Stipendium Hungaricum (Hungary)
Tuition-free study in the European Union at bachelor's, master's or doctoral level — for the 34 African countries Hungary has an agreement with.
Offered by Government of Hungary — Tempus Public Foundation
Stipendium Hungaricum is the Hungarian government's scholarship, and it is one of the largest routes into the European Union for African students. It covers tuition entirely, plus a monthly stipend, a contribution to your accommodation and medical insurance, at bachelor's, master's and doctoral level. It works through bilateral agreements. Hungary signs an agreement with your country's education ministry — called a Sending Partner — and you apply both online AND through that ministry. If your country has no Sending Partner, you cannot apply at all, however strong you are. 34 African countries do have one, and they are listed below. One detail worth checking on the official page: each agreement sets which study levels and fields are open for that country. Algeria and Eritrea, for example, have no bachelor's route — only master's and doctoral.
Applications usually close in mid-January — the 2026/2027 deadline was 15 January 2026 at 2 p.m. CET
The deadline for the 2026/2027 round was 15 January 2026 at 2 p.m. Central European Time, and that round has closed. Stipendium Hungaricum runs annually on a similar schedule, with the new Call for Applications published in the autumn. IMPORTANT: your own country's sending partner sets its own, usually earlier, deadline and its own extra requirements — some require documents posted in hard copy. Contact your ministry first and work from their date.
Details checked against the official source on 13 August 2026. Rules change every year — always confirm on the official page before you apply.
TontonAfriJobs is not connected to this scholarship and never charges any fee. You can apply yourself, for free, using the steps below. Nobody needs to apply on your behalf.
Fully funded
Bachelors, Masters, Phd
Applications usually close in mid-January — the 2026/2027 deadline was 15 January 2026 at 2 p.m. CET
Set by the Hungarian university and programme you choose
Competitive
What the scholarship pays for
What you still pay for yourself
Find your country
These 34 African countries have a bilateral agreement with Hungary, which is what makes you eligible. Tap your country to open the official partners page — select your country there and it shows the exact ministry, the responsible person, their email, phone and address. That ministry is who nominates you, so they are your first contact. Countries without an agreement — including Cameroon, Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Somalia — cannot apply for this scholarship.
Eligible, but read this first
Algeria
Algeria has NO bachelor's route under Stipendium Hungaricum. Master's and doctoral study are available, primarily in agriculture, engineering, economics, natural and social sciences, computer science and IT.
Check the partners pageEritrea
Eritrea has NO bachelor's route under Stipendium Hungaricum. Master's and doctoral study are available through the National Higher Education and Research Institute.
Check the partners pageEquatorial Guinea
Equatorial Guinea is listed as a sending partner, but Hungary states that the contact details of the sending partner are not available. All study levels are listed, but you will need to reach the ministry yourself before you can be nominated.
Check the partners pageDon't see your country? Eligibility can change each year — check the official country list.
Can I apply?
You need to be able to tick every box below. Each one links to the official page that states the rule.
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Your country must have a bilateral education agreement with Hungary — a "Sending Partner". Without one you cannot apply at all. Check your country
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You may only apply for the study levels and fields agreed between Hungary and YOUR country. These genuinely differ — some countries have no bachelor's route, and some are limited to particular subjects. Your country's agreed levels
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You must apply BOTH through the Hungarian online system AND to your country's sending partner ministry. Doing only one is not enough. How to apply
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You must meet the entry requirements of the Hungarian programme you choose, which are set by the university. Call for applications
How to apply, step by step
Do these in order. Every step links to the exact official page you need — you never have to guess, and you never need an agent.
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1
Check your country is a sending partner — and what it allows
Open the partners page and select your country. It tells you which levels are available to you, which fields, and the exact ministry responsible. If your country is not listed, this scholarship is not open to you.
Sending partners -
2
Contact your ministry and ask for their deadline and requirements
The partners page gives you their email, phone and address. Their deadline is usually earlier than Hungary's, and several require hard-copy documents by post or notarised copies. Ask them in writing before you plan anything.
Your ministry's contact details -
3
Read the Call for Applications for your level
There are separate calls for bachelor's/master's and for doctoral study, each with its own annexes listing the eligible programmes. Read the one that matches your level.
Calls for applications -
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Choose your programmes in the Study Finder
Hungary publishes a searchable list of every degree programme open under the scholarship, with the university, language of instruction and entry requirements.
Study Finder -
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Apply online, then send your documents to your ministry
Complete the online application on Hungary's system, then submit whatever your sending partner requires. Both parts must be done before their respective deadlines.
Online application
Papers you need to prepare
Start gathering these early — some take weeks to get.
Your school leaving certificate or degree certificate
Depending on the level you are applying for.
Academic transcripts
Some sending partners require notarised copies — check with yours.
A motivation letter
Specified in the Call for Applications for your level.
A medical certificate
Required as part of the standard application documents.
A valid passport
Your citizenship is what makes you eligible through the bilateral agreement.
Language certificate
If your chosen programme requires one.
English test — which one to take
An English test proves you can study in English. You take it at a test centre (or sometimes at home), pay a fee, and receive a score. Book directly on the official website below — never pay an agent to book it for you.
IELTS or TOEFL (set by your programme)
Most Hungarian degree programmes are taught in English and set their own language requirement. Check the specific programme in the Study Finder before booking anything.
Requirements vary by university and programme rather than being set centrally, so confirm before you pay.
Questions people ask
Which African countries are eligible for Stipendium Hungaricum?
34 African countries have a bilateral agreement with Hungary for the Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship, including Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Egypt, Ethiopia, Morocco, Tunisia, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Namibia and Mozambique. Countries without an agreement, such as Cameroon, Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire, Zambia and Zimbabwe, cannot apply. Algeria and Eritrea are eligible for master's and doctoral study only, not bachelor's.
What is the Stipendium Hungaricum deadline?
The deadline for the 2026/2027 Stipendium Hungaricum round was 15 January 2026 at 2 p.m. Central European Time. The programme runs annually with the new Call for Applications published each autumn. Your own country's sending partner ministry usually sets an earlier deadline of its own, so confirm that date with them rather than relying on the Hungarian one.
What does Stipendium Hungaricum cover?
Stipendium Hungaricum covers tuition-free education, a monthly stipend, a contribution towards accommodation, medical insurance and a Hungarian student ID. It is available at bachelor's, master's, one-tier master's and doctoral level, though which levels you can apply for depends on the agreement between Hungary and your own country.
Do I apply to Hungary or to my own government for Stipendium Hungaricum?
Both. Stipendium Hungaricum is based on bilateral agreements, so you complete the Hungarian online application AND apply through your own country's sending partner, which is usually the education ministry. Applying to only one of the two means your application will not proceed. The official partners page lists each ministry with its email, phone and address.
Can I study a bachelor's degree in Hungary on Stipendium Hungaricum?
Yes for most eligible African countries, but not all. Each bilateral agreement sets which levels are open, and Algeria and Eritrea have no bachelor's route under the programme — only master's and doctoral study. Check your own country on the official partners page before planning a bachelor's application.
Tips that genuinely improve your chances
- Your ministry is the gatekeeper, not Hungary. Email them first and get their deadline in writing.
- Check which levels your country's agreement covers before choosing a programme — they are not the same everywhere.
- Some sending partners require documents by post as well as online. Find out early; postage from Africa takes time.
- Hungary is in the EU, so this is EU-standard education at zero tuition — one of the cheapest routes into Europe.
- If your country is not a sending partner, do not waste time — look at Türkiye, DAAD or Erasmus Mundus instead, which do not require an agreement.
Protect yourself from scams
Stipendium Hungaricum is free to apply for. Applications go through Hungary's official system at apply.stipendiumhungaricum.hu and through your own country's education ministry — both are government bodies. No agent can nominate you, and the sending partner contact details are published free on the official partners page. If someone offers to secure you a Hungarian scholarship for a fee, it is a scam.
Ready to apply?
Applications are made directly on the official website — it is free, and you do it yourself.