How to Apply to Universities in Hungary: Requirements, Deadlines and Portals
By Muntasir • Published Jan 21, 2026 • Updated Sep 20, 2026 • Guides, Study in Europe, Country & City Guides, Admissions & Applications
Hungary has two separate application paths for students from other European countries: the Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship route, due 15 January 2026, and direct applications straight to universities, usually open February to May. Without a scholarship, you apply directly to the university, then handle language proof and diploma recognition yourself.
📩 Stipendium Hungaricum deadline: 15 January 2026, 2pm CET, via your home country's nominating body
Direct applications: usually February-May, deadlines set by each university
🎓 Felvi.hu is Hungary's national portal, built mainly for Hungarian-language and domestic applicants
💶 Direct application fees commonly run EUR 150-200
Get your school diploma recognized through Hungary's ENIC-NARIC office if needed
Two Ways to Apply
As a student from another European country, you have two main routes into a Hungarian university. The first is Stipendium Hungaricum, a Hungarian government scholarship that nominates and funds international students through your home country's ministry or a partner organization. The second is a direct application straight to the university of your choice, paying your own tuition and fees. Hungary does not run one unified international admissions system, so plan for managing either the scholarship platform or the individual university's application portal, and possibly Felvi.hu alongside it.
Felvi.hu: the National Portal
Felvi.hu is Hungary's national higher education application system, similar in role to UCAS in the UK. It is built primarily for Hungarian citizens and residents applying in Hungarian and requires an advanced level of the language. If you apply to a fee-paying, English-taught program as an international student, most universities let you skip Felvi entirely and apply directly through the institution's own online system or by mailing documents, according to StudyinEurope.eu .
Applying Through Stipendium Hungaricum
If you want funded study in Hungary, apply through Stipendium Hungaricum. You submit your application online through the DreamApply platform, but the process runs through your home country's nominating authority, usually a government ministry, agency or partner university, not directly with a Hungarian university. For the 2026/2027 academic year, the deadline was 15 January 2026 at 2pm Central European Time, according to Stipendium Hungaricum . The next application round, for 2027/2028, opens around November 2026, so prepare early if you plan to apply for scholarship funding.
The scholarship funds bachelor, master, one-tier master and doctoral programs across most fields. Missing the deadline, even by minutes, voids the whole application, so submit documents well ahead of the cutoff rather than at the last moment.
Applying Directly to a University
Direct applications go straight to the university and typically open from February through April or May, with each institution setting its own exact deadline, according to StudyinEurope.eu . Contact the international admissions office of your target university early, since intake dates and required documents differ program by program. Applying directly means you pay tuition yourself, so budget for the annual fee before you commit.
Documents You Need
Secondary school diploma or equivalent, with an official translation if it is not in Hungarian or English
Academic transcripts showing your grades
Language proficiency proof: an English test score for English-taught programs, or a Hungarian test for Hungarian-taught ones
Valid passport
Motivation letter and, for some programs, letters of recommendation
Passport photo and, for medicine or arts programs, entrance exam results or a portfolio
Getting Your Diploma Recognized
If your secondary school qualification comes from outside Hungary, the university may ask for a recognition or equivalency check through Hungary's ENIC-NARIC office before it accepts you or before you register. Recognition rules depend on your home country's education system and whether Hungary has an existing agreement covering it, so start this step as soon as you have an offer, not after you arrive.
Application Fees
Direct applications commonly carry an application fee of roughly EUR 150-200, plus sometimes a separate registration fee around EUR 200 once you accept your place. Some universities also ask for a refundable deposit, commonly around EUR 500, held against your first semester's tuition. Stipendium Hungaricum applications through the nominating authority typically do not carry this fee, since the scholarship funds tuition directly.
Application Timeline
| Route | Deadline | Applies through |
|---|---|---|
| Stipendium Hungaricum | 15 January 2026 | Home country nominating authority |
| Direct application | February-May, varies by university | University international office |
| Felvi.hu (domestic, Hungarian-language) | Around 15 February | National Felvi portal |
Plan Around Two Calendars
If you want a shot at Stipendium Hungaricum funding, prepare your documents months ahead of the January deadline, since the nominating step through your home country takes time on its own. If you self-fund instead, reach out to your chosen university as early as possible, since direct-application deadlines and document lists vary and some competitive programs fill up before the official cutoff.