities also placing in the top 10, in fifth place.
The HVG ranking, based on student excellence, also classified Hungarian higher education institutions in 14 subject areas. In humanities, the ELTE Faculty of Education and Psychology ranks first, and ELTE BTK took third place. In economics, ELTE GTK shares first place with Corvinus University, and ELTE PPK also made it to the top ten.
In computer science, ELTE IK shared first place with BME, while in law, ELTE ÁJK continues to lead the domestic rankings, standing in first place in each of the four indicators used. ELTE’s humanities faculty placed among the best in both arts and arts mediation programs, ranking 8th in both fields.
In the area of teacher training, ELTE occupied all three top spots on the podium: the ranking is led by the ELTE Teacher Training Centre, Bárczi Gusztáv Faculty of Special Education, and the Faculty of Primary and Pre-School Education, respectively. In sport science programs, ELTE PPK shares the top position with the Hungarian University of Sports Science, while in social sciences, three ELTE faculties stood out: TÁTK second, BTK third, and ÁJK seventh. In the ranking of science programs, ELTE TTK remains Hungary’s best institution.
The ten Hungarian universities on the top list can be found in the Eduline article, with further details available in the print edition or for subscribers on the HVG360 site. You can read more about ELTE’s national and international ranking performance in this summary.