Hungary is one of the most affordable places in Europe to earn a degree, and it has more scholarship options for international students than most people realise. Below are 7 scholarships we track: four run by government programmes and three offered by individual universities. Each one has a short explanation, a table of key facts, and links to the official page.
Amounts and dates come from each official call. Confirm them on the official page before you apply, because calls change from year to year.
Hungary Scholarships at a Glance
| # | Scholarship | Type | Level | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stipendium Hungaricum | Government | Bachelor's, Master's, PhD | Typically opens in November, closes mid-January |
| 2 | Hungarian Diaspora Scholarship | Government | Bachelor's, Master's, PhD | 2026 call: February 2, 2026. Check the official site for the next call. |
| 3 | Scholarship for Christian Young People (SCYP) | Government | Bachelor's, Master's, one-tier Master's | January 31 each year |
| 4 | FAO–Hungarian Government Scholarship 2026–27 | Government | Master's | 2026 call: January 21 – February 28, 2026 (by email) |
| 5 | Széchenyi ODA Grant (SODA) | University | Bachelor's, Master's | February – June each year |
| 6 | Study Scholarships for International Students | University | Bachelor's, Master's, PhD | October 15 (autumn) and March 20 (spring) |
| 7 | Tuition Fee Reduction, Faculty of Pharmacy | University | Pharmacy programmes | Freshmen: apply for admission before June 1. Current students: each semester. |
1. Stipendium Hungaricum
Government scholarship · Offered by Hungarian Government (managed by Tempus Public Foundation)
Stipendium Hungaricum is the Hungarian Government’s flagship scholarship programme for international students, managed by Tempus Public Foundation. It covers Bachelor’s, Master’s, one-tier Master’s and PhD programmes at Hungarian public universities, and some universities also offer a preparatory Foundation Year to applicants they consider promising but not yet ready for direct entry.
The scholarship is fully funded: tuition is waived, you receive a monthly stipend, there is an accommodation contribution, and medical insurance is included for the length of your programme. For many students from developing countries it is the most realistic route to a free degree in Europe.
Selection happens in three stages. First your home country’s sending partner nominates you, then the Hungarian university runs its own admission test or interview, and finally Tempus Public Foundation makes the final decision. Passing the university stage alone does not guarantee the scholarship, so a strong motivation letter and a complete profile matter as much as exam results.
Rules, documents and national steps differ from country to country. Start by finding your country in the Partner Countries section of the official website, then follow the instructions of your nominating authority.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| What it covers | Tuition-free education, monthly stipend, accommodation contribution, medical insurance |
| Level | Bachelor's, Master's, PhD |
| Deadline | Typically opens in November, closes mid-January |
| Who can apply | Students from partner countries (almost 80 countries and territories). Apply through your home country’s sending partner. |
| Offered by | Hungarian Government (managed by Tempus Public Foundation) |
Stipendium Hungaricum links
- Full guide: How I Won the Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship
- Also read: Stipendium Hungaricum Interview: My Real Experience at the University of Debrecen
- Official page: stipendiumhungaricum.hu
2. Hungarian Diaspora Scholarship
Government scholarship · Offered by Hungarian Government
The Hungarian Diaspora Scholarship is aimed at young people of Hungarian heritage who live outside the European Union and want to study in Hungary. It is open at Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD level and does not depend on your country being on a partner list.
Tuition is free. Bachelor’s and Master’s students receive a monthly stipend of HUF 43,700, while PhD students receive HUF 140,000 per month, rising to HUF 180,000. Accommodation is covered by a dormitory place or a contribution of HUF 40,000 per month, and medical insurance is included.
A recommendation is required with your application, and the eligibility notes refer to 10 or more years living abroad. Read the exact definition in the official call before you apply. The 2026 call closed on 2 February 2026, so watch the official website for the date of the next call.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| What it covers | Tuition-free; stipend HUF 43,700/month (PhD: HUF 140,000, then 180,000); medical insurance; dormitory or HUF 40,000/month |
| Level | Bachelor's, Master's, PhD |
| Deadline | 2026 call: February 2, 2026. Check the official site for the next call. |
| Who can apply | Hungarian diaspora living outside the EU (10+ years abroad). A recommendation is required. |
| Offered by | Hungarian Government |
Hungarian Diaspora Scholarship links
- Official page: diasporascholarship.hu
3. Scholarship for Christian Young People (SCYP)
Government scholarship · Offered by Hungarian Government (Hungary Helps Programme)
The Scholarship for Christian Young People (SCYP) is run under the Hungary Helps Programme and supports Christian students from communities in selected countries who want to study in Hungary. It covers Bachelor’s, Master’s and one-tier Master’s programmes.
It is one of the more generous packages on this page. Tuition is free, the monthly stipend is HUF 166,600, and accommodation is covered by a dormitory place or HUF 40,000 per month. On top of that, the scholarship pays HUF 200,000 per year towards travel and includes medical insurance.
You must be a Christian young person from one of the eligible countries (Egypt, Lebanon, Iraq, Israel, Palestine, Pakistan, Syria, Kenya, Ethiopia, Armenia or Nigeria) and provide a recommendation from your church. The deadline is 31 January each year, so prepare your documents and recommendation letter well in advance.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| What it covers | Tuition-free; stipend HUF 166,600/month; HUF 40,000/month accommodation or dormitory; HUF 200,000 travel per year; medical insurance |
| Level | Bachelor's, Master's, one-tier Master's |
| Deadline | January 31 each year |
| Who can apply | Christian youth from Egypt, Lebanon, Iraq, Israel, Palestine, Pakistan, Syria, Kenya, Ethiopia, Armenia and Nigeria. A church recommendation is required. |
| Offered by | Hungarian Government (Hungary Helps Programme) |
Scholarship for Christian Young People (SCYP) links
- Official page: hungaryhelps.gov.hu/scyp
4. FAO–Hungarian Government Scholarship 2026–27
Government scholarship · Offered by FAO and the Hungarian Government
The FAO–Hungarian Government Scholarship is a Master’s-level programme for students from developing countries who want to study agriculture-related fields in Hungary. It is a partnership between the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Hungarian Government.
The scholarship covers application and tuition fees, a dormitory place, subsistence costs and health insurance. Because it is limited to Master’s courses in agriculture-related subjects, it suits graduates who already work or plan to work in farming, food systems, plant protection or related areas.
Only nationals of the 49 countries listed by FAO can apply, and applications are sent by email rather than through a web portal. The 2026–27 call ran from 21 January to 28 February 2026. Check the official FAO page for the next call and the full country list.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| What it covers | Application and tuition fees, dormitory, subsistence costs, health insurance |
| Level | Master's |
| Deadline | 2026 call: January 21 – February 28, 2026 (by email) |
| Who can apply | Nationals of 49 listed countries (see the official FAO page). |
| Offered by | FAO and the Hungarian Government |
FAO–Hungarian Government Scholarship 2026–27 links
5. Széchenyi ODA Grant (SODA)
University scholarship · Offered by Széchenyi István University
The Széchenyi ODA Grant (SODA) is offered by Széchenyi István University in Győr to students from countries that receive Official Development Assistance (ODA) as defined by the OECD. It is open at Bachelor’s and Master’s level.
Unlike government programmes that waive tuition upfront, SODA refunds 90% of your tuition during the official study period. The grant also includes free accommodation and free basic health care, which makes a large difference to the total cost of studying.
There are 10 grants for the 2026/27 academic year, so competition is real. Applications are taken between February and June each year. Check the university’s admissions page to confirm that your country is on the ODA list before applying.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| What it covers | 90% tuition refund during the official study period; free accommodation; free basic health care |
| Level | Bachelor's, Master's |
| Deadline | February – June each year |
| Who can apply | Citizens of OECD ODA-recipient countries. 10 grants for 2026/27. |
| Offered by | Széchenyi István University |
Széchenyi ODA Grant (SODA) links
- Official page: admissions.sze.hu/information
6. Study Scholarships for International Students
University scholarship · Offered by University of Pannonia
The University of Pannonia, based in Veszprém, awards study scholarships to its full-time self-financed international students. It is a merit-based award for students who are already enrolled, so it can help you reduce costs after you arrive.
The amount depends on your level: HUF 110,000 per semester at Bachelor’s level, HUF 185,000 at Master’s level and HUF 300,000 at PhD level. The amount is scaled by the number of semesters you have completed.
You need a GPA of 3.00 or higher, and up to 30 awards are given each semester. There are two deadlines per year: 15 October for the autumn semester and 20 March for the spring semester.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| What it covers | HUF 110,000 (BSc) / 185,000 (MSc) / 300,000 (PhD) per semester, scaled by completed semesters |
| Level | Bachelor's, Master's, PhD |
| Deadline | October 15 (autumn) and March 20 (spring) |
| Who can apply | Full-time self-financed international students with a GPA of 3.00+. Up to 30 awards per semester. |
| Offered by | University of Pannonia |
7. Tuition Fee Reduction, Faculty of Pharmacy
University scholarship · Offered by University of Pécs
The University of Pécs Faculty of Pharmacy offers a tuition fee reduction to fee-paying international students. Pharmacy is one of the more expensive programmes to self-finance, so a reduction of up to 60% can change whether the degree is affordable.
The reduction ranges from 15% to 60% and is based on a quartile ranking: the better your academic result compared with your cohort, the larger the reduction you can receive.
Freshmen should apply for admission before 1 June. Current students can apply each semester, starting from their 3rd active semester. Confirm the current rules with the faculty before each application.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| What it covers | 15% to 60% tuition fee reduction (quartile ranking) |
| Level | Pharmacy programmes |
| Deadline | Freshmen: apply for admission before June 1. Current students: each semester. |
| Who can apply | Fee-paying students. Current students can apply from the 3rd active semester. |
| Offered by | University of Pécs |
Stipendium Hungaricum guides
Step-by-step help for Hungary’s biggest fully funded scholarship.
Stipendium Hungaricum guides
- How I Won the Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship — The ultimate guide on how to win the Hungarian fully funded scholarship from start to finish.
- Stipendium Hungaricum Interview: My Real Experience at the University of Debrecen — What to expect and how to ace your university exams and verbal interviews.
Living and studying in Hungary
Housing, costs, jobs and visas, from real experience.
Living and studying in Hungary
- Most Affordable Universities in Hungary for International Students — The cheapest Hungarian universities for self-financing students, with exact tuition fee data.
- Hungary Accommodation Guide for International Students — Rent prices in Budapest vs Pécs vs Debrecen, and how to avoid rental scams.
- Living Cost in Hungary for International Students — Budget breakdown for groceries, transport and lifestyle expenses in 2026.
- Part Time Job in Hungary: Can You Earn Your Tuition Fees? — Where and how international students can legally work part-time in Hungary.
Free Tools for Your Application
Everything here is free. No counsellor needed.
Free Tools
- Statement of Purpose Writer: outline your motivation letter with your own story
- Free IELTS mock tests: practice reading, writing and listening before you apply
- Affordable University Finder: compare affordable universities for international students
- Scholarship Finder: search fully funded scholarships in other countries
Frequently Asked Questions About Scholarships in Hungary
What scholarships are available in Hungary for international students?
The main ones are Stipendium Hungaricum, the Hungarian Diaspora Scholarship, the Scholarship for Christian Young People and the FAO–Hungarian Government Scholarship. Universities also offer awards, such as the Széchenyi ODA Grant, the University of Pannonia scholarship and the tuition fee reduction at the University of Pécs Faculty of Pharmacy.
Is Stipendium Hungaricum fully funded?
Yes. It covers tuition-free education, a monthly stipend, an accommodation contribution and medical insurance.
When does the Stipendium Hungaricum application open?
The application typically opens in November and closes in mid-January each year. You apply through your home country’s sending partner, not directly to a Hungarian university.
Which Hungarian scholarships pay a monthly stipend?
The Hungarian Diaspora Scholarship pays HUF 43,700 per month at Bachelor’s and Master’s level, and the Scholarship for Christian Young People pays HUF 166,600 per month. Stipendium Hungaricum also includes a monthly stipend.
Can self-financing international students get a scholarship in Hungary?
Yes. The University of Pannonia offers HUF 110,000 to 300,000 per semester to self-financed international students with a GPA of at least 3.00, the Széchenyi ODA Grant refunds 90% of tuition, and the University of Pécs Faculty of Pharmacy offers tuition fee reductions of up to 60%.
Is IELTS required for scholarships in Hungary?
Not strictly. You can prove English proficiency with TOEFL, Duolingo, PTE Academic or a Medium of Instruction (MOI) certificate. Many universities in Hungary accept MOI letters without any paid test.
Get the Hungary Deadlines in Your Inbox
Weekly scholarship deadlines and updates. Free.