Your stay in Hungary - Stipendium Hungaricum

Booking your flight

In some cases, the sending authority in your country/territory may fund your travel costs to Hungary. However, if you do not receive financial support from your sending authority, you will need to purchase your own plane ticket. Please note that the scholarship grant does not cover travel expenses, so you should plan your finances accordingly.

Before buying your flight ticket, please make sure you have all the necessary documents, including:

the Letter of Acceptance,
the Letter of Award,
Your visa, etc.

If you are coming from a visa-free country, you will need the visa exemption certificate issued by the responsible Hungarian authorities, which you will have received via the DA system. Before you arrive, please contact your host institution and let them know the date of arrival and how you will be travelling.

Choose your accomodation

Regarding your accommodation, you can either choose to stay in a dormitory (if available at the host institution) or you can rent an apartment/room.

Dormitory details:

If you wish to stay in a dormitory, please note that the host institutions only provide student accommodation up to their capacity.
When you move into a dormitory, you might be required to sign a contract for a fixed term (usually for a semester or an academic year).
Please note that if you decide to move out later, you will be entitled to the housing allowance specified in your Scholarship Agreement.

Housing allowance details:

If you do not wish to stay in the dormitory, your host institution will provide you with a monthly allowance of 40 000 HUF as a contribution towards your rent.
It’s important to note that the housing allowance does not cover your rental costs, especially in Budapest, where renting costs much more than outside the capital.
In case you need help finding an apartment, you can ask your mentors for help and several universities also have student housing services.

How to plan your finances in Hungary?

As there is a lot of administrative work at the university without which it is not possible to transfer your scholarship funds, you should not expect to receive the first instalment until around November. Therefore, it is important to arrive with some financial reserve that will help you in the first two months.

To get a clearer idea of the cost of living in Hungary, you can use our cost calculator on the Study in Hungary website.

CALCULATE MY COSTS

Your necessities for everyday life

Before you arrive in Hungary, please make sure that you have all the original copies of the documents required by the higher education institution for enrolment.

If you have any questions about the required documents and related details, please contact your host university.

Once your scholarship application is successfully completed, your university coordinator will send you a comprehensive information pack by email or via the DreamApply system. The information you will receive will vary slightly from university to university, but you are likely to find the following information:

the contact details of your coordinator and the international office of the university,
transfer options from the airport,
description of the dormitory application procedure and other accommodation options,
instructions on the residence permit application,
description of the mentoring system,
description of the university’s electronic administration system,
TAJ card (Hungarian social security/national health insurance card) application process and additional health insurance options,
student ID application process,
tax card application process,
and enrolment information.

Once you arrive in Hungary, you will have to complete a number of administrative tasks, but don’t worry, your university coordinators and mentors will be there to support and guide you if you feel a little lost at first.

Administrative tasks to complete

signing your Scholarship Agreement

Your scholarship status comes into effect when you sign your Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship Agreement, without which you cannot receive your scholarship payments. At most universities, you can sign your scholarship agreement at the orientation meeting, or you may be asked to visit the university’s International Office after you arrive.

opening a bank account

You will need to open a bank account in Hungary to which your university will transfer your monthly grant. Most banks will require you to present your passport, a valid residence permit, and your address card to open a bank account. Please contact your mentor or university coordinator for more information on this.

applying for a TAJ card (Hungarian social security/national health insurance card)

You must apply for a TAJ card, which entitles you to the benefits of the public healthcare system in Hungary. Please note that bilateral agreements in force between Hungary and the partner countries may influence the administrative process and the issuing of TAJ cards. Please note that the Tempus Public Foundation does not have the authority to expedite the administration of TAJ cards. You may also be eligible for additional private health insurance, which will provide you with health services in English. Please contact your University Coordinator for further information.

applying for a student ID

Once you are officially enrolled at your university, you will be entitled to a student card that will give you access to student discounts, and you can use public transport at reduced rates. Please follow your host institution’s instructions on the steps required to obtain your student card.

applying for a tax card

You need to request a tax card at the National Tax and Customs Administration („Nemzeti Adó- és Vámhivatal”). The application process is free of charge. You are required to present your passport, residence permit, Hungarian address card, and the completed application form.

applying for a residence permit

You must apply for a residence permit at the National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing (“Országos Idegenrendészeti Főigazgatóság”)

You will need to present your passport and entry visa, the completed application form, an ID photo, a document confirming your student status, and the accommodation reporting form. Please contact your host institution for further information on the residence permit application procedure, and additionally, for specific requirements, consult the information available on the website of the National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing.

VISIT THEIR WEBSITE

These are the most important administrative tasks you must complete on arrival.

Please note that university practices may vary, so we recommend that you keep in close contact with your mentor and coordinator, who can advise you on such tasks. Please contact your host institution after your arrival, attend the orientation meeting, and follow the advice and instructions of your host institution.

Compulsory medical screening

This is another important administrative task. When you arrive in Hungary, you must undergo a medical examination organised by the universities.

Things you need to know:

Students are not required to pay for the medical examination.
If you are missing any of the vaccinations required in Hungary, you will have the opportunity to receive them in Hungary.
Your host institution will provide you with the necessary information about the medical examination in due time.

If you are unwilling to undergo the medical examination, your scholarship will be terminated, and you will be required to return home.

Practice your Hungarian with us!

You may or may not know that language learning is an important part of the Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship. This is because learning Hungarian will allow you to connect more deeply with the culture and community in Hungary.

With this in mind, we have prepared an online course to help you start learning Hungarian.

START PRACTICING NOW!

The course is divided into 10 modules and introduces you to situations that you will encounter in your everyday life at university, in shops, restaurants, doctors’ offices, running errands, etc. Using this tool would help you understand your surroundings, help you to converse with others and is vital when meeting locals with sometimes limited English skills. All in all, it is a good first step to get in touch with Hungary and the local community, even before you arrive.

The course is free but registration is required!