Stipendium Hungaricum is the Hungarian government's flagship scholarship for international students, coordinated by Tempus Public Foundation. It covers tuition in full and pays a monthly stipend plus accommodation support and medical insurance for Bachelor's, Master's (including one-tier Master's such as Medicine), PhD and non-degree preparatory programmes at 30 Hungarian universities. The 2027/2028 call is expected to open in November 2026.
Why it is notable: One of Europe's few large-scale government scholarships with no application fee and no upper age limit at programme level; applications run through a dual track (Tempus online system + your country's sending partner), and each sending partner sets its own study fields and local deadlines — check both.
Funding at a glance
What it covers
Full tuition fee exemption for the entire study period
Monthly stipend, 12 months per year: HUF 43,700/month for non-degree, Bachelor's, Master's and one-tier Master's students; HUF 140,000/month for PhD students in the first 4 semesters; HUF 180,000/month for PhD students in the final 4 semesters
Accommodation: free dormitory placement OR a monthly accommodation contribution of HUF 40,000 for the whole scholarship period
Medical insurance in accordance with Hungarian legislation
Free preparatory Hungarian language course (required for Bachelor's/Master's holders in some cases — per 2026/27 call, stipend conditions are tied to participation)
Travel support: depends on your sending partner's policy — not guaranteed by Tempus
Note stated on official host pages: the stipend is a contribution, not full living costs — students must add their own resources, especially in Budapest
Eligibility criteria
Qualification Required
Secondary School Certificatefor Bachelor'sBachelor's Degreefor MastersMaster's Degreefor PhD
This scholarship is offered for Bachelor's, one-tier Master's, Master's, PhD, and non-degree preparatory programmes.
Who can apply
citizens of partner countries with an educational cooperation agreement with Hungary (roughly 90+ countries and territories); applicants must not hold Hungarian citizenship or Hungarian dual citizenship.
Experience
No experience required
Language Certificate
Course-dependent — the chosen programme sets the requirement; commonly IELTS/TOEFL or a university-accepted equivalent. Some programmes accept a medium-of-instruction certificate. Always check the programme page.
Other Certificates
school certificates, transcripts and degree certificates (certified translation needed if not in English, Hungarian or the programme language); passport or national ID copy.
Age Limit
Minimum 18 years by 31 August of the intake year (per the 2026/27 official call — reconfirm in the 2027/28 call). No upper age limit published by Tempus.
Tools that may help
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Run all three quick checks before reviewing your chosen course's full entry requirements.
1
Country checker
Eligible only if your country is a Stipendium Hungaricum sending partner with a current bilateral agreement; excluded if you hold Hungarian citizenship…
2
Last degree checker
Choose your highest completed qualification to see which degree level may fit.
3
Course checker
Pick a course to see whether it falls inside this scholarship's scope.
Complete all three checks
Your combined result will appear here.
Based on published eligibility — always confirm on the official page before applying.
Application essentials
Requirements
Review each requirement before you begin the application.
Document checklist
01Online application form with a recent photo
02Motivation letter (minimum one page, in the portal's format)
03School certificates and academic transcripts (certified translation if not in English/Hungarian/the programme language)
04Copy of passport data page (or national ID if no passport yet)
05Language proficiency certificate (as required by the chosen programme)
06CV/resume (if the programme or sending partner asks)
07Sending partner's own application form
08Portfolio / audio portfolio (art and music applicants only)
09Medical certificate — only required after the award, not at application
10Signed declaration if some documents cannot be obtained before the deadline (school/degree certificate, language proof, passport)
Application fee
No fee — completely free (the Tempus online application system charges no application fee)
Visa, kept concise: Study visa type for this destination: Hungary long-stay (D-type) visa for study purposes, converting to a residence permit for the purpose of studies after arrival.
Application Procedure
10 steps — follow in order. Each stage prepares the next.
01
Check the available study fields for your
country in the Tempus study finder and read the Call for Applications once published.
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02
Register in the Tempus online application system
and choose up to 2 study programmes in order of preference.
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03
Upload all documents and submit before the
Tempus deadline.
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06
Final results announced (June–July in the previous cycle)
accept the scholarship and apply for your residence permit.
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05
After nomination by your sending partner
take the entrance examination/interview set by your chosen university/universities (March–May in the previous cycle).
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04
Submit your application to your country's sending
partner as well, following their procedure and local deadline (each sending partner has its own rules and sometimes an earlier deadline).
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07
Online application form with a recent photo
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08
Motivation letter (minimum one page
in the portal's format)
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09
School certificates and academic transcripts (certified translation
if not in English/Hungarian/the programme language)
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10
Copy of passport data page (or national
ID if no passport yet)
Ready to apply?
Continue on the official Tempus Public Foundation platform.
Do I need IELTS? A: Only if your chosen university programme requires it. Many programmes accept a certificate of English medium of instruction; always check the programme page.Can I apply directly to a Hungarian university? A: No — you must apply through the Tempus online system AND through your country's sending partner. Both are mandatory.Is there an upper age limit? A: Tempus publishes no upper age limit; you must be 18 by 31 August of the start year. Individual sending partners may add rules.How many programmes can I choose? A: Up to two, in order of preference.Does the stipend cover all living costs? A: No — it is a contribution. Official host pages advise checking expected living expenses in your city before applying.What if my degree certificate won't arrive before the deadline? A: You may upload a signed declaration by the deadline and submit the document later (applies to school/degree certificates, language prIs the scholarship fully funded? A: Tuition is fully exempted; the stipend and accommodation contribution partially cover living costs.
Need document or attestation help?
Detailed attestation guidance stays in Opplore's standalone Guides section, not inside this scholarship page.
Hungary · Tempus Public Foundation
Closes soon
Closes soon
To be confirmed