Social Policy MA
Social Policy MA
Social policy expert
Degree program
Master
MSZKSOP
English
4 semesters (2 years)
120
10
25
As we understand it, social policy is an interdisciplinary discipline whose primary aim is to analyze social responses to social needs. As a problem-oriented discipline and activity, social policy combines knowledge from sociology, economics, law, and social work.
Our MA programme aims to train social policy practitioners who, based on their theoretical and methodological knowledge, can participate in policymaking in the field of social policy, manage and contribute to the operation of the social welfare system, represent social interests, and theorize, research, and teach social work and social policy. The programme has a special focus on the European Union and the European social model, embedding it in a global context.
Tracks/Specializations:
There are no specializations; however, students can tailor their learning path to their interests as they have a choice to take seven out of the eleven courses of the electives: Health Policy, Pension Policy, Employment Policy, Family Policy, Social Assistance, Welfare Services and Administrative Systems, Education Policy, Child Protection and Child Well-being, Social Gerontology, Disability Policy, Housing Policy.
The programme has been running successfully in the Hungarian language for over thirty years and has always been among the most popular at the Faculty of Social Sciences. Its founder was Zsuzsa Ferge, Professor Emerita and a full Member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, as well as former President of the Social Professionals’ Association.
The programme’s popularity is due to the curriculum’s continuous development, including the incorporation of student feedback into the education. In our view, the ideal social policy expert has multidisciplinary knowledge and skills. He/she should be familiar with many policy fields in and outside social policy itself; he/she should understand human nature and behaviour as well as the rules and constraints of the surrounding economic and political environment. Practising the profession requires thematic and analytical knowledge as well as presentation skills. Social policy analysis and planning are value-driven activities centred on a commitment to the values of equality and solidarity between people and unconditional respect for human dignity.
Graduates can find employment in central and local government agencies, their associated research institutions, independent research centres, international organizations, service providers in the public, private, and non-profit sectors, as well as in human resource management. Many of our former students work in higher education and research institutes.
- Research fellow in public and private social research institutes
- Manager / head of department in regional / municipal office for social welfare
- Head of various social care institutions
- Project manager in social development agencies
- Policy advisor for MPs, MEPs
1550 EUR
3500 EUR
EUR 50 (non-refundable) between 01/10/2025-15/11/2025______ EUR 100 (non-refundable) between 20/11/2025-15/01/2026______ EUR 150 (non-refundable) between 20/01/2026-30/04/2026______ EUR 200 (non-refundable) between 05/05/2026-31/05/2026
EUR 50 (non-refundable) between 01/10/2025-15/11/2025______ EUR 100 (non-refundable) between 20/11/2025-15/01/2026______ EUR 150 (non-refundable) between 20/01/2026-30/04/2026______ EUR 200 (non-refundable) between 05/05/2026-31/05/2026
3500 EUR
EUR 50 (non-refundable) between 01/10/2025-15/11/2025______ EUR 100 (non-refundable) between 20/11/2025-15/01/2026______ EUR 150 (non-refundable) between 20/01/2026-30/04/2026______ EUR 200 (non-refundable) between 05/05/2026-31/05/2026
01, Sep, 2026
31, May, 2026
Yes
15, Nov, 2025
Entry requirements:
BA or higher in: Social Work and Social Pedagogy.
In the case of other bachelor’s degrees: individual consideration.
If the BA degree does not meet all the necessary requirements, the applicant may be required to complete additional credits in the relevant fields during their first year of study to fulfil these requirements upon acceptance.
Language requirements:
Certification of English knowledge (both written and oral): B2
- IELTS Score: 5.5
- TOEFL iBT Band: 46-59
- Cambridge English Scale Score: 162
If the applicant is unable to prove their knowledge of English with any of the above certifications, their English knowledge will be assessed during the admission interview. Any letter of acceptance issued by the Faculty of Social Sciences is based on the verified fact that the applicant’s command of English has been assessed; therefore, they are considered eligible to pursue their studies at the institution.
If the applicant can prove that they completed their former education entirely in English by submitting a notarized attestation and a detailed academic transcript, no proof of language knowledge will be required throughout the admission process.
| Document | Comment |
| Online application form | |
| Bachelor-level degree | |
| Transcript of records | |
| Motivation letter | The general guidelines and expectations for the letter are: the applicants introducing themselves, their motivation, interests and goals with the programme. The length of the motivation letter is between 1500 and 4000 characters |
| Copy of the main pages of the passport | needs to be valid |
| Copy of application fee transfer | |
| Language certificate | if the applicant has one |
The application starts in the online application system. Students need to register in the system, fill in the online application form, upload the required documents and follow the instructions during the application process.
Students who hold Hungarian citizenship and/or dual citizenship, must apply through felvi.hu Please note that if an application is submitted not according to the aforementioned, it will be rejected.
Entrance examination and selection process:
The application deadline refers to the final submission of the complete application package through the online system.
For the September intake, there are four application periods:
- Super Early Bird Period: 2025 October 1- 2025 November 15 (23:59 CET)
- Early Bird Period: 2025 November 20 – 2026 January 15 (23:59 CET)
- Regular Period: 2026 January 20 – 2026 April 30 (23:59 CET)
- Last Call Period: 2026 May 5 –2026 May 31 (23:59 CET)
These distinct periods allow applicants the flexibility to submit their applications at their convenience. All applicants within each period have an equal chance of gaining admission to the programme.
After each application deadline, the Admission Board reviews the applications. After the admission interview, applicants are informed of the selection outcome through the online application system within approximately one month after the admission interview. If the offer is accepted, admission letters are sent out through the online application system as soon as possible, as specified in the offer decision.
Applicants with a full application package will be notified after the application deadline about the exact time and date of application interviews conducted via Ms Teams. Applicants are responsible for having technically suitable conditions for the interview from their side
Applicants are expected to be prepared taking questions regarding the compulsory admission materials (see: Recommended readings for the entrance exam) from the side of admission committee composed of a professor, a lecturer and a student representative.
Based on the results, certain students may be placed on a waiting list. Final results are expected by the first half of August.
Type of entrance examination: Oral
Place of entrance examination: Online
Further details of the entrance exam:
Oral exam:
During the exam, applicants will have a discussion on one of the topics listed below. The topics are based on Bent Greve (ed.): Routledge Handbook of the Welfare State. Second Edition, Taylor & Francis 2019, p. 5-80
- Public welfare
- Welfare State
- Fiscal welfare and occupational welfare
- Poverty
- Benefits in kind and in cash
Further details of selection and evaluation:
Applicants with a full application package will be asked to participate in an oral entrance exam. The institutional admission scores are based on a total evaluation of academic excellence (based on the submitted documents) and the results of the entrance exam. The entrance exam seeks to assess the general and professional knowledge and interest of the applicant.
A successful oral entrance exam is the prerequisite of getting admitted. If the applicant fails the oral entrance exam, the application will be rejected.
Gábor JUHÁSZ
Habil. Associate Professor
Ms Ágnes GERTHEIS
Departmental Coordinator
E-mail: gertheis.agnes@tatk.elte.hu
TEL: 0036 1 372-2500/ 6630(ext)
International Office, Faculty of Social Sciences
E-mail: international@tatk.elte.hu
Postal address:, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/A, Budapest, H-1117
More information
Faculty Website
Facebook page of the Faculty of Social Sciences
Faculty of Social Sciences
Faculty of Social Sciences
Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE) offers more than 60 degree programs in foreign languages in the fields of Education and Psychology, Humanities, Informatics, Law, Social Sciences and Science. Currently, about 2400 international students study at ELTE and the community of international students is growing from year to year. Check out what our international students think and discover the wide-range of opportunities waiting for you at ELTE. Join the growing international community of ELTE.
Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE) offers more than 60 degree programs in foreign languages in the fields of Education and Psychology, Humanities, Informatics, Law, Social Sciences and Science. Currently, about 2400 international students study at ELTE and the community of international students is growing from year to year. Check out what our international students think and discover the wide-range of opportunities waiting for you at ELTE. Join the growing international community of ELTE.
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