How to Apply to the Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship (And How I Won It)

When I first heard about the Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship, I never imagined I would actually receive it.

Like many students from developing countries, I assumed studying abroad was only possible for wealthy families. Today, I'm studying Computer Science at the University of Debrecen in Hungary on a fully funded Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship, and looking back, my journey was very different from what most people imagine.

Here's the part that surprises people most: I didn't have perfect A Level grades. I got B grades in my final A Levels — and I was still selected.

In this guide, I'll walk through what the scholarship actually includes, the documents you'll need, the three official selection stages, my own admission experience, and the mistakes I made so you don't have to repeat them.

Whether you're applying from Bangladesh, Nigeria, Pakistan, Indonesia, or any other eligible country, this article will help you understand what really matters.

Can You Win With Average A Level Grades?

This is probably the question I get asked most. The answer is yes — but your grades are only one part of your application. Here's what the scholarship covers, and then my full story.

Stipendium Hungaricum at a Glance

Before getting into the process, here's a quick overview of what the scholarship actually is and what it includes.

Now let's look at what the scholarship is, how the selection actually works, and my own path through all three stages.

What Is the Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship?

The Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship is the Hungarian Government's flagship international scholarship programme, open to students from partner countries around the world. Every year, thousands of applicants apply for Bachelor's, Master's, one-tier Master's, PhD, and selected preparatory (Foundation Year) programmes at Hungarian public universities.

Official website: stipendiumhungaricum.hu
Official application portal: apply.stipendiumhungaricum.hu

If you'd like more detail on day-to-day life once you arrive, our accommodation guide for internationals in Hungary and our breakdown of the living costs in Hungary cover what to expect once you land.

My Story: From "It's Impossible" to a Fully Funded Scholarship in Hungary

After finishing my IGCSEs with 7 A* grades and 1 A, I had already planned my future — I was going to study at United International University (UIU) in Dhaka, which offered generous scholarships to students with strong A Level grades. At the time, my family's finances simply didn't allow us to consider studying abroad; even looking at European universities felt unrealistic because of the tuition fees. Studying abroad genuinely wasn't on my mind.

That changed after my AS Levels, where I performed extremely well — Physics: 300/300 UMS, Chemistry: 290/300 UMS. (If you're unfamiliar with UMS — the Uniform Mark Scale used by Edexcel — it converts raw marks into standardised marks. A paper marked out of 80 might see a raw score of 64/80 converted to a much higher UMS score, depending on that year's grade boundaries. So while my raw marks weren't perfect, my UMS scores reflected excellent performance.)

These results made my family believe studying abroad might actually be possible — until we checked tuition fees and found many universities asking for tens of thousands of dollars, which simply wasn't affordable for us. That's when I discovered the Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship. Honestly, I applied almost like buying a lottery ticket; I didn't expect to win it.

Here's the twist: my final A Level grades actually turned out worse than my AS results. After AS Levels, I started giving private tuition across different parts of Dhaka because my family needed the income, and the time I spent travelling between students cut into my study time. My A Level performance dropped as a result.

Fortunately, I had already applied to Stipendium Hungaricum using my AS Level results. Rather than admitting me directly into the Bachelor's programme, the university offered me a Foundation Year instead. Many applicants don't realise this exists — you can't directly apply for the Foundation Programme under Stipendium Hungaricum. A university may recommend it if it believes you have strong potential but need an extra year of academic preparation before starting your Bachelor's degree.

That one decision changed my future. My scholarship covers my studies from the Foundation Year all the way through my Bachelor's in Computer Science, and I'm currently in my second year.

If I hadn't applied "just to try," I probably wouldn't be studying in Europe today. Sometimes one application can completely change your life.

Looking back, the biggest lesson I learned is this: I used to think scholarships were basically impossible to get. Now that I've been through it, I know winning a scholarship is really about building a solid profile and applying to as many opportunities as you realistically can — do that, and you'll almost certainly land at least one. Focus on your grades and score as highly as you can. Start extracurricular activities early and build real skills. Write a motivation letter that helps the committee understand exactly why they should choose you — your leadership, your community mindset, your academic strengths. Then apply, apply, and apply. It really is that simple.

When I submitted my own application, I genuinely expected to be rejected — my backup plan was to study in Romania, since it looked far more affordable than most other European countries. Applying to Stipendium Hungaricum was simply something I decided to try, and that one decision changed my life. Today, I'm studying Computer Science in Hungary on a fully funded scholarship that has covered my education from the Foundation Year all the way through my Bachelor's degree.

How Does the Stipendium Hungaricum Selection Process Work?

One of the biggest misconceptions applicants have is thinking there's only one application. In reality, there are three separate selection stages, and understanding all three is essential — many students fail before they even reach the university admission test.

Stage 1: Country Nomination

Before Hungarian universities even see your application, most countries run their own selection process first. This step looks completely different depending on where you're applying from.

Bangladesh

When I applied, applicants had to:

• Meet minimum GPA requirements
• Submit academic certificates
• Provide English language proof (IELTS usually strengthens an application)
• Submit documents to the designated government office
• Complete additional country-specific requirements, including a Police Clearance Certificate

Pakistan

Pakistan follows a different system. Applicants are generally required to sit the USAT examination, and the nomination process differs significantly from Bangladesh's.

Other Countries

Nigeria, Indonesia, Egypt, India, Azerbaijan — every country has its own rules. This is why you should never rely solely on advice from another country's applicants; always check your own country's official requirements. The easiest way:

1. Visit the official Stipendium Hungaricum website.
2. Open the Partner Countries section.
3. Select your country.
4. Visit the official nominating authority's website.

If the government website is confusing (which happens more often than you'd expect), search YouTube for terms like "Stipendium Hungaricum process Nigeria" or "Stipendium Hungaricum Bangladesh." Previous scholarship winners often explain the process for your specific country.

Stage 2: The University Admission Test

Once your country nominates you, Hungarian universities begin evaluating applicants. During your application, you'll choose two study programme preferences, which can be:

• Two different programmes at the same university
• The same programme at two different universities
• Two completely different universities

Each university evaluates your application exactly as it would a fee-paying international student — there's no easier admission test just because you're a scholarship applicant.

In my case, I applied to Computer Science and Business Informatics, both at the University of Debrecen. Rather than two separate examinations, I sat one written mathematics test followed by an online interview. The written test required roughly 56% to pass, and I got through.

A few days later I had the interview, which turned out to be much easier than I expected. The interviewer asked me to solve a quadratic equation — I explained the method I'd use while he worked through it himself — then showed me the equation of a circle and asked me to identify it. That was essentially the whole interview.

My biggest piece of advice is not to panic. University admission interviews are usually designed to understand how you think, not to trick you. For a more detailed walkthrough of what to expect, see our dedicated Stipendium Hungaricum interview process guide.

One more tip: many Hungarian universities publish previous admission papers or sample entrance exams on their websites. Practising these gives you a very good idea of what to expect.

Stage 3: Tempus Foundation's Final Selection

After finishing your university admission test, it's easy to assume the scholarship is already secured. Unfortunately, that's not how it works — passing the university admission test does not automatically guarantee the scholarship.

Once universities finish evaluating applicants, they send the results to the Tempus Public Foundation, the organisation responsible for managing the Stipendium Hungaricum Programme. Tempus then reviews every nominated applicant and makes the final decision based on factors such as:

• The number of scholarship seats available
• Your university admission results
• Your complete application profile
• The nomination received from your country's sending partner
• Other programme-specific considerations

This is why some students pass the university entrance examination but still don't receive the scholarship — competition can be intense, especially for popular programmes.

My Advice for This Stage

One thing I noticed during my application year was that some programmes were far more competitive than others — Medicine, Dentistry, and Pilot Training, for example, receive a huge number of applicants every year.

If your main goal is to study in Hungary on a scholarship rather than pursue one specific programme, consider applying to universities and programmes that receive fewer applications. That said, don't choose something you have no genuine interest in just because it's less competitive — pick a programme you actually want to study while being realistic about the odds.

Also, don't overlook your overall profile. Plenty of students will pass the admission exam; not everyone will have strong extracurricular activities, volunteer experience, leadership roles, competition certificates, and a well-written motivation letter. These are the areas where you can stand out.

Step-by-Step: How to Apply

If the process feels confusing, here's the order in which things usually happen.

1. Create an account on the official application portal at apply.stipendiumhungaricum.hu. Complete your online application and upload all required documents.
2. Check whether your country requires a separate national application. Some countries only need the online application; others require additional forms. When I applied from Bangladesh, I also had to apply through the government's designated authority.
3. Submit physical documents if your country's nominating organisation requires them — this depends entirely on your country.
4. Wait for your country's nomination decision. Only nominated students move on to university evaluation.
5. Watch your email carefully. Universities contact shortlisted applicants with details about admission tests and interviews — missing an email could mean missing your opportunity.
6. Take your university admission examination. Some universities require written tests, online exams, or oral interviews; others may only require one of these.
7. Attend the interview, if required. Not every university conducts one, but many do.
8. Receive your university admission result. Passing this stage means the university has recommended you.
9. Wait for the final decision from Tempus Foundation. This is when scholarship offers are officially announced.

When Does the Stipendium Hungaricum Application Open?

Always check the official website for exact dates, but the typical timeline looks like this:

Always verify the latest dates on the official website, since deadlines can change year to year.

Documents You'll Need

Preparing your documents early can save you a lot of stress later. Here's what most applicants need to gather, and why each one matters.

If IELTS is part of your requirement, our free practice tests can help you prepare: try an IELTS Reading practice test, an IELTS Writing practice test, or an IELTS Listening practice test.

How to Write a Strong Motivation Letter

If there's one document that deserves extra attention, it's your motivation letter. Many applicants spend weeks preparing for the admission test but write their motivation letter in a single evening — that's a mistake.

Your motivation letter should answer questions like:

• Why this programme?
• Why this university?
• Why Hungary?
• What are your future career goals?
• How will this scholarship help your country?

Avoid generic sentences that could be copied into any scholarship application. Make it personal, tell your own story, explain your goals, and show that you've actually researched the university.

If you need help structuring your essay, you can use Catch That Scholarship's free SOP Writer.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship

Similar Fully Funded Scholarships You Might Like

Stipendium Hungaricum is a great option, but it shouldn't be the only scholarship you apply to. Here are a couple of other fully funded programmes worth exploring:

Remember, the more scholarships you apply to with a strong, genuine application, the higher your overall chances of winning at least one.

Final Advice

If you're reading this, you're probably exactly where I was a few years ago — searching, reading blog posts, and wondering if you actually have a chance. I understand that feeling.

Don't reject yourself before the scholarship committee does.

Apply. Prepare well. Write a strong motivation letter. Practise for the admission test. Build the strongest application you can, then let the selection committee decide — you might be far more competitive than you think.

I wish you the very best of luck with your application. Hopefully, a few years from now, you'll be writing your own success story too.