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Studying in Europe for free is realistic even today. One of the most accessible options is the Hungarian state scholarship Stipendium Hungaricum: this program allows international students to receive a full higher education in Europe without paying tuition fees, while also covering key expenses during their studies. Yes, this is not a partial discount, but a full grant! In most cases, this scholarship stipulates additional monthly payments, a place in a student residence or compensation for apartment/room rental, and health insurance.
It is easy to guess that with such attractive and favorable conditions, competition for scholarship places is high, and deadlines are strict. Applications for the upcoming academic year typically close in mid-January of the current year, and being late means automatically losing your chance. For example, prospective students at Hungarian universities submitted their documents by January 15 to have a chance at the scholarship for the 2026/27 academic year.
We will analyze in detail what exactly the Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship covers, how the application process works, and what criteria candidates should consider, so that you are fully prepared for the next academic year.
What Stipendium Hungaricum Covers
The Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship is considered one of the few programs in Europe that truly covers a student's basic expenses, not just tuition.
Of course, first and foremost, the scholarship exempts you from tuition fees for the entire course duration, whether it is a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree. This means you pay no fees regardless of the university or field of study you choose.
As a bonus, students receive monthly payments for everyday expenses:
- Approximately 43,700 Ft per month for bachelor's and master's programs,
- Significantly higher for PhD — up to 140 000 – 180,000 Ft per month.
It is important to understand that this amount is not a full income but rather basic support: it covers part of the expenses but is not enough to live abroad without additional funds.
Student residence or rental compensation is also included — the scholarship payments include one of two options:
- A place in a university dormitory,
- Or a payment to cover rent — approximately 40,000 Ft per month.
However, in major cities (for example, Budapest), this amount does not fully cover rent but only partially helps with housing costs.
All scholarship recipients gain access to Hungary's state healthcare system and additional insurance (with limited coverage for private services). This allows covering basic medical expenses during studies.
In addition, the program provides:
- Student status in the EU and access to university infrastructure,
- Instruction in English (in most programs),
- The opportunity to study on exchange in other European countries, travel across Schengen countries during holidays and long weekends.
How to Apply for Stipendium Hungaricum: Step-by-Step Guide 2026
The application for the Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship follows a clear structure. It is important to follow the sequence of steps and deadlines, as this is the stage where foreign applicants most often lose their chances.
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Choose a Program and University
The first step is to decide on a field of study and university. The program offers 900+ programs at 25+ universities, but you can submit a maximum of 2 different applications.
Important: the chosen programs must correspond to your previous education, as this is one of the key selection criteria.
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Check the Requirements of the Host University and Contact the Commission in Your Country
Before applying, you need to make sure you meet the requirements: age (usually 18+), education, language. You need to contact the so-called sending partner — this can be a ministry, national agency, or embassy through which the initial selection of candidates takes place: without a nomination from an official body in the sending country, the application does not proceed further.
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Register in the System and Fill Out the Application
Applications are submitted only online through the official portal. In the application form, you need to select a program (up to two options) and fill in personal and academic data.
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Prepare and Upload Documents
The standard package includes:
- A motivation letter,
- A diploma/certificate and transcript,
- A language certificate (or proof of instruction in English),
- A passport,
- A completed application form.
For master's and doctoral programs, additional requirements may include recommendation letters and a research proposal — a formal document that describes in detail the research project the future student will develop during their studies.
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Meet the Deadline
This calendar year, the document submission deadline was January 15, after which the system closed, and it is no longer possible to submit an application. The next intake — for the 2027/2028 academic year — has not yet opened, but the approximate start date is already known: according to experts, applications will open in November 2026. Everyone, get ready!
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Pass the Nomination and Selection Stage
After submission, several stages follow:
- Preliminary selection by the sending country (candidate nomination),
- Academic evaluation by the chosen Hungarian university,
- An exam or interview (if required).
Only candidates who pass the nomination proceed further.
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Wait for Results and Confirm Participation
Final results are usually published closer to summer. After that, you need to:
- Confirm your participation,
- Upload additional documents (for example, a medical certificate),
- Prepare for the move.
What Criteria Must a Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship Recipient Meet?
To win the Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship, it is important to understand that the committee assesses not only good grades but also compliance with several critical requirements.
- Candidates must be from countries participating in the program and have the appropriate academic level for the chosen degree level (bachelor's, master's, or doctoral). For example, a PhD requires an already completed master's degree or its equivalent.
- Candidates usually must be students or graduates of accredited institutions in their country. Failure to meet these basic requirements leads to rejection at the application review stage.
- A very important step is the nomination by the sending partner (the nominating body in your country): even if the application is filled out correctly, without a nomination it will not be forwarded to Hungarian universities for further consideration. Different countries organize this stage differently, but in most cases it is the list of nominees that forms the pool of finalists. Approval of your profile at the country level is a key factor for further success.
- After nomination, the Tempus Public Foundation committee and Hungarian universities review the academic part of the application:
- Education level and grades,
- Relevance to the chosen program,
- If required — additional documents (for example, research papers or essays).
Although official threshold scores are not published for all programs, Hungarian universities often invite candidates for exams or interviews between March and May before the start of studies. Successfully passing these entrance tests increases the chances of receiving funding.
An important aspect is also language proficiency — most often English is required. Many programs require a certificate confirming the level, for example, from TOEFL; another option is documents confirming successful completion of courses that prove the foreign student is ready to study in English at a university. In some cases, a language certificate is not required at the initial application stage but may be needed for direct admission to the university.
Despite the fact that the official Stipendium Hungaricum rules do not have a single formula for assessing a candidate's motivation or profile, practice shows that the level of motivation, clarity of goals, and professional focus significantly increase the chances of success. The committee wants to see that the candidate not only meets the criteria but also has a clear goal and knows how the education received will be used in the future.
