02.09.2021.
Guidelines for Applicants for the English Foundation Programme

After we have checked your documents in Dream Apply an ORAL TEST takes place to check your level of language competence.

(Note: We only accept applicants at or above A2 according to CEFR. We do not accept (total) beginners at A1 or A1+ level, or advanced (B2, C1) speakers of the language.)

The oral exam cannot be waived under any circumstance (for those with a language exam/certificate, etc.).

Oral test

A short interview with the teaching staff. It lasts about 10-15 minutes, there is no retake. 

Important note: Before your designated on-line appointment, the examiner will send you the invitation with the link to the email account you gave in your profile (read about this below). The link may only be sent out a few hours (or just an hour) before the appointment. Keep checking your inbox. If you do not respond, the email with the link will be sent out one more (final) time. If you do not respond, the interview will be over after the 15 mins designated as your oral interview slot. The details of your interview are minuted by the instructor in charge of the interview and may be sent to the committee handling an apeals case.

Under normal cicumstances, you will have a 10 minute window when you will be expected to take the test. Using a link, the examiner will set up an online meeting with you using google meet or Teams, so make sure you give us a gmail address, if you have one. You have to give this adddress under 'gmail address' in your application profile at apply.elte.hu We can’t guarantee google meet or Teams works with non-gmail addresses. It is your responsibility to give us an address that we can safely work with. The email address must be an address that you use and monitor for incoming mail (please do not give addresses that belong to third parties, e.g. student advisory companies). If you repeat your non-gmail address (or give an alternative gmail address that you set up for this purpose, for example) under 'gmail address' at apply.elte.hu your admission interviewer will contact you using that address. Making sure the address is correctly supplied is your (or your agent's) responsibility.

Important: if you are contacted on Teams, you will not have to download the Teams app. It has an online version as well. When you are prompted to take the call, choose to open Teams in your browser.

There will be no general link that you can click to join the interview provided by the admin staff. Do not write to us asking for such a link (this is not how our interviews are administered). Right before your time slot, you will receive an email with the link to your account (shown as gmail address in your profile) prompting you to take the call. The link will take you to the platform chosen by our instructor. Once there, log in (you may have to wait for the instructor to let you in). So please do keep checking your inbox before the exam. Note: you will be picking your time slot for the oral interview (shown in your local time), so make sure you can keep it. This is your responsibility and yours only.

The email with the link will be sent one more time to your address, if there is no answer. After the second attempt, no further attempts will be made. The admission procedure will be over for you at this point.

The admission interview can only be attempted once in a given admission period. If you are not satisfied with your result, we recommend you should apply for our next intake. If you missed the interview (for whatever reason), you will have the right to appeal our decision (wait for the rejection letter to be uploaded into your profile at apply.elte.hu).

Requirements:

  • a google address that you monitor for incoming email (no addresses that belong to third parties please), one shown under 'gmail address' in your application profile at apply.elte.hu. Providing a working gmail address is your responsibility entirely.
  • never change your email address during the admission procedure
  • stable cable internet connection (or WIFI)
  • laptop or PC (absolutely no phones for the interview)
  • absolutely no headphones or earplugs
  • a camera switched on during the whole interview (this is an absolute must, no excuses)
  • have your passport ready (Be prepared to show the same passport you have previously uploaded to Dream Apply to our staff on camera.)
  • have no one else in the room when you take the exam (avoid communal spaces, internet cafés, etc., as this may convey the impression that someone is on hand helping you)

If you fail to observe these requirements, you will be disqualified. You will also be disqualified if we notice any unusual behaviour on your part (not covered or described above).

Important notice for those who cannot access google meet or Teams:

If you live in a country/region of the world where you cannot use google meet or Teams, make sure you have a VPN (virtual private netwrok) service to access google meet or Teams. Securing VPN access is your responsibility

What happens if you have technical problems at the oral interview?

  • If this happens, you will have to prove to us that you had a technical malfunction (screenshots with clearly visible dates and some formal evidence from wifi/internet provider)
  • You can try ONE more time. If you miss it, your application will be dropped. You will be able to reapply in the next admission period (next semester).

What happens if you live in a region/country facing adverse conditions at the moment and cannot take the interview in your designated window (for reasons of unstable wifi or any other related malfuncion, for example)?

  • You will be given one more chance at the interview (that is, your appointment will be rescheduled). If you cannot make it to the second appointment, your application will no longer be considered in the current intake. You are advised to reapply for the next intake.

 

What will the oral exam be about?

You will receive points for:

  • General short conversation: introducing yourself, your interests, your current studies. Do not learn a text, speak freely answering the questions you receive.
  • Focused, longer conversation on the clarity of future plans for studying in Hungary: we will ask you about your plans with the foundation course in Hungary, your goals with this programme (BA/MA studies that lie in the future for you, etc.). Do not learn a text, do not talk to us about the beautiful scenery of Hungary, you will have to answer short prompt questions that relate to your academic interests.
     

To get admitted to the programme

  • You have to pass the oral test above 51% (if you fail any part, your application will be dropped from evaluation in the current admission period.)
  • You have to have clearly articulated academic goals (something beyond the wish to improve your English)

 

You will automatically fail the entrance examination if you

  • Have someone take the exam on your behalf
  • Do not show your passport during the oral exam
  • Use a phone during the oral exam
  • Wear headphones/earplugs during the oral exam
  • Have no camera switched on for the entire duration of the interview
  • Have someone in the room with you when you take the oral exam
  • Have someone help you in any other way
  • Having provided an email address you do not use or did not check before the interview for the link prompting you to take part in a call
  • Decide to record the interview

Work with us for mutual satisfaction. We deal with hundreds of applications. We know you are stressed out and want to complete the evaluation process as fast as possible, so let’s work on it together:

  • Follow closely the guidelines set out above
  • If you do not choose a date yourself through our site (a link to which is sent to you in an email), we will assign an available date to you from the remaining ones.
  • Do not ask for alternative dates because you are busy. We cannot guarantee further dates. If you cannot make yourself available at a particular date, such a date will be a missed opportunity. We are not obliged to assign you to a new date. If this happens, you will have to reapply through apply.elte.hu for the next intake when the platform opens.
  • We cannor guarantee that you will be ineterviewed using google meet or Teams. The channel depends on our instructors. Set up a VPN channel if you need to.
  • Run a test on your camera and sound with your friend/family before the exam to ensure the exam runs smoothly on the designated date. If you encounter problems with your camera or sound during the interview, ask your instructor to call you back after you log out to restart your PC or laptop
  • Always double check the data you provide in Dream Apply (do not misspell, leave out or scramble any data as this will exclude you from evaluation)
  • Do not write abusive, demanding or repeated emails to our staff for reasons of failed/missed exams. After we have dealt with a concern you have raised, we will disregard any further email from you in the same matter. This is no sign of disrespect on our part. We have other applications to deal with
  • If you receive an answer that you find unsatisfactory, please do not write to other email addresses you find on our site (this will not help your cause, as our team will always try their best to help you in your query)
  • Do not have others (parents, friends, etc.) complete your application on your behalf
  • Do not have others complete the entrance exam for you
  • Always check your email account (including the spam folder)
  • Observe deadlines (there are no ‘soft’ deadlines in evaluation). A missed deadline is a missed opportunity
  • When we ask you to complete your tasks, do not disregard our warnings and advice (as this will also result in rejection and unwanted stress)
  • Make sure you have stable internet/WiFi and good quality camera. We understand sometimes you have to travel to an internet spot to complete a test. If so, please plan well in advance, check transportation possibilities, etc.
  • Try understanding that a missed deadline, a document you failed to submit, etc. means your application will be dropped from evaluation. If this happens, we advise you to reapply in the next admission period
  • Try understanding that an invalid address means the end of the application process for the upcoming term, no second chance will be provided (you were given plenty of time to supply a working address), be more prepared with the technicalities next time when you reapply
  • If you do not show up at the designated time, your application will be failed (a screenshot will be made in case of a no show)
  • Do not question our competence in handling the examination, do not say your relative thinks you speak English well enough to qualify: we have a dedicated staff working on this exam and their professional opinion is something we rely on
  • If you receive a rejection letter from us for any reason, do as advised in that letter, do not write to us asking for a second admission date
  • If you receive our rejection saying that no email will be answered in the subject of your failed oral exam, please understand NO email will be answered in this matter (we will be happy to see your repated application in the next admission period)