Stipendium Hungaricum is the Hungarian government's scholarship programme for international study in Hungary. This entry covers full-degree bachelor's, master's, one-tier master's and doctoral study. The details below were checked on 22 October 2026 against the published 2026/27 materials; future calls may change the terms.
Eligibility and programme choice
Applicants must use an eligible Sending Partner route and obtain its nomination. A country's inclusion does not make every Hungarian course available: the agreement determines the permitted study levels and fields. Check the Sending Partner directory for your citizenship, regional conditions and nomination authority. Some partners require a separate national application; others use the central submission alone.
For bachelor's and one-tier master's entry, the application documents require a secondary-school qualification; master's entry requires a bachelor's degree. Doctoral applicants need a master's qualification or equivalent. Each host programme sets its language and academic requirements, so there is no single IELTS score that applies to all applicants. Evidence of previous study in the programme's teaching language may be accepted under the relevant requirements. See the official bachelor's and master's document list and doctoral document list.
Funding and costs to plan for
The published package includes a tuition waiver, monthly support, accommodation assistance and health coverage:
- Bachelor's, master's and one-tier master's students receive HUF 43,700 per month, paid for 12 months a year during the funded study period.
- Doctoral students receive HUF 140,000 per month in the first four semesters and HUF 180,000 in the second four semesters.
- Accommodation support is either a dormitory place, subject to availability, or HUF 40,000 per month toward accommodation costs.
- Health coverage includes access under the applicable Hungarian arrangements and supplementary medical insurance up to HUF 65,000 per person per year.
These are contributions toward living costs. In particular, the rent allowance can fall short in larger cities, and applicants need additional resources for remaining expenses. The Hungarian side does not fund travel. Compare the official benefits overview and the degree-specific 2026/27 bachelor's and master's call and doctoral call.
Documents to prepare
The common checklist includes the online form and photograph, motivation letter, qualification certificate, academic transcript, language evidence, identity document and acceptance of the application statement in the portal. Attach translations where required by the call. A school or programme can impose additional requirements, including an arts portfolio; use the 2026/27 applicant checklist alongside the selected programme's entry requirements.
Doctoral applicants also prepare a research plan of at least two pages with sources, plus a signed recommendation from an academic tutor or supervisor with a scientific degree. A prospective supervisor's statement is required only where the doctoral school requests it. In the 2026/27 doctoral call, applicants without that statement had to submit a declaration by 15 January 2026 and the statement by 15 March 2026. Follow the doctoral call's requirements and check for any additional school-specific references or research criteria.
The medical certificate is for scholarship awardees to present at the compulsory examination in Hungary; it is not a routine initial application upload. Use the provider's medical-certificate guidance and template.
Application and selection
Use the official application portal, selecting at most two eligible programmes in priority order. Follow the Sending Partner's nomination instructions as well. Programme priorities cannot be changed after the central deadline, so check both choices before submitting. A university admission offer is not required at the initial scholarship deadline: nominated candidates are assessed by their chosen institutions later. The central online application and admission examinations are free. See the official application guide and application guidance.
Timing and keeping the award
The 2026/27 application window ran from 14 November 2025 to 15 January 2026. Those dates are historical, as set out in the provider's application-opening announcement. The next cycle's deadline is not confirmed in this entry. Check the next call, the responsible Sending Partner's deadline and any doctoral supervisor deadline separately.
Scholarship holders must meet their study and scholarship-agreement obligations. For bachelor's, master's and one-tier master's students, the provider describes a minimum of 18 credits per active semester, averaged across the last two active semesters, subject to institutional regulations, and a compulsory Hungarian language and culture course. Check the current operational regulations and FAQs for the rules applying to your award; doctoral obligations differ.