Types of institutions

Upper secondary general schools (gimnázium)

The main task of upper secondary general schools is to develop students' general knowledge and prepare them for the secondary school-leaving examination and higher education.

There are several forms of secondary general education. The most common is the four-year programme, in which students begin their studies in the ninth grade after completing the eighth grade of elementary school, graduating at the end of the twelfth grade.

If instruction is provided in a foreign or minority language in addition to Hungarian, the programme is supplemented with a preparatory year. These secondary schools therefore last for five years.

Since 1991, there have also been six- and eight-year secondary schools. Pupils can enrol in these programmes earlier: they can attend eight-year secondary schools from the fifth grade and six-year secondary schools from the seventh grade. In these schools education therefore begins at lower secondary level (ISCED 2) and ends in the twelfth grade.

Geographical Accessibility

According to 2024/25 data from the Central Statistical Office (KSH Gimnáziumi nevelés és oktatás), secondary education is provided at 880 schools across Hungary. This dense network aims to ensure that every student can find a secondary general school close to their home. The aim is for the school to be accessible by public transport in under an hour.

While larger cities with at least 8,000–10,000 inhabitants almost certainly have a secondary school, smaller towns often do too. Although there is generally no separate school bus service, public transport makes daily commuting possible. Those for whom this is not possible can apply for dormitory accommodation. Dormitories can accommodate most applicants, as there are far more places than applicants. Demand is in decline.

Admission requirements and choice of school

The Act on Public Education (2011. évi CXC. törvény a nemzeti köznevelésről) guarantees free school choice for all students. Parents, together with their children, are free to choose a secondary general school. When making this decision, they may consider the child's abilities, interests, worldview, religious beliefs and ethnic nationality. From the age of fourteen, if the child is not incapacitated, the parent exercises this right jointly with the child. 

However, every upper secondary general school may set its own admission requirements and organise entrance examinations (2011. évi CXC. törvény a nemzeti köznevelésről, §50). The school must publish this information in its admissions notice at the time specified in the school year schedule.

The admissions process usually consists of two parts.

A written exam: In addition to elementary school grades, most secondary general schools require students to take a centralised written exam consisting of native language and mathematics sections. The tests are standardised, with all students receiving the same questions so that results can be compared nationwide. This exam, organised by the Educational Authority, can be taken at any secondary general school, not just the one to which the student wishes to apply.

Oral exam: Only schools that also require the central written exam may hold a local oral exam. The oral exam does not generally measure knowledge, but is rather an informal conversation with the applicant.

It is vital that parents and students have the right to inspect written exams and request a review of the results.

Applications for the exam must be submitted via a central online system managed by the Educational Authority. Students can apply to any number of schools and study programmes. The most important step is setting the order of preference: the school that the student wants to attend the most should be listed first. Students are allocated to schools based on this order and their entrance exam results. The final decision on admission is made by the school principal.

If parents disagree with the school's decision, for example regarding the assessment of the written exam or rejection of the application, they may seek a legal remedy (20/2012. (VIII. 31.) EMMI rendelet a nevelési-oktatási intézmények működéséről és a köznevelési intézmények névhasználatáról). The school will review any complaints submitted regarding the written exam assessment within three days. If parents disagree with the outcome, they may appeal to the Educational Authority.

Age levels and grouping of pupils/students

Age of students: Students starting secondary general school in Grade 9 begin their studies at the age of 14 or 15. Those admitted to six- or eight-year secondary schools are at least 10 (usually 11) or 12 (usually 13) years old. Students can complete secondary school with a school-leaving exam at the earliest age of 18 (typically 19) and 19 (typically 20) for five-year bilingual programmes.

Class size and group division: Annex 4 of the Act CXC of 2011 on Public Education (2011. évi CXC. törvény a nemzeti köznevelésről) regulates class size. The minimum number of students per class is 26, with an average of 28 students recommended. The maximum number of students is 34, and schools may only deviate from this in very rare cases specified by law.

Not all classes are taught with the full class size. Based on the school's decision, certain subjects are taught in smaller groups. Most often, classes are divided into groups for foreign languages, usually according to proficiency level. In physical education, it is typical to divide classes by gender. Other subjects may also be taught in smaller groups. Schools may also organise individual tutoring and small group sessions for students who require special attention, for example for talent support or to help disadvantaged students to catch up.

Schools aim to ensure that the same teacher covers a subject for a class throughout the entire programme (from the first grade to the last in their subjects), but this is not always possible. Schools rarely change the composition of classes. Each class has a form teacher who coordinates community life and extracurricular activities, handles administrative tasks and communicates with parents via parent-teacher meetings, email or the electronic class register.

Organisation of the school year

A ministerial decree determines the exact schedule for the school year each year, and this schedule is binding on all schools. The decree also specifies the first and last days of the school year. As a general rule, the school year begins on 1 September or the first working day of September, and ends in mid-June. The summer break therefore consists of at least 30 consecutive days. The decree specifies the number of actual teaching days, which varies between 179 and 182. During the school year, the teaching staff may use 6–7 workdays without teaching for educational purposes (e.g. field trips or sports days). The student council may decide on the programme for one of these days after consulting the teaching staff.

Students must be given at least three holidays during the school year, consisting of a minimum of six consecutive days in two cases, and a minimum of four consecutive days in one case. The decree specifies the dates of the autumn, winter and spring breaks. Schools may deviate from these dates under certain conditions, but they cannot change the start and end dates of the school year. The decree also specifies the dates of secondary school-leaving exams and the National Assessment of Basic Competences .

Within this framework, the school develops its own work plan, dividing the school year into two semesters. The plan specifies the dates of non-teaching days, holidays and local celebrations and events, as well as the exact dates of exams, student council and teaching staff meetings. 

Organisation of the school day and week

In accordance with Section 30 of the Act on Public Education (2011. évi CXC. törvény a nemzeti köznevelésről), the school week is five days long, from Monday to Friday. Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays are also rest days. However, the school is open on every weekday of the calendar year, including during school breaks and the summer holidays, when it typically operates on an administrative duty schedule.

The weekly and daily timetable for students is determined by the school management based on relevant regulations. This schedule is in place for one school year. During the planning phase, it must be considered that classes are usually 45 minutes long. Although the school is free to organise shorter and longer classes (up to 60 minutes), this is rare. Curricular activities may also take the form of project-based learning (in addition to traditional classroom teaching), forest school, and visits to museums, libraries, and exhibitions.

Classes are typically held between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m., but schools may start classes at 7:15 a.m. if parents and students agree. Classes may also be held after 2 p.m. Optional afternoon classes usually start after 2:30 p.m., with a lunch break provided beforehand.

The maximum number of compulsory classes per day is set out in the National Core Curriculum. Six to seven classes per day are typical, but a maximum of eight classes may be held, including non-compulsory and compulsory elective lessons. The total number of compulsory and elective classes per week in grades 9–13 must not exceed 34. There must be 10–15 minute breaks between lessons. A longer break of 30–60 minutes is held during lunchtime.

Various non-compulsory activities, clubs, self-study groups, sports clubs and choirs are available in the afternoons (usually after 2:30 p.m.), based on the needs and interests of the students and the school's own educational programme. There is also the option of a study hall, where students can prepare for the next day's classes under teacher supervision.

Schools also typically have specialised classrooms (e.g. physics labs, chemistry labs, language labs, etc.).