Scholarships can be obtained not only in the USA or the UK – there are interesting offers even in countries that we rarely consider as a place where we would like to study at a university.
One of these scholarships is the Stipendium Hungaricum. From the name, it is not difficult to understand that this is a program that the government of the Republic of Hungary offers to foreign students who have come to study in the country. It does not matter what educational program we are talking about, the scholarship is equally available to bachelor's, master's and doctoral students.
The program was launched in 2013 as part of the government initiative Hungarian Scholarship Program, designed to help strengthen international relations, recruit talented young people from around the world. Almost one and a half thousand programs are offered within its framework - both Hungarian and English.
From year to year, the program is in increasing demand and popularity. For example, in the year of the launch of the program, scholarships were awarded to about a thousand people - it was a trial starting period, by 2018 the number of scholarships increased significantly - the number of scholarship holders reached 5 thousand, they arrived in Hungary from more than 70 countries, finally, by 2023, the number of foreign students who took advantage of the offer reached 7,000.
The scholarship covers the entire cost of tuition, including accommodation. Moreover, you can send an application to the Tempus Public Foundation, which distributes funds, for additional funds for personal expenses!
How to get a Hungarian scholarship?
Let's start with the fact that it is available only to students - those who have already acquired a university diploma do not have a scholarship. The program is available to full-time students studying at accredited public universities.
For first-year students and students of subsequent years of study, the rules are slightly different. If you are a first-year student, then you need a copy of the school certificate with an appendix, the rest need to provide an extract from the record with grades for 3 previous academic periods or a certificate from the dean's office. Finally, if you want to study for a master's or doctoral degree, you will need a document confirming that you have the relevant qualifications (master's or bachelor's degree), certificates with marks, and postgraduate students will still need a few recommendations from Hungarian university professors.
You can go to study on an exchange program, but for this you will need to go through another circle of bureaucracy and get a certificate from your university - they say, we send and so on.
However, in any case, it will not do without recommendations. As we have already said, the scholarship is given on the basis of an interstate agreement, which provides that the student must receive a referral from the national competent authority.
You can submit two applications to two universities at once (or two applications for two departments at one university). They must be entered in your application in order of priority. The one you want to get to more should be higher on the list (if you are enrolled in both, you will automatically be put on the first on the list).
Deadlines and list of documents
Every year, the deadlines are slightly shifted: in 2024, enrollment began in November, in 2025 (presumably) it starts at the end of October.
The procedure is quite simple. Everything must be done through the official website.
The Hungarian Foundation wants from applicants:
- Language level certificate;
- Certificates from the university (about what you are studying and how exactly - in other words, a certificate of academic performance);
- Motivation letter;
- Online application form;
- A copy of the foreign passport;
- A certificate of health;
- Other documents (depending on the level of the program - for bachelors, masters and doctoral students, the set is different).
The Ministry of Education wants you to send them or bring them in person:
- A letter of introduction in the name of the rector of the university or its vice-rector;
- CV;
- Educational documents (the list depends on which program you want to study);
- A copy of the foreign passport.
The selection schedule differs depending on the academic year; the procedure starts in January, and by June everything should be ready (from the 30th, classes begin at universities in Hungary).
Exams
The level of language proficiency must be confirmed - we are talking, of course, about the language in which you are going to study. For English, this is IELTS or TOEFL; as for Hungarian, you will have to pass an exam at a university in Hungary itself. By the way, sometimes universities are satisfied with certificates from the university.
Next, you will need a motivation letter. The recommendations here are quite traditional — one sheet on both sides, a clear and logical structure. Writing should fulfill the main task – to show the university from the positive side as a promising student.
It will be useful to show that you know about the glorious past and no less great present of your future alma mater.
As with any motivation letter, it doesn't have to be just academic. It will be good if you talk about your social activities, for example, if you volunteered in an orphanage or planted trees together with environmentalists. Don't be afraid to sound strange, because the more unique your experience is, the more interesting it will be for the university to get you!
The final part of the selection is an interview. This is not an exam, but rather an extended acquaintance: by asking you questions, the admissions committee expects to get the most detailed and sincere answers. At the end, the student is asked if he has any questions - it will be good if you have a couple ready, and even such that they will show you not as an enthusiastic neophyte, but as sincere and interested. Think about the wording in advance.
Universities in Hungary: features of education
Scholarship students can live in a free dormitory or rent a house – in this case, the foundation can provide you with enough money to cover the cost of rent.
Even if the language of instruction is English, you can't get away from Hungarian — all students who receive a scholarship must study it for the first year, and then pass the exams (grades are important, so you will have to try).
Studying is not much different from that at any European university. In Hungary, an important role in higher education is given to individual and independent work, and not to lectures and seminars.
An important nuance: in Hungary, students are allowed to work part-time, but no more than 24 hours a week, and only officially. If they catch you on the proceeds past the cash register, they will deport you without a word, or they may even be charged with a criminal charge. During the holidays, you can work full-time, and you do not even need permission from a university, as in other EU countries.
