Fully Funded CEEPUS Scholarship 2026–27 in Hungary

The CEEPUS Scholarship is an international university exchange programme that supports academic mobility between higher education institutions in Central Europe and the wider Danube region.

CEEPUS stands for Central European Exchange Program for University Studies. It is not a conventional full-degree scholarship. Instead, it provides mobility grants for eligible students, teachers, and university staff who spend a period of study, research, teaching, or academic exchange at a participating institution in another CEEPUS country.

Hungary is one of the founding CEEPUS member countries. For students travelling to Hungary during the 2026–27 academic year, the Hungarian National CEEPUS Office lists a scholarship of 190,000 HUF per scholarship month for Bachelor’s, Master’s, postgraduate, and PhD students. Scholarship holders are also exempt from tuition fees at the Hungarian host institution. The Hungarian authority describes the grant as a comprehensive amount but clearly states that it may not cover all living, travel, and study expenses.

The programme offers several mobility formats. Regular student mobility can last 3–5 months and may be extended up to 12 months. Short-term student mobility is available for thesis or dissertation work, while short intensive courses and excursions provide shorter opportunities.

There is another important point for applicants from countries outside the CEEPUS membership. A person who is not a citizen of a CEEPUS member country can still apply in certain circumstances if they are enrolled at a higher education institution in a CEEPUS member country. In that case, an Equal Status document, such as an English enrolment certificate, is required.

For the Hungarian 2026–27 academic year, the relevant application deadlines have already passed. The next CEEPUS network application round for 2027–28 is scheduled to begin at the end of September 2026, with a November 30, 2026 deadline for network applications.

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CEEPUS Scholarship 2026–27 – Quick Overview

Details	Information
Programme	Central European Exchange Program for University Studies
Short Name	CEEPUS
Host Country in This Guide	Hungary
Host Authority	Tempus Public Foundation
Main Purpose	Student, teacher and academic mobility
Student Levels	Bachelor’s, Master’s, postgraduate and PhD
Regular Student Mobility	3–5 months
Maximum Extension	Up to 12 months
Short-Term Thesis Mobility	1–2 months, minimum 21 days
Short-Term Intensive Course	Minimum 6 days
Hungarian Student Grant	190,000 HUF per scholarship month
Tuition Fees	Exempt at Hungarian host institution
Application Method	CEEPUS online portal
Network/Host Requirement	CEEPUS network or Freemover route
2026–27 Hungary Deadline	Passed
2027–28 Network Call	Starts end of September 2026
2027–28 Network Deadline	November 30, 2026
Programme Type	Mobility grant, not a full-degree scholarship

What Is the CEEPUS Scholarship?

The CEEPUS Scholarship is a mobility grant programme created to encourage academic cooperation between universities in participating Central European countries.

Instead of funding a complete Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD degree from beginning to end, CEEPUS supports a temporary academic stay at a partner institution.

Students can attend lectures and seminars, earn credits, carry out thesis research, complete laboratory work, participate in intensive courses, or take part in an academic excursion.

The programme works mainly through thematic university networks. These networks connect faculties or departments from participating institutions around a shared academic field.

There is also a Freemover route for students whose home university is not part of a suitable CEEPUS network. Freemover applicants must independently find a Hungarian host university and obtain its acceptance.

CEEPUS Scholarship Benefits in Hungary

For incoming students during the 2026–27 academic year, Hungary provides a grant of:

190,000 HUF per scholarship month

The same rate applies to Bachelor’s, Master’s, postgraduate, and PhD student mobility.

Short-term intensive courses can also receive the Hungarian student rate under the applicable duration rules, while short-term excursions have a separate payment arrangement.

One of the most important benefits is tuition-fee exemption at the Hungarian host institution.

The scholarship is paid by the Hungarian host institution after the student arrives, according to the payment method used by that institution.

However, the Hungarian National CEEPUS Office specifically warns that the grant is a comprehensive amount that may not necessarily cover all costs of living, travelling, and studying.

For this reason, it is better to describe CEEPUS as a funded mobility scholarship rather than promising that every expense will be paid.

Is the CEEPUS Scholarship Fully Funded?

The phrase “fully funded” needs some explanation.

The CEEPUS grant provides a substantial financial contribution and tuition exemption for students going to Hungary. The current student rate is 190,000 HUF per scholarship month.

However, the Hungarian National CEEPUS Office explicitly states that the grant may not cover all living, travel, and study expenses.

Therefore, CEEPUS is not a fully funded degree scholarship in the same sense as a government scholarship that pays tuition, accommodation, airfare, and all living costs for an entire Bachelor’s or Master’s degree.

For students who need a semester or research period abroad, however, it can provide important financial support while also removing host-university tuition fees.

Who Can Apply for CEEPUS Mobility?

The Hungarian CEEPUS student mobility route is available to:

Bachelor’s students
Master’s students
Postgraduate students
PhD students

Regular student mobility normally lasts 3–5 months, with a possible extension up to 12 months under the applicable rules.

Applicants generally need to have completed two semesters before the mobility period begins and must maintain active student status at their home university during the mobility.

For network mobility, the home and host university coordinators must support and nominate the application.

The student also needs to be a citizen of a CEEPUS member country, subject to the special Equal Status route for students studying in a member country without holding member-country citizenship.

CEEPUS Member Countries

The official CEEPUS website currently lists these 15 member countries:

Albania
Austria
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bulgaria
Croatia
Czech Republic
Hungary
North Macedonia
Moldova
Montenegro
Poland
Romania
Serbia
Slovakia
Slovenia

Universities in Kosovo also participate in CEEPUS arrangements.

The programme therefore focuses primarily on Central and Southeastern Europe rather than being a worldwide scholarship scheme.

Can Students From Non-Member Countries Apply?

Citizenship of a CEEPUS member country is the standard eligibility route.

However, Hungary’s official CEEPUS student mobility guidance provides an important exception.

If an applicant is not a citizen of a CEEPUS member country but is enrolled as a student at a higher education institution in a CEEPUS member country, they may apply under the same conditions.

Such applicants must upload an Equal Status document, such as an English certificate of enrolment from their home university.

This means nationality alone does not tell the entire story. The applicant’s actual university enrolment status can also matter.

Can Pakistani Students Apply for the CEEPUS Scholarship?

Pakistan is not listed among the current CEEPUS member countries.

Therefore, a student studying at a university in Pakistan cannot normally apply to Hungary through the standard CEEPUS student route simply on the basis of Pakistani citizenship.

There is, however, an important exception. A Pakistani citizen who is enrolled at a higher education institution in a CEEPUS member country may be eligible to apply through the Equal Status provision, provided the other CEEPUS requirements are satisfied and the required proof of enrolment is submitted.

Students should therefore check their current university status before assuming that they are either eligible or ineligible.

Types of CEEPUS Student Mobility

The Hungarian CEEPUS system provides several options.

Regular Student Mobility

Regular student mobility is available for Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD students.

The standard stay is 3–5 months, and it can potentially be extended up to 12 months.

Students attend lectures and seminars and must obtain academic credits. An internship may be combined with the mobility when permitted.

Short-Term Student Mobility

This option is aimed at students who are working on a thesis or dissertation.

The mobility normally lasts 1–2 months, with a minimum stay of 21 days.

The activities should relate directly to thesis or dissertation work and can include research, consultation, or laboratory activities.

Short-Term Intensive Courses

Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD students can participate in summer schools, winter schools, and other intensive academic courses.

Students must normally have completed at least one semester.

The minimum duration is six days.

Short-Term Excursions

Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD students can take part in academic excursions organised within CEEPUS networks.

These usually last 3–5 days and are available only through a CEEPUS network rather than the Freemover route.

Network Mobility vs Freemover

There are two major ways of applying for student mobility to Hungary.

Network Mobility: Your home university is part of a CEEPUS network with a relevant academic topic and a Hungarian partner. You apply through the network, and the relevant coordinators participate in the nomination process.

Freemover Mobility: Your institution does not have a suitable network route. You find an accredited Hungarian host university yourself and obtain a Letter of Acceptance.

Freemover applicants also need two recommendation letters from lecturers at their home university.

The Hungarian National CEEPUS Office recommends choosing a host institution that already participates actively in CEEPUS because this can reduce administrative difficulties.

Academic Requirements

The CEEPUS Scholarship is intended for students who remain academically connected to their home institution during the mobility.

For regular student mobility to Hungary, applicants generally need:

Active student status at the home university
At least two completed semesters before mobility
An appropriate academic purpose for the exchange
A suitable host university
Support or nomination through the appropriate CEEPUS route
Eligibility under the CEEPUS nationality or Equal Status rules

The specific academic requirements can depend on the home and host institutions and the selected network.

Applicants should therefore discuss the mobility with their university’s CEEPUS or international coordinator before submitting the application.

Documents Required

Document requirements depend on whether the application is made through a network or as a Freemover.

For an eligible network applicant who is a citizen of a CEEPUS member country, the Hungarian guidance states that no documents are required to be uploaded at the initial online application stage.

Freemover applicants must attach:

Hungarian host university Letter of Acceptance
Two recommendation letters from lecturers at the home university

Applicants who are not citizens of a CEEPUS member country but qualify through Equal Status must also upload proof of enrolment at their CEEPUS-member-country university.

Other documents may be requested later by the home university, host institution, National CEEPUS Office, or immigration authorities.

How to Apply for the CEEPUS Scholarship in Hungary

Step 1: Check your eligibility

Confirm that you are studying at an eligible CEEPUS institution or qualify under the applicable mobility rules.

Also make sure you have completed the required semesters.

Step 2: Find a CEEPUS network

Use the official CEEPUS platform to check whether your home institution participates in a network relevant to your field.

Look at the network description, Hungarian partner universities, available mobility types, and contacts.

Step 3: Contact your university coordinator

Speak with the CEEPUS coordinator or International Office at your home institution.

The coordinator can explain whether your university has places available and what internal nomination procedure applies.

Step 4: Choose a Hungarian host

For network mobility, choose from the available Hungarian partners.

For Freemover mobility, contact an accredited Hungarian higher education institution yourself and obtain the required Letter of Acceptance.

Step 5: Complete the online application

Create an account on the CEEPUS website and complete your mobility application.

Select the appropriate academic year and choose the network or Freemover option.

Step 6: Upload the required documents

Upload the Letter of Acceptance, recommendation letters, Equal Status proof, or other documents required for your application type.

Then use the check and submit function to finalise the application.

Important Deadlines for Hungary 2026–27

The Hungarian CEEPUS Office published specific dates for the 2026–27 academic year.

For student mobility:

Application Type	Deadline
Long-term student mobility for 2026–27	June 30, 2026
Other spring/summer 2026–27 student mobility to Hungary	August 31, 2026
Recommended submission time	At least 2 months before planned start
Current status	Closed

The Hungarian CEEPUS page states that the deadline for mobility grant applications for the spring and summer semester of 2026–27 was August 31, 2026, except for long-term student mobility applications, for which the deadline was June 30, 2026.

Because today is September 20, 2026, these deadlines have already passed.

What About CEEPUS 2027–28?

Students planning a future exchange should also watch the next CEEPUS cycle.

The central CEEPUS website currently states that the 2027–28 network application round will start at the end of September 2026.

The deadline for universities to submit their 2027–28 network applications is November 30, 2026, with an extended deadline of December 15, 2026 for signed documents.

These are network-creation deadlines for participating institutions, not the final individual-student mobility deadlines.

Individual student application dates for 2027–28 should be checked once the relevant annual mobility calls are published.

Scholarship Payment

The CEEPUS programme operates differently from scholarships where money is transferred directly by a central international office.

The official CEEPUS website explains that each host country funds its incoming students and teachers.

For Hungary, the scholarship is paid by the Hungarian host institution after the student’s arrival.

The host institution provides information about the payment process and also helps coordinate arrival, accommodation, and academic arrangements.

This means students should not assume that the scholarship money will arrive before they travel.

Tuition Fees

A major CEEPUS benefit in Hungary is tuition exemption.

The Hungarian National CEEPUS Office states that CEEPUS scholarship holders are exempt from tuition fees at the host institutions.

This applies to eligible CEEPUS mobility at the Hungarian host institution.

However, students can still have other costs, including transportation, meals, personal expenses, visa-related costs, and expenses not covered by the comprehensive mobility grant.

Accommodation and Travel

Accommodation arrangements depend on the host institution and the student’s mobility.

The Hungarian CEEPUS authority describes the grant as a comprehensive amount that may cover living and travel-related expenses, but it does not guarantee that every cost will be fully covered.

Freemovers are specifically advised to arrange matters such as arrival and accommodation with the host institution after receiving the Letter of Award.

Students should therefore confirm housing availability and estimated costs before travel.

Selection and Results

CEEPUS applications can pass through several nomination and approval stages.

For network applications, the application may be reviewed by:

Home university coordinator
Home National CEEPUS Office
Host university coordinator
Hungarian National CEEPUS Office

The central system displays the application status at each stage.

The Hungarian National CEEPUS Office generally announces the final decision around 30–45 days after the submission deadline.

Successful applicants must confirm their acceptance of the scholarship through the CEEPUS system.

Reporting After the Mobility

The process does not end when the student returns home.

At the end of the stay, scholarship holders must submit:

Online Mobility Report
Letter of Confirmation

The Letter of Confirmation must be signed and stamped by the host coordinator and uploaded to the CEEPUS system.

The reporting process is required for completion of the mobility.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Calling CEEPUS a full-degree scholarship: CEEPUS funds temporary academic mobility, not an entire Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD degree.

Assuming the grant covers every expense: Hungary states that the comprehensive grant may not cover all living, travel, and study costs.

Ignoring CEEPUS membership: The standard route requires citizenship of a CEEPUS member country, with a limited Equal Status exception.

Applying without checking your university’s network: Network places depend on active cooperation and available mobility quotas.

Confusing network deadlines with individual deadlines: The 2027–28 November 30 deadline currently announced by CEEPUS is for network applications, not the final student mobility deadline.

Choosing Freemover without a host university: Freemovers need a Hungarian host institution and Letter of Acceptance.

Waiting until the last minute: Hungary recommends submitting applications well before the planned mobility.

Forgetting final reporting: Mobility reports and confirmation documents are required after the stay.

Current Status of CEEPUS Scholarship 2026–27 in Hungary

The CEEPUS Scholarship 2026–27 in Hungary is currently closed for the published student application deadlines.

The Hungarian National CEEPUS Office set June 30, 2026 as the deadline for long-term student mobility and August 31, 2026 for other spring/summer student mobility applications for the 2026–27 academic year.

The current student grant for incoming students remains 190,000 HUF per scholarship month, and eligible CEEPUS scholarship holders receive tuition-fee exemption at the Hungarian host institution.

Students interested in the next academic year should watch the 2027–28 CEEPUS network application process, which is scheduled to begin at the end of September 2026. The central CEEPUS website gives November 30, 2026 as the network application deadline.

Individual student mobility deadlines for 2027–28 should be confirmed when the new calls are published.

Official Sources

CEEPUS — Official Programme Website

CEEPUS — About the Programme and Member Countries

CEEPUS — Contact and Hungary Scholarship Rates

FAQs About CEEPUS Scholarship 2026–27

1. What is the CEEPUS Scholarship?

The CEEPUS Scholarship is a mobility grant for students, teachers, and university staff who participate in academic exchange between CEEPUS member countries.

2. How much is the CEEPUS Scholarship in Hungary?

For the 2026–27 academic year, Hungary provides 190,000 HUF per scholarship month for incoming Bachelor’s, Master’s, postgraduate, and PhD students.

3. Is the CEEPUS Scholarship fully funded?

It provides a comprehensive mobility grant and tuition exemption in Hungary, but the Hungarian authorities state that the grant may not cover all living, travel, and study expenses. It is therefore better understood as a funded exchange programme rather than a full-degree scholarship.

4. Who can apply for CEEPUS student mobility?

Bachelor’s, Master’s, postgraduate, and PhD students can apply, subject to the CEEPUS eligibility rules, active student status, academic requirements, and network or Freemover conditions.

5. Can Pakistani students apply for CEEPUS?

Pakistan is not a current CEEPUS member country. However, a Pakistani student enrolled at a higher education institution in a CEEPUS member country may qualify through the Equal Status provision, subject to the other requirements.

6. What was the CEEPUS Scholarship Hungary deadline for 2026–27?

The Hungarian office listed June 30, 2026 for long-term student mobility and August 31, 2026 for other spring/summer 2026–27 mobility applications. Those deadlines have now passed.

7. Do CEEPUS students pay tuition fees in Hungary?

Eligible CEEPUS scholarship holders are exempt from tuition fees at the Hungarian host institution.

8. Can I apply for CEEPUS as a Freemover?

Yes. Students whose home university does not have a suitable CEEPUS network can apply as Freemovers, but they must find a Hungarian host university and obtain a Letter of Acceptance.

Final Thoughts

The CEEPUS Scholarship 2026–27 in Hungary is a useful mobility opportunity for students who want to spend a semester, conduct thesis research, or take part in an academic programme at a Hungarian university.

The current Hungarian student grant is 190,000 HUF per scholarship month, and eligible scholarship holders are exempt from tuition fees at the host institution.

However, CEEPUS should not be advertised as a conventional fully funded university scholarship. It funds academic mobility, and the official Hungarian authority warns that the comprehensive grant may not cover every living, travel, and study expense.

For the 2026–27 academic year, Hungary’s student deadlines have already passed. Students planning for 2027–28 should monitor the central CEEPUS website and their university’s International Office as the new network and individual mobility calls are announced.

The correct first step is to check whether your home university participates in a relevant CEEPUS network. If it does not, the Freemover route may be available, provided you can secure a suitable Hungarian host institution.

CEEPUS Scholarship 2026–27 Hungary: Fully Funded Guide