Introducing BZSH Secondary Vocational School for Foreign Trade
BZSH Secondary Vocational School for Foreign Trade is located in the heart of Budapest and maintained by the Jewish Community of Budapest. We offer educational programmes for students entering secondary school, secondary school graduates, and adults seeking vocational qualifications. More than 800 students currently study with us.
Our aim is to help students acquire knowledge they can use independently, both in their professional lives and in further education. We place particular emphasis on practical learning, foreign languages and international experience. We aim to help our students connect what they learn across different subjects, make informed decisions, and approach unfamiliar situations with confidence.
Our origins and educational programmes
The school was founded in 2018. Many of the school's founding teachers and administrative staff brought valuable experience from established vocational and adult education institutions, including KOTK and STUDIO ITALIA. Their expertise helped shape an educational approach that takes account of students’ different backgrounds and connects classroom learning with professional practice.
Our programmes cover commerce, logistics, information technology, tourism, finance and accounting. Students who have already completed secondary school can pursue vocational qualifications through full-time or evening programmes. We also work with approximately 30 partner companies to provide vocational education connected to the workplace.
In 2024, we welcomed our first students entering vocational secondary education after completing the eighth grade. Currently, 134 students are enrolled in our language preparatory and secondary school programmes.
For this age group, we offer programmes leading to qualifications in commerce and e-commerce or logistics and freight forwarding. These combine general education, preparation for the Hungarian secondary school leaving examinations and vocational studies. We also prepare students for advanced-level school leaving examinations to support their plans for higher education.
Our six-year educational programme begins with an intensive language preparatory year, followed by five years of vocational secondary education. For admission in the 2027/2028 academic year, applicants can choose an English or Italian language preparatory year. The Italian option is particularly suited to students whose English is already at or close to B2 level and who wish to develop a second foreign language through intensive study.
Languages and international experience
Foreign language learning is a central part of our educational approach. Our communicative approach encourages students to use foreign languages confidently to exchange ideas, access information, and communicate in international professional environments.
Full-time students enrolled in our post-secondary vocational programmes receive an additional 120 English lessons at no extra cost. Students can also take optional courses in Hebrew, Chinese, Spanish and German. Through our partnerships, they have access to Euroexam English and CILS Italian language examinations.
Erasmus+ gives our students opportunities to complete vocational placements abroad, including in Italy and Spain. Our teachers also participate in international professional development courses and exchanges. These experiences bring new teaching ideas into the school and help students become more confident in working with people from different backgrounds.
Practical learning and ENTERRA
Our teachers combine their teaching expertise with practical experience from their respective professional fields. We encourage students to take an active part in learning through practical tasks, cooperation and discussion.
This approach also guides the development of our ENTERRA Digital Enterprise Simulation Lab, which is currently in its pilot phase. The lab simulates real-world processes in commerce and logistics, allowing students to make decisions, evaluate their outcomes, and understand how different business operations are interconnected. Experience gained during the pilot phase will inform its further development.
The school is also an ICDL and Euroexam examination centre, supporting students in gaining recognised certificates in digital skills and English.
Further education
Since 2021, we have worked with Budapest University of Economics and Business to strengthen the connection between vocational secondary education and university studies.
From Year 11 onwards, students in our commerce and logistics programmes have the opportunity to participate in a jointly developed advanced vocational training programme known in Hungary as Okleveles technikus. This partnership helps prepare students for higher education and provides additional opportunities for successful graduates to pursue university studies, including potential admission to state-funded programmes, subject to the relevant admission requirements.
Our school community
Our school occupies a renovated building at 16 Révay Street, between St Stephen’s Basilica and the Hungarian State Opera. The school has 15 classrooms, including dedicated computer labs, as well as a communal space known as the Greenhouse, where students can relax and socialise between lessons.
Our Jewish heritage is reflected in the building and in school life. Corridor exhibitions introduce influential figures of Jewish origin and display photographs of Jerusalem and other places in Israel. Cultural excursions, guided walks through Budapest's historic Jewish Quarter, theatre visits, and discussions of social and economic issues help broaden students' understanding of the world around them.
We encourage students to take responsibility for their communities. They can participate in charitable activities supporting disadvantaged people and refugees, as well as other forms of community service.
As a recognised European Parliament Ambassador School, we help students learn about European institutions, democratic participation and active citizenship. Through discussions, simulations and joint projects, they practise expressing their views, considering different perspectives and thinking critically.
Students who need accommodation may also have access to free accommodation at the Dávid Király student residence, near the Pillangó Street metro station.
Working with us
We welcome opportunities to collaborate with schools, universities, and businesses both in Hungary and internationally. We are particularly interested in developing partnerships involving vocational placements, student and teacher exchanges, collaborative educational projects, and research initiatives that encourage the sharing of knowledge and best practices.
We believe that students benefit when their education connects them with professional life and with a wider international community. Our partnerships help us make those connections part of their everyday learning.
BZSH Secondary Vocational School for Foreign Trade
1065 Budapest, Révay utca 16, Hungary
Head of School: Mr. András SALUSINSZKY
Email: igazgato@kulkertechnikum.hu
Telephone: +36 1 776 6620
Website: kulkertechnikum.hu