CEEPUS Scholarship 2026-27 in Hungary (Fully Funded)
Apply for Scholarships from Here.
The CEEPUS Scholarship in Hungary is a fully funded academic exchange programme for students and teachers from 16 Central European and Western Balkan member countries. It covers a monthly stipend, free dormitory housing, and a tuition waiver for mobility periods of one to ten months. The 2026-27 winter semester deadline is 31 August 2026.
CEEPUS Scholarship
IMPORTANT: WHO THIS SCHOLARSHIP IS FOR
Before anything else, here’s the one thing every applicant needs to know: CEEPUS is only open to citizens and enrolled students of CEEPUS member countries. It is not a global scholarship. If you’re from Pakistan, India, Nigeria, Bangladesh, Egypt, or another country outside the member list below, you will not be eligible for CEEPUS — but Hungary’s Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship is open to many of those countries and is worth checking instead.
CEEPUS is also not a full degree scholarship. You remain enrolled at your home university and spend one to ten months studying, researching, or teaching in Hungary, then return home with transferred credits.
CEEPUS Scholarship
INTRODUCTION
If you’re a student in Central Europe or the Western Balkans looking for a funded way to study in Hungary for a semester, the CEEPUS Scholarship Programme is one of the most established options available. CEEPUS stands for the Central European Exchange Program for University Studies — a regional academic mobility network connecting universities across 16 member countries.
Through CEEPUS, students, PhD researchers, and university teachers can spend one to ten months at a partner university abroad, without paying tuition and while receiving a monthly stipend and free dormitory accommodation. The programme is funded by each host country’s government — in Hungary’s case, it’s coordinated by the Tempus Public Foundation.
This guide walks you through exactly how CEEPUS works in Hungary for the 2026-27 academic year: eligibility, funding, required documents, deadlines, and the full application process — plus a comparison with Stipendium Hungaricum if you don’t qualify for CEEPUS.
CEEPUS Scholarship
QUICK OVERVIEW TABLE
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Scholarship Name | CEEPUS Mobility Scholarship – Hungary |
| Host Country | Hungary |
| Host University | Any Hungarian university participating in a CEEPUS network |
| Degree Level | Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD, plus university teacher mobility |
| Funded By | Hungarian Government, via Tempus Public Foundation |
| Scholarship Type | Academic exchange / mobility grant (not a full degree) |
| Coverage | Monthly stipend, free dormitory housing, tuition waiver, health insurance contribution |
| Eligible Countries | Citizens/students of CEEPUS member countries only |
| Application Deadline | 31 August 2026 (winter semester, network mobility) |
| Study Mode | Full-time, temporary exchange (1-10 months) |
| Duration | 1 to 10 months per mobility period |
| Language Requirement | B2 English or Hungarian, depending on host courses |
| Application Fee | None |
ABOUT THE SCHOLARSHIP
CEEPUS was created to strengthen academic cooperation across Central Europe and the Western Balkans by letting universities form subject-specific “networks” — for example, in engineering, agriculture, or computer science. Students apply through a network coordinator at their home university, or, if their university isn’t part of a network, as a “freemover” through a bilateral agreement.
Unlike a typical scholarship that funds an entire degree, CEEPUS funds a temporary academic stay. You keep your home degree programme and simply transfer the credits you earn in Hungary back to your original university. This makes it especially attractive for students who want international exposure without restarting their studies abroad. (CEEPUS Scholarship)
SCHOLARSHIP BENEFITS
✔ Monthly Stipend — Approximately 120,000 HUF per month (roughly €330 / $360), meant to cover daily living costs.
✔ Free Accommodation — A place in a university dormitory, usually a single or shared room.
✔ Tuition Waiver — 100% waived at the Hungarian host university under exchange student status.
✔ Health Insurance Contribution — Coverage for emergency medical care during your stay.
✔ Possible Travel Support — Not guaranteed; some networks offer a partial travel allowance depending on distance, so confirm with your coordinator.
Not covered: international flights (unless your specific network funds them), daily meals beyond the stipend, and visa or residence permit fees.(CEEPUS Scholarship)
AVAILABLE PROGRAMS
CEEPUS mobility is open to:
- Bachelor’s students (after completing at least 2 semesters)
- Master’s students
- PhD researchers
- University teachers (short teaching mobility)
Your field of study generally needs to match the theme of the CEEPUS network you’re applying through, or, for freemovers, align with what the host department offers. (CEEPUS Scholarship)
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Nationality: You must be a citizen and enrolled student of one of the CEEPUS member countries:
Albania, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Kosovo.
Home university: Must be enrolled in a degree programme at a university that’s part of a CEEPUS network, or eligible for freemover status through a bilateral agreement.
Academic level: Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD students who have completed at least two semesters by the time mobility begins.
Language: B2-level English (or Hungarian, depending on the host programme) is typically required. IELTS or a university-issued certificate is generally accepted.
Academic standing: No official minimum GPA is published, but selection is competitive, so a consistent academic record matters.
Age limit: None specified.
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
- Completed online application form (via the CEEPUS portal)
- Learning Agreement — signed by both your home and host coordinators, listing the courses or research plan
- Official transcript of records, in English
- Motivation letter (roughly 300-500 words)
- Confirmation of enrollment from your home university
- Copy of your passport (valid at least 6 months beyond your planned stay)
- Language certificate, if required by the host institution
APPLICATION PROCESS
Step 1: Check your eligibility route. Search the CEEPUS network list for your field of study and see which Hungarian universities are involved. No matching network? Check whether your university has a bilateral agreement allowing freemover status (summer semester only).
Step 2: Contact your home network coordinator. They must approve your participation before you go further.
Step 3: Reach out to a host coordinator in Hungary. Introduce yourself and your study plan, and start drafting your Learning Agreement together.
Step 4: Finalize and sign the Learning Agreement. Both your home and host coordinators need to sign off on the courses and ECTS credits.
Step 5: Prepare all supporting documents. Transcript, enrollment confirmation, passport copy, language certificate, and motivation letter, all as PDFs.
Step 6: Register on the CEEPUS portal. Create your account, select the correct call (Network or Freemover), and choose Hungary as your host country.
Step 7: Upload and submit. Attach every document, double-check your Learning Agreement is legible, then submit.
Step 8: Wait for results and prepare your visa. Results typically arrive 4-6 weeks after the deadline. If accepted, start your Hungarian residence permit process right away, as it can take 2-3 months. (CEEPUS Scholarship)
IMPORTANT DATES (2026-27 Academic Year)
| Event | Timeline |
|---|---|
| Network Mobility – Winter Semester | Deadline: 31 August 2026 |
| Network Mobility – Summer Semester | Deadline: 31 December 2026 |
| Freemover Mobility – Winter Semester | Rolling from 1 July 2026 until places are filled |
| Freemover Mobility – Summer Semester | Deadline: 30 November 2026 |
| Results | Typically 4-6 weeks after each deadline |
Deadlines can shift slightly year to year, so always confirm the exact dates on the official CEEPUS portal before applying. (CEEPUS Scholarship)
IMPORTANT LINKS
- Official CEEPUS Application Portal: ceepus.info
- Hungarian National CEEPUS Office: Tempus Public Foundation (tpf.hu)
SELECTION PROCESS
- Coordinator Approval — Your home network coordinator confirms your eligibility to apply.
- Learning Agreement Review — Host coordinator checks that your proposed courses fit their offer.
- Document Verification — Transcripts, enrollment proof, and language certificates are reviewed.
- Committee Evaluation — Applications are assessed on study-plan relevance, coordination between institutions, and academic standing.
- National Office Confirmation — The application is forwarded to and confirmed by the national CEEPUS office.
- Award Notification — Successful applicants receive an official award letter.
HOW TO INCREASE YOUR CHANCES
- Make sure your proposed courses clearly match your CEEPUS network’s theme
- Get early buy-in from your host coordinator before submitting
- Write a specific, detailed motivation letter tied to your Learning Agreement — avoid generic statements
- Keep a consistent academic record, especially in courses relevant to your field
- Start your document preparation at least 8 weeks before the deadline
- If your university isn’t part of a relevant network, ask your international office about freemover options early (CEEPUS Scholarship)
COMMON MISTAKES TO AVOID
- Treating CEEPUS like a full degree scholarship instead of a temporary exchange
- Submitting a motivation letter with no connection to your Learning Agreement
- Applying without your home coordinator’s approval
- Missing the freemover-only summer semester restriction
- Waiting until the deadline to start gathering documents
- Assuming travel costs are automatically covered
- Applying from a non-member country (you’ll be automatically ineligible)
LIVING IN HUNGARY
- Accommodation: Covered through free or subsidised dormitory housing
- Food: Not covered directly, but the monthly stipend is designed to cover meals and daily costs
- Transport: Cities like Budapest, Szeged, and Debrecen have affordable public transport, often discounted for students
- Cost of living: Generally lower than Western Europe, making the stipend workable for a modest student lifestyle
- Healthcare: Emergency medical coverage is included through the scholarship’s health insurance contribution
- Part-time work: Allowed within visa restrictions, though the programme expects study to remain your priority
VISA INFORMATION
Once accepted, you’ll need to apply for a Hungarian residence permit for study purposes. Start this process immediately after receiving your award letter, since it can take 2-3 months. You are responsible for the visa fee, which is not covered by the scholarship.
WHY STUDY IN HUNGARY
- Strong, growing reputation for STEM, engineering, and medical programmes
- Central European location, easy to travel from
- Lower cost of living than most of Western Europe
- Established CEEPUS and Erasmus-style exchange culture, meaning universities are used to hosting international students
- Access to Budapest’s academic and cultural scene, alongside strong regional cities like Szeged and Debrecen
CEEPUS VS STIPENDIUM HUNGARICUM
| Feature | CEEPUS | Stipendium Hungaricum |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Exchange mobility (1-10 months) | Full degree programme (Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD) |
| Eligibility | Only CEEPUS member country nationals | Open to many countries, including Pakistan, India, and Nigeria |
| Funding | Monthly stipend + free dorm + tuition waiver | Tuition waiver, monthly stipend, housing support |
| Application | Via ceepus.info with a network coordinator | Via your home country’s ministry and Tempus Public Foundation |
| Goal | Gain credits, then return home | Complete a full degree in Hungary |
If you’re not from a CEEPUS member country and want a funded degree in Hungary, Stipendium Hungaricum is generally the better fit.
IMPORTANT FAQs
1. Is the CEEPUS Scholarship fully funded? Yes, for eligible applicants — it covers tuition, a monthly stipend, and free dormitory housing, though international travel usually isn’t included.
2. Who can apply? Only citizens and enrolled students of CEEPUS member countries.
3. Can European students apply? Only if they’re from one of the specific CEEPUS member countries listed above — not all of Europe qualifies.
4. Can African students apply? No. CEEPUS is limited to its member countries and doesn’t include African nations.
5. Can Asian students apply? No, unless you hold citizenship in a CEEPUS member country. Students from Pakistan, India, or Bangladesh should look at Stipendium Hungaricum instead.
6. Can Pakistani students apply? No, Pakistan is not a CEEPUS member country.
7. Can Indian students apply? No, India is not a CEEPUS member country.
8. Can Americans apply? No, the USA is not part of the CEEPUS network.
9. Is IELTS mandatory? Not always — it depends on the host institution. A B2-level English certificate is typically required if your previous education wasn’t in English.
10. Can I apply without IELTS? Possibly, if your previous studies were conducted in English or your host waives the requirement — confirm with the host coordinator.
11. Is there an application fee? No, CEEPUS applications are free.
12. Can married students apply? Yes, marital status doesn’t affect eligibility.
13. Can I bring my family? CEEPUS mobility periods are short-term (1-10 months) and the scholarship is designed for the individual student, not dependents.
14. What GPA is required? There’s no official minimum GPA, but a consistent academic record improves your chances.
15. Can I work while studying? Limited part-time work may be allowed under your residence permit, though your studies should remain the priority.
16. How many students are selected? This varies by network and by year; competition is generally around 3-5 applicants per available place.
17. Can I apply for multiple programmes? You apply through a specific network or as a freemover for one mobility period at a time.
18. Is age important? No age limit is specified.
19. What happens after selection? You’ll receive an award letter, which you’ll use to begin your Hungarian residence permit application.
20. How competitive is this scholarship? Moderately competitive — success depends heavily on a well-matched Learning Agreement and coordinator support.
21. Can I apply with a pending degree? You need to be an actively enrolled student with at least two semesters completed, so a still-pending initial enrollment could be an issue — check with your coordinator.
22. What expenses are not covered? International travel (in most cases), daily meals beyond your stipend, and visa/residence permit fees.
23. Can I defer the scholarship? Extensions within the same academic year are possible with approval from both coordinators, but a full deferral to a future year generally isn’t offered.
24. Can I apply if I already have another scholarship? No — CEEPUS does not permit double funding for the same mobility activity.
25. How will I know if I’m selected? Through an official award letter, usually issued 4-6 weeks after the application deadline.
FINAL SUMMARY
The CEEPUS Scholarship gives students and researchers from Central Europe and the Western Balkans a fully funded route to study or research in Hungary for up to ten months, without paying tuition and while receiving a stipend and free housing. It’s not a full degree scholarship, and it’s strictly limited to citizens of member countries — but for eligible applicants, it’s one of the most straightforward and well-established mobility programmes in the region. (CEEPUS Scholarship)
If you qualify, start reaching out to your home network coordinator well before the 31 August 2026 winter semester deadline. If you don’t qualify by nationality, Stipendium Hungaricum is the better next stop. (CEEPUS Scholarship)