A brief history of postgraduate education in Hungary after 1945 is given. The different types of degrees which were developed are presented, and a description is given of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. The Law on Higher Education which was passed by the Hungarian Parliament in July 1993 has created a new university doctorate, equivalent to the PhD in the USA and the UK, to be awarded by universities having been accredited to do so. The process of accreditation is described, particularly the role of the interim Hungarian Accreditation Board (HAC), as is also the role of an Advisory Committee for HAC made up of distinguished foreign academics. As annexes, the announcement sent to all Hungarian universities inviting them to submit proposals for PhD programmes to be considered for accreditation and the recommendations of the Advisory Board, made in its meeting of 2 March 1993, are reproduced.