Stipendium Hungaricum Scholar, Peter Nguka from Kenya, Shares His Journey of Studying International Economy and Business at Corvinus University of Budapest

I am Peter Nguka, a graduate student in International Economy and Business at Corvinus University of Budapest, Hungary. I am passionate about economic policy and development, particularly in the context of developing countries, and I envision building a professional career in this field. My graduate studies at Corvinus provide a solid foundation and entry point toward this goal.

Prior to enrolling at Corvinus, I worked as a research analyst in the telecommunications sector in Kenya after earning my undergraduate degree in Economics from the University of Nairobi. In addition, I contribute policy articles to Geo-polemic at Corvinus, my LinkedIn newsletter, and Kenyan newspapers, reflecting my ongoing engagement with economic discourse and policy analysis.

Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship Details

I am a recipient of the Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship, a prestigious program funded by the Hungarian Government for international students. The scholarship provides full tuition coverage, a monthly stipend of HUF 43,700 (about €110) to support living expenses, accommodation support either through free university dormitories or a contribution of HUF 40,000 (about €100) per month, and health insurance for the duration of my studies.

Educational Background

I completed my undergraduate degree in Economics at the University of Nairobi, graduating with Upper Second Class Honours. For most master’s programs under the scholarship, eligibility typically requires either a First Class or Upper Second-Class degree. Therefore, although I did not achieve a First Class, my Upper Second Class Honours still met the eligibility criteria for the Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship. At Corvinus, there is a credit recognition system that provides for a specific number of credits within particular fields, for example, in economics, business, and quantitative methods. One is therefore expected to have taken a certain minimum number of credits under these areas. My undergraduate degree at the University of Nairobi in economics covered most of these areas, and therefore, I passed the credit recognition process without difficulty. It is important to check the particular admission requirements for your course before you apply.

How Did You Prepare to Apply to Corvinus University of Budapest?

Did You Take Any Standardized Tests? If So, How Did You Prepare for Them?

 During my year, Corvinus did provide for the possibility of submitting an international test, i.e., GMAT, GRE, or NMAT, to satisfy the admission criteria in addition to other procedures. I weighed my options and realized that it was easier to do NMAT since I was working on a short deadline. I bought revision materials on the GMAC platform and registered for the exams proctored online on the same platform. Luckily, I passed the exams and therefore did not have to do other tests. The admission requirements for my course at Corvinus have since changed and are available on the Corvinus website.

How Did You Prepare to Apply to the Scholarship?

This was actually my 10^th attempt at securing a scholarship. The process involves writing a lot of essays and looking for peers and mentors to help with the reviews. In addition, one has to secure recommendation letters from professors and professional mentors from time to time. This can sometimes be challenging, especially if you are working on strict deadlines. My advice would be a start early and have a plan with deadlines. An Excel sheet would really come in handy if you are applying for many scholarships. Additionally, one should take their time to access any information available online for the scholarships, including tips from those people who have already gone through the scholarships, as this helps to avoid some unnecessary mistakes.

How Do You Rate Corvinus University of Budapest Academically and Why?

Corvinus ranks high, especially in business and economics courses. If one wants to study these courses in Central and Eastern Europe, this is where one goes to school. There are also a lot of international partnerships with many schools across the globe, such as CEMS and other double degree programs, which really help to position students well in the global job market. What I love most about it, however, is the high percentage of international students and the willingness to help attitude from most of the professors.

What Do You Think Made Your Application Stand Out?

For the scholarship, I would guess it was the strength of my motivation letter; however, for the school, it is most likely my high NMAT scores.

What Would You Have Done Differently if You Were Going Through the Process Again?

I researched the admission requirements a bit late and had to hurry while preparing for my NMAT exams. I just picked the school and course and submitted my applications without caring to check this out. Taking back, I would thoroughly check this out and somehow make things easier and avoid unnecessary stress.

What Advice Would You Give Those Looking to Apply for a Similar Scholarship?

Don’t disqualify yourself before the scholarship committee or the admission committee does so; Apply and leave the rest to God. Read all the information you can regarding the scholarship to avoid missing important information, and finally, keep checking your emails. In case you miss one scholarship, please don’t give up; keep applying. In my native Swahili language, they say “atafutaye hachoki, akichoka keshapata,” loosely translated as one who searches for something doesn’t give up until they find it. All the best.