The Hungarian Government is offering up to 100 scholarships to South African students to study at participating public university in Hungary.

All courses available for South Africans are taught in English, however some Bachelor’s and Master’s students may be required to pass a course in Hungarian as a foreign language.

Degree level

Bachelor's

Master's 

One-Tier Master’s

Doctoral

Short term mobility opportunities or Exchange Programmes (1 or 2 semesters) for registered Master or Doctoral

 Who can apply for the scholarship?

  • South African citizens in good health;
  • Have a strong academic record:
    • Bachelor’s applicants require a minimum average of 60% in their NSC (excluding Life Orientation);
    • Postgraduate applications should have performed well in their previous studies with a minimum 60% average mark achieved in their previous studies;
  • An interest in studying in Hungary and demonstrated commitment to the development of South Africa;
  • Available and eligible to study in Hungary from September 2025;
  • Meet the entry criteria for their selected programme in Hungary;
  • Meet the minimum academic requirement for entry into a similar programme at a South African university.

Deadline

Applications for the 2025/26 academic year will be open from November 15 2024 until 15 January 2025, this includes both full degree programmes and partial/exchange programmes.

Fields of Study

Bachelor and Master’s applicants may apply for any field of study; however the Department will be basing the nominations for the 2025/26 scholarship awards based on identified priority fields of study.

Doctoral applicants can apply for any field of study. The available study programmes and institutions are available in the online application system (https://apply.stipendiumhungaricum.hu/). Doctoral applicants must have a letter from their proposed Hungarian supervisor and submit this with their application.

What the scholarship offers

The Hungarian Government offers:

  • Tuition fees
  • Monthly stipend
  • University accommodation or a contribution towards private accommodation
  • Medical insurance

The South African Government, subject to the availability of funding, may provide:

  • Return airfare to Hungary
  • A monthly stipend
  • A once-off settlement allowance
  • An annual allowance at the beginning of each academic year
  • Pre-departure orientation
  • SAQA verification of qualification

Application process

Applicants are required to complete the online application on the Stipendium Hungaricum website by the deadline indicated and fulfil all requirements as stipulated https://apply.stipendiumhungaricum.hu/.

In addition to the requirements indicated on the Stipendium Hungaricum website, South African applicants must upload the following documents as part of their online application (applications that do not comply with the below will be ineligible):

Applications for Bachelor's programmes (Both full degree and partial/exchange)

Applications for Master's programmes (Both full degree and partial/exchange)

Applications for PhD's programmes (Both full degree and partial/exchange)

1. Copy of South African National Senior Certificate (NSC) with a Bachelor's pass OR a certificate of equivalence (from the Matriculation Board) if a school leaving certificate other than the NSC was obtained. 

 A minimum of 60% average is required, excluding Life Orientation.

Marks of pre-requisite subjects for chosen field of study (e.g., for Engineering applicants, NSC Maths and Physics marks OR for social sciences, NSC English marks) will be reviewed separately

1. Copy of degree certificate(s), which must be a minimum of a Bachelor's degree with Honours, or a full qualification equivalent to South African National Qualifications Framework (NQF) Level 8. 

A minimum of 60% average is required.

 

SAQA verification for any degrees obtained outside South Africa is required. 

1. Copy of degree certificates, which must include a Master's degree, or full qualification equivalent to South African National Qualifications Framework (NQF) Level 9. 

 A minimum of 60% average is required for the Master's degree.

 

SAQA verification for any degrees obtained outside South Africa is required. 

2. Official transcripts of all previous university studies.

2. Transcripts of all previous university studies. 

3. Research proposal (1000 words) including the following headings:

Title
Objectives
Rationale
Methodology
Relevance of study
(plus any other scholarship requirements)
References

3. Research proposal (1000 words) including the following headings:

Title
Objectives
Rationale
Methodology
Relevance of study
(plus any other scholarship requirements)
References

2. Two reference letters, signed and on an official letterhead, with a contact number and email address.

 At least one reference must be from a schoolteacher. The second letter can be from either a teacher or a work supervisor.

The letters must attest to the following: reliability, integrity, academic excellence and suitability for an international scholarship.

4. Two reference letters, signed and on an official letterhead, with a contact number and email address.

 At least one reference must be from a lecturer or professor. The second letter can be from either a lecturer or a work supervisor.

The letters must attest to the following: reliability, integrity, academic excellence and suitability for an international scholarship.

5. Two reference letters, signed and on an official letterhead, with a contact number and email address.

 At least one reference must be from a lecturer or professor. The second letter can be from either a lecturer or work supervisor.

The letters must attest to the following: reliability, integrity, academic excellence and suitability for an international scholarship.

All documents uploaded must be clear and in PDF format (no photographs of documents will be accepted).

 

6. Some doctoral schools request students applying for their doctoral programmes to have a supervisor at the Host Institution, who, in the case of the successful application process, will undertake the supervising of the student’s doctoral education and research activities within the frameworks of the doctoral programme chosen by the applicant. In case it is required by the doctoral programme you are applying for, a statement of acceptance issued by the supervisor must be attached to the application. Please make sure whether the doctoral programme you are applying for requires a statement of acceptance.

Only applications submitted on the Stipendium Hungaricum website will be assessed by the South African Department of Higher Education and Training for nominations.

PHD applicants are required to visit the Hungarian Doctoral Council website before submitting their application. The website provides information about the Hungarian doctoral schools, available research field and research topics as well as the supervisors of the doctoral students. Thesis topic proposals are also available http://www.doktori.hu/index.php?menuid=115&lang=EN

Please note that nominations are based on a competitive process due to the limited number of available scholarships. Applicants who are not nominated for the scholarship will be notified by email.

Successful candidates will be required to sign a contract with the Department of Higher Education and Training and to attend the orientation which is scheduled to take place in August 2025 in Pretoria.

Queries

Queries about the nomination can be submitted to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (South African applicants only). Your queries relating to the status of your nomination will only be responded to after 28 February 2025.

Queries about specific study programmes should be addressed to the relevant institutions.

For more information about what the scholarship covers, Hungarian institutions and studying in Hungary please visit the website: http://studyinhungary.hu/

Documents and link

Note

Please note this scholarship is not offered by the Department of Higher Education and Training. Applicants are required to undertake their own research into programmes and institutions and are responsible for ensuring that the qualifications will be recognised in South Africa. If there are any discrepancies in the details provided regarding the scholarship, the information given by the sponsor supersedes the details provided above. No additional financial support will be provided by the Department of Higher Education and Training other than stated above.

Print