International Students’ Perception of the Linguistic Landscape at a Hungarian University

Internationalisation is an ongoing process in higher education institutions worldwide. Széchenyi István University (Hungary) has also made it a priority to increase the number of international students, a move that draws attention to language issues. Building on previous research on the linguistic landscape of the university, this study evaluates the results of a questionnaire survey of international students’ perceptions of the language environment, conducted during the 2023–24 and 2025–26 academic years. The most significant finding of the cross-sectional comparative survey is the change in international students’ perceptions over the years and the steps the institution still needs to take to meet the information needs of its international students. Our findings suggest that students’ attitudes towards the linguistic landscape are shaped primarily by their practical experiences of language accessibility rather than by their existing Hungarian-language competency or the number of foreign languages they speak. The results can inform the conscious (re)design of the linguistic landscape at the university in question and help other universities plan their language policies.