In Hungary, two programmes resulting in different types of qualifications are provided in the first-cycle of the Qualifications Framework developed for the European Higher Education Area: the short-cycle higher educational vocational training resulting in a tertiary professional qualification and the Bachelor programme (baccalaureus, bachelor) resulting in a Bachelor degree.

Pursuant to the Higher Education Act, it is not clear whether the higher educational vocational training is part of or is connected to the first-cycle. The Higher Education Act, adopted in 2011, modified the conditions of providing (and participating in) this type of programme, resulting in closer connections with the first-cycle. However, the certificate obtained after accomplishing the programme does not provide evidence of a separate qualification level. Please see the subordinate pages “Bachelor” and “Higher Educational Vocational Training” for more detail.