Hello! I’m Sai Aung Ye Htut, currently a first-year BSc Computer Science student at ELTE. As the university application period is underway and deadlines are fast approaching, I would like to share a few crucial tips that can help maximise your chances of admission. Having gone through the process myself not long ago, I understand how overwhelming it can feel — but with the right preparation, it becomes much more manageable.
Start Earlier Than You Think You Need To
If there is one piece of advice I would give to future applicants, it would be this: start early. Most people underestimate how long the process takes. But gathering documents, writing motivation letters, and preparing your medical certificate and language certificates can take a very long time.
Starting early helped me to:
Research ELTE properly
Prepare strong application materials, such as my motivation letter
Make and fix mistakes calmly, free from time pressure
Meet deadlines easily
Make your Motivation Letter Personal and Specific
From my personal experience, the quality of your motivation letter can make or break your application. This is your opportunity to speak directly to the admissions committee and make yourself stand out.
Many students make the mistake of being too modest, but the admissions committee wants to understand what makes you a good fit. So instead of downplaying your achievements, focus on clearly communicating:
Why you chose the university (e.g. ELTE) specifically
Why you chose your field of study
Your achievements: not just academic, but also leadership experiences, volunteering, competitions, awards, etc.
What you hope to achieve in the future
Personally, it took me several weeks to draft, modify and finalise my motivation letter, which is another reason why you should also start your application as early as possible.
Prepare for Possible Interviews or Additional Requirements
Some programmes at ELTE include interviews, entrance exams, or other additional steps. If you are invited to an interview, it’s already a positive sign! The purpose of the interview is for the university to understand your motivation and readiness for your selected programme.
If you are invited to an interview, you should prepare to answer questions about:
Yourself (self-introduction)
Why you chose your programme
Why you chose ELTE or the university you applied to
Why you wish to study in Hungary
Some basic academic questions
The idea of being asked academic questions in an interview can feel very intimidating, but trust me, they are just the basics.
Final Thoughts
Applying to universities can feel intimidating at first; not long ago, I was in the same position – refreshing email inboxes, stressing over documents and wondering if I would get in. But focusing on thorough preparation and starting early can help make it so much easier to manage.
I hope my tips can help improve your chances of success, and hopefully, I’ll see some of you on campus in Budapest soon. Good luck!
