Empower Your Education Journey with Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarships

Scholarship Overview: The Hungarian Government established the Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship initiative to internationalize higher education in Hungary. Its primary aim is to attract exceptional global students who wish to pursue their education in Hungary. This not only provides them with high-quality learning in the heart of Europe but also nurtures personal and professional connections with the country.

Upon completing their studies, recipients of this scholarship return to their home countries equipped with valuable skills and knowledge. This empowers them to contribute to social, political, and economic collaborations, thereby strengthening cooperation between Hungary and their nations of origin. Launched in 2013, the Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship Programme offers foreign students the opportunity to engage in higher education studies in Hungary.

Administered by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and coordinated by the Tempus Public Foundation, the program operates through educational agreements between Hungary and the sending countries or territories. With over 80 Sending Partners across five continents, the program’s global footprint continues to expand.

The scholarship program provides options for full-degree and partial study programs at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels, predominantly conducted in English. The Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship Programme also offers foreign language programs. Students have the option to undertake a year-long Hungarian language preparatory training before commencing their higher education studies in Hungarian.

Scholarship recipients are encouraged to dedicate themselves to their academic pursuits while in Hungary, as the scholarship covers tuition fees, accommodation, and living costs. Graduating with a European degree opens doors to diverse opportunities in the worldwide job market.

Since its establishment in 2013, the number of Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship holders has significantly increased, leading to a rise in self-funded international students in Hungarian universities. From 2013 to 2019, the proportion of international students in Hungarian higher education institutions doubled, with Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship recipients accounting for a substantial portion of this growth. Consequently, the count of foreign language study programs taught in Hungarian universities has tripled since 2015.

Both the number of applicants and awardees of the Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship have consistently risen, along with the available scholarship slots. In 2022, the program received an excess of 500,000 applications and awarded nearly 4,900 scholarships. This highlights the fact that since its inception, the Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship has established itself as an exceptionally meritorious program.

Academic Levels:

The Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarships Programme for Bachelor’s and Master’s students offers opportunities to pursue programs at the Bachelor’s and Master’s levels at universities in Hungary.

Subject Availability:

The Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship Program covers a wide range of subjects, allowing students to study in any academic discipline of their choice.

Scholarship Benefits:

The scholarship program offers a range of financial advantages to its recipients:

1. Tuition-Free Education: Scholarship holders are relieved from paying tuition fees for their chosen programs.
2. Monthly Stipend: Depending on their level of study, students awarded the scholarship receive a monthly stipend to support their living costs in Hungary. The stipend amounts to HUF 43,700 (approximately EUR 2,103) per month for non-degree, bachelor’s, master’s, and one-tier master’s students. This stipend is provided for all 12 months of the year until the completion of their studies.
3. Accommodation Contribution: Scholarship awardees are either allocated a dormitory space at no cost or are granted a monthly accommodation contribution of HUF 40,000. However, it’s essential to note that if a student opts not to stay in the dormitory, the monthly contribution of HUF 40,000 is intended to assist with rental expenses. In larger cities, particularly the capital, this contribution might not cover the entire rental cost.
4. Medical Insurance: Students benefiting from the scholarship are entitled to healthcare services as per Hungarian law (Act LXXX of 1997) through the national health insurance card. Furthermore, they are provided with supplementary medical insurance that covers up to HUF 65,000 (approximately EUR 153) per person per year.

It’s important to recognize that these provisions are designed to alleviate the living expenses of the scholarship recipients. Although they offer substantial support, they may not encompass all the costs associated with living in Hungary. Applicants are advised to evaluate the anticipated living expenses both in Hungary and their chosen city of residence before applying for the scholarship. The scholarship program offers a “Cost of Living Calculator” for this purpose. It’s crucial for applicants to be mindful that supplementing these provisions with personal financial resources might be necessary to adequately manage living expenses during their stay in Hungary.

Eligible Nationalities:

For full-time study programs, students are eligible to apply through the following Sending Partners: Arab Republic of Egypt, Argentine Republic, Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Federative Republic of Brazil, Georgia, Ibero-American General Secretariat (eligible member states: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela), Islamic Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Japan, Kingdom of Cambodia, Kingdom of Morocco, Kingdom of Thailand, Kurdistan Regional Government/Iraq, Kyrgyz Republic, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Lebanese Republic, Malaysia, Mongolia, Montenegro, Oriental Republic of Uruguay, Pacific Alliance (member states: Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru), State of Palestine, People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Republic of Burundi, People’s Republic of China, Republic of Albania, Republic of Angola, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Belarus, Republic of Botswana, Republic of Cabo Verde, Republic of Chile, Republic of Colombia, Republic of Costa Rica, Republic of Cuba, Republic of Ecuador, Republic of Ghana, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Iraq, Republic of Kazakhstan, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Korea, Republic of Kosovo, Republic of Liberia, Republic of Maldives, Republic of Mali, Republic of Moldova, Republic of Namibia, Republic of North Macedonia, Republic of Panama, Republic of Peru, Republic of Rwanda, Republic of Serbia, Republic of Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of South Africa, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Republic of the Philippines, Republic of the Union of Myanmar, Republic of Tajikistan, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Uganda, Republic of Uzbekistan, Republic of Yemen, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Socialist Republic of Vietnam, State of Eritrea, State of Israel, State of Kuwait, Sultanate of Oman, Syrian Arab Republic, Taiwan, The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Tunisian Republic, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Mexican States, United Republic of Tanzania.