Students with children

Some students studying at CEU are parents whose children live with them in Hungary during their studies. CEU Student Services staff understand that it can be challenging to balance child care needs with the demands of a rigorous academic program. The information presented below is designed to provide important information for students with children who are attending CEU.

Housing

All students studying at CEU on a Master's or PhD fellowship (full or partial) are provided with funding for living expenses designed to cover living costs for the student. In the case of Master's degree fellowship recipients, this includes housing in the CEU Residence Center. Since the CEU Residence Center is not designed to house small children, MA fellowship recipients may request an exception allowing them receive the value of the Residence Center accommodation in their stipend if their children are with them in Budapest. Requests for this exception should be made in writing to the Vice President of Student Services, and include documented proof of the child's residence in Hungary.

Insurance for dependents

All international (non-Hungarian citizen) students are required to have health insurance coverage during their stay in Hungary, and spouses and children are required to have insurance as well for long-term stays. Insurance options are slightly different for citizens of other European Union member countries compared to those from outside the EU.

Hungarian students must be registered with the Hungarian State Health Insurance (TAJ) and their children are covered by TAJ as well.

EU Citizens who are not Hungarian citizens or permanent residents are required to have health insurance coverage, and the University pays the cost of this insurance for full and partial fellowship recipients during the first year of study. (Students not receiving full or partial fellowship must pay for the coverage themselves or provide proof of equivalent coverage from another insurance company). Students who are in programs of studying lasting longer than one year are eligible (and required) to register for the Hungarian State Health Insurance (TAJ) after one year in Hungary. They will have TAJ coverage for the remainder of their legal residence in Hungary as a student, and once they are enrolled in TAJ, their dependent children will also be covered under TAJ.

Dependents (spouses and children) of EU citizens are required by Hungarian law to have health insurance as well, which must be purchased by the parent(s). The company that provides insurance for non-Hungarian students, Generali Providencia, offers a policy for spouses and children of students. Information about this policy will be available at the Orientation Program. Parents may also choose to purchase equivalent coverage from other insurance companies.

Non-EU Citizens are required to have insurance for long-term stays. Those studying at CEU on full or partial fellowships receive insurance coverage from CEU. Other students must either pay for the Generali insurance program or provide proof of equivalent alternative coverage. Unlike EU citizens, international students from other countries are not eligible to join TAJ, and must remain with private insurance throughout their stay in Hungary.

More information about health insurance and the CEU Medical Center is available at: www.ceu.hu/studentlife/onlineorientation/health

Please click here to see the attached document for more details on TAJ.

Public day-care/kindergarten

In Hungary, one registers his/her children to a public day-care/kindergarten one year in advance. There are exceptions to this procedure and late applications are accepted but it depends on whether there are available spaces at the day-care/kindergarten. One needs to go personally to day-care center/kindergarten and submit the following documents:

Important: Parents are required to find a day-care/kindergarten based on the location of their address (District). If they chose another district, they have to prove that they work/study there. (Certificate of enrollment)

Preschools and Schools in Budapest

Most Hungarian language preschools are state run, with Bölcsőde (nursery) for children up to the age of three followed by Óvoda (kindergarten) until the age of seven. Find more information on international preschools in Budapest.

Download a detailed list on childcare facilities as well as foreign-language schools in Budapest and around CEU prepared by HRO.

Facilities

A room is designated for students with young children, for quiet time or nursing in between CEU activities. The room is located in the basement of the Faculty Building, Room # B100. Students may not leave children unattended at these premises.

There are diaper changing facilities in three other locations:

Maternity and Family Benefits for CEU Students

Please click here to check the attached document.

If you have any questions about the issues covered above, please contact us via email at: studentlife [at] ceu [dot] hu or visit our office at the Ground Floor of the Nador 9 building.