Stipendium Hungaricum: the Hungarian scholarship open to Tunisians
Tuition fees, monthly allowance, housing and insurance: the Hungarian government scholarship is open to Tunisians. Requirements, steps and tips.
By Worldwide Studies team, Worldwide Studies teamPublished 5 min read
Stipendium Hungaricum is the Hungarian government's scholarship programme for international students. Tunisia is one of the partner countries, which each year allows Tunisian students to study for free in Hungary, at bachelor's, master's, long-cycle (medicine, pharmacy, dentistry…) or doctoral level. Here is what the scholarship covers, how to apply and how to give yourself the best chance.
The requirements, the number of scholarships and the dates are published each year by the Hungarian body that runs the programme. Our advisers check the current call for you.
What the scholarship covers
As a general rule, Stipendium Hungaricum includes:
a full tuition fee waiver;
a monthly allowance paid by the university (amount varies by level of study);
a place in a university residence or a housing contribution;
health insurance.
Plane tickets and some expenses (visa fees, materials) remain your responsibility.
Which programmes?
Several hundred programmes are offered, mainly in English, at around thirty Hungarian universities (Budapest, Debrecen, Szeged, Pécs, Győr…):
bachelor's degrees of 3 to 4 years;
master's degrees of 1 to 2 years;
long-cycle programmes (one-tier master): medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, veterinary medicine, architecture…;
doctorates;
a preparatory year and non-degree programmes in some cases.
Hungary is particularly well known for its health studies in English. Read also Studying in Hungary: medicine, dentistry, pharmacy in English.
The dual application: the key point
The Stipendium Hungaricum application has two parts:
Online, on the programme's platform, where you create your application and choose your programmes (a limited number of choices, in order of preference).
With the sending partner in your country, that is, the designated Tunisian authority (usually the Ministry of Higher Education), which nominates the selected candidates. Some partners run their own pre-selection or ask for additional documents.
A complete online application without a nomination cannot succeed. So follow the instructions of the Tunisian partner in parallel.
The usual requirements
Be a national of a partner country (Tunisia is one).
Hold the required qualification: baccalaureate for bachelor's and long-cycle programmes, bachelor's degree for the master's, master's degree for the doctorate.
Have a sufficient level of English (or Hungarian for programmes taught in Hungarian), proven by a certificate or by a test organised by the university.
Be in good health.
Meet the programme's own requirements (grades, entrance test, portfolio…).
The usual timetable
Autumn – early winter: the call opens and online applications are submitted, usually until mid-winter.
Winter – spring: universities review applications, hold entrance exams and interviews (often online).
Spring – early summer: nomination and results.
Summer: visa and preparation for departure.
September: start of the academic year.
The application file
Usual documents:
passport;
diploma and transcripts (or a school certificate for final-year pupils), with an English translation if needed;
language certificate;
motivation letter;
medical certificate in the required format;
for master's and doctorate: letters of recommendation, research proposal (doctorate);
portfolio for arts programmes.
Entrance exams and interviews
After pre-selection, the university invites you to an entrance exam and/or an interview. For health programmes, the exam often covers biology and chemistry (sometimes physics), with an interview in English. Prepare seriously: this is often where the difference is made.
Our tips
Choose realistic programmes: medicine programmes at the major universities are in very high demand. Diversify your choices.
Write a motivation letter for each programme, precise and personal.
Prepare for the entrance exam as soon as you submit your application.
Follow the Tunisian partner closely and its own requirements.
Have a plan B: admission to a fee-paying programme in Hungary (moderate fees), or other scholarships such as Türkiye Bursları or the CSC scholarship.
Sample structure for the motivation letter
Your plan: the chosen programme and the profession you are aiming for.
Your background: your studies, your strong subjects and the experiences that prepare you for it.
Why Hungary: the quality of the programme, the university's reputation in your field, the international environment.
Why this specific programme: modules, laboratories, partnerships.
After graduation: how you will use your skills, in Tunisia in particular.
One letter per programme, with no copy-and-paste, with concrete details: that is what sets successful applications apart.
Medical file and documents
The medical certificate often has to follow a specific template and be signed by a doctor. Transcripts and diplomas must be accompanied by an English translation if needed. Also prepare several clearly legible digital copies: the platform requires them in electronic format.
How to choose your two programmes
An ambitious first choice, in the field that matters most to you.
A realistic second choice, at another university or in a related, less sought-after field.
Check the requirements of each programme (exam, minimum grades, portfolio).
Compare cities: Budapest is in high demand; Debrecen, Szeged, Pécs, Győr or Miskolc offer excellent options, sometimes less competitive.
After winning the scholarship
Once you are a scholarship holder, you must maintain sufficient results to keep the scholarship each year. Universities support scholarship holders on arrival (housing, residence permit, insurance). The programme also allows you, under certain conditions, to continue to a master's and then a doctorate with a new application.
Our support
Worldwide Studies helps you choose your programmes, write your motivation letter, prepare for the entrance exam and interview, and follow both parts of the application. See also our overview of scholarships.
👉 Opening dates change every year: talk to an adviser to prepare your Stipendium Hungaricum application.