Based at Graphisoft Park, riverside home of major multinationals, Budapest’s International Business School has long shared affiliations with prestigious British universities.
“We were founded in 1991, when many were seeking a Western-style higher education in Hungary,” says Zsófia Balogh-Simon, Head of the Business Network Centre and Careers at this award-winning Budapest institution now celebrating its 30th anniversary.
The UK way
“While Hungarian universities tend to rely on formal lectures in large auditoriums, the British approach is to have much smaller groups, and allow students to discuss, explore and work through the topic in hand, having prepared for the subject beforehand.”
This contemporary, hands-on concept beyond old-school chalk and talk has proved popular with international students, some 5,000 graduating from IBS over the last three decades. Currently, students from 84 countries are enrolled here, the common language of tuition and communication being English.
“We encourage independent learning and problem solving,” explains Zsófia. “This also allows us to employ former or current professionals who want to share their knowledge as teachers.” At present, IBS staff includes a previous corporate communications director at Magyar Telekom, a former vice-president of the national bank and a former ambassador – business & diplomatic studies is one of several specialised areas in the IBS undergraduate programme.
“For the first year, students learn a whole spectrum of subjects related to the wider topic of business,” says Zsófia. “Then for the second, they specialise. All the while, we assess their skills in certain fields, written and spoken communication, organisation, IT, and so on. Skill development is a vital factor.”
Another essential element to the three-year undergraduate course is the internship semester. “We have strategic partnerships with high-ranking companies so we can best place students to apply their knowledge in a workplace situation.”
Currently, places are available for BSc degree programmes in finance, diplomacy, management, arts management, tourism, HR and psychology, and marketing. Successful undergraduates may also then apply for Master's studies in human resources, international management, finance, marketing and business data analysis.
The deadline for all applications is 20 August.
Both for graduates and those with master’s degrees, finding the right job is key to the whole equation. “We provide CV counselling and students may use our assessments in specific fields to offer proof of their proficiency in communication skills, for example, in order to create a stronger CV. We also do mock interviews to prepare them for real-life situations”.
Even the Catch 22 situation, of job-seekers without experience unable to get a first foot on the employment ladder, is addressed: “We have excellent relationships with NGOs where students can gain valuable experience in a work scenario, collaborating with project teams”.
IBS details & applications
International Business School
1031 Budapest, Záhony utca 7
All contact details here
All new applications here
