Immerse yourself in vibrant culture, beautiful attractions, and, most importantly, quality education in Hungary, a country in Central Europe. Students should compare expected expenses carefully because costs vary by city and housing choice. You can also review the cost of studying and living in Europe.
This article highlights scholarships available to international students at different levels. Depending on the program, benefits may include tuition coverage, living stipends, accommodation contributions, medical insurance, travel support, or partial tuition discounts. Always review the official scholarship page for current eligibility rules, benefits, and deadlines. We also include stories from international students who have received some of these scholarships. Let’s take a look at these top scholarships in Hungary for international students.
Top Scholarships in Hungary for International Students
| Scholarship Name | Scholarship Type | Eligible Degrees | Scholarship Value |
|---|
| Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship | Hungarian Government | Bachelor’s, Master’s, one-tier Master’s, PhD, non-degree | Tuition-free education, monthly stipend, dormitory place or accommodation contribution, medical insurance |
| Hungarian Diaspora Scholarship | Hungarian Government | Bachelor’s, Master’s, one-tier Master’s, PhD, non-degree | Tuition-free education and medical insurance; monthly stipend, accommodation contribution, and travel support upon request |
| Bilateral State Scholarship | Hungarian Government and partner countries | Varies: Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD studies; study visits and summer courses are also available | Tuition-free courses and a stipend; supplements vary by scholarship type and call |
| Erasmus Mundus Scholarship | External | Master’s | No application fee, tuition fee, or mandatory participation costs for scholarship holders; €1,400 monthly contribution for travel, visa, installation, and subsistence costs |
| Visegrad Scholarship | International Visegrad Fund | Master’s, Post-Master’s | €3,500 per semester for the scholar and €2,000 per semester for the host institution |
| SZTE Start Scholarship | University of Szeged | Applicants starting their studies in September 2026 who meet the official conditions | €900 one-time contribution for the 2026/27 call |
| International Scholarship | University of Debrecen | Eligible applicants in listed programs; country restrictions apply | Up to 30% of annual tuition for Medicine and Dentistry; up to 90% for other eligible programs; medical insurance |
| METU Academic Scholarship | Budapest Metropolitan University | Full-time, fee-paying Bachelor’s and Master’s students | 33% of the tuition fee for the relevant semester |
1. Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Value: Tuition-free education, monthly stipend, dormitory place or accommodation contribution, and medical insurance
- Eligible Degree/s: Bachelor’s, Master’s, one-tier Master’s, PhD, non-degree
- Meet the Stipendium Hungaricum Scholars: Explore scholarship journeys including Andrea Bergula Saises from the Philippines and Muhammad Shayan from Pakistan
The Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship program was established by the Hungarian Government in 2013 to support the internationalization of Hungarian higher education and strengthen academic and research relationships with other countries. The program is available in more than 100 countries. For the 2026/27 application cycle, applicants can browse 30 universities and colleges and more than 900 study programs, with a maximum of two choices.
Scholarship recipients are exempt from tuition fees. Bachelor’s, Master’s, one-tier Master’s, and non-degree students receive a monthly stipend of HUF 43,700. Students also receive either a dormitory place or an accommodation contribution of HUF 40,000 per month. The accommodation contribution may not cover the full cost of rent, especially in larger cities.
Students receive health care services under the relevant Hungarian legislation and supplementary medical insurance of up to HUF 65,000 per year. Doctoral students receive a monthly stipend of HUF 140,000 during the first phase of their education and HUF 180,000 during the second phase, with each phase lasting four semesters. The scholarship benefits contribute to living expenses but may not cover all costs.
Here is what Stipendium Hungaricum Scholars Say:
“The scholarship is quite generous as it fully covers your tuition”
Aya
“For the Stipendium Hungaricum (SH) Scholarship, there are no standardized tests such as the IELTS, SAT, etc.”
Andrea Bergula Saises
“You can choose up to two programmes (at the same or different universities) in your Stipendium Hungaricum application.”
Elina Sultanbekova
“all master’s and bachelor’s degree scholarship awardees are learning compulsory Hungarian for two semesters”
Hasan Çağan Güler
2. Hungarian Diaspora Scholarship
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Value: Tuition-free education and medical insurance; monthly stipend, accommodation contribution, and travel support upon request
- Eligible Degree/s: Bachelor’s, Master’s, one-tier Master’s, PhD, non-degree
The Hungarian Diaspora Scholarship is a government program for applicants with Hungarian roots who live in a diaspora. The current call covers countries and regions outside the European Union, except Serbia and the Zakarpatska Oblast region of Ukraine.
For the 2026/27 academic year, 33 Hungarian institutions offer nearly 1,500 programs under the current call, including nearly 1,200 full-time programs. Available options include non-degree, Bachelor’s, Master’s, one-tier Master’s, and doctoral programs.
Scholarship recipients are exempt from tuition fees and receive health care services and supplementary medical insurance of up to HUF 65,000 per year. Students can request a monthly stipend and an accommodation contribution. Accommodation support is provided as a dormitory place, depending on institutional capacity, or a contribution of HUF 40,000 per month. The program also offers travel support, including a Hungary Pass reimbursement and, for eligible students living at least 8,000 kilometers from Budapest, a one-time travel allowance. The stipend, accommodation contribution, and one-time travel allowance must be explicitly requested.
Scholarship recipients studying in English or another foreign language must attend a Hungarian language and culture course during their scholarship period and pass a required Hungarian language exam or assessment. The required proficiency level depends on the length of the study period. The exam certificate must generally be obtained by the end of the scholarship studies or no later than one year after graduation. Certain short-term and special cases are exempt.
3. Bilateral State Scholarship
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Value: Tuition-free courses and a stipend; supplements vary by scholarship type and call
- Eligible Degree/s: Varies: Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD studies; study visits and summer courses are also available
Bilateral State Scholarships are based on scientific and educational cooperation agreements signed by the governments of two countries. Each foreign partner has a national scholarship office that manages applications and nominates potential scholars. In Hungary, the national scholarship office is the Tempus Public Foundation. Applicants can apply through a nomination from their home country or submit an individual application.
The scholarships are available to foreign students, researchers, and lecturers in higher education institutions and scientific or art institutions. Scholarship types include semester or partial studies, full-degree Bachelor’s, Master’s, or doctoral studies, short- or long-term study visits, and summer courses.
Accepted applicants can participate in courses free of charge and receive a stipend. Depending on the scholarship type, students may also receive supplements or an accommodation contribution. Applicants should check the relevant call for the exact benefits and amounts.
4. Erasmus Mundus Scholarship
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Value: No application fee, tuition fee, or mandatory participation costs for scholarship holders; €1,400 monthly contribution for travel, visa, installation, and subsistence costs
- Eligible Degree/s: Master’s
- Meet the Erasmus Mundus Scholars: Explore scholarship journeys including Yash Joshi from India and Alyssa Jane Cabtalan from the Philippines
The Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters action supports integrated Master’s programs lasting one to two academic years, or 60, 90, or 120 ECTS credits. This is not a Hungary-specific scholarship. A program is relevant to studying in Hungary when its consortium or mobility track includes a Hungarian institution.
Each consortium must include at least three higher education institutions from three different countries, including at least two institutions from European Union Member States or third countries associated with the program. Students complete at least two physical study periods in two countries. Each mandatory study period normally corresponds to at least one academic semester.
Selected projects cannot charge students an application fee. Scholarship holders cannot be charged tuition fees or other mandatory costs related to participation in the course. The student scholarship is calculated at €1,400 per month for full-time enrollment and contributes to travel, visa, installation, and subsistence costs. The grant’s institutional-cost component also includes full insurance coverage for enrolled students.
Here is what Erasmus Mundus Scholarship Scholars in Hungary Say:
“The Erasmus Mundus scholarship has been a tremendous financial support. Coming from a developing country, I doubt I could have afforded to study in Europe without it.”
Alyssa Jane Cabtalan
“In the year I got in (2023), 15 scholarships were awarded out of 1,000+ applicants (a ~1% success rate).”
Nene Abayateye
“Pro tip: start at least a year (or ideally 1.5 years) before the course actually begins.”
Atharva Patwe
“In the third semester, I continued my studies in Budapest, Hungary, with a specialization in autonomous systems and self-driving vehicles.”
Zewdie Habtie Sisay
“And as for Hungary, I was in Budapest, which is a city full of foreigners, and almost everybody speaks English, I don’t remember facing any issues because of not knowing Hungarian.”
Lisa Paul Magoti
5. Visegrad Scholarship
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Value: €3,500 per semester for the scholar and €2,000 per semester for the host institution
- Eligible Degree/s: Master’s, Post-Master’s
The Visegrad Scholarship Program is offered by the International Visegrad Fund. It supports Master’s and post-Master’s students and researchers in all disciplines and languages for up to two semesters at more than 190 accredited higher education institutions across Central and Eastern Europe.
The scholarship provides €3,500 per semester for the scholar and €2,000 per semester for the host institution. Applicants must meet the citizenship, residence, host-country, distance, and study-level requirements listed on the official page.
6. SZTE Start Scholarship (University of Szeged)
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Value: €900 one-time contribution for the 2026/27 call
- Eligible Degree/s: Applicants starting their studies in September 2026 who meet the official conditions
The University of Szeged offers the SZTE Start Scholarship to outstanding applicants who plan to begin their studies at the university. For the 2026/27 call, the scholarship provides a one-time contribution of €900. A total of 12 students can receive the award, ideally one from each faculty.
7. International Scholarship (University of Debrecen)
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Value: Up to 30% of annual tuition for Medicine and Dentistry; up to 90% for other eligible programs; medical insurance
- Eligible Degree/s: Eligible applicants in listed programs; country restrictions apply
The University of Debrecen is Hungary’s oldest continuously operating higher education institution, tracing its history to 1538. The university reports more than 34,000 students, including more than 7,700 international students from 140 countries. It offers more than 80 programs in English across 13 faculties and eight campuses.
The current UD International Scholarship is part of a Hungarian Government pilot program for international students who are not currently enrolled in Hungary. It applies to eligible applicants and listed programs in natural sciences, medical and health sciences, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
The tuition discount varies by program. For Medicine and Dentistry, the maximum discount is 30% of the full annual tuition fee. For other eligible programs, the maximum discount is 90% of the full annual tuition fee. The final discount depends on the applicant’s academic background and entrance examination performance. Medical insurance is also included.
Applicants should review the official scholarship terms to confirm whether their citizenship and selected program are eligible and follow the university’s current application instructions. General guidance is available in the articles on writing a motivation letter and obtaining recommendation letters, but applicants should rely on the official program instructions for the documents required in their case.
8. METU Academic Scholarship (Budapest Metropolitan University)
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Value: 33% of the tuition fee for the relevant semester
- Eligible Degree/s: Full-time, fee-paying Bachelor’s and Master’s students
Budapest Metropolitan University is a private university in Hungary. Its predecessor, Budapest College of Communication, was established in 2000, and the institution became Budapest Metropolitan University in 2016. The university describes itself as Hungary’s largest private university, with nearly 7,000 students, including approximately 1,000 international students. It offers more than 20 Bachelor’s programs and 21 Master’s programs.
The METU Academic Scholarship is awarded to three students with the highest adjusted credit index in the previous active semester from each class of each faculty. Eligible students must have active status, study full-time in a fee-paying Bachelor’s or Master’s program, and remain within the recommended number of semesters for their program.
The university calculates the results automatically at the beginning of each semester and sends a personal message to awarded students. The scholarship equals 33% of the tuition fee for the relevant semester and is transferred back to the student’s account in one installment.
If you are an international applicant, remember to review the scholarship program’s current requirements, deadlines, and other conditions. It is also best to check the official website or contact the international office at your chosen university for details about the application process. If you need financial aid to study in Hungary, consider the scholarships listed above and determine whether you meet their criteria.
We hope this article on top scholarships in Hungary was helpful. Make sure also to check out the Hungary Page and Available Programs in Europe for International Students to learn more about studying abroad!
