Great experience for math lovers with a desire to study abroad. Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

This is not the type of program that draws in students based only on its location and gives them an academic experience that is a thinly veiled excuse to take a semester off to explore. No – BSM is rigorous and intense academic experience for those who want to study abroad with some of Hungary’s best mathematics professors, including some courses that are rarely found at American schools.

On-site administration of your program

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Students have the option of living in either apartments or home stays. In both cases the living spaces are scattered throughout the city proper. This means that the quality of both the living quarters and the neighborhoods, as well as the distance from school, varied greatly from person to person. Speaking personally, mine was a nice, medium size, two person apartment which was only 3 blocks from the school. It was both comfortably furnished (though with some antiquated appliances) and well supplied.

I'm lactose intolerant and keep mostly kosher. Hungary is a milk and pork country. This meant the local foods and I didn't get along. On the other hand, the makings of meals were cheap and plentiful which meant that for those with the ability and the inclination to cook, it worked out well.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

The BSM program is aimed at North American students, so there are no Hungarians in the classes. If you want to meet locals, you have to make the effort on your own.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Because my home institution required CISI which fully covered visits, I was able to use the FirstMed center which provides a healthcare service similar to the US system. I was sick a couple of times and overall my experience with them was good. If one uses the regular local system, be prepared for a very different experience from what you are used to back home.

Budapest is overall a fairly safe city. This means there is very little violent crime in the areas of the city students visit. It is important to always lock apartments and not to go down alleys late at night but the rundown look of the city makes it look more dangerous than it really is.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

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• Apartment

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• Americans

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• Americans

• The math/profs
• Living in Budapest
• The other students

• The Hungarian language course
• Program director's communication with students
• Internet access in apartments