FAQ

OUR EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY

How is individual talent developed at Milestone Institute?

Our educational programme encourages research and project work, and facilitates in-depth exploration of advanced university-level topics. We provide diverse opportunities for the practical application of knowledge and support students in independent decision-making and taking responsibility for reaching their own educational goals. We encourage our students to identify their strengths, find the area that best suits their talents, and prepare them to take on leadership roles in their professional lives, providing valuable service to the society they live in. One of the main pillars of Milestone Institute’s educational philosophy is a personalised mentoring programme aimed at promoting and supporting students’ personal progress. Mentoring sessions focus on the student’s personal development and education. They support intellectual development and orientation, and they provide emotional support and motivation to students. Each student of our Core Programme has their own mentor, who are highly trained professionals knowledgeable in our philosophy and experienced in the academic and workplace environment of their field. Students can choose from three educational programmes, which are the Core Programme, Access Programme, and the Advising Programme. At Milestone Institute all programmes are held in English.

How is Milestone Institute different from a secondary school?

Milestone offers personalised after-school educational programmes that help students unfold their abilities and discover the joy of learning

• Students experience learning in various formats and contexts: through one-on-one personalised mentoring sessions with an expert, in groups during weekly classes (module sessions) with their peers, via engaging in student-organised club and society activities, as well as through planning and implementing large-scale projects.
• Students receive assistance and feedback on their work.
• Our classes are small and interactive, held with a maximum of 12 participants in the case of Core Programme modules.
• Module- and mentoring sessions are held on weekday afternoons and on Saturdays.

What is the Core Programme?

The Core Programme is the largest programme at the Institute with 411 enrolled students in academic year 2024/25.

• The Core Programme consists of four different year groups: the Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, and Senior years. You can read more about each year group in their respective sections below
• The three main pillars of the programme are mentoring, module teaching, and student life.
• Our educational programme encourages research and project work, and facilitates in-depth exploration of advanced university-level topics, as well as an introduction to practical applications of the acquired knowledge.

For further information on the Core Programme please click here.

What is the Access Programme?

Our Access Programme is a one-year training programme focusing on skill- and confidence-building. In this programme we enhance and facilitate students’ self-expression and academic orientation through project-based group work, activities involving experiential education, and team-building camps. The programme provides a foundation for the long-term development of its participants, a core component of which is taking social responsibility. János Pecznik, a former student of the Access Programme and a current student of the Core Programme talks about his experiences about the Access year in this Facebook post. For further information on the Access Programme please click here.

What is the Milestone Advising Programme?

The Milestone Advising Programme is an intensive, personalised, 10-week exclusive programme. It includes weekly sessions with an experienced Milestone mentor, who assists the student in achieving their personal educational goals.

• The students themselves can decide what they would like to focus on during the programme, be it orientation, preparation for university admissions, or building their university portfolio.
• During the programme, students receive feedback on what is needed to achieve their goals and ambitions.
• Students also gain access to the best practices, guidance, and resources of Milestone Institute.

For further information on the Advising Programme please click here.

What is mentoring?

In the Core Programme, mentor and mentee work as partners towards jointly formulated goals. These goals can be academic, such as identifying the student’s areas of interest and expanding their knowledge, or they can be related to self-reflection and skill building, such as managing academic anxiety or promoting more confident contribution and self-expression during classes. As Jane Goodwin, one of our mentors, puts it: “Mentoring is basically another involved adult in the child’s life. There is somebody who is making sure that the students are being held accountable for their own development and that they are getting encouragement to get involved in things. Helping them achieve specific accomplishments and pursue their interests.”

• Throughout the academic year, students participate in a minimum of twelve mentoring sessions, which are typically held every 2-3 weeks.
• A mentoring session typically lasts approximately 30-60 minutes
• Mentoring sessions take place in person at the headquarters of Milestone Institute. Further information here.

További információt itt talál.

Who are the mentors at Milestone Institute?

Mentors at Milestone Institute closely monitor and shape the students’ academic journey. Our mentors are typically not secondary school teachers, but rather recognized professionals in their respective fields or areas of expertise.

• 30% of our mentors hold doctoral qualifications.
• They hold leadership positions at successful Hungarian large enterprises, institutions, or organisations.

Further information here.

What subjects can be studied at the Milestone Institute?

At Milestone Institute education is conducted in eight-week modules held on weekday afternoons or Saturdays. The modules, varying in difficulty, are offered in four study pathways: Arts and Humanities, Natural Sciences, Numerical Sciences, and Social Sciences.

• Orientation-level modules allow students to experiment and challenge their boundaries.
• More immersive modules are designed to provide an opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of a specific field.
• We also offer focus level modules which synthesise knowledge for senior students preparing for university admissions.
• Our offered modules may include:
Physiology of Organisms
Making up People
Area Studies: Far East
Econometrics
Macroeconomics
Pop vs. Culture
Introduction to Programming
Good and Evil
Uncertainty
Cursing
Engineering Lab: 3D Printing

For a list of modules available in academic year 2024/25 see our module catalogue.

What are students’ responsibilities at Milestone Institute?

Students are responsible for their own learning journeys, they select the activities they would like to engage in, and the modules they would like to take. The Institute requires students to regularly attend their modules and mentoring sessions.

• Modules are eight weeks long. To receive a passing grade, students need to be present in at least five sessions and complete all the required coursework.
• The timing of Mentoring sessions is discussed and set by the mentor and the student. They are held in person at Milestone’s headquarters, and they take place every second or third week.
• Student life events, as well as all clubs and societies, are organised by the students themselves. Students elect their leaders annually, during the spring term.

Is Milestone designed to prepare students for successful university admissions?

We consider our students’ university admission results to be important, and we support Senior students in multiple ways to successfully navigate the steps of both domestic and international admission procedures. However, the educational philosophy and practice of Milestone Institute considers students’ personalities and the learning process in a more comprehensive way: the goal in every year group is to help students find how they can unfold their talents as much as they can and in a way that fits them personally, and in turn how they can submit a successful application to the university most fitting for their goals.

What is the Freshman year and what commitments do Freshmen have?

The Freshman year starts when students are graduating from 8th grade in primary school and ends when they finish 9th grade in secondary school. The aim of our Freshman year education programme is for students to start exploring and reflecting on what they like to do and what they enjoy immersing themselves in.

• We primarily build on the students’ initial openness and interests.
• Each Freshman student has to take three modules, one on academic writing, one concentrating on social issues, and one focusing on natural sciences: these gamified modules are specifically designed for Freshmen, they combine the perspectives and methodologies of multiple disciplines, and they encourage students to ask questions and reflect.
• In addition to the modules, Freshmen work on independent projects, led by the Institute, with the help of their mentors. In doing so they will have challenged themselves and gained experience about their own scientific or artistic interests by the end of the academic year.

What is the Sophomore year and what commitments do Sophomores have?

The Sophomore year starts at the end of 9th grade and finishes at the end of 10th grade. The aim of our education programme of the Sophomore year is for students to find what they like to do and what they enjoy immersing themselves in

• Sophomore students choose their own modules from the offered selection focusing on academic orientation. This allows them to start recognising their responsibility in shaping their own learning paths.
• In addition, with the help of their mentors, students plan and complete a project by the end of the Sophomore year. Sophomores have, for example, conducted research in various academic subjects, written a great number of short stories, made animations, or dived into robotics or programming.

But how smart, or indeed how much of a genius do you need to be to complete the Sophomore year? According to Dalma Szentpály, Head of Sophomore Year “at the age of fourteen to sixteen, it is not academic engagement that intelligence would typically manifest in. There are many types of intellects, and the Sophomore projects aim at finding tailor-made challenges for students with different personalities and different ways of being intelligent.”

What is the Junior year and what commitments do Juniors have?

The Junior year starts at the end of 10th grade and finishes at the end of 11th grade. We have designed the Junior year to provide challenges and opportunities that would inspire those who are still uncertain about their orientation, as well as help those who need experience and professional guidance to reach their already established goals.

• Students have autonomy in choosing which modules they take and what projects they engage in.
• One of the year group’s goals is to help students establish a clear idea of what they are interested in, which universities they want to apply to, and what courses they want to take.
• An additional goal is for students to gain experience in their field of interest. This includes entering essay competitions, engaging in lab work for natural sciences, participating in projects, conducting research, volunteering, and taking internships – opportunities for external validation, which could also help students’ university applications in the future.

What is the Senior year and what commitments do Seniors have?

The Senior year starts at the end of 11th grade and finishes at the end of summer the next year, after students have completed their school leaving (Érettségi) examinations. Ideally, by the beginning of the Senior year, students already have a selection of universities and courses that they would like to apply to. In addition, our Seniors have already worked on their profiles by implementing projects, doing internships or research, or taking part in competitions. The Senior year is mostly spent with university application procedures, but students also attend modules, take part in mentoring, and participate in student life events.

• Throughout the year, Seniors work closely with their mentors on preparing their university application packages, writing their personalised letters of motivation to be sent to specific universities, assembling their CV, creating their portfolios (if needed), and keeping their deadlines.
• Throughout the year, Milestone Institute supports Seniors by providing feedback on their application materials, organising mock interviews in the case of Oxbridge applicants, organising info sessions focusing on different universities, and distributing relevant information.
• Students applying to the EU, the US, or the UK are offered the opportunity to join cohorts that specialise in their region of interest. In these cohorts, students are supported by colleagues with special knowledge about the university application processes of the given region.

Why is student life important?

Milestone Institute’s student societies and events are organized by the students. Student life provides an excellent opportunity to meet new people and learn from peers: students create learning opportunities for each other via the sessions they themselves organise.

• Active participation in student life develops skills that are often hard to achieve within traditional frameworks. Such skills are responsibility, communication, planning, community development, and taking initiative.
• All these skills can be extremely useful in students’ future academic careers, as they promote ownership over their own learning and development processes.

You can read our article introducing student life here.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION ABOUT STUDYING AT MILESTONE

How is the academic year structured at Milestone Institute?

• Our academic year begins in May and ends in April the following year.
• The academic year is divided into three trimesters: the first from May to July, the second from September to November, and the third from January to April.
• At the heart of each trimester, we find an 8-week teaching period: this is when module teaching takes place.
• Student life activities also follow the trimesters.
• Mentoring takes place at regular intervals throughout the entire academic year.

When does the academic year start?

The academic year begins in May with the Year Opening Ceremony and Student Life Fair and ends in April of the following year.

Why does Milestone Institute have a summer trimester?

The summer term is an essential part of the Milestone educational programme for two reasons.

• Firstly, newly admitted students can get accustomed to the level and type of engagement required by Milestone Institute, without the pressure of their regular school duties. Additionally, this freedom provided by the summer school break allows students to explore and immerse themselves in something, and thus it is also much appreciated by continuing Milestone students.
• Secondly, especially in the Senior year, the summer is the perfect time to work on materials needed for international university admissions procedures, which often have complex and diverse requirements and very different timelines from Hungarian admission procedures.

When are the courses and classes held?

Students are required to complete four courses (modules) in the academic year. Students choose their modules at the beginning of each trimester. Classes (sessions) are held on weekday afternoons and on Saturdays.

What is the language of instruction at Milestone?

The modules and the mentoring sessions are held exclusively in English. English is also the language used in official and written communication.

Does Milestone Institute offer language courses to develop the students’ command of English?

Milestone Institute does not offer language courses.

What is evaluation like in Milestone Institute?

When students complete a module at the end of a trimester their work is evaluated by the module leader on a scale of 1-10.

• Achieving at least a grade of 4 is required to pass a module.
• uring mentoring and advising sessions students get regular verbal feedback on their performance, but there is no grading.
• Additionally, the students must be present for at least 60% of the module sessions.

What are the requirements for completing an academic year in Milestone Institute?

To successfully complete an academic year, students are required to complete four modules and take part in all mentoring sessions. In addition, students in the Freshman, Sophomore, and Junior year are required to complete a year-long project.

How long are the programmes offered by Milestone Institute?

• The Core Programme is designed as a four-year programme that offers different challenges and activities to each year group, namely the Freshman, the Sophomore, the Junior, and the Senior years (see descriptions in separate entries). It is possible to apply to either year group of the Core Programme, but statistically speaking we admit very few new applicants to the fourth (Senior) year.
• The Access Programme is a one-year programme offered to secondary school students.
• The Milestone Advising Programme consists of 10-week sprints.

How much time do students prepare each week in the Core Programme?

Students attend modules of their choice every week, they meet their mentors regularly, and they take part in student life activities.

A module consists of one 50-minute session per week. Students actively prepare for each session, but the amount of preparation necessary depends on the difficulty of the curriculum: it varies from three hours to five or six hours per week. .
• Mentoring sessions take place every 2-3 weeks, and last about 30-60 minutes. Preparing for the mentoring sessions and working on one’s annual project also requires time.

How much time do students prepare each week in the Access Programme?

Students in the Access Programme take three modules. Sessions are held every two weeks and they last 90 minutes. In practical terms this means that students attend one class in week ‘A’ and two in week ‘B’.

• Preparing for a class takes approximately 2-3 hours a week.
• In addition, students attend one cohort building weekend every trimester.
• We encourage students in the Access Programme to also attend student life events.

APPLYING TO MILESTONE INSTITUTE

What kinds of students is Milestone Institute looking for?

We are looking for inquisitive and open-minded students, regardless of their background or specific interest, who have a fluent, high command of English, in line with expectations for their age group. Through the admission procedure we aim to admit those students who are best suited to make the most of our educational programme, and who are equipped to become valuable members of the Milestone alumni community. If you have further questions, please request a callback from our student ambassador.

What happens at an open day?

The open days, which we organise regularly both in English and Hungarian, are perfect opportunities to meet the Institute’s module leaders, mentors, and students, to learn more about our teaching methods and application process, and to ask questions during a roundtable discussion. Students can also participate in a trial workshop after most open days. Find out more about our open days here.

How do we apply to Milestone Institute?

We organise two rounds of admissions: a first round with a deadline in the beginning of February, and a second round with a deadline in the beginning of March. To apply, students need to fill out an online application form where they provide their personal data, upload their end-of-year report card from KRÉTA, and are also required to answer five short essay questions. Unfortunately, it is not possible to join our programme during the academic year. To find out about this year’s deadlines, please click here. To apply, fill in the application form here. For further information please request a callback from our student ambassador.

What is the application process like?

After submitting the application form, most applicants are invited to take part in a written entrance exam. Here they are tested for their command of English, as well as for their problem-solving and argumentative skills. Finally, select applicants are invited to an oral interview where we would like to learn more about the students’ personality, mindset, motivation, and goals. The oral interview is therefore a free discussion, for which students are asked to prepare by watching a video selected by Milestone Institute.

When are applicants notified about their results?

Students are informed about the results of their application process in the beginning of April.

When can I join Milestone Institute?

Students can only join Milestone during the annual application period. Students cannot join the Institute once the academic year has started.

Do students need a language exam to attend Milestone Institute?

No, we do not require any language certificates from the students to gain admission to Milestone Institute.

What level of English is required to be admitted to Milestone Institute?

The language of instruction at Milestone is English. Students are continuously required to take part in written and spoken communication, as well as to express their thoughts and work with texts in English. Freshmen and Sophomore students are required to have a B2 level command of English, while Junior and Senior students should have C1 level skills. Language certificates are not required.

Should we choose the Core Programme or the Access Programme?

The Core Programme is a four-year programme, which students can join at any of the four different year groups. Students in this programme receive strong academic orientation and mentoring. You can find the detailed description of the programme here. The Access Programme is a one-year programme focusing on developing critical thinking, problem-solving, and project work. You can find the detailed description of the programme here.

What are the chances of a student who is currently attending 11th grade, and will attend 12th grade next year, to be admitted to Milestone Institute?

Our Core Programme accepts new students for all four different year groups during the admission period. However, getting admitted to the Freshman and Sophomore years is significantly easier than getting admitted to the upper years (Junior and Senior), as there are fewer students studying in these year groups. Admission to our final, Senior year is the most challenging: for this year group we expect applicants who already have a well-established orientation.

Can freshly admitted students ask for a deferred entry and start a year later?

Freshly admitted students do not have the option to defer. If, for any reason, they are unable to start their studies in the current academic year, they can reapply during the next admission period.

What are the tuition fees at Milestone Institute?

Tuition fees for the 2025/2026 academic year are the following:

Type of Programme	Tuition Fee 2025-2026
Core programem	HUF 1,650,000 / academic year
Access programme	HUF 2,050,000 / academic year
Milestone Advising programme	HUF 1,500,000 one-time contribution to the Milestone Institute scholarship fund + HUF 900,000 / Advising / Sprint

For further information please click here.

Is there a trial period that allows us to withdraw from Milestone after signing the contract if we do not like the programme or change our minds?

The signed contract may be terminated via ordinary termination by the student in writing, with a five (5) day notice, and with the below terms and conditions depending on the date of termination. If the student submits their notice

• between the 1st of May 2025 and the 15 May 2025, 20% of the tuition fee outlined in appendix 1 of the contract is due and payable to the Institute. In line with this, if more than 20% of the tuition fee has been fulfilled, the Institute will refund the excess amount paid beyond the stipulated 20%. If less than 20% of the tuition fee has been paid, the remaining sum is due and payable by the student to the Institute
• between the 16st of May 2025 and the 31 May 2025, 50% of the tuition fee outlined in appendix 1 of the contract is due and payable to the Institute. In line with this, if more than 50% of the tuition fee has been fulfilled, the Institute will refund the excess amount paid beyond the stipulated 50%. If less than 50% of the tuition fee has been paid, the remaining sum is due and payable by the student to the Institute.
• after the 31st of May 2025, the tuition fee in proportion to the period of the academic year not attended by the student is due and payable to the Institute.

Can we pay in instalments?

Yes, in either 3, 6 or 12 instalments.

What scholarships are available at Milestone Institute?

Milestone Institute offers six different scholarships.

• Bridge Scholarship: Provides tuition-free education for exceptionally talented students who come from a socially or economically disadvantaged background or are of Roma origin. The scholarship covers the full tuition fee.
• Social Scholarship: The Milestone Social Scholarship was created to promote social diversity and to support students in precarious financial situations. The scholarship offers a 10-75% tuition discount.
• Fellowship: The Fellowship-system was created to support and recognize students with outstanding academic, research, and community-building achievements. The scholarship provides a 10% tuition discount.
• Scholarships for Budapest District 7 Students: created to support students who are residents of District 7 of Budapest and are also eligible for the Milestone Social Scholarship.
• Lyons Scholarship: The Lyons Scholarship, offered by the West London Synagogue, supports talented Hungarian students with a Jewish background who are economically disadvantaged.
• Bulgarian Minority Scholarship: The Bulgarian Minority Scholarship is co-financed by the Bulgarian National Municipality and provides financial support for students of Bulgarian nationality.

For further information please click here.