Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship: A Comprehensive Guide for Aspiring International Students

Are you dreaming of studying in Europe without the burden of tuition fees and living expenses? The Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship offers international students a fully funded opportunity to study in Hungary. Established by the Hungarian Government, this scholarship program attracts thousands of applicants annually, making it one of the most popular and competitive in Europe. The Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship aims to support the internationalization of Hungarian higher education and its constant development. This will strengthen the international relations of the academic and research community, and enhance cultural diversity to promote the good reputation and competitiveness of Hungarian higher education throughout the world. The program also aims to establish and encourage the personal and professional attachment of foreign graduates to Hungary and contribute to the promotion of Hungarian culture and language abroad.

This guide provides a comprehensive overview of the Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship, covering eligibility criteria, benefits, the application process, required documents, and important deadlines.

Why Choose the Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship?

Hungary has emerged as a popular destination for international students due to its high-quality education, rich cultural heritage, and affordable living costs. Studying under the Stipendium Hungaricum program offers numerous advantages:

100% Tuition-Free Education: No tuition fees are required at Hungarian universities for selected programs.
Monthly Stipend: A monthly stipend is provided to cover living costs:
- Bachelor’s & Master’s: HUF 43,700/month (approximately €120)
- Doctoral programs: HUF 140,000-180,000/month (approximately €400-500)
Accommodation Support: Students receive a free dormitory place or a housing allowance of HUF 40,000/month. For students not living in dormitories, the HUF 40,000/month is a contribution to the rental costs since in bigger cities, this amount would not cover the full rental costs.
Medical Insurance: Full medical coverage is provided according to Hungarian laws. Medical insurance includes health care services according to the relevant Hungarian legislation (Act LXXX of 1997, national health insurance card) and supplementary medical insurance for up to 65,000 (cca EUR 160) a year/person.
Access to English-Taught Programs: A wide range of programs are available in English.
Study in the Heart of Europe: Hungary's central location allows for easy travel to other EU countries.

This scholarship is designed to support your education and help you gain international exposure and build a global career.

Programs Covered Under Stipendium Hungaricum

The scholarship supports various degree levels and programs, including: The Stipendium Hungaricum scholarships are available for Bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, one-tier master’s degree (covering both bachelor and master level studies), a doctoral degree, postgraduate specialist training courses, and non-degree programs (preparatory and specialization courses).

Bachelor’s degree programs
Master’s degree programs
One-tier master’s programs (Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Architecture, Law, etc.)
Doctoral (PhD) programs
Non-degree programs (Preparatory courses, Hungarian language training, and special courses)

Regarding the preparatory courses, applicants can ONLY apply for Hungarian language preparatory programmes. Even these preparatory courses can ONLY be applied for if the student wishes to continue his/her degree studies at a Hungarian language programme after the preparatory year. After completion, it is not possible to continue the studies in English or other foreign languages.

However, ONLY in the case of English language full degree study programmes in the fields of Engineering, Music and Dance or Computer Science and Information Technology, during the institutional entrance examination process and based on the professional evaluation of the applicant, the host institutions have the right to decide to admit the applicant for a foundation semester/year before they can start their full degree programmes.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship, applicants must meet the following criteria: Application for this government scholarship program is open for candidates who meet the following criteria:

Be a non-Hungarian citizen.
Be a citizen of an eligible country and apply for the corresponding program (Full- or partial-time program).
Be born before 31 August 2008 (= applicants over 18 years old as of 31 August 2026 except applicants applying for Dance study programmes.
Must not be a person granted refugee status (“menekült”), enjoying temporary protection (“menedékes”),admitted for subsidiary protection (“oltalmazott”) and granted humanitarian protection (“befogadott”), holding Hungarian citizenship (including those with dual citizenship).
Applicants with citizenships different from the sending country/territory will not be accepted. For example, only Chinese citizens can apply through the Chinese Sending Partner.
Be nominated by their sending partner country (Hungary has partnerships with numerous countries). The Stipendium Hungaricum Programme is implemented through direct cooperation with the responsible authorities of the Sending Partner (the partner’s Ministry of Education). Therefore, applications will only be considered eligible if the applicant is nominated by the responsible authorities of the Sending Partner.
Meet the academic requirements of the chosen program:
- High school diploma (for Bachelor’s)
- Bachelor’s degree (for Master’s)
- Master’s degree + research plan (for PhD)
Meet the minimum entry requirements of the chosen study program.
Meet the minimum language criteria set by the chosen Host Institution.
Applicants applying for bachelor’s, master’s, one-tier master’s, non-degree programs, or a doctoral program within the SH (scholarship holder) program in the same application round are not accepted.
The educational cooperation agreements in effect between Hungary and the Sending Partners determine which fields of study and scholarship types applicants are eligible for. Under no circumstances may applicants apply for a program that is not available in their country.
Provide proof of English proficiency (IELTS, TOEFL, or equivalent, unless exempted).
Be in good health (medical certificate may be required).

Benefits of the Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship

This fully funded scholarship covers almost all expenses:

Tuition Fee Exemption: No tuition fees for selected programs.
Monthly Stipend:
- Bachelor’s & Master’s: HUF 43,700/month (~€120)
- Doctoral programs: HUF 140,000-180,000/month (~€400-500)
Accommodation Support: Free dormitory place or HUF 40,000/month housing allowance.
Medical Insurance: Full coverage according to Hungarian laws.

With these benefits, students can focus on their studies and enjoy life in Hungary without financial worries. The above provisions are only a contribution to the living expenses of the Scholarship Holders. This means that it does not fully cover all the costs of living and the students need to add their own financial resources in order to cover all living expenses in Hungary. All applicants are highly advised to check the expected living expenses both in Hungary and in the city that they wish to live in before applying. Applicants can estimate the cost of living by using this tool.

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Application Process

Follow these steps to apply for the scholarship:

Check Eligibility: Confirm if your country is a partner country under the Stipendium Hungaricum program.
Apply Online: Create an account and submit your application through the official portal: apply.stipendiumhungaricum.hu. Interested applicants who wish to apply for this scholarship to study in Europe need to click on the apply button below to access the online application system of Tempus Public Foundation and register. After registration, applicants will be able to log in and follow the given instructions to fill out the application form. Applicants must also upload the required documents into the system. Each applicant can apply for up to TWO different study programs, in order of preference. These two study programs can be both at the same Host Institution and at different Host Institutions. It’s up to you. If you have applied earlier via the Dream Apply system, you will be able to use your existing account again. If you do not remember your access code, the system will send you a one-time code to accede to your account and choose a new password.
Prepare Documents: You will need to upload the required documents into the system.
- Completed online application form
- Valid passport
- Academic transcripts & certificates
- Motivation letter
- Proof of language proficiency (IELTS/TOEFL or equivalent)
- Two recommendation letters (for Master’s/PhD)
- Research proposal (for PhD applicants)
- Medical certificate: This requirement applies only to scholarship recipients, and nominated applicants are strongly advised to begin the process promptly after receiving their nomination results. A medical certificate confirming satisfactory health must be issued and signed by a physician in accordance with the diseases listed on the official form, with all required attachments as specified in the template. The certificate must be recent, meaning the issuance date cannot be earlier than 1 November 2025. Scholarship holders should not upload the certificate to the online system; instead, they must bring the original document and attachments to Hungary and present them during the mandatory medical examination.
- The letter must be written in the language of the selected study program or in Hungarian (Only for PhD Applicants);
- Statement of the Supervisor (if required by the proposed Doctoral School): a statement by the supervisor at the proposed Host Institution declaring that the supervisor undertakes to supervise the student’s work (Only for Ph.D. Applicants);
- Portfolio: photographs of three works of art/sketches (indicating the date of creation - Only for Art Applicants);
- Audio Portfolio: audio tracks of three works (indicating the date of the creation - Only for Music Applicants).
- Acceptance of Statement for Application in the online system.
- Please click here to download documents’ checklist.
Nomination by Sending Partner: Your country’s national authority reviews and nominates candidates.
University Admission & Evaluation: Hungarian universities review applications and may conduct admission exams or interviews.
Final Results: The Tempus Public Foundation (TPF) announces final results and issues admission letters.

All documents that cannot be obtained or produced in the language of the selected study program or in Hungarian have to be translated and the translations have to be submitted together with a copy of the original document. Applications should be submitted in the online system. Only saved applications will not be considered. Please note that no applications will be accepted without the online submission and after the deadline. No hard copies of documents are required by Tempus Public Foundation at the time of application. However, sending partners might require hard copies. Please check their requirements.

Timeline

November: Application system opens
January 15: Application deadline
February - March: Sending partners nominate candidates
March - May: University entrance exams & evaluation
June - July: Final selection results announced
September: Classes begin in Hungary

Tips to Increase Your Chances of Selection

Start preparing your documents well in advance (6-8 months before the deadline).
Write a strong and personalized motivation letter.
Research universities and choose programs wisely.
Contact potential supervisors (especially for PhD programs).
Double-check all documents before submission.
Apply as early as possible - don’t wait until the last day.

Eligible Sending Partners

The Stipendium Hungaricum Programme is implemented through direct cooperation with the responsible authorities of the Sending Partner (the partner’s Ministry of Education). Therefore, applications will only be considered eligible if the applicant is nominated by the responsible authorities of the Sending Partner. Your available study programs depend on your nominating partner. You also need to indicate in which framework you are applying in the Profile section of your application form. Be extra careful when selecting your programs. If you apply for a program that is not eligible for your sending partner, you will be automatically rejected. Before selecting a study program, please check this page regarding the available study programs and sending partners.

For full-time programs, all students (non-degree, BA, MA, OTM, PhD) can apply from the following Sending Partners: Egypt, Argentina, Armenia, Bahrain, Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei Darussalam, São Tomé and Príncipe, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Sri Lanka, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Brazil, Gambia, Georgia, Ibero-American General Secretariat (eligible member states: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Chad, Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela), Iran, Pakistan, Japan, Cambodia, Morocco, Thailand, Kurdistan, Iraq, Kyrgyz, Kurdish Region of Iraq, Laos, Lebanon, Libya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mongolia, Montenegro, Mozambique, Uruguay, Pacific Alliance (member states: Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru), Palestine, Algeria, Burundi, Bangladesh, China, Albania,Angola, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Botswana, Cabo Verde, Chile, Costa Rica, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Ghana, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Korea, Kosovo, Liberia, Maldives, Mali, Moldova, Namibia, North Macedonia, Panama, Peru, Rwanda, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, Sudan, Marshall Islands, Philippines, Tajikistan, Türkiye, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Yemen, Russia, Saint Lucia, Vietnam, Eritrea, Israel, Kuwait, Oman, Syria, China (ROC), Jordan, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Tanzania.

For partial (exchange) study programmes, students can apply from the following Sending Partners: Egypt, Argentina, Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, São Tomé and Príncipe, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sri Lanka, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Brazil, Georgia, Ibero-American General Secretariat (eligible member states: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela), Pakistan, Japan, Cambodia, Morocco, Laos, Lebanese, Malaysia, Mongolia, Montenegro,Uruguay, Bangladesh, China, Albania, Angola, Azerbaijan, Burundi, Belarus, Botswana, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Iran, Kenya, Korea, Kosovo, Liberia, Maldives, Mali, Moldova, North Macedonia, Panama, Peru, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Marshall Islands, Philippines, South Africa, Tajikistan, Turkey, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Yemen, Russia, Saint Lucia, Eritrea, Israel, Kuwait, Oman, Syria, Taiwan, Tunisia, Jordan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, etc. Please click here for more details on sending partners.

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