Facts & figures
Philologist in Ukrainian Language and Literature
Ukrainian
Program
ELTE’s MA in Ukrainian Language and Literature is suitable for students who already possess academically grounded knowledge of the Ukrainian language and literature, including their cultural and intellectual background and their relevance to the constructions of Hungarian and European identity. Students are familiar with the methods used to examine literary, linguistic, language-related and cultural texts and phenomena, as well as with possible approaches to their interpretation.
Programme details
Graduates of the programme acquire appropriate specialised academic and practical knowledge in the field of Ukrainian Studies, taking into account the diverse theoretical and practical challenges of the changing contemporary world. They are able to carry out independent research and applied professional tasks, contribute to the operation of academic and professional systems, and perform activities in the fields of research and development. They are also prepared to communicate Hungarian achievements in Ukrainian language, literature and culture, and more broadly in Slavic Studies, at national and international professional forums. The programme prepares graduates to continue their studies in doctoral programmes.
Students graduating from our university with an MA degree in Ukrainian Studies have general knowledge of philology with a specialization in Ukrainian literature and linguistics. The structure of our MA program is flexible and meets the needs of students with various interests. The strength of the course is also indicated by the scholarly achievements of the department staff (eg. regular participation in national and international conferences, regularly organized international conferences on Slavistics, numerous books and other national and international publications.)
Interesting facts about the programme
The teaching of Slavic languages at the university began in 1849, when Ferenc József was appointed in an interim capacity to teach Slavic linguistics and literature. In March 1919, Sándor Bonkáló was appointed full professor of Ruthenian (Ukrainian) language and literature. However, in 1924 the faculty decided to discontinue the “Department of Ruthenian Language and Literature” and place Professor Bonkáló on the so-called B-list, meaning he was retired. On 1 November 1945, Sándor Bonkáló was able to resume his work as professor of the Department of Ukrainian Language and Literature. However, an unknown informant accused him of speaking disparagingly about Russian literature, and he was suspended from his position again from November 1946. The Ukrainian Language and Literature programme has been offered continuously at the university every year since 1961. The Department of Ukrainian Philology began its operations in September 2002.
Structure
Career
Students graduating from our university with an MA degree in Ukrainian Studies have an opportunity to work for Ukrainian or/and Hungarian joint companies, in the field of culture or the educational sector, in the tourist industry, or to find employment related to the cooperation between Ukraine and Hungary in a broader sense. Our graduates can also engage in an academic career and after completing their doctoral training and the successful defense of the doctoral dissertation obtain a PhD degree.
Scholar in Ukrainian Studies
Organizer in various fields of Ukrainian culture
Expert on Ukrainian culture
Journalist
Literary translator
Specialist in diplomacy
etc.
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 | 100 EUR |
| 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 Ukrainian Studies.
In the case of any other degree, each diploma will be considered individually. The applicant must have 30 credits in the field of Ukrainian Studies language, linguistics, literature or culture studies which might be acquired during the MA studies according to the Academic Regulations of the university.
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
Ukrainian
Minimum B2 level (CEFR)
Admission to the master’s programme requires a state-recognised intermediate-level (B2), comprehensive language examination in Ukrainian, or an equivalent secondary school-leaving certificate or 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 |
|---|---|
| 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 | |
| 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 |
Optional documents for admissions
Curriculum Vitae in English
In MS Word format with one low resolution photoResearch Proposal
Please consult the coordinating department for more informationLetter 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): 01/02-31/03/20267 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
After the university receives the full application package and it is checked by the Department of International Affairs, applicants will be invited to an oral entrance exam. 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.
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 Ukrainian 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 topics
I. Linguistics
1. Classification of Slavic languages.
2. Outstanding representatives of Hungarian Slavic studies: Oszkár Asbóth, János Melich, István Kniezsa and László Hadrovics.
3. The beginnings of East Slavic written culture. Characteristics of Church Slavonic in its East Slavic recension.
4. Sound changes and their causes in the Ukrainian language.
5. The concepts of sound and phoneme. Characteristics of the Ukrainian sound system. Types of sound changes.
6. Lexical-semantic groups and grammatical categories of Ukrainian nouns.
7. Grammatical categories of the verb.
8. Word combinations and sentences. Types of syntactic relations. Description of sentence structure.
9. The subject of lexicology. Synonymy and antonymy. The difference between polysemy and homonymy.
10. Historical layers of the Ukrainian vocabulary.
II. Literature
1. The characteristics of the cultural and literary development of Slavic peoples (periods, movements and interactions).
2. Ukrainian cultural studies.
3. The role of the Baroque and folk poetry in the development of Ukrainian literature.
4. The rise of the so-called New Ukrainian literature and the development of literature during the first two-thirds of the 19th century.
5. The development of Ukrainian literature in the final third of the 19th century.
6. Ukrainian Modernism.
7. The development of Ukrainian drama.
8. Literary movements and their representatives in the 20th century.
9. Literary movements and their representatives in the second half of the 20th century.
10. Contemporary Ukrainian literature.
Required / recommended literature for preparation
Безпояско О. К., Городенська К. Г., Русанівський В. М.: Граматика української мови. Морфологія. Київ, 1993.
Білецький Олександр: Зібрання праць у п’яти томах. Київ, 1965-1966.
Вихованець Іван – Городенська Катерина: Теоретична морфологія української мови. Київ, 2004.
Грушевський Михайло: Історія української літератури в 6 томах, 9 книгах. Київ, 1993.
Історія української літератури у восьми томах. Київ, 1967-1971.
Історія української літератури ХХ століття. Книга перша. Книга друга. Київ, 1998.
Історія української культури. Том 1. Київ, 2001.
Історія української культури. Том 2. (Українська культура XIII – першої половини XVII століть). Київ, 2001.
Матеріали до вивчення історії української літератури в п’яти томах. Київ, 1959-1965.
Плющ М. Я.: Граматика української мови в таблицях: навчальний посібник для студентів-філологів спеціальних вищих навчальних закладів. Київ, 2004.
Сучасна українська мова. За ред. О. Д. Пономарева. Київ, 1997.
Ткаченко О.: Українська мова і мовне життя світу. Київ, 2004.
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
Dr. Viktoria LEBOVICS PhD
Associate professor
Head of Ukrainian Studies
Find the structure of the program on the webpage of the Faculty.
Main areas of specialisation
• Foundational knowledge in the humanities and social sciences, specialist knowledge in Ukrainian literary studies, linguistics and cultural studies, as well as language training (50-90 credits).
• Elective specialised programmes related to the field of study, covering linguistic, literary studies or cultural studies topics connected to Ukrainian language and culture (20-40 credits).