The Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship: A Complete Guide

Is the Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship Open to Indian and UAE-Based Applicants?

Yes, to both, and both are confirmed directly. India has its own dedicated official country page on the Stipendium Hungaricum website, confirming its status as a sending partner. The UAE is explicitly named among the eligible Arab states, alongside Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and others.

What Is the Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship?

Because this is a bilateral programme rather than a globally open one, your application runs on two parallel tracks: you apply directly through Tempus Public Foundation's own online portal, while your home country's designated Sending Partner (typically a Ministry of Education or Higher Education Commission) separately nominates candidates from your country. Both need to align for your application to move forward, applying through the portal alone, without your country's nomination, isn't sufficient.

Who Is Eligible for the Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship?

According to the official Tempus Public Foundation guidance:

• Hold citizenship of a partner country with a current bilateral educational cooperation agreement with Hungary, confirmed for both India and the UAE
• Be nominated by your country's responsible Sending Partner
• Meet the academic and language requirements of your chosen programme
• Not be a Hungarian citizen, including dual nationals
• Not currently hold refugee, asylum-seeker, or certain other residence statuses in Hungary
• Not be under 18 years old as of 31 August of the relevant intake year (with an exception for Dance programmes)
• Not be a previous Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship holder who didn't complete their studies or violated programme rules. Reapplying for a full degree at the same level you previously held partial (exchange) funding for is possible, but the new scholarship length is reduced by the length of your previous partial study period

What Does the Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship Cover?

• 100% tuition fee waiver, for the entire duration of your enrolled programme, including registration and lab fees
• A monthly stipend, HUF 43,700 (roughly €107 to €110, exchange rate dependent) for Bachelor's and Master's students, rising to HUF 140,000 in the first phase and HUF 180,000 in the second phase for doctoral candidates
• Accommodation support, either a free dormitory place, or a monthly contribution of HUF 40,000 toward private accommodation if you live off-campus
• Medical insurance, with healthcare costs reimbursed up to HUF 65,000 a year
• A free, compulsory Hungarian language and culture course, required for all scholars beginning their studies from fall 2020 onward
• One important thing to budget around honestly: the scholarship does not cover your full cost of living. The stipend and accommodation contribution are meant to help, not fully fund, your daily expenses, and you're expected to bring additional personal financial resources to cover living costs in full, particularly in more expensive Hungarian cities. There's also no visa support, administrative assistance, or financial contribution for family members or accompanying persons, the scholarship funds the individual student only.

How Do I Apply for the Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship?

1. Identify your country's Sending Partner, the designated agency in India or the UAE responsible for nominating candidates, check your country's specific page on the Stipendium Hungaricum website for local pre-application steps
2. Register and apply through the official online portal (apply.stipendiumhungaricum.hu), browsing the roughly 30 participating universities and 900 programmes, though you're limited to selecting only two programme choices
3. Doctoral applicants need to secure a supervisor in advance, and may need to submit a formal statement of supervisor depending on the specific Doctoral School's requirements
4. Submit all required documents by the application deadline, which has typically fallen around mid-January for the following academic year, always confirm the current cycle's exact date
5. Wait for your Sending Partner's nomination, typically finalised by the end of February, nominated applications are then forwarded to your chosen Hungarian institutions
6. Complete entrance exams or interviews as required, conducted directly by the universities with nominated applicants, generally between mid-March and the end of May. A minimum score of 56 out of 100 is required to remain in contention for the final scholarship award list
7. There is no application fee. Registration and participation in admission examinations are free, and the Foundation explicitly warns against paying any third-party agency for help with your application, since the programme operates through direct cooperation with official Sending Partners, not agencies

Do I Need IELTS or TOEFL to Apply?

Not necessarily. Requirements vary by institution and programme. English-medium programmes often waive the requirement if you can provide an official letter confirming your previous degree was completed in English, or if you studied in a country where English is the official language. Hungarian-medium programmes don't require English proficiency at all, and come with a free preparatory year to help you reach the required Hungarian level before your main degree begins.

FAQs About the Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship

Are Indian and UAE citizens eligible for Stipendium Hungaricum?

Yes, both confirmed directly. India has its own dedicated country page, and the UAE is explicitly listed among the eligible Arab states.

Does the scholarship cover my full living costs in Hungary?

No. The monthly stipend and accommodation contribution are meant to help, not fully cover, your living expenses. You're expected to bring additional personal funds.

Do I need to apply through my home country as well as the online portal?

Yes. This is a two-track process, applying through the Tempus Public Foundation portal alone isn't enough, you also need to be nominated by your country's designated Sending Partner.

Is there an application fee?

No. Registration and entrance exam participation are free, and the Foundation warns against paying third-party agencies claiming to assist with applications.

Can I choose more than two programmes when applying?

No. Applicants are limited to a maximum of two programme choices per application cycle.

Apply Now

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Sources: Official Stipendium Hungaricum website (stipendiumhungaricum.hu), including its Apply page, official Call for Applications 2026/2027 document, and India-specific country page.