bill – Diplomátszerzek

Rental guide: 2 important things to consider if you are looking for an apartment

Although the big hype of apartment, room and roommate search season has already wrapped up in September and October, it could happen that you might just be in need of a ” study headquarters” far from home.

It may also be that you’ve already managed to find a place in the last few years or months, or possibly that you’ve had enough of the dormitory. Perhaps you have to leave your dorm because of energy conservation measures.

It’s also true that the drastic rise in energy prices could have caused utility bills to go through the roof for many large apartments, whereas the optimism of landlords at the end of this summer and beginning of autumn has also gone with it.

Two things ensue from the above that you should definitely bear in mind if you are in need of a cozy little study space these days.

TIP 1. Heating of the apartment

On the one hand, you need to be very conscious of the fact that in a large, two or three-bedroom, or even larger big city apartment with individual heating (convector or circulator), with possibly more people living in it, you can easily slip out of the discounted (i.e. very cheap) gas prices!If you are not careful enough, this winter, the price of a cheap-looking room, say 40-50 thousand forints, may be accompanied by a similar amount(!) of utility expenses…This is not a risk for district-heated apartments, even if your heating is individually metered.

TIP 2. Suspicious prices

If you are being offered larger apartments or houses for rent at suspiciously low prices, be especially careful!You could be lured into an ‘overheads-trap’ similar to the one detailed above.

It is worth knowing that the winter gas bill of a not new or not new-style apartment larger than a two or three rooms flat (about 60-70 square meters) equipped with a convector or even an older gas boiler, with outdated windows, can easily exceed 100-150 thousand forints in a single month!

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Degree without language exam – Parliament will soon vote on the final exemption

Parliament will hold its final vote on the amendment to the higher education law, one important element of which is the abolition of the language examination required for graduation, in the week starting 21 November, according to the Parliament’s agenda on its website.

The government’s intention to drop the language exam requirement was already mentioned by János Csák, Minister of Culture and Innovation in the summer. 

Photo: 123rf

There is no similar regulation elsewhere in the EU

Speaking in last week’s parliamentary debate on the amendment of the Higher Education Act, László György, State Secretary for Innovation, Higher Education, said that the bill „addresses a long-standing problem” by settling language examination requirements.

[kiemelt]”The compulsory language examination attached to the degree was a unique Hungarian regulation, there is no similar regulation elsewhere in the European Union,” he said.[/kiemelt]

He highlighted that under the new rules, higher education institutions will be able to decide on the acquisition and assessment of foreign language skills appropriate to the qualification. He stressed that there is no doubt that foreign language skills are necessary for a university graduate, but the government’s position is that the „mechanical attachment” of a degree to the intermediate language examination has not lived up to expectations.

According to the explanatory memorandum to the bill, „the language examination as an administrative requirement does not in itself provide sufficient foreign language skills to enable graduates to meet the requirements of the labour market, and it is therefore appropriate that higher education institutions – which analyse and study labour market trends – should have the competence to decide on the acquisition and measurement of foreign language skills appropriate to the qualification”.

You will not even need a language exam to start your doctoral studies

Under the amended law, the language examination requirement for the start of doctoral studies will be dropped and replaced by „language proficiency in accordance with the doctorate regulations”. 

You can also read our articles on language learning and language exams below:

It is not compulsory everywhere, but don’t try to get away with it: learn languages!

Learn languages at the university!

Don’t just talk, understand why and how!