Hungary - types of higher education institutions

Universities are higher education institutions authorised to provide Master programmes in at least two fields of study and offer doctoral programmes and award doctoral degree in at least two fields of study. At least half of their teaching and research staff employed directly or on a public service employment basis have a doctoral degree. A university has at least three faculties, operates students' academic circles and is able to provide courses in foreign languages in some of its programmes. Universities are authorised to offer programmes in every educational cycle.

Colleges can also operate as a faculty of another higher education institution. At least one-third of their teaching and research staff employed directly or on a public service employment basis have a doctoral degree. Colleges are entitled to operate students' study circles. Colleges are authorised to provide Bachelor programmes, Master programmes, single-cycle long programmes, in accordance with the provisions of the government decree, as well as training that does not result in a higher education degree (higher education vocational training, post-graduate specialist training). No differentiation is made by law, but colleges are usually more active in practical education due to historical reasons. Their portfolio mainly offers first cycle programmes and shorter programmes and applied research. By contrast, universities usually offer more theoretically oriented degree courses; they have more Master programmes than colleges and are especially active in basic research.

State universities are large organisations with several faculties, while colleges are rather smaller institutions, with a few exceptions. Non-state institutions are usually smaller than state institutions (in terms of the number of faculties and students) and the majority of them are colleges.

source:
Eurypedia - The European Encyclopedia on National Education Systems
http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/education/eurydice/eurypedia_en.php