Higher Education Commission (HEC) Islamabad announces fully funded Hungaricum Scholarships for undergraduates, Masters, and Ph.D. Programs.
The Hungarian government introduced the Hungaricum Scholarship Program (2024–25) for bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, and one-tier master’s studies under the Higher Education and Scientific Exchange Program.
HEC in Pakistan and the Tempus Public Foundation in Hungary oversee the program.
The application must be submitted online by January 15, 2024. Applicants may apply for the scholarship if their HAT or USAT results are genuine. The upcoming test in January/February is open to those who did not appear in HAT or USAT.
Types of Stipendium Hungaricum scholarships:
Stipendium Hungaricum scholarships are offered by HEC Hungaricum and are available for:
- Degree of Bachelor (after twelve years of schooling)
- Master’s degree in one level (after 12 years of education)
- Master’s Degree (after sixteen years of schooling)
- D. (after eighteen years of schooling)
Benefits of the HEC Hungaricum Scholarship:
- Education will be provided without the need for tuition payments.
- Monthly allowance will be given to the students as Master and Bachelor Scholarship of around EUR 130 (HUF 43,700/month).
- At the Doctorate level, as per the current Hungarian legislation, 12 months a year, up until the end of studies, students will be paid in monthly installments of HUF 140,000/- (about EUR 415) for the first phase of education (four semesters) and HUF 180,000 (approximately EUR 530) for the second phase (four semesters).
- Accommodation will be provided or a monthly donation of HUF 40,000 Medical insurance includes supplemental medical insurance as well as health care services provided by applicable Hungarian legislation (Act No. 80 of 1997, national health insurance card).
Eligibility Criteria:
- The applicant must be an AJ&K or Pakistani national.
- On January 15, 2024, applicants must be between the ages of 18 and 22 for undergraduate programs, and they cannot be older than 35 for postgraduate Master’s and Ph.D. programs (18 years) programs.
- On January 15, 2024, the maximum age for full-time Ph.D. program participants at public universities, colleges, and research and development enterprises must be 40 years old.
- The candidate is eligible to apply for undergraduate programs leading to a bachelor’s degree and one-tier master’s degree only if they have finished HSSC/Intermediate or higher.
- In order to apply for a Master’s (Postgraduate Program), the candidate must have completed 16 years of bachelor’s degree coursework or an equivalent program.
- The candidate applying for a Ph.D. program must have completed eighteen years of education or the equivalent.
- All fields on the Hungary application form and the HEC application form must be filled out; no column or field should be left empty.
- The attesting authorities, such as IBCC and HEC, must attest to any certificates, transcripts, or degrees that are to be attached.
- It is required to have O and A level equivalency from IBCC.IELTS/TOEFL scores as necessary, if relevant.
- A medical certificate attesting to the applicant’s satisfactory health—a written document from a doctor stating that the applicant is free of AIDS, Hepatitis A, B, C, or any other epidemic conditions—must be submitted with all applications.
- In the event of a final selection, candidates must provide the HEC with a bond on legal paper guaranteeing that, upon receiving the scholarship, they will not change their major and that, upon graduation, they will return to Pakistan to serve the nation for the duration of that organization’s mandate.
- If this is not done, HEC reserves the right to demand payment of a penalty sum, as specified or determined by HEC, from the candidate or his or her guarantor.
- Candidates must meet all additional conditions set forth by the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan, the host Hungarian university, and the Tempus Public Foundation.
- The candidate must submit a bond agreement to HEC in the event that they are chosen in the end.
Application Procedure:
- It is mandatory for applicants to submit their applications exclusively online through the HEC and Hungarian websites.
- The online application forms on BOTH of the websites specified in Steps (1) and (2) must be submitted in order for processing to proceed.
- Applications and other documentation are not initially required to be submitted in hard copy. However, in addition to printed copies of BOTH application forms (filed online at HEC & Tempus Public Foundation).
- Applicants must maintain a record of all the materials submitted.
- Applicants will be asked to present hard copies of all original documentation at a later stage of the selection process, together with attested photocopies of each one of the online application forms filed at the Tempus Public Foundation portal and the HEC portal with deposit slip.
- It is also necessary to produce the original police clearance certificate and medical certificate.