Avicenna International College vs BME International Secondary Grammar School

	A Avicenna International College Budapest, Hungary	B BME International Secondary Grammar School Budapest, Hungary
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year HUF 8,000 - 3,023,681	Fees / year HUF 2,200,000
Age range	Age range 14 - 18 years	Age range 14 - 18 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type —
Curriculum	Curriculum British Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge International AS Levels, Cambridge A Levels	Curriculum IB (DP), Indian Curriculum, British Curriculum
Pupils	Pupils 200	Pupils —
Typical class size	Typical class size —	Typical class size —
Instruction language	Instruction language English	Instruction language English, Hungarian
Opened	Opened —	Opened —
Bus service	Bus service —	Bus service No
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location —	Location 1111 Budapest, Egry József u 3-11, Hungary. Central Buda location in the 11th district next to the new University Campus. Easily accessible by public transportation. Entrance from Egry J. street.
Stages	Stages —	Stages 4-year secondary program (Year 9 through Year 12). Language of instruction is English. In Year 9, classes feature Advanced English with Spanish, French or German beginner language options; maximum intake is 48 places (24+24). Admission requires English level at B2 and review of Year 7–8 academic records.
School type	School type —	School type IB World School offering the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme; English-language instruction.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix —
Additional learning support	Additional learning support —	Additional learning support —
Country affiliation	Country affiliation —	Country affiliation Hungary
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation —	Religious affiliation —
School day structure	School day structure —	School day structure —
Bus service details	Bus service details —	Bus service details —
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details —	Fee details Application fees - No separate application fee is listed. Admission-related administrative or guide fees are paid by the school. Tuition fees (annual and per-term) — 2026/27 where stated; otherwise most recent published year - Non-IB (4-year bilingual secondary program — all classes): HUF 2,300,000 per year. Per term (inferred as two equal instalments): HUF 1,150,000 per term. (Annual figure indexed annually by the Hungarian Central Statistical Office.) - IB Diploma Programme (IB DP): - Year 11 (first year of IB DP): HUF 2,500,000 per year. Per term (inferred as two equal instalments): HUF 1,250,000 per term. - Year 12 (second/final year of IB DP): HUF 1,900,000 per year. Per term (inferred as two equal instalments): HUF 950,000 per term. Billing schedule and payment terms - Fees are payable in two equal instalments before the beginning of each semester (i.e., one instalment due before each semester). Instalment billing is the published schedule for the school support payment. Installments are non-refundable. Per-term figures above are calculated by dividing the published annual fee by two. Sibling allowance / reductions - A sibling allowance applies: the second child and all subsequent children receive a 20% reduction of the payment. (Separate legacy arrangements exist for families enrolled under older terms; earlier cohorts show different reduction levels in older school regulations.) Boarding / dormitory - The school does not operate its own boarding house. The school maintains relationships with external dormitories in Budapest and may provide recommendations; families whose children live in dormitories are responsible for dormitory costs and local arrangements. The school notes that dormitories require an adult responsible in Hungary. Approximate dormitory meal cost was referenced at about EUR 100 per month in communications about dormitory arrangements. Other included services and additional costs - Non-IB program (included): textbooks for the year are provided once (distributed before or at the beginning of the school year). If books are lost or damaged, the student must replace or reimburse the school for the full amount. The school also covers certain excursion items (e.g., up to HUF 6,000 per student toward travel and boarding for the annual 2-day class study trip). Freshmen camp travel, accommodation and full board are paid by the school. Some cultural event costs (museum/theatre) are covered by the school in limited cases. - IB DP program (not included): textbooks, graphic calculator, laptop, external examination fees, and CAS-related expenses are explicitly not included in the published IB DP fee. - Other specific items mentioned in school regulations: one-off Cambridge exam fee organization (school can organize and may cover this once for students depending on circumstances), standard lunch pricing (discounted lunch reference listed), and costs for optional trips and ski program are normally borne by families. The school covers some event costs (e.g., venue rental up to a stated cap for the graduating ball), while personal costume/rental and most trip extras remain the family's responsibility. Refund information - Tuition/support payments are stated as non-refundable once paid. The school's published regulations specify that the support paid for a school year is non-refundable. Fee payment options (methods) - Publicly available school fee pages and program brochures list amounts, billing schedule and instalment policy but do not specify the exact accepted payment methods (e.g., which card networks, whether online card payments are accepted, or the school's invoicing/bank-transfer details) on the published fee pages. Parents are directed to the school's contact channels for payment instructions and invoice/banking details. Brief summary of what was located and where gaps remain - Located and reported: published annual fees for the 2026/27 and most recently documented school years for non-IB and IB programs; the school's stated instalment billing schedule (two equal instalments before the semester) and non-refundable policy; sibling reductions; which services are included versus excluded; and dormitory status (no school-run boarding). - Gaps in published detail: the school's public fee materials do not include explicit line-by-line chargeable extras (a single consolidated line-item fee schedule for every optional service), nor do they list specific accepted payment methods or the exact payment instruction text (bank account number / card processors) on the fee pages. For per-term figures above, instalment amounts were calculated by dividing the stated annual fee into two equal payments.
Diving deeper	Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements	Boarding arrangements —	Boarding arrangements —
Uniform requirement	Uniform requirement —	Uniform requirement —
Food options	Food options —	Food options Meal subsidy provided by the employer when using school meals.
House system	House system —	House system —
Governance and ownership	Governance and ownership —	Governance and ownership The school is founded by Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME) as a two-language bilingual grammar school. It is an autonomous legal entity; representation is by a director appointed by the maintainer with full powers. The school's name is BME Két Tanítási Nyelvű Gimnázium; address 1111 Budapest, Egry József utca 3-11; Education identifier 035349. The school's founding charter and related documents govern its operation. The school was approved by Angol Nyelvű Közoktatásért Alapítvány in 2022. The school has the Institution Council (Tanács), a consultative forum representing the school's communities (teaching staff, parent organization, and municipality delegates); It comprises one president and three members. The school also has a Student Council (Diákönkormányzat), which operates under its own rules and can express opinions and make proposals to the school administration. The language of instruction is English.
Academics	Academics
Curriculum details	Curriculum details —	Curriculum details The school offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB DP) for the final years of secondary school. The IB DP includes six courses, one from each subject group, studied over two years, plus Theory of Knowledge, a Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) component, and a 4,000-word Extended Essay. The program is conducted in English, with English as the common language of the school, and a language policy that supports multilingual communication and language development. Lessons follow 90-minute blocks, with opportunities for clubs and after-school work to support independent study. Course options include English Language and Literature; Language Acquisition (French, German, German Ab Initio, Spanish); Individuals and Societies (Business Management, Environmental Systems and Societies, History, Psychology, Economics); Sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Environmental Systems and Societies); Mathematics (Mathematical Applications and Interpretation); and The Arts (Visual Arts); higher level and standard level offerings may be available. The IB DP is delivered by IB-trained teachers and supported by dedicated facilities and an emphasis on international-mindedness and academic rigour.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio —	Student teacher ratio —
Exam results	Exam results —	Exam results —
Higher education progression	Higher education progression —	Higher education progression Graduates pursue higher education at universities around the world, across multiple continents. Transcripts of semester grades may be sent to higher education institutes to support admission.
Gifted and talented	Gifted and talented —	Gifted and talented —
Academic calendar	Academic calendar —	Academic calendar —
Wellbeing & support	Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning	Social & emotional learning —	Social & emotional learning —
Special educational needs (SEN)	Special educational needs (SEN) —	Special educational needs (SEN) —
English as an additional language	English as an additional language —	English as an additional language —
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing —	Mental wellbeing —
Safeguarding	Safeguarding —	Safeguarding —
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview —	Facilities overview The school has a dedicated IB laboratory. The school has a new library that features the Questia online library system. The school has new computers and new class materials for students. The school has opened a special extension to the campus to accommodate IB classes. Progress for students, parents and teachers is tracked through ManageBac.
Sports facilities	Sports facilities —	Sports facilities The gym is on the premises.
Academic facilities	Academic facilities —	Academic facilities The school has a dedicated IB laboratory with Vernier sensors for small-group experiments. The school has a new library with Questia online library access. The school has new computers and classroom materials to support IB teaching. The school is equipped to the most up-to-date IB and technology standards.
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities —	Extra curricular facilities There are traditional and informal events organized by the school. Students are encouraged to participate in different activities and to help organize them. Activities include celebrations of special days and journeys with Comenius eco-projects to Finland. There is also a fun night coordinated for students using a BKV bus.
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History —	History The BME International Secondary School opened its doors in 1993 and was the brainchild of the English Department of the Technical University of Budapest, which at the end of socialism saw the need to meet the global world head-on. They sought to create a private school that would be the first Hungarian school to offer all subjects in English. The school is now in a new building and is a fully independent educational institution. We have had more than 15 years of graduates who come from and study at universities across the continents, and the school has developed a rich tradition of events and travel opportunities. In the last decade the school has been a forerunner in European student exchange projects, has developed the most comprehensive Hungarian as a Foreign Language program in Hungary, and the International Baccalaureate (IB) will be an integral part of the school.
Community	Community —	Community The school has a multinational student community representing more than 20 countries, with many students functioning in two or three languages; the language of instruction is English and Hungarian, and teachers support students in maintaining their native languages. In addition to language development, the school has a long-standing tradition of events and travel opportunities and has developed a robust European exchange program. Over the last ten years, the school has been a forerunner in European student exchange projects and has built a rich calendar of school activities that promote intercultural understanding and collaboration.
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association —	Parent teacher association —
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual —	Academic & intellectual The school is an IB Diploma Programme (DP) World School. The first group of 9 students started the IB in September 2015. The IB Diploma Program is offered for Year 11-12 students. The language of instruction is English, and the school operates the DP with English as the working language.
Arts & creative	Arts & creative —	Arts & creative Creativity, activity, and service (CAS) is integrated into the Diploma Programme, guiding students to participate in a range of activities alongside academics. The school lists after-school clubs such as Art Club and Music Club as examples of CAS opportunities. Students engage in CAS experiences to document personal growth and learning outcomes.
Cultural & language	Cultural & language —	Cultural & language The school functions in two languages, English and Hungarian, with English as the common language. In the Diploma Programme, students study additional languages (German, French, or Spanish) and may take Language B or Ab Initio options. Language A literature options and language support are available, including an English-language DP and language promotion activities such as International Day.
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies —	Social & hobbies The school offers various after-school activities and clubs, including football, volleyball, basketball, and swimming, as part of school life. Freshman camp and ski camp are among organized student activities, along with trips such as a journey to England. Students are encouraged to participate in diverse activities as part of the school community.
Community & service	Community & service —	Community & service CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service) is a core element of the IB DP, with opportunities to plan and reflect on community service experiences and to engage in projects that benefit others. The school offers a range of CAS activities, including charity events and service-oriented initiatives such as Habitat-for-Humanity, Charity Day, and International Day. Students develop portfolios and learning outcomes through CAS experiences.
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional —	Leadership & professional —
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing —	Lifestyle & wellbeing The school supports a balance of academics and well-being through sports and outdoor activities, with after-school sports clubs and organized camps (e.g., freshman camp and ski camp). City-wide and international trips and events are part of student life, contributing to physical and social well-being.
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision —	Language provision The school uses English as the language of instruction for the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. Hungarian Literature is offered within the IB curriculum. Language Acquisition options include French, German, German Ab Initio, and Spanish, with higher level offerings in English Language and Literature, French, German, and Spanish.
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching —	Bilingual teaching The school teaches all subjects in English.
Immersion programs	Immersion programs —	Immersion programs —
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards —	Awards —
Accreditations	Accreditations —	Accreditations —
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	Admissions —	Admissions Application 2026-2027 (Year 9). Admission Information and Procedure. a) A student can become a member of the school either by passing a successful English level test or by transferring from another school. Admitting a student is the Principal's sole right. b) The language of instruction is English. The 4-year program is offered; admission requires meeting the appropriate language level (B2) and study requirements. c) The school offers a maximum of 48 places (24+24) for the year 2026-2027. d) Successful completion of elementary/primary school is a precondition for admission. e) A Sibling Allowance provides a 20% reduction of fees for the second child and all subsequent children. f) From 02-19 March 2026 an English level test is conducted for prospective students (written and oral). Students with a B2 Language Certificate and native English speakers are exempt from the written examination; an oral interview will be conducted. Applicants are informed of their results via the school webpage before 20 March 2026. g) Applicants scoring under 70% on the B2 language level cannot be admitted under the bilingual schools regulation in Hungary. h) For applicants scoring 70% or higher, the final admission decision is based on the applicants' previous school report certificates (7th grade and mid-term 8th grade). If more applicants show outstanding performance than places available, a brief interview may influence the final decision. i) If applicants come from Hungarian or foreign secondary schools and wish to join a higher class, supplementary or classifying exams are required; fluent English is a basic requirement. Codes for the 4-year program: 0001 Class 9 – Advanced English (Spanish, French or German beginner). March 20 Preliminary ranking; March 25-27 Modification period for parents; April 27 Final placement; May 4 Final decision on acceptance/rejection posted; June 22-25 Enrolment. B) Hungarian and foreign applicants from foreign schools: Your application is managed by your parents via the Hungarian Central Admission Procedure (Középiskolai Központi Felvételi Eljárás). Deadline: 19 February 2026. Necessary information for the Central Admission Procedure (KIFIR): Name: BME által alapított Két Tanítási Nyelvű Gimnázium; School OM code: OM 035349; Location code (telephely): 002. Codes for the 4-year program: 0001 Class 9 – (Spanish, French or German beginner / 9th grade, English advanced). March 20 Preliminary ranking; March 25-27 Modification period for parents; April 27 Final placement; May 4 Final decision on acceptance/rejection posted; June 22-25 Enrolment. Once a language level test is completed (02-19 March 2026), students with a B2 Language Certificate and native English speakers are exempt from the written examination; an oral interview is conducted. A preassignment to a class occurs after the level test; admission to the first grade (9th) requires English knowledge above 70% on the test. The language level test results and final placement are published by 21 March 2026 and 27 April 2026 respectively. The language of instruction is English.
Scholarships	Scholarships —	Scholarships A Sibling Allowance provides a 20% reduction of fees for the second child and all subsequent children.
Waitlist	Waitlist —	Waitlist —
	View full profile →	View full profile →