PhD Scholarships for International Students in Hungary 2026/2027

Hungary offers several attractive PhD scholarships for international students, including government-funded doctoral scholarships, university research grants and additional excellence awards.

The most important option is Stipendium Hungaricum, which covers tuition fees and provides doctoral students with a monthly stipend, accommodation support and medical insurance. International PhD students already studying in Hungary may also qualify for additional research or excellence scholarships at universities such as the University of Szeged and Corvinus University of Budapest.

This guide explains the main PhD scholarships in Hungary for 2026/2027, including stipend amounts, benefits and eligibility requirements.

1. Stipendium Hungaricum PhD Scholarship

Stipendium Hungaricum is Hungary’s flagship government scholarship and one of the strongest opportunities for international PhD applicants.

The programme is funded by the Hungarian Government, supervised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and managed by the Tempus Public Foundation. It operates through bilateral educational agreements and currently offers hundreds of degree programmes, including doctoral programmes.

How Much Is the PhD Stipend?

For doctoral students, the scholarship currently provides:

• HUF 140,000 per month during the first four semesters.
• HUF 180,000 per month during semesters five to eight.
• Payments for 12 months per year during the scholarship period.

This means the stipend increases after the student completes the first phase of doctoral training.

What Does Stipendium Hungaricum Cover?

Doctoral scholarship holders receive:

• Full exemption from university tuition fees.
• Monthly PhD stipend.
• Free university dormitory accommodation or HUF 40,000 per month toward housing.
• Hungarian healthcare coverage.
• Supplementary medical insurance of up to HUF 65,000 per year.

However, the scholarship authority clearly warns that these benefits may not cover every living expense, particularly private accommodation in Budapest. Students may therefore need additional personal funds.

Who Can Apply for Stipendium Hungaricum PhD?

Eligibility depends primarily on the agreement between Hungary and the applicant’s country or Sending Partner.

PhD applicants generally need:

1. A relevant Master’s degree.
2. Academic transcripts.
3. Proof of language proficiency.
4. Research plan.
5. Required recommendation letters.
6. Documents required by the selected doctoral school.
7. Supervisor confirmation when the chosen programme requires it.

Applicants should first check whether doctoral study in their intended academic field is available for their nationality.

2026/2027 Application Status

The official 2026/2027 Stipendium Hungaricum doctoral call was published in October 2025, and applications subsequently opened in November 2025.

That application cycle is now closed.

Students targeting 2027/2028 should monitor the official Stipendium Hungaricum website for publication of the next doctoral call rather than relying on previous deadlines.

2. ELTE PhD Scholarships

Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE) in Budapest offers numerous doctoral schools across sciences, humanities, social sciences, education and other disciplines.

For state-funded doctoral places in 2026, ELTE’s Faculty of Science lists a monthly doctoral scholarship of:

• HUF 140,000 during semesters 1–4.
• HUF 180,000 during semesters 5–8.

International students can also study at ELTE through Stipendium Hungaricum where their nationality and selected programme are eligible.

Tuition for Self-Funded Students

Not every international PhD applicant receives funding.

For example, ELTE’s Faculty of Humanities lists tuition of €2,600 per semester for non-EU/EEA doctoral students in its published admission information.

This demonstrates why obtaining a scholarship can save international PhD applicants a substantial amount in tuition costs.

3. University of Szeged Doctoral Excellence Scholarship

The University of Szeged offers additional funding for high-performing doctoral students.

For the 2026/2027 academic year, eligible foreign students holding a state scholarship—including certain Stipendium Hungaricum students—can apply for an Excellence+ Scholarship.

Depending on academic and scientific achievement, the additional scholarship is:

• HUF 70,000 per month, or
• HUF 100,000 per month.

This can be particularly valuable because it may supplement the student’s existing doctoral scholarship.

Applicants are evaluated according to the scoring rules of their doctoral school and must provide relevant documents demonstrating research and academic achievements.

4. University of Pannonia State-Funded PhD Places

The University of Pannonia also offers both self-funded and state-funded doctoral study.

Its doctoral information for 2026 confirms that students admitted to state-funded places receive:

• HUF 140,000 per month during the first two years.
• HUF 180,000 per month during the second two years.

Admission can depend on factors such as:

• Master’s degree results.
• Language proficiency.
• Research knowledge.
• Professional background.
• Research methodology skills.

For non-EU students who do not obtain funding, tuition can vary considerably by doctoral school.

5. University Research Scholarship Programme – EKÖP

Students already pursuing doctoral studies in Hungary should also watch the University Research Scholarship Programme (EKÖP).

For 2026/2027 at Corvinus University of Budapest, the doctoral category offered:

HUF 180,000 per month

for either 5 or 12 months.

The programme targets applicants with outstanding academic, professional or scientific performance and requires an individual research application.

This scholarship is particularly attractive for PhD students who already have:

• Publications.
• Conference presentations.
• Strong research projects.
• Excellent academic performance.
• An established supervisor.

6. Corvinus Doctoral Scholarships

Corvinus University of Budapest operates several doctoral funding schemes in addition to standard government scholarships.

These include support for:

• Doctoral research.
• International study visits.
• Research excellence.
• Academic mobility.

For 2026/2027, full-time international doctoral students receiving Stipendium Hungaricum can also be eligible for certain Corvinus study-abroad research scholarships when the programme’s conditions are satisfied.

These additional grants can help cover research stays abroad and international academic experience.

Best Universities for Funded PhD Study in Hungary

International applicants should consider universities such as:

• Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE).
• University of Szeged.
• University of Debrecen.
• Corvinus University of Budapest.
• Budapest University of Technology and Economics.
• University of Pécs.
• University of Pannonia.
• Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

Availability depends on the applicant’s field and scholarship eligibility.

Are PhD Scholarships in Hungary Fully Funded?

Stipendium Hungaricum is commonly described as a comprehensive scholarship because it covers tuition, stipend, accommodation support and healthcare.

However, the programme itself states that its payments are contributions toward living costs and may not cover everything.

Students should therefore calculate:

• Private rent.
• Food.
• Utilities.
• Transportation.
• Research expenses.
• Visa or residence expenses.
• Personal insurance needs.

before deciding whether additional savings will be necessary.

How to Improve Your PhD Scholarship Application

For competitive doctoral funding, focus on:

1. A well-defined and realistic research proposal.
2. Strong Master’s-level academic performance.
3. Publications or conference experience.
4. Relevant professional or research experience.
5. A supervisor whose research matches your project.
6. Strong recommendation letters.
7. Clear explanation of your expected research impact.

Contacting the doctoral school and potential supervisor early can also help avoid applying to a research topic that is not currently available.

Final Thoughts

The strongest PhD scholarships for international students in Hungary include Stipendium Hungaricum, university-funded doctoral places and additional research scholarships such as EKÖP and the University of Szeged’s Doctoral Excellence Scholarship.

Under Stipendium Hungaricum, doctoral students currently receive HUF 140,000 per month during the first four semesters and HUF 180,000 during the second four semesters, in addition to tuition exemption, accommodation support and healthcare.

Applicants preparing for 2027/2028 should monitor the next official scholarship call while simultaneously identifying a doctoral school and potential research supervisor.

Official Sources

1. Stipendium Hungaricum – Scholarship Benefits and PhD Funding
2. Stipendium Hungaricum – Official Application Portal
3. University of Szeged – Doctoral Excellence Scholarships 2026/2027
4. Corvinus University – University Research Scholarship Programme 2026/2027