Every year, thousands of international students dream of studying in Europe without the burden of tuition fees. The Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship makes that possible for students from a wide range of countries. If you are planning your application for the 2026 intake, the first thing you need to check is whether your home country is on the official list.
This guide breaks down the Stipendium Hungaricum eligible countries list for the 2026 intake. We will cover the regional breakdown, highlight key changes, and give you practical tips to confirm your eligibility before you start your application.
What Is the Stipendium Hungaricum Programme?
The Stipendium Hungaricum is a fully-funded scholarship programme offered by the Hungarian government. It covers tuition fees, provides a monthly stipend, offers accommodation support, and includes health insurance for the entire duration of your studies.
It is available for bachelor’s, master’s, one-tier master’s, and doctoral programmes at participating Hungarian universities. The programme is managed by the Tempus Public Foundation on behalf of the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Stipendium Hungaricum Eligible Countries for 2026
The list of eligible countries is updated annually. For the 2026 intake, the scholarship is open to citizens from over 70 partner countries across five continents. These countries are grouped into priority regions based on Hungary’s foreign policy and development cooperation goals.
Africa
Students from many African nations are strongly encouraged to apply. The scholarship aims to support capacity building in these regions.
- Algeria
- Angola
- Botswana
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cabo Verde
- Cameroon
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Egypt
- Ethiopia
- Ghana
- Kenya
- Liberia
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Mali
- Mauritius
- Morocco
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Nigeria
- Rwanda
- São Tomé and Príncipe
- Senegal
- Seychelles
- Sierra Leone
- Somalia
- South Africa
- South Sudan
- Sudan
- Tanzania
- The Gambia
- Togo
- Tunisia
- Uganda
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
Asia
Asia has one of the highest applicant pools for this scholarship. Countries in this region include both emerging economies and developing nations.
- Bangladesh
- Cambodia
- China
- India
- Indonesia
- Iran
- Iraq
- Japan
- Jordan
- Kazakhstan
- Kyrgyzstan
- Laos
- Lebanon
- Malaysia
- Maldives
- Mongolia
- Myanmar
- Nepal
- Oman
- Pakistan
- Palestine
- Philippines
- South Korea
- Sri Lanka
- Syria
- Tajikistan
- Thailand
- Turkey
- Turkmenistan
- Uzbekistan
- Vietnam
- Yemen
Europe
European partner countries are primarily from the Western Balkans, Eastern Europe, and the Caucasus region.
- Albania
- Armenia
- Azerbaijan
- Belarus
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Georgia
- Kosovo
- Moldova
- Montenegro
- North Macedonia
- Serbia
- Ukraine
Latin America and the Caribbean
Several countries from Central and South America as well as the Caribbean are included in the 2026 intake list.
- Argentina
- Bolivia
- Brazil
- Chile
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- Cuba
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- El Salvador
- Guatemala
- Honduras
- Mexico
- Nicaragua
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Uruguay
- Venezuela
Middle East and North Africa (MENA)
MENA countries are also included, though some overlap with the Africa and Asia lists.
- Bahrain
- Kuwait
- Qatar
- Saudi Arabia
- United Arab Emirates
Table: Quick Overview of Eligible Regions
Below is a summary table to help you see the regional distribution at a glance.
| Region | Number of Eligible Countries | Example Countries |
|---|---|---|
| Africa | 37 | Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Ethiopia |
| Asia | 32 | India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, China |
| Europe (non-EU) | 12 | Ukraine, Serbia, Georgia, Moldova |
| Latin America & Caribbean | 18 | Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Argentina |
| Middle East & North Africa | 5 | Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Qatar |
“I was pleasantly surprised to see my country listed for the 2026 intake. The application process became much clearer once I confirmed my eligibility through the official partner agency.” — Former Stipendium Hungaricum scholar from Kenya.
How to Confirm Your Country’s Status
Lists published online can sometimes be outdated. The safest way to confirm whether your country is among the Stipendium Hungaricum eligible countries for 2026 is to follow these steps:
- Visit the official Stipendium Hungaricum website (stipendiumhungaricum.hu).
- Look for the “Call for Applications” or “Eligible Countries” section.
- Cross-check your country with the PDF list provided by Tempus Public Foundation.
- Contact your local Hungarian Embassy or the Ministry of Education in your home country.
Even if your country is listed, you must also meet university-specific admission requirements. Being on the eligible list does not guarantee a scholarship—it only makes you eligible to apply.
What If Your Country Is Not Listed?
If your country does not appear in the 2026 intake list, do not lose hope. There are several alternative funding options:
- Hungarian State Scholarships for certain non-partner countries.
- Self-financed studies with part-time work opportunities in Hungary.
- Bilateral agreements between your government and Hungary.
- Other European scholarships like Erasmus Mundus or DAAD.
Some countries also have limited quotas for specific fields. For example, a country like Japan may only have slots for engineering or IT programmes. Always read the fine print in the official call.
Tips for a Strong Application in 2026
Early preparation is crucial. The application window usually opens in November and closes in January. Here are a few practical tips:
- Check your documents: passport, academic transcripts, and language certificates.
- Choose two programmes: you can apply to two different degree choices. Rank them wisely.
- Write a clear motivation letter: avoid generic statements. Mention why Hungary and the specific university.
- Submit through the official portal: no third-party application is accepted.
Remember that the scholarship is competitive. Even if your country is on the list, only the strongest applications are selected.
Conclusion
Knowing the Stipendium Hungaricum eligible countries list is your first concrete step toward a tuition-free education in Hungary. The 2026 intake includes dozens of countries from Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East. However, eligibility alone is not enough. You must prepare your documents carefully, follow the official guidelines, and apply before the deadline.
If your country is on the list, start gathering your transcripts and language certificates today. If it is not, ask your local Hungarian embassy about alternative routes. Plan ahead, stay organised, and you will give yourself the best possible chance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I apply if my country is not on the eligible list?
No. Only citizens of officially listed partner countries can apply for the Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship for the 2026 intake. However, you may look into other scholarships offered by Hungarian universities directly.
Is the list the same every year?
Not exactly. The Hungarian government reviews the list annually. Some countries may be added, removed, or have their quotas adjusted. Always check the list for the specific intake year you are applying to.
Do I need a Hungarian language certificate?
No. Most programmes are taught in English. You will usually need to provide an English language proficiency certificate (IELTS, TOEFL, or equivalent). Some programmes may also offer Hungarian language courses as part of the scholarship.
This is exactly the kind of checklist I needed. I’ve been researching the 2026 intake, and I was worried that my country might have been removed from the list this year. Could you clarify if the Hungarian government usually makes big changes to the eligible countries right before a new cycle opens, or do they tend to keep it stable? That would help me know how much I should trust the current list while I prepare my documents.
From what I’ve seen tracking past cycles, the list tends to stay fairly stable, so you can generally trust the current version while you prep your documents. That said, Hungary does tweak a country or two every few years without much notice, usually based on bilateral agreements or funding shifts. If you’re really worried, bookmark the official Tempus Public Foundation page and check it monthly—that’s what I did when I applied last year, and it saved me from any last-minute surprises.
That monthly check tip is solid. I obsessed over that page for three months before my cycle opened, and I saw a funding cap pop up for one region without any warning. Saved me from banking on a place that might’ve closed. You really can’t slack on watching it, even if the list looks stable.
I was actually wondering the same thing about stability. From what I’ve seen in past cycles, the list usually stays pretty consistent, but every few years a country or two gets dropped or added without much warning. Did you notice if your country is listed under both bachelor’s and master’s levels, or just one? That tripped me up last time—I assumed if a country was eligible at all, every degree level was open, but that’s not always the case.
Good point about the degree level trap—I almost made that exact mistake last cycle. I checked the official Tempus Public Foundation page for my country, and it only listed PhD and master’s, not bachelor’s. Definitely worth double-checking that detail before you get too deep into gathering documents.
That’s a great point about the degree level—I actually fell into the same trap when I first checked. My country is listed for master’s and PhD, but not bachelor’s, so I ended up having to pivot my plans. Always click into your country’s specific page on the Tempus site rather than just scanning the main list.
Right, so you actually had to change your whole study plan? That’s exactly the kind of surprise I’m trying to avoid. It seems like relying on the main list alone is a rookie mistake—better to dig into the country-specific page like you said.
So the degree-level trap caught me too. I assumed my country being on the list meant bachelor’s was open—turns out it was master’s and PhD only. Did anyone else here have to switch their study plan last minute because of that?
Yeah, I had the same thing happen. My country was only listed for master’s and PhD, so I had to completely shift my focus from a bachelor’s program to a master’s pathway. Definitely a good reminder to check the country-specific page on the Tempus site before planning anything.