Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship for Pakistani Students: 2027 Guide to HEC Nomination, Seats, Benefits and Deadlines
Pakistani students can win the Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship by applying on both the HEC portal and the Tempus portal before the January deadline. Winners study in Hungary with free tuition, a monthly stipend, housing support and medical insurance. HEC offered 400 Pakistani seats for 2026-27, from Bachelor's to PhD.
- Seats for Pakistan
- 400 (2026-27)
- Tuition
- Fully covered
- Deadline
- Mid-January
What is the Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship for Pakistani students?
Stipendium Hungaricum is a Hungarian government scholarship for international students, offered in Pakistan through HEC nomination. Pakistani winners study a Bachelor's, One-Tier Master's, Master's or PhD in Hungary with free tuition, a monthly stipend, housing support and medical insurance. HEC announced 400 Pakistani seats for 2026-27.
Programmes cover medicine, engineering, computer science, agriculture, business and more, mostly taught in English. Hungary is in the Schengen area, so students can travel in Europe during holidays.
Living costs, the residence permit and work rules are explained in the study in Hungary from Pakistan page. Students comparing low-fee countries can also read the study in Europe from Pakistan page.
What does Stipendium Hungaricum cover?
Stipendium Hungaricum covers full tuition, a monthly stipend of about HUF 43,700 for Bachelor's and Master's students, a higher PhD stipend, a dormitory place or housing contribution, and medical insurance. It does not cover the flight from Pakistan or visa costs, so families still need a small budget.
| Item | Amount | Approx. in PKR |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition fee | Fully covered | - |
| Monthly stipend, Bachelor's / Master's | ≈ HUF 43,700 / month | ≈ PKR 35,000 / month |
| Monthly stipend, PhD | ≈ HUF 140,000 – 180,000 / month | ≈ PKR 1.1 – 1.4 lakh / month |
| Housing | Dormitory place or ≈ HUF 40,000 / month | ≈ PKR 32,000 / month |
| Medical insurance | Covered | - |
| Flight and visa | Not covered | Paid by the student |
PKR figures use HUF 1 ≈ PKR 0.8 (3 Oct 2026). Stipend amounts are confirmed in each year's call.
The Bachelor's and Master's stipend covers only part of living costs. Most Pakistani students budget about PKR 40,000 to 60,000 a month extra.
Who is eligible for Stipendium Hungaricum from Pakistan?
Pakistani and AJ&K nationals are eligible for Stipendium Hungaricum if they meet HEC's minimum marks and the chosen university's entry rules. Bachelor's and One-Tier Master's applicants need FSc, ICS, A-levels or equivalent, Master's applicants need a 16-year degree, and PhD applicants need a Master's and a research plan.
- Pakistani or AJ&K nationality, with the minimum marks set in the HEC call.
- FSc, ICS, A-levels or equivalent for Bachelor's and One-Tier Master's.
- A recognised 16-year Bachelor's degree for Master's programmes.
- A Master's degree and a research plan for PhD programmes.
- A motivation letter, two reference letters for Master's and PhD, and a medical certificate.
- English proof as set by each Hungarian university.
Many Hungarian universities also run an entrance test or interview. Medicine applicants usually sit biology and chemistry tests.
How do I apply for Stipendium Hungaricum from Pakistan?
Pakistani students apply for Stipendium Hungaricum on two portals before the same January deadline: the Tempus Public Foundation application system, where they choose up to two programmes and upload documents, and the HEC portal for nomination. They then sit university tests and wait for results around June.
- 1Read the HEC call. Check seats, minimum marks and the deadline for your level.
- 2Pick up to two programmes. Search the Stipendium Hungaricum study finder and rank your choices.
- 3Prepare documents. Scan transcripts, passport, motivation letter, references and medical form.
- 4Apply on the Tempus portal. Create the Stipendium Hungaricum application and upload documents.
- 5Apply on the HEC portal. Submit the matching HEC nomination form before the same deadline.
- 6Take entrance tests. Many universities hold online tests or interviews from February to April.
- 7Wait for the result. Final results usually arrive around June.
- 8Apply for the residence permit. Accept the offer and apply at the Hungarian Embassy in Islamabad.
Official details are on the HEC Stipendium Hungaricum page and the Stipendium Hungaricum apply page. Check both pages again when the new call opens, because seat numbers can change each year.
How does Stipendium Hungaricum compare with other scholarships?
Stipendium Hungaricum is the easiest major European scholarship for Pakistani students to win at Bachelor's level, because it accepts FSc applicants and offers hundreds of Pakistani seats. DAAD needs work experience and Erasmus Mundus is Master's-only. The Hungarian stipend is smaller, so families still add money each month.
| Scholarship | What it covers | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Stipendium Hungaricum | Free tuition + stipend + housing | Bachelor's to PhD, via HEC |
| DAAD (Germany) | €992 / month + insurance | Needs 2 years' work experience |
| Erasmus Mundus | Full tuition + ≈ €1,400 / month | Multi-country Master's |
| HEC overseas scholarships | Tuition, living, airfare | Service bond in Pakistan |
| Türkiye Bursları | Full tuition, stipend, housing, flight | Turkey only, opens in January |
Compare details in the DAAD scholarship page and the Erasmus Mundus scholarship page. Turkey's government award is explained in the Türkiye Bursları scholarship page.
How do I write a Stipendium Hungaricum motivation letter?
A strong Stipendium Hungaricum motivation letter explains why the applicant chose each Hungarian programme and university, links it to previous studies and results, and shows a clear plan to use the degree in Pakistan. It should be about one page, written separately for each programme, with concrete examples.
Selection committees compare thousands of letters. Specific subjects, projects, marks and career goals stand out far more than general praise for Europe.
Reference letters should support the same strengths. Teachers who know the applicant's work usually write stronger letters than senior names.
When are the Stipendium Hungaricum 2027 deadlines?
The Stipendium Hungaricum 2026-27 deadline for Pakistani applicants was 15 January 2026 at 16:00 PKT on both portals. For 2027-28, the call is expected around November 2026 with a similar mid-January 2027 deadline, entrance tests from February to April and results around June.
| Stage | Typical timing | Note |
|---|---|---|
| New call opens | October – November | HEC and Tempus announce |
| Application deadline | Mid-January | Same day on both portals |
| Entrance tests | February – April | Online test or interview |
| Results | May – June | Scholarship, reserve or rejected |
| Programme starts | September | Permit from Islamabad embassy |
Documents and references should be ready by December. Exact 2027 dates come only with the new HEC call.
What happens after winning Stipendium Hungaricum?
After winning Stipendium Hungaricum, Pakistani students accept the offer, apply for a Hungarian residence permit for study purposes at the Embassy of Hungary in Islamabad, and arrive in September. The scholarship runs for the normal programme length if the student keeps passing enough credits each semester.
Students can work part-time under Hungarian rules. Work hours and the post-study permit are in the Hungary page, and other countries are compared in the study in Europe page.
Scholars who fail too many credits can lose the stipend. Keeping grades steady protects the award until graduation.
Which mistakes stop Pakistani students winning Stipendium Hungaricum?
The mistakes that most often stop Pakistani students winning Stipendium Hungaricum are applying on only one portal, choosing unrelated programmes, sending one generic motivation letter, missing entrance-test emails, expecting the flight and visa to be covered and paying agents who promise guaranteed seats.
- Applying on only one portal instead of both HEC and Tempus.
- Choosing programmes that do not match the previous degree.
- Writing one generic motivation letter for both universities.
- Missing the online entrance test or interview email.
- Expecting the scholarship to cover the flight and visa.
- Paying an agent who promises a guaranteed Stipendium Hungaricum seat.
A free Stipendium Hungaricum profile check with Hammad Study Abroad reviews your programme choices and motivation letter before the deadline. Medicine applicants can also compare the MBBS in Turkey for Pakistani students page.
Stipendium Hungaricum, frequently asked questions
Is Stipendium Hungaricum fully funded?
Stipendium Hungaricum covers free tuition, a monthly stipend, free dormitory housing or a housing contribution, and medical insurance in Hungary. It does not pay the flight from Pakistan, visa costs or most daily expenses beyond the stipend, so Pakistani students should keep some family savings.
How many Stipendium Hungaricum seats does Pakistan get?
For 2026-27, HEC announced 400 Stipendium Hungaricum seats for Pakistan: 200 Bachelor's, 70 One-Tier Master's including medicine and dentistry, 100 Master's and 30 PhD. Seat numbers can change each year, so Pakistani applicants should check the new HEC call.
Do I need to apply on both HEC and the Hungarian portal?
Yes. Pakistani students must apply on the HEC portal for nomination and on the Stipendium Hungaricum application system run by Tempus Public Foundation. An application on only one portal is rejected, and details such as chosen programmes should match on both.
Is IELTS required for Stipendium Hungaricum?
Stipendium Hungaricum itself sets no IELTS rule. Each Hungarian university decides, and many accept an English-medium certificate or run their own online English test. Pakistani students should check every chosen programme, because some still ask for IELTS 5.5 to 6.5.
Can I apply for Stipendium Hungaricum after FSc?
Yes. Pakistani students with FSc, ICS, A-levels or equivalent can apply for Bachelor's or One-Tier Master's programmes such as medicine. HEC sets minimum marks in its call, and Hungarian universities often add an entrance test or interview.
When is the Stipendium Hungaricum 2027 deadline?
The 2026-27 deadline for Pakistani applicants was 15 January 2026 at 16:00 PKT on both portals. The 2027-28 call is expected to open around November 2026 with a similar mid-January 2027 deadline. Applicants should confirm the exact date on HEC's website.
How many programmes can I choose in Stipendium Hungaricum?
Applicants can choose up to two programmes in the Stipendium Hungaricum system, ranked by preference. Pakistani students usually pick one strong match and one safer option at a different university, because both universities assess the application separately.