Facts & figures
Philologist in Polish Language and Literature
Polish
Program
The courses of the MA programme are conducted in Polish. In addition to language development classes, students may attend courses in Polish culture, descriptive grammar, language history, and literature. The MA in Polish Language and Literature at ELTE is designed for students who already have a thorough understanding of the methods used to analyse Polish literary, linguistic, and cultural texts and phenomena, as well as the various approaches to their interpretation.
Programme Details
Graduates of the programme acquire the specialised academic and practical knowledge required for the study and application of the Polish language, while also being prepared to address a wide range of contemporary theoretical and practical challenges. They are capable of carrying out independent research and professional tasks in the teaching and study of the Polish language, contributing to organisational and systemic activities, and undertaking responsibilities in the fields of research and development. They are also prepared to present and communicate the achievements of Hungarian scholarship in Polish language and literature, and more broadly in Slavic studies, at both national and international professional forums.
The programme provides a strong foundation for continuing studies at doctoral level.
Main Areas of Specialisation
• Foundational knowledge in the humanities and social sciences, together with specialised knowledge in Polish literary studies, linguistics, cultural studies, and language training: 50-90 credits
• Optional specialised programmes related to the field of study, focusing on linguistics, literary studies, or cultural studies: 10-40 credits.
Students graduating from our university with an MA degree in Polish have general knowledge of philology with specialization in Polish literature and linguistics. The structure of our MA program is flexible and the wide range of specialisations fulfil the needs of students with various interests. Our department is specializing in linguistics in general and in LWV (Linguistic World View), cognitive linguistics, aspectology and lexicology in particular. The strength of our MA program is also indicated by the scholarly achievements of the department staff (regularly organized international conferences on polonistics, numerous books and other international publications)
Structure
Career
Students graduated from our university with an MA degree in Polish have opportunity to work for Polish or/and Hungarian joint companies, in the field of culture or the educational sector, in the tourist industry, or to find work related to cooperation between Poland and Hungary in a broader sense. Our graduates can also enter an academic career and after completing a three-year doctoral training and a successful defense of a doctoral dissertation obtain a PhD degree.
- Scholar in Polish philology
- Organizer in various fields of Polish culture
- Expert on Polish culture
- Journalist
- literary translator
- Specialist in diplomatic affairs
Admissions
| EU/EEA students | Non-EU/EEA students | |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition fee/semester | 2,500 EUR | 2,500 EUR |
| Application fee |
The application fee is discounted for Early Bird applicants: EUR 100 (non-refundable) between 01/10/2026 - 30/11/2026 and between 01/02/2027 - 31/03/2027;
The regular application fee is: EUR 150 (non-refundable) between 01/04/2027-31/05/2027
|
The application fee is discounted for Early Bird applicants: EUR 100 (non-refundable) between 01/10/2026 - 30/11/2026 and between 01/02/2027 - 31/03/2027;
The regular application fee is: EUR 150 (non-refundable) between 01/04/2027-31/05/2027
|
| Entrance exam fee | 100 EUR (Entrance exam fee) | 100 EUR (Entrance exam fee) |
| Other cost |
Entry requirements
Applicants must hold a university bachelor’s degree (or an equivalent college degree) in the fields listed below. Full credit acknowledgement is only given for a bachelor’s degree in Slavonic Studies, Specialized in Polish Studies.
In the case of any other degree, each diploma will be considered individually. The applicant must have 50 credits in the field of Polish studies. Transcripts from your bachelor's degree as well as course descriptions will be requested.
The educational and outcome requirements are defined by the Ministry of Human Capacities, Regulation No. 18/2016. (VIII. 5.). Details of the application and admission process are defined by the Organisational and Operational Regulations of ELTE.
Language requirements
Medium level language competence in Polish (B2 level).
Admission to the Master’s programme requires applicants to hold a state-recognised intermediate-level (B2) comprehensive Polish language certificate, or an equivalent secondary school leaving certificate or higher education diploma.
English is the language of administration for all international courses at ELTE Faculty of Humanities. All communication in administrative matters will be conducted in English. It is therefore recommended that all applicants speak a minimum of A2 level of English, even if it is not the language of tuition of their chosen programme.
| Document | Comment |
|---|---|
| Online application form | - |
| Secondary school certificate (graduation certificate) | Notarized copy only on request. |
| Bachelor-level degree | An official copy of your completed Bachelor degree |
| Transcript of records | |
| CV | In English, in MS Word format with one low resolution photo |
| Motivation letter | A maximum of 500 words. |
| Copy of the main pages of the passport (needs to be valid) | Scanned, in colour all personal details and expiry date must be shown. Passport must be valid. |
| Copy of application fee payment receipt | |
| Copy of the Entrance exam fee payment receipt | |
| Language certificate | Official test result or certificate must be provided; see program specific proficiency requirements. |
| Other: An official English translation of the certificates and the records if the language of the original is not English |
Optional documents for admissions
- Research Proposal
Please consult with the coordinating department for more information - Letter of Reference
Also called "Letter of recommendation." From a former instructor and/or employer.
Application deadlines
The deadline for application means the deadline of submission of the full and complete application package in the online system.
Period 1 (with Early Bird discount): 01/10-30/11/2026 23:59 (CET)
Period 2 (with Early Bird discount): 01/02-31/03/2027 23:59 (CET)
Period 3: 01/04-31/05/2027 23:59 (CET)
The application procedure includes 3 periods in order to give the applicants the freedom to submit their application when it’s most suitable for them. The applicants of each period have the same chance to get admittance for the programme. However, please note, that the Faculty of Humanities ELTE reserves the right to cancel the entrance periods in case the number of the admitted applicants reaches the limit during the previous entrance periods.
Procedure of the application
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.
Applications will only be processed if the application fee (non-refundable) has been paid on the University’s online payment platform.
Before making the payment please visit the Faculty’s website (go to section Application and Entrance Exam fees) for detailed guidance on how to use the payment platform.
Payment platform: https://epay.elte.hu/
Entrance examination and selection process
When the university receives the full application package and it is checked by the Department of International Affairs an entrance exam date option will be sent no later than the application deadline for the relevant period. Please, check your messages in the application system, and the e-mail address that is linked to the account regularly. The applications are examined by the Admission Board no later than after each application period and applicants are notified of the outcome of the selection in the online application system after the decision is official. Admission letters are sent out in the online application system within a few days.
Procedure of the entrance examination
The entrance exam contains a discussion about the motivation of the applicant. Successful applicants must have a good command of English to pass the entrance exam. The format of the entrance exam is an online interview. Ranking is based on the overall evaluation of academic excellence (based on the submitted documents) and the results of the entrance exam.
Results and the official decision will be announced in the application system. Admission letters are sent out also in the online application system within a few days.
Oral Examination
The admission examination is based on the specified reading list and the list of examination topics.
List of Examination Topics
I. Linguistics
1. Principles of language classification. The genetic and typological classification of Slavic languages.
2. The functioning of the speech organs and the sound system of the Polish language.
3. The system of parts of speech in Polish and grammatical categories.
4. The Polish nominal system.
5. The case system of the Polish language.
6. The verb system (classification, conjugation, and grammatical categories).
7. Fundamentals of Polish word formation.
8. The syntactic system of the Polish language (sentence elements, sentence types, and their structures).
II. Literature, Cultural History, and History
1. Polish-Hungarian historical relations.
2. Characteristics of the literature of the period between 1795 and 1863.
3. The main genres and most significant works of Polish Romanticism.
4. Polish comedy in the 19th century.
5. The novel and short story in Polish Positivist literature – methods of representing Positivist ideas.
6. Main characteristics of the Young Poland movement – poets and literary programmes.
7. Characteristics of literary groups and movements in the period between the two World Wars.
8. Characteristics of literature during the Second World War and the post-war period.
Recommended Reading
Bańczerowski, Janusz: Podstawy polsko-węgierskiej fonologii kontrastywnej. Tinta Könyvkiadó, Budapest, 2001.
Dukiewicz, Leokadia – Sawicka, Irena: Gramatyka współczesnego języka polskiego. Fonetyka i fonologia. Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN, Kraków, 1995.
Bartnicka, Barbara – Satkiewicz, Halina: Gramatyka języka polskiego dla cudzoziemców. Wiedza Powszechna, Warszawa, 1990.
Grzegorczykowa, Renata: Wykłady z polskiej składni. Wydawnictwo Naukowe PWN, Warszawa, 1999.
Lehr Spławiński, T. – Kuraszkiewicz, W. – Sławski, F.: Przegląd i charakterystyka języków słowiańskich. Warszawa, 1954.
A. Witkowska – R. Przybylski: Romantyzm. Warszawa, 2002.
H. Markiewicz: Pozytywizm. Warszawa, 1999.
A. Hutnikiewicz: Młoda Polska. Warszawa, 1994.
J. Kwiatkowski: Dwudziestolecie międzywojenne. Warszawa, 2002.
J. Święch: Literatura polska w latach II wojny światowej. Warszawa, 2002.
Bohdan Suchodolski: Dzieje kultury polskiej. Wydawnictwo Interpress, Warszawa, 1980.
For more information about the application procedures, please visit the Faculty’s website
Contacts
Admission
Department of International Affairs
E-mail: admission@btk.elte.hu
Address: 1088 Budapest, Múzeum krt. 4.
More information
Website
PhD habil. Péter PÁTROVICS
Associate Professor at the Department of Polish Philology
Find the structure of the program on the webpage of the Faculty.