Stipendium Hungaricum
Scholarship — Complete Guide

Scholarship Overview

The Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship Programme is the Hungarian Government's flagship international student scholarship, launched in 2013 and managed by the Tempus Public Foundation (TPF) under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. It is a bilateral programme — meaning Hungary maintains educational cooperation agreements with more than 90 sending partner countries, and students must apply through their home country's designated authority.

The programme's core mission is to strengthen Hungary's role in international higher education while building long-term academic, economic, and cultural ties between Hungary and its partner nations. Each year it brings thousands of students from Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, and parts of Europe to study at 30 Hungarian universities across more than 900 study programmes — most of them taught in English.

Unlike many partial awards, Stipendium Hungaricum is genuinely fully funded: it removes every major cost barrier to studying abroad. For competitive students from eligible countries, it represents one of the most accessible and generous fully funded scholarships available in Europe today.

Exact Financial Package — What You Receive

This is the most important section for any prospective applicant. Here is every benefit the scholarship provides, with exact figures:

Who Can Apply — Eligibility Requirements

1. Citizenship & Sending Partner

You can only apply if your citizenship belongs to one of Hungary's 90+ sending partner countries. Each country has a designated authority — called the Sending Partner — which is usually a Ministry of Education, a national scholarship board (like HEC in Pakistan), or a Hungarian Embassy. You must both:

1. Submit your application on the official DreamApply portal (apply.stipendiumhungaricum.hu)
2. Also submit separately to your home country's Sending Partner by their own internal deadline (often earlier than Jan 15)

Failure to apply to your Sending Partner will result in automatic rejection regardless of your DreamApply submission.

2. Academic Requirements

• For Bachelor's programmes: A valid, certified high school diploma (final year students may apply with a transcript and submit the diploma later).
• For Master's programmes: A relevant Bachelor's degree diploma, or proof of being in the final year of a Bachelor's programme.
• For PhD/Doctoral programmes: A completed Master's degree. Some doctoral schools also require you to contact and secure a supervisor before applying.
• For One-Tier Master's (e.g. Medicine, Dentistry, Law): A high school diploma, as these are equivalent to an integrated undergraduate+graduate degree.

3. Age Requirement

You must be at least 18 years old by 31 August of the year your studies begin. If you turn 18 on or after 1 September, you can apply in the following application cycle. Note that some individual Sending Partners may set their own additional age limits — always check with your national authority.

4. English Language Proficiency

Most programmes are English-taught and require proof of English proficiency. Requirements vary by university and programme. Common accepted certificates include:

• IELTS Academic: typically 5.5 – 6.5 minimum (varies by programme)
• TOEFL iBT: typically 72 – 90 minimum
• Duolingo English Test: typically 100+ (accepted by some universities)
• Medium of Instruction (MOI) letter: a letter from your previous university confirming that your education was delivered in English. Widely accepted but not universally — check each programme on DreamApply.

5. Who Is NOT Eligible

• Hungarian citizens or dual nationals who hold Hungarian citizenship
• Persons with refugee, asylum-seeker, or certain permanent residency statuses in Hungary
• Students currently receiving funding from another Stipendium Hungaricum award
• Citizens of countries with no active bilateral educational cooperation agreement with Hungary

Eligible Degree Programmes & Universities

The Stipendium Hungaricum programme covers a broad range of academic levels and disciplines across 30 Hungarian higher education institutions:

The available study fields for your specific country are defined by the bilateral agreement between Hungary and your Sending Partner. Not all fields are open to all countries. You can check which study fields are approved for your nationality on the official Stipendium Hungaricum website before applying.

Notable host universities include: Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE), Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME), Corvinus University of Budapest, University of Debrecen, University of Pécs, University of Szeged, and Semmelweis University (for medical programmes).

Check Your Eligibility & Track Your Documents

Use the interactive tools below to instantly check if you qualify, build your document checklist, and compare alternatives — all without leaving this page.

Step-by-Step Application Guide

The Stipendium Hungaricum application runs on a two-track system: you must apply simultaneously on both the DreamApply portal and through your home country's Sending Partner. Missing either track results in automatic disqualification.

The portal typically opens in mid-November and closes strictly on January 15. Late applications are not accepted regardless of reason.

1. Research your Sending Partner's requirements (October–November)
   Before the portal opens, visit your country's Sending Partner website or Hungarian Embassy to learn their internal deadline, required documents, and any country-specific eligibility rules. Their internal deadline is often earlier than January 15.
2. Create your DreamApply account (when portal opens in November)
   Register at apply.stipendiumhungaricum.hu. You may choose a maximum of two study programmes. Rank them Priority 1 and Priority 2. A popular strategy: one programme at a Budapest university (ELTE, BME, Corvinus) and one at a well-regarded regional university (Debrecen, Szeged, Pécs) where per-programme competition is lower.
3. Prepare and upload your documents (November–early January)
   Upload all required documents before the deadline. See our interactive checklist above. Key documents: passport, academic transcripts, diploma, motivation letter, CV (Europass format), two recommendation letters, medical certificate on the official SH template, and a language certificate. Use our SOP Outliner and CV Builder to prepare these efficiently.
4. Submit to your Sending Partner (by their internal deadline)
   Most Sending Partners have a separate national portal or submission process. Submit all required materials there as well. Keep copies of all submission confirmations.
5. Nomination phase (February–March)
   Your Sending Partner reviews all national applicants and nominates the strongest candidates to Tempus Public Foundation. Only nominated applicants proceed to the university stage.
6. University entrance exams and interviews (March–May)
   If you are nominated, the Hungarian universities you selected will contact you to schedule their own entrance evaluation. This may be a written test, a portfolio review, a Skype/Zoom interview, or a combination. This stage is entirely managed by the university — Tempus does not control it. Read our detailed Interview Guide to prepare.
7. Final scholarship allocation (June–July)
   Universities submit their accepted candidates to Tempus. Tempus issues the official Letter of Award. This is the document that confirms your scholarship. You will receive it by email through your DreamApply account.
8. Visa application (July–August)
   With your Letter of Award and University Admission Letter, apply for a Type D (National/Study) Visa at the Hungarian Embassy in your country. SH scholars are typically exempt from visa fees and from providing financial proof of self-sufficiency (the Letter of Award serves as your financial guarantee).
9. Arrive in Hungary (September)
   Upon arrival, your university's international office or the Stipendium Hungaricum Mentor Network will help you with: residence permit registration (OIF), opening a Hungarian bank account, applying for your TAJ card (national health insurance), and moving into your accommodation.

Tips for a Winning Application

• Apply to two strategically chosen programmes. Don't apply twice to ELTE or twice to Debrecen. Pair a high-prestige choice with a strong regional alternative to maximise your chances of reaching the university stage.
• Contact the universities before applying. For Master's and PhD programmes, emailing the head of the department or a specific professor before submitting shows genuine interest and can make your name memorable before the interview.
• Your motivation letter must be programme-specific. Generic letters fail. Explain why Hungary, why that exact university, why that specific programme, and how it connects to your country's development goals (bilateral purpose). Use our SOP Outliner to build a structured, compelling draft.
• Use the Europass CV format. European universities and the SH programme strongly expect this specific format. Use our CV Builder to generate a proper Europass-compliant CV.
• Get the medical certificate early. The official SH medical certificate template must be downloaded from the SH website, completed, and stamped by an authorised physician. Many applicants leave this until the last week and struggle to get a doctor's appointment in time. Do this in December.
• Prepare for the university interview as seriously as a job interview. Know the curriculum of your chosen programme. Be able to explain your Bachelor's thesis or research experience. Prepare answers to: Why Hungary? Why this university? Where do you see yourself in 5 years? What will you contribute to Hungary–your country relations?
• Simultaneous applications are smart. You can and should apply for 2–3 other scholarships at the same time (Türkiye Bursları, DAAD, Romanian MFA) to maximise your chances of studying abroad that year.

After Receiving the Award

Receiving the Letter of Award is just the beginning. Here is what happens in the months after selection:

• Accommodation: If your university offers a dormitory room, you will be contacted about placement. If not, you will receive the HUF 40,000/month housing contribution and must find private accommodation. Start researching Albérlet.hu, Facebook housing groups, and your university's international student office early. Read our Accommodation Guide for Hungary for detailed advice.
• Residence Permit: Within 30 days of arrival in Hungary, you must apply for a Residence Permit at the National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing (OIF). Your university's Erasmus/international office will usually guide this process.
• TAJ Card: Apply for your Hungarian national health insurance card (TAJ kártya) as soon as your residence permit is processed. This card gives you access to all public healthcare services.
• Bank Account: You need a Hungarian bank account for your monthly stipend to be deposited. OTP Bank and K&H Bank are the most common choices for international students.
• Maintaining the Scholarship: The scholarship is renewable each year conditional on satisfactory academic progress. You must maintain passing grades and full-time enrolment. Failing a semester or taking an unauthorised leave can result in losing the award.

Frequently Asked Questions