A) Full acknowledgement is given for the following degrees: a Bachelor’s degree in: Psychology, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, Biology, Liberal Arts: Philosophy Specialisation; college degrees (as according to the Hungarian higher education system before 2006): Psychology, Information Technology, Computer Programmer Mathematician, Teacher of Computer Science, Teacher of Biology, Biology Laboratory Operator; university degrees (as according to the Hungarian higher education system before 2006): Psychology, Information Technology, Computer Programmer Mathematician, Teacher of Informatics, Applied Plant Biology, Applied Zoology, Biophysics, Biology, Molecular Biology, Teacher of Biology, Aesthetics; Ethics, Anthropology and Social Studies, Philosophy. 
If you have any of the degrees listed above or you are going to obtain a degree by the time of the results announcement, you do not have to do anything else but send a copy of the degree certificate (hereinafter diploma). 
Please note that the degrees described above as well as the full acknowledgement are only for degrees obtained in Hungary. If your degree was obtained outside Hungary, it must be submitted for evaluation (see below). However, the above list will give you an idea of what degrees can be accepted. 

B) Conditionally accepted Bachelor’s degrees which will be considered in the first place: Liberal Arts: Communications and Media Studies, Business Information Technology, Applied Economics, Economic Analysis, Hungarian Linguistics and Literature: Language Technology specialisation and Theoretical Linguistics specialisation, Pedagogy, Biochemical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Architecture, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineer, Mechatronics Engineering, Electrical Engineer, Economist in Business Administration and Management, Technical Manager, Mathematics, Communication and Media Science, Economist in Economic and Financial Mathematical Analysis. In the case of these degrees they must fulfil the following credit requirements: at least 30 credits (ECTS) which can be recognized from the earlier studies in at least three of the following fields: mathematics, statistics; informatics; epistemology; logic; linguistics; physiology and anatomy. (Besides the degrees listed above, any other degree can be accepted if it fulfils the 30 ECTS requirement.) 

The requirement, i. e. the existence of the credits listed above is established through a preliminary examination of the credits which must be initiated by the applicant in the form of a free-text request.

If the applicant takes their final examination during the current semester and their degree certificate (diploma) is not issued before the application deadline, a certification is required, which verifies that the applicant will presumably receive a degree. In case of being accepted as a student, however, the applicant must present the diploma upon enrolment at the latest.

The educational and outcome requirements are defined by the Ministry of Human Capacities (Regulation No. 18/2016. (VIII. 5.)) . The details of the application and admission process are defined by the Organisational and Operational Regulations of ELTE.

Minimum level of language proficiency (oral) (A1-C2): C1
Minimum level of language proficiency (written) (A1-C2): C1

Further comments:
The language of instruction for the entire programme is English, so a very good command of English is required during the oral entrance exam and throughout the whole programme. The language knowledge is assessed and evaluated during the interview, the Faculty of Education and Psychology doesn't require an official language certificate.

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.

How to pay the application fee?

You are required to pay 60/120/180 EUR application fee (non-refundable) depending on the application period, at the following link:  ELTE Online Fizetési Rendszer

Please follow the instructions below carefully: 

 
Early Bird period: enter this specific code: EARLY BIRD PPK (valid between: 2025.11.25 – 2026.01.31)
Regular application period: enter this specific code: REGULAR PPK (valid between: 2026.02.01 – 2026.06.15)
Late application period: enter this specific code: LAST CALL PPK (valid between: 2026.06.16 – 2026.07.10)

The discount codes work without accents, but they are sensitive to spaces. To avoid any issues, the best option is to copy and paste the code directly as shown above. 

The application procedure includes 4 periods in order to give the applicants the freedom to submit their application when it’s most suitable for them.

Early bird application: until January 31st - discounted application fee: 60 EUR

Regular application 1: February 1st – March 25th - regular application fee: 120 EUR

Regular application 2: April 26th – June 15th - regular application fee: 120 EUR

Last Call: June 16th – July 10th - increased application fee: 180 EUR

We do not take applications between March 26th and April 26th!

When the university receives the full application package and it is checked by the Student Affairs and Registrar’s Office an entrance exam date option will be sent in the online application system after 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 Faculty of Education and Psychology 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.

You are required to pay 120 EUR entrance examination fee (non-refundable) at the following link:  ELTE Online Fizetési Rendszer

There are no discounts for the entrance examination fee!

Based on Section 34 of Government decree 423/2012 (XII. 29.) on the admission to higher education institutions, the higher education institution regulates the admission requirements and the method of ranking in the case of a Master’s programme, but the applicant can be admitted only if he/she achieves at least 50% of the maximum points. According to ELTE’s Admission Regulations if an applicant receives 0 points in any of the requirements of the admission procedure listed below, they cannot be accepted to the programme.

The oral examination is an interview with the applicant in English about their professional background, scientific interests, and professional plans.
The entrance exam can be taken in person or via Teams (you do not need to download the app).

You can obtain a maximum of 100 points for the MSc in Cognitive Science programme according to the following:

1. Reference work (a maximum of 60 points): detailed description above.

2. Interview (a maximum of 40 points): an interview in English about the professional background of the applicant, his/her scientific interests and professional plans based on the CV and letter of motivation. If you cannot attend personally, you can request an entrance examination via Skype after you receive the schedule in which case we will request a copy of your passport or personal ID for identification purposes.

Results and the official decision will be announced within a month after the entrance exam date, in the application system.