Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarships: Fully-Funded 2024-2025

All recipients of SH scholarships have been instructed to stay put during the coronavirus pandemic. According to our current understanding of the illness, social isolation and restrictions on travel, especially long-distance and international mobility, are the best ways to prevent or slow the spread of the epidemic. Regardless of the distance, students typically travel to their home countries on public transportation, which increases the risk of virus transmission, and in settings where close contact with other people is unavoidable. Furthermore, students who travel abroad run the risk of not being able to return to Hungary and continue their studies under the terms of the scholarship program due to the current ban on international travel (as of March 16, 2020, Hungary’s borders were closed to incoming foreign citizens until further notice). It is crucial to emphasize that while TPF discourages scholarship holders from traveling abroad, this advice is only a suggestion, and returning home will not in any way be met with direct consequences for the students who make this choice.

Health-related information falls under the “sensitive” personal data category, so recipients of SH scholarships are not required to disclose their health conditions to the sending partner, their host institution, or TPF. However, if TPF receives such information from a student, TPF is prepared to share it as long as the student specifically requests it or gives their consent to the transmission of sensitive information to the appropriate and qualified authorities (i.e., sending partners and responsible ministries).

All issues about the timing of the exams and graduation are to be discussed with the host universities because the organization of the study programs falls under the jurisdiction of the higher education institution in question. In general, SH students may ask for an extension of their status as scholarship holders by the program’s operational rules. This rule applies to everyone except Ph.D. candidates and those who have already continued their education; in their case, TPF is open to discussion and is prepared to compile ideas for a potential resolution.

According to the university information, entrance exams will be conducted electronically, as usual, without any problems. The nominees will soon hear from their host institutions with information about the entrance exam after we have notified the applicants of the nomination results. The decision on the scholarships to be awarded for the following academic year is anticipated to be made on schedule. However, due to the current global situation, there may be some changes in the requirements for obtaining visas, traveling, and enrolling new scholarship recipients, always following the applicable domestic and international legal regulations.

Holders of SH scholarships will continue to receive the advantages offered by the program, including assistance with housing and living costs, health insurance, and additional health services, should they choose to remain in Hungary.

The scholarship recipients may depart Hungary’s borders if they notify their host institution in advance. They will forfeit their right to housing and living allowances if they are gone for more than 30 days because these benefits will help them cover the cost of living in Hungary. They keep their scholarship status intact. Along with the aforementioned options, scholarship recipients also have the choice to pause their studies (passive semester) by following the procedure outlined in Section 45 (2) of the Act on National Higher Education 204/2011. Holders of scholarships are not eligible for the program’s financial contributions during the passive semester.

The continuation of scholarship recipients’ studies during the spring semester of the 2019–2020 academic year is guaranteed, regardless of where they currently reside, based on information from the universities that SH scholarship holders are given the same opportunities and distance-learning measures as Hungarian students. However, since the host institution is in charge of conducting online/distance study programs, more information can be obtained from them.

Holders of SH scholarships are permitted to leave Hungary at their discretion and after notifying their host institution, as the travel restrictions outlined by the Government of Hungary address the issue of incoming mobility. It is crucial to emphasize that, at the moment, there are very few options for international travel from Hungary. Several outbound flights have been canceled due to the growing number of nations closing their borders, and as for other modes of transportation, most of Hungary’s neighbors are also closed to foreign nationals. However, TPF will give the qualified organization(s) the student’s contact information so they can contact them directly if the sending partner or the official foreign representative body is still willing to arrange the return of SH scholarship holders to their home country.

All international students may stay on the grounds of their residence except one host institution (National University of Public Service) (dormitory, student hotel). The National University of Public Service is seeking accommodations for its students.

According to what we currently know from the universities, students may be asked to relocate their residence inside the boundaries of their on-campus housing if the Operational Group of Hungary requests that the host institution do so (e.g., moving to another room, floor, or building). The host institution still offers them housing, which does not affect the students’ rights. Institutions can offer more information because the specifics of such relocation requests may vary.