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Central European Teaching Program in Hungary

The CETP has sent hundreds of teachers across more than 100 schools in Hungary, with many teachers staying on permanently.

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Central European Teaching Program in Hungary

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TEFL teachers craving chic European living and ample teaching opportunities often apply for programs in France, Spain and Italy, and other popular European teaching destinations.

Undoubtedly, there’s an allure to teaching programs in these popular destinations, but one EU country that's often overlooked is Hungary. Steeped in history, it has a small population of under 10 million and a high standard of living, along with natural and architectural beauty that make it a destination to consider for native English speakers looking to discover central Europe.

If you're a TEFL teacher eager to work in Hungary, the Central European Teaching Program (CETP) allows you to live and work across public schools in Hungary. In this article, we look at what teaching in Hungary is like on the CETP, and how you can find a new job teaching in one of Europe’s less well-known destinations.

Overview of CETP

The Central European Teaching Program is a US-based non-profit organization that places English-speaking teachers in Hungarian schools.

CETP began as Teach Hungary in 1991, after American teacher Lesley Davis returned from a year working in the country and was approached by school directors to help recruit native English speakers as conversation teachers in Hungary. She created a structured teaching program that has become the single largest provider of English teachers to Hungarian schools.

The Central European Teaching Program is run independently, without financial assistance from the Hungarian government. Teachers must pay a fee for either a “standard” 10-month commitment or one semester. You'll receive a small salary, which helps to cover the initial cost, and you can even travel with friends, family or your partner.

The CETP has sent hundreds of teachers across more than 100 schools in Hungary, with many teachers staying on permanently.

Why teach English in Hungary?

Hungary is a country of rich cultural and historical heritage. It has been part of an empire, a communist country and, today, is an outward-looking EU member state, albeit a very socially conservative one. It is a compelling place to teach English abroad, offering an opportunity to immerse yourself in Hungarian life.

Hungary’s capital, Budapest, is the country's economic, political and cultural heart. The city is home to nearly 1.8 million people, meaning that almost 1 in 5 Hungarian citizens live in the Budapest metropolitan area. It is an affordable place to live, especially compared to Western Europe, where most TEFL opportunities can be found. However, the CETP doesn’t just focus its efforts on Budapest – if anything, the program focuses on ensuring English teaching talent is spread across the country, where the cost of living can be even lower than in the capital.

Well-connected to the rest of the EU, Hungary’s central European location means that travelling is easy. Austria, Slovakia, Romania, Serbia, and Croatia all border Hungary, which has excellent and cheap public transportation. For example, if you fancy a day-trip to another European capital, a train from Budapest to Vienna can cost as little as £9 / $12, takes less than 3 hours and requires no additional visa, as you'll be travelling from one EU country to another.

There is a high demand for English teachers and, with plenty of excellent schools and businesses looking for people to teach English, Hungary makes an excellent base if you’re keen to explore authentic central European culture.

Who can apply for CETP?

The CETP is looking for native English speakers with some teaching experience. It's primarily aimed at US citizens, but does also place TEFL teachers from other countries.

Eligibility criteria

There are certain criteria you must meet to be considered for a position on the Central European Teaching Program. You need to be:

From Canada, the USA, the UK or the EU
A native English-speaking teacher
Educated to at least bachelor’s degree level
In good health (you'll need a doctor's letter to prove it)
Qualified to teach English with a TEFL certificate for at least 120 hours.

You don’t have to be a hugely experienced teacher, but you will need a TEFL certificate and to have completed at least 20 hours of voluntary teaching. You must also pass a medical and background check.

Preferred qualifications

You don’t need a specific degree to apply for the CETP. While English and Education are often preferred degree subjects for jobs, the CETP also looks for candidates with social sciences degrees, which are helpful in teaching other subjects.

Your TEFL certificate, meanwhile, must come from a reputable and accredited course provider.

Important traits for English teachers in Hungary

While you don't have to be a particularly experienced teacher, an interest in Hungarian history and culture is a significant plus, and having a flair for other languages helps. Fluency in Hungarian isn’t required, but it’s definitely handy for navigating day-to-day life. The orientation week at the start of your program includes a crash course in Hungarian, although it’ll only teach you the absolute basics.

Download our teaching English in Europe guide

CETP program features and support

The Central European Teaching Program is a simple way for English teachers to immerse themselves in Hungarian life, participate in cultural exchange, learn a new language and build a promising teaching career.

Although you can be placed in one of Hungary’s major cities, the program is really more about providing underserved communities with quality education from native English speakers, so it places qualified teachers in schools right across Hungary.

Teaching responsibilities and hours
Grade levels and subjects
Orientation and cultural training
Ongoing professional and peer support
Program duration

Teaching responsibilities and hours

The usual timetable for teachers is 24 hours of classroom time, from Monday to Friday. These hours don’t include activities like lesson planning, marking and writing.

While most CETP teachers follow this schedule, it’s different for those placed in kindergartens or preschools, who teach English for a more demanding 40 hours per week.

Unlike programs in some other countries, you’ll be a full teacher, not just a language teaching assistant. This includes being responsible for students' progress, the materials they use, and following the curriculum. Once the CETP places you with a Hungarian state school, you’re employed by the government to teach English lessons but may also have to cover other subjects, from history to teaching sport outside school hours.

Grade levels and subjects

You can state your preferences on the application form as to where in Hungary you want to teach. This will be taken into account, but the CETP and the partner schools have the final say.

CETP often employs new teachers, and extensive teaching experience isn’t required. If you know what age group you prefer to teach, you can also state whether you’d rather work in an elementary school or a high school and, if applicable, preschool/kindergarten.

As mentioned, you may be required to teach other subjects when necessary. This is a significant reason why applicants can have any degree on their CVs for central European teaching. Being adaptable and open to different challenges is an excellent quality, likely to make your experience more rewarding.

Orientation and cultural training

The Central European Teaching Program offers an orientation week for you and all the teachers starting at the same time as you, before you start to teach English in Hungary. The program details include:

Basic language lessons, where you’ll learn the Hungarian vocabulary you need to get started.
Workshops on a range of topics, including working with colleagues, what to expect from students, lesson planning, the Hungarian grading system and your role as a teacher.
Guided lesson: You’ll give an observed lesson for Hungarian students and receive peer feedback from your fellow teachers.
Trips to Hungarian landmarks.
History and cultural lessons on the local area.
A meeting with your assigned regional contact.
A presentation from a current teacher.
An introduction to Hungarian food and drink.

Ongoing professional and peer support

One of the key factors of the Central European Teaching Program is the ongoing support available. At the country level, you’ll have support from the Program’s residency director, who will assign you to a school, mediate any potential disputes, and provide any legal assistance you may need.

At the local level, you’ll be assigned an English teacher who will be your immediate contact person at your school and will help you get comfortable with the area.

Next, you’ll be assigned contacts for peer support on a regional level. Some of the English teachers involved will be several years into teaching, while others will be brand new. You can participate in regular meet-ups and consult each other for advice and local tips.

If you remain in Hungary after your time with CETP, you can continue to support future English teachers. The aim of the scheme is to create a strong network of teachers who can help each other with various issues and help newer members of the CETP Program.

Program duration

You can enrol on CETP for a full academic year, or just one semester.

The standard program lasts for 10 months, including orientation, starting in September and ending the following June. You can extend your program for a second year by paying a reduced fee.

The alternative to the 10-month standard program is a six-month semester placement. Semesters are cheaper than the whole 10 months, but still include orientation. Six-month placements start in January and end in June.

Application process

If you’ve been looking up destinations in Hungary, have completed your TEFL certification and meet the other criteria, here's how to turn your interest in the CETP program into reality.

Initial inquiry

The CETP website is the first place to look if you want to teach English in Hungary. Here, you can find out more information about the Central European Teaching Program, read the experiences of other teachers and learn more about the staff behind the program.

Once you’re ready, you can download the Information Pack, which provides important information about the program, the enrolment form, terms and conditions, an invoice for program fees, and a contract.

Application

Your enrolment form has several essential sections. In the first section, you must write your contact information, the details of anyone coming with you, and where you’d like to be placed.

From there, you’ll need to provide the details about your health, education, TEFL courses you’ve completed and your language skills. If you're proficient in another language, you can show it off here!

Then, you must write about your teaching experience (if applicable) and general employment history, as well as a Statement of Purpose (maximum of two pages). This is your opportunity to explain your reasons for applying, any relevant experiences that will help you adjust to living and working abroad, and how much you value cultural exchange and discovering Central European culture.

Finally, you'll need to ask two referees to fill out a form about your abilities, outlining your appropriateness for a place in the CETP.

Documentation

Along with your application form, you must include the following documents:

A copy of your passport photo.
If applicable, a copy of your marriage certificate.
A sealed envelope containing two further passport-size photographs.
A letter from your doctor confirming that you have no communicable diseases, specifically TB. It must be dated from the 1st of May if you’re a September applicant, and later than the 1st of September if you’re joining in January.
Copies of your university diploma (current students must attach a letter from an administrative staff member). One copy must be notarized in Hungary.
A receipt for payment for the $700 enrolment fee.
Copies of your TEFL certificate (one to be notarized).
A one-page CV/Resume.
Recommendation letters/forms .
Letter from a school demonstrating experience (where applicable).
Details of a second subject you’re able to teach, if relevant.

Interview

When the CETP places you with a school, you will be asked to complete at least one interview before you can teach English there. This is an ideal opportunity to meet some of the staff, get to know what’s expected of you as a teacher and learn more about the school and the region where you might work.

Placement

Once the school and the CETP have agreed you’re the right candidate, you’ll be offered a placement. At this point, you’ll need to pay the full program fee (in US dollars).

For the standard program, you need to pay a placement fee of $2,500 (£1,857). For a single semester, the placement fee is $1,800 (£1,337). If you’d like to renew your placement and teach English in Hungary for a further year, you must do so by April 1st and pay a reduced placement fee of either $950 (£705) if you’re on a standard placement or $1,400 (£1,040) if you’d only paid for a semester.

Tip: If you need to cancel your placement, you have to pay a fee of $700 (£520).

Tips for success

The application process for the Central European Teaching Program is quite detailed, but it's a great chance to show what makes you special. Here’s how to make your application stand out:

Demonstrate why you care about teaching in Hungary, specifically. It’s essential to show why this program matters and what interests you about Hungarian life and education.
Emphasize your skills and experience. Though the application form is long, program administrators will examine your resume first. Show why you’re the right person for this opportunity.
Share your knowledge about Hungary.

Visa and legal requirements

The CETP administration coordinates with schools to take care of most of the paperwork you need for the year, so that you can arrive in the country ready to teach. You will receive a long-term residency permit (not a work visa) and must then apply for a Hungarian residence permit when you arrive in the country, to be able to work there.

This requires going to a public notary, found in most banks or copy shops, to notarize your university diploma, employment contract and valid passport. You will have already had to pass a background check as part of your application to the CETP.

Living in Hungary

As part of your experience on the CETP scheme, you will be given accommodation in a private apartment, usually close to – or even in – the school. Many of these are in older, Communist-era blocks, but are usually spacious and warm inside.

Budapest remains the most popular TEFL destination in Hungary, but if you go somewhere out of the way on the Central European Teaching Program, you’ll be more deeply immersed in Hungarian language and culture, and likely to make friends with more local people than in the city.

Hungary isn't the cheapest place to live in Central Europe, but it has a relatively low cost of living versus more western European countries. Your teaching salary should cover your living costs as well as giving you money to travel, particularly with no rent to pay. You'll be paid a salary similar to equivalent staff members in your school, as pay grades are set by the government, not the school itself. As you will only be working 4-5 hours per day, there's also an opportunity to top up your earnings with private tutoring.

Outside of work, Hungary's renowned food, drink and history will enable you to fully experience a different culture. Note that things can be very different from the U.S. such as slow service and bureaucracy in banks and state buildings.

The country's location in Central Europe makes it a great base for exploring both Hungary itself and nearby countries, which can be reached quickly and cheaply.

You can read more about English teaching experience in Hungary by reading the thoughts of TEFL teacher, Rachel as well as others who have worked with the CETP.

Tip: bring savings with you when you first start the job, as it can take 3-4 months for your salary to come through.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Central European Teaching Program is an opportunity for aspiring or working English teachers to experience a new culture. There are many questions about the registration process, the school year, the placement fee and other essential aspects. Here are our answers to the most-asked questions about the CETP:

Q. Can I choose my placement?

While you can't choose your exact location on the Central European Teaching Program, you can state preferences. If you want to teach in a particular part of Hungary, or a specific type of school, you can mention this in your application.

Q. Is Hungarian language proficiency required?

At the start of your time on the Central European Teaching Program, you'll take part in an orientation week, during which you'll have a crash course in Hungarian. Knowing some basic phrases makes a real difference.

Q. Can couples or friends apply together?

Yes, couples and friends can apply to teach English together through the Central European Teaching Program. You must provide relevant information on each other's applications and state your intention to move as a pair or a small group.

Q. What happens after the program ends?

You can apply for an extension before you complete the Central European Teaching Program, for a reduced fee. You'll likely be allowed to stay on as long as you apply and pay the program fee by the start of April. If your program ends without an extension, you can continue teaching English in Hungary independently and help out new teachers who move nearby.