Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship 2027/2028: Full Guide for International Students
The Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship is one of the most popular fully funded scholarships in Europe. It allows international students from eligible Sending Partners to study in Hungary at bachelor’s, master’s, one-tier master’s, doctoral and non-degree levels, depending on the annual call and bilateral cooperation agreements. The programme is managed by Tempus Public Foundation and is based on agreements between Hungary and partner countries. The official 2026/2027 call explains that the scholarship programme was launched by the Hungarian Government in 2013 and is based on bilateral educational cooperation agreements between Hungary and Sending Partners. It also states that more than 100 Sending Partners are engaged across five continents. For students searching for a serious fully funded scholarship in Europe, Stipendium Hungaricum should be one of the first programmes to check.
What does the scholarship cover?
For the 2026/2027 call, the official announcement listed the main benefits as:
- Tuition-free education
- Monthly stipend
- Accommodation contribution
- Medical insurance
- Student ID
The official announcement also gave the 2026/2027 deadline as 15 January 2026 at 2 p.m. Central European Time. Students should understand that the stipend and accommodation contribution may not cover all living costs. The official call notes that scholarship provisions are a contribution to living expenses and students may need their own financial resources to cover all living expenses in Hungary.
Levels of study covered
Stipendium Hungaricum can cover:
| Level | Covered? |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s | Yes, if available for your Sending Partner |
| Master’s | Yes |
| One-tier master’s | Yes, for fields such as medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, architecture or veterinary medicine |
| PhD | Yes, through doctoral call |
| Non-degree | Yes, in selected cases |
| Partial or exchange study | Yes, depending on agreement |
| Hungarian preparatory course | Yes, in selected cases |
The official application page for 2026/2027 included bachelor’s, master’s, one-tier master’s, non-degree programmes and a separate doctoral call.
Who can apply?
Students can apply only if their country or territory is an eligible Sending Partner and if their chosen level and field are available for their nationality. This is very important. A student cannot simply apply because the scholarship exists. The student must be nominated through the responsible Sending Partner. The official call states that applications are considered eligible only if the responsible authorities of the Sending Partner nominate the applicant. For 2026/2027, the full-time Sending Partner list included many countries across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Latin America and Europe. Examples included Egypt, Iran, Pakistan, Bahrain, Morocco, the Kurdish Region of Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine, Algeria, Iraq, Sudan, Yemen, Libya, Oman, Syria, Jordan, Tunisia and the United Arab Emirates, among many others. The 2027/2028 list may change, so students must check the new call once it is published.
Application timeline
The exact 2027/2028 timeline has not yet been released as of 3 July 2026. However, the latest 2026/2027 call gives a useful planning model. For the 2026/2027 call, the flow chart showed this structure:
| Period | Step |
|---|---|
| November to December 2025 | Read the call and prepare documents |
| November to December 2025 | Contact the Sending Partner about its selection procedure |
| Until Sending Partner deadline | Submit documents to the Sending Partner if required |
| Until 15 January 2026, 2 p.m. | Submit the application online to Tempus Public Foundation |
| Second half of January | Technical check |
| End of February | Sending Partner nomination |
| Mid-March to end of May | Host institution evaluation and exams |
| End of May to June | Allocation and board decision |
| End of June | Final results |
| Until 1 August | Acceptance of scholarship |
| July to August | Visa and travel preparation |
This flow is described in the official 2026/2027 call. For 2027/2028, students should begin preparing in September or October 2026.
Application process step by step
Step 1: Check your country
First, check if your country is a Sending Partner for the new call. Do not rely on last year’s list without verifying. Some fields may be available for one country but not another.
Step 2: Check available programmes
Use the official programme search to see which universities and programmes are available for your nationality. You can usually choose more than one programme, but rules may change by year.
Step 3: Contact the Sending Partner
This is one of the most important steps. Your country’s Sending Partner may require a separate application, hard copies, interviews or extra documents. The official call warns that Sending Partners may have different deadlines and requirements.
Step 4: Prepare documents
Typical documents include:
- Online application form
- Motivation letter
- Proof of language proficiency
- School certificates and translations
- Academic transcripts
- Passport or ID
- Medical certificate if required
- Portfolio for art or music applicants
- Research plan for doctoral applicants
- Recommendation letters for some categories
Step 5: Submit online application
You must submit the application through the official online system before the deadline. Saved but unsubmitted applications are rejected.
Step 6: Wait for nomination and university evaluation
After technical checks, applications go to Sending Partners for nomination. Nominated applications are then forwarded to Hungarian host institutions for admission evaluation, exams or interviews.
Step 7: Final results and visa
Successful students accept the scholarship in the online system and begin visa procedures.
Best fields for Stipendium Hungaricum
Hungary is especially attractive for:
- Medicine
- Dentistry
- Pharmacy
- Veterinary medicine
- Engineering
- Computer science
- Agriculture
- Economics
- Business
- Public health
- Natural sciences
- International relations
Competition for medical fields may be higher because places can be limited.
Common mistakes
Applicants often fail because they:
- Do not contact the Sending Partner.
- Choose a programme not available for their nationality.
- Miss the online deadline.
- Upload incomplete documents.
- Write a generic motivation letter.
- Ignore entrance exam requirements.
- Do not prepare for interviews.
- Apply through agencies and pay unnecessary fees.
The official call states that the application has no additional costs and suggests not applying through agencies.
How to increase your chances
A strong application should explain:
- Why Hungary?
- Why this university?
- Why this programme?
- How your background matches the field?
- How the degree will help your future career?
- How your study plan connects to your country’s needs?
For bachelor’s students, academic performance and motivation matter. For master’s students, a clear academic and career direction matters. For PhD students, research fit, supervisor alignment and academic publications can be very important.
Final advice
Stipendium Hungaricum is one of the best scholarships in Europe, but students must respect the two-level process: Tempus Public Foundation and the Sending Partner. Missing either side can destroy an otherwise strong application. Need help applying? We can help you check your country eligibility, choose Hungarian universities, prepare documents, write your motivation letter and build a complete Stipendium Hungaricum 2027/2028 application plan. ---
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