TEFL Jobs in Hungary
Make a positive impact and see the world with our exciting TEFL jobs.
Hungary is a rapidly growing destination for English teachers, brimming with rich history and diverse culture. The vibrant city life, coupled with the tranquility of its countryside, and low cost of living make it a fantastic choice for those looking to venture into teaching English abroad. The country is known for its warm and welcoming people who appreciate the value of learning English, creating a supportive environment for teachers. Renowned for its world-class education system, Hungary offers competitive salaries and benefits to English teachers, making it not only a fulfilling but also a practical choice. The lively food and arts scene, and the country's central location in Europe, provide easy access to other European destinations. The heart of Europe welcomes you and so take a look at our exciting teaching jobs in Hungary today!
A year in central Europe, on a local wage
Hungary won't make you rich. What it offers is a legal, structured route into a European classroom for people without an EU passport, a capital that most teachers fall for, and a cost of living low enough that a Hungarian salary covers a good life in Budapest with weekends in Vienna, Prague and Kraków on the side. If your priority is classroom experience and Europe rather than savings, Hungary is one of the easiest ways to get both.
- Budapest
- Debrecen
- Szeged
- Pécs
- Győr
- Miskolc
What you need to teach English in Hungary
The requirements are lighter than Asia or the Gulf, but the visa is the part people underestimate. Since Brexit, UK passport holders are in the same position as Americans and South Africans: you need an employer who will sponsor you, and in Hungary that usually means a programme.
-
A TEFL certificate
Required by the placement programmes and by any language school worth working for. Every bilingual school in Hungary is legally required to employ a native English speaker, and they hire on the strength of your training and a demo lesson rather than years of experience.
-
A bachelor's degree, in any subject
Needed for the work permit as a non-EU citizen and asked for by the programmes. Language schools will occasionally take an EU passport holder without one, but treat the degree as essential if you need sponsorship.
-
A work and residence permit, or an EU passport
EU and EEA citizens can simply arrive and work. Everyone else needs an employer-sponsored work permit and a residence permit, applied for before you travel. The programmes handle this for you; a language school found on your own usually won't.
-
Native or C2-level English
The bilingual programme and most schools specify a native speaker or a balanced bilingual at C2. A clean criminal record check is standard. You don't need Hungarian, and no one will expect you to pick up much of it.
Permit processing takes several weeks and Hungarian immigration paperwork is exacting, which is the main reason to go through a programme rather than freelance. Talk to our team before committing, and see our guide on how to legalise your TEFL certificate if an employer asks for an apostilled copy.
Which TEFL course should you take for Hungary?
Given Hungarian salaries, it's fair to weigh the course price against what you'll earn. The 120-hour course gets you onto the placement programmes. The Level 5 is the one to choose if you're targeting international schools, the better Budapest language schools, or plan to move on to Spain, Italy or the Gulf afterwards, because it's regulated and recognised across Europe.
120hr Professional TEFL
£99
What the Budapest placement programmes ask for, at a price that makes sense against a local wage. The practical starting point if the programme route is your plan.
- Meets programme requirements
- Finish in 2–4 weeks
- Lifetime access to materials
168hr Level 5 TEFL
£269
Ofqual-regulated and awarded by TQUK, the same level on the framework as CELTA. The certificate European employers recognise, and the one that keeps working when you leave Hungary for a better-paying market.
- Regulated, not just accredited
- Opens international and private schools
- Recognised across the EU and beyond
170hr Combined TEFL
£279
Includes 20 hours of assessed practice with real ESL learners. You'll co-teach classes of up to 25 children from your first week in Budapest; this is the one that means you've already stood in front of a class.
- Ready for the demo lesson
- Answers the "no experience" objection
- Free lesson plan bundle included
Most Hungarian placements are in kindergartens and primary schools, teaching children aged three upwards. The Early Childhood Education course (£15) is a small add-on that shows you know what a room of five-year-olds needs. Or compare every package side by side.
What to expect teaching English in Hungary
Pay and package
Expect a local salary paid in forints. It goes further than the sterling figure suggests, but nobody sends money home from Hungary.
- Programme placements: around £1,000 a month equivalent, part cash, part housing and meal vouchers
- Language schools: HUF 4,000–7,000 an hour (£9–£15), usually part-time
- International schools: £2,000–£3,000+, for licensed teachers
- Private tutoring: HUF 6,000–10,000 an hour, high demand from teenagers and adults
- Accommodation not usually included; a room in Budapest is HUF 150,000–250,000
- Full state school holidays, paid; long summer break
Where you might teach
State school jobs are rarely advertised openly; they're filled through programmes, which is why the programme route dominates for foreigners.
- Bilingual state schools via a programme — co-teaching with a Hungarian partner, ages 3 to 18
- Private language schools — business English and exam prep, evenings, Budapest-heavy
- International schools — best paid, want QTS or PGCE and experience
- Summer camps — short contracts, useful for topping up
- Online and private tutoring — Budapest is a digital-nomad hub with fast internet
Getting hired
Programmes recruit months ahead of the August training; language schools hire at the start of each semester and are easier to approach once you're in the country.
- Programme applications run through spring for an August start
- Three weeks of training in Budapest before term begins
- Online interview, then a demo lesson for most school roles
- Language schools recruit in September and January
- EU passport holders can find work on the ground; everyone else should arrive with a contract
| City | Character | What it's like | Job market |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budapest | Capital, on the Danube | Grand architecture, thermal baths, ruin bars and a huge international crowd | Largest by far: programmes, language schools, international schools, tutoring |
| Debrecen | Second city, east | University town with a big student population and a calm pace | Language schools and the university; few foreign teachers |
| Szeged | Sunny, southern, near the Serbian border | Elegant squares, cafés and a strong student scene | Small but underserved; private language work |
| Pécs | Historic, south-west | Roman and Ottoman heritage, a former European Capital of Culture | University and private schools; competition is low |
| Győr | Industrial, between Budapest and Vienna | Baroque old town, high wages by Hungarian standards, Vienna in an hour | Corporate English for the car and engineering firms |
Teaching in Hungary: your questions answered
How much do English teachers earn in Hungary?
Programme placements pay around £1,000 a month equivalent, typically split between a cash salary and vouchers covering housing and meals. Language school hours pay HUF 4,000–7,000, and licensed teachers at international schools earn considerably more. It's a comfortable local wage in a cheap country rather than a saving opportunity. See our guide to how much you can earn as a TEFL teacher.
Can UK citizens still teach in Hungary after Brexit?
Yes, but you now need a work permit and residence permit sponsored by an employer, the same as Americans, Canadians and South Africans. The Budapest programmes apply for both on your behalf, which is why nearly all British teachers in Hungary arrive that way rather than by turning up and looking.
Do I need experience?
Not for the programmes, which take new graduates and train them for three weeks in Budapest before term starts. You'll co-teach alongside a Hungarian teacher all year, so you're never alone with a class. Language schools and international schools do prefer experience, and a completed teaching practicum helps if you're applying to them directly.
Do I need to speak Hungarian?
No. Classes run in English, your Hungarian teaching partner handles the rest, and Budapest is easy to navigate in English. Hungarian is one of Europe's hardest languages and nobody expects you to learn it, though a few words of politeness go a long way outside the capital.
What is the co-teaching model?
Hungary's bilingual state schools pair every native English speaker with a Hungarian teacher, and you deliver lessons together across a range of subjects using English immersion and CLIL methods. It's a gentler start than being handed a class of your own, and it's the format our Bilingual programme in Budapest and the Impact Teaching placement both use.
What are the hours like?
Programme teachers work a full school week, typically around 24 classes plus office hours, Monday to Friday. In return you get the same holidays as the students, including the long summer, and you keep being paid through it if you renew.
Can I find work on my own in Budapest?
With an EU passport, yes: language schools recruit at the start of each semester and like to meet candidates in person. Without one, it's difficult, because few language schools will sponsor a work permit. Arriving with a programme contract and then picking up private students is the route that works for most non-EU teachers.
How does Hungary compare with Spain or Italy?
Pay is similar or slightly lower, but the cost of living is lower still, and Hungary's programme route solves the visa problem that makes Spain and Italy hard for non-EU passport holders. A lot of teachers do a year in Budapest first, then move west with a European reference and a Level 5 on their CV.
Not certified yet? Start there.
Every role on this page needs a TEFL certificate before you can apply. Get qualified in a few weeks, then our placement team will match you with a Budapest programme that handles your permit and training.
