Study in Hungary: Costs, Visa, Universities and Scholarships for Pakistani Students

A practical guide for Pakistani students on studying in Hungary: Stipendium Hungaricum through HEC, tuition, living costs, the residence permit and work rights.

Hungary has become one of the most popular European destinations for Pakistani students, and the main reason is simple: Stipendium Hungaricum. Every year the Hungarian government, working with the Higher Education Commission (HEC), offers several hundred fully funded places to Pakistani students at bachelor's, master's and PhD level. Even without a scholarship, tuition at Hungarian public universities is modest by European standards, living costs are lower than in Western Europe, and a Hungarian degree is recognised across the EU.

Currency used in this guide: €1 ≈ PKR 310 and HUF 1 ≈ PKR 0.85 (October 2026). Exchange rates move, so treat every PKR figure as approximate.

Quick facts	Hungary
Language of teaching	Hungarian, but hundreds of full degree programmes are taught in English
Academic year and intakes	September (main intake); a small number of programmes start in February
Typical tuition, public universities	approx. €1,200 to €5,000 per year (PKR 372,000 to 1,550,000); medicine and dentistry approx. €12,000 to €16,000+ (PKR 3.7m to 5m+)
Typical tuition, private universities	usually higher; check each university
Monthly living costs	approx. €400 to €900 (PKR 124,000 to 279,000) depending on city
Part-time work	up to 30 hours a week in term time, full-time for up to 90 days a year outside term
After graduating	residence permit to look for work for up to 9 months

Budget options: what you can do on every budget

Budget	Route	What it looks like
Fully funded	Stipendium Hungaricum (SH) via HEC nomination	Free tuition, monthly stipend, free dormitory place or housing contribution, medical insurance. HEC offered 400 places for 2026/27 (200 bachelor's, 70 one-tier master's including medicine and dentistry, 100 master's, 30 PhD).
Fully funded (other routes)	Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters with a Hungarian partner university; university-funded PhD positions	Erasmus Mundus covers tuition, travel and a monthly allowance. Very competitive, but open to Pakistanis.
Low-fee, self-funded	Public university in Debrecen, Szeged, Pécs, Miskolc or Gödöllő (MATE)	Tuition approx. €2,000 to €5,000 a year plus €400 to €650 a month living. Some universities offer partial tuition waivers for strong results. Total first year approx. €7,000 to €13,000 (PKR 2.2m to 4m).
Self-funded, premium	Medicine or dentistry at Semmelweis, Debrecen, Szeged or Pécs; or living in Budapest	Tuition approx. €12,000 to €18,000 a year plus €600 to €900 a month in Budapest. Total first year approx. €20,000 to €29,000 (PKR 6.2m to 9m).

If your family budget is limited, SH is the route to aim for first. Apply to SH and, as a backup, to one or two low-fee public universities in the same cycle.

University costs

Public universities. Most English-taught bachelor's and master's programmes cost approx. €1,200 to €5,000 a year. Engineering, IT and business programmes at well-known universities such as Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME) or ELTE tend to sit at the upper end. Medicine, dentistry and pharmacy are the expensive exception at approx. €12,000 to €16,000 or more per year.

Private universities. Fees are generally higher and vary a lot. Check the exact fee for your programme on the university's own website.

Application and exam fees. Most universities charge a non-refundable application fee (often approx. €100 to €150, PKR 31,000 to 46,500) and some add an entrance exam fee. SH applicants do not pay university tuition, but you may still face small administrative charges. Fees change every year.

Payment before enrolment. Self-funded students usually must pay the first year (or first semester) before the university issues the documents needed for the residence permit.

Cheapest options. The lowest fees are typically at universities outside Budapest, and in agriculture, natural sciences, social sciences and teacher education. For a genuinely free degree, SH is the only realistic route.

Living costs

Approximate monthly costs for a student (2026, changes yearly):

City	Rent	Food	Transport	Total per month
Budapest	€300 to €650 (shared room to studio)	€150 to €250	approx. €10 to €15 (student pass)	€600 to €900 (PKR 186,000 to 279,000)
Debrecen	€200 to €400	€130 to €200	approx. €10	€450 to €650 (PKR 139,500 to 201,500)
Szeged	€200 to €400	€130 to €200	approx. €10	€450 to €650 (PKR 139,500 to 201,500)
Pécs	€180 to €350	€120 to €200	approx. €10	€400 to €600 (PKR 124,000 to 186,000)

University dormitories cost much less than private flats, often under €100 to €200 a month, but places are limited. Private landlords usually ask for a deposit of two months' rent. Self-funded non-EU students also need private health insurance.

Scholarships and need-based funding

Stipendium Hungaricum (via HEC)

This is the main scholarship for Pakistani students. Pakistan is a sending partner, so you must apply on two portals: the HEC scholarship portal and the Stipendium Hungaricum application system.

What SH gives you (2026/27 figures, published by the Tempus Public Foundation and partner universities):

Benefit	Amount
Tuition	Fully covered
Monthly stipend, bachelor's and master's	HUF 43,700 (approx. PKR 37,100), 12 months a year
Monthly stipend, PhD	HUF 140,000 (approx. PKR 119,000) in the first four semesters, HUF 180,000 (approx. PKR 153,000) in the second phase
Accommodation	Free dormitory place, or HUF 40,000 a month (approx. PKR 34,000) towards rent
Medical insurance	Covered, plus supplementary insurance up to HUF 65,000 a year

Be realistic: the bachelor's and master's stipend is small. Most SH students say it covers food but not much else, so plan to bring some savings or work part-time.

Seats for Pakistan (2026/27): 200 bachelor's, 70 one-tier master's (20 medicine, 10 dentistry, 40 other), 100 master's and 30 PhD.

Timeline (2026/27 cycle, likely similar for 2027/28): programme list published around November; deadline 15 January (2026/27 deadline was 15 January 2026, 14:00 CET on the SH portal and 16:00 PKT on the HEC portal); HEC nominates in February; universities hold online entrance exams or interviews from March to May (minimum 56 out of 100 points); results in June or early July. You can choose up to two programmes.

Who qualifies: Pakistani and AJK nationals who meet HEC's discipline list and the admission rules of the Hungarian university. Check HEC's list of approved study fields before choosing a programme.

Other funding

Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters: several programmes include a Hungarian university. Deadlines are usually between October and February.
University scholarships and tuition reductions: some Hungarian universities give partial discounts to high-achieving self-funded students. These are usually small.
PhD positions: a few doctoral schools fund research assistants through projects. Contact potential supervisors directly.

Browse current options at /scholarships?country=Hungary and read how to avoid scholarship scams. Nobody can "guarantee" an SH seat for a fee.

Student visa: steps, documents and fees

Pakistani students need a D visa plus a residence permit for study purposes, applied for at the Embassy of Hungary in Islamabad before travelling.

Steps

Get your letter of acceptance (or SH award letter).
Prepare and attest your documents: matric and intermediate certificates through IBCC, degrees through HEC, then MOFA. See the HEC attestation guide and document checklist.
Fill in the residence permit application (Enter Hungary system or paper form with the study appendix) and book an appointment with the embassy.
Submit your documents and biometrics, then wait for the decision.
After arrival, give biometrics to the immigration office within the deadline and collect your residence card.

Main documents

Passport and passport photos
Acceptance letter or SH award letter
Proof of tuition payment (self-funded students)
Proof of accommodation (dormitory confirmation or lease)
Health insurance (SH holders are covered by the state scheme; others need private insurance)
Proof of funds: bank statements showing enough money for your stay. No fixed amount is published, so show at least one year of living costs (approx. €5,000 to €8,000, PKR 1.55m to 2.5m) on top of tuition.
Medical certificate (SH uses a mandatory template)

Fees (changes yearly)

First residence permit at the embassy: €110 (approx. PKR 34,100). SH scholarship holders are exempt.
Extension inside Hungary: approx. HUF 26,000 (approx. PKR 22,100).

Processing time: universities advise allowing one to two months at the embassy. Apply as soon as you receive your acceptance letter. Pakistani applicants regularly face appointment delays, so do not leave it late. The visa and pre-departure checklist will help.

Working while studying and after graduating

With a residence permit for study, you may work up to 30 hours a week during term and full-time for up to 90 days a year outside term. Hungarian is helpful for most part-time jobs, but English-speaking jobs exist in Budapest in customer service, IT support and shared service centres.

After graduating, you can apply for a residence permit to look for work or start a business for up to 9 months. Once you find a qualifying job, you can switch to a work-based permit. Hungarian residence time can eventually count towards long-term residence, but rules change often, so check with the immigration office.

Month-by-month timeline (for September 2027 entry)

When	What to do
October to November 2026	Shortlist programmes, prepare IELTS/Duolingo if required (test guide), start IBCC and HEC attestation
November to December 2026	SH programme list and HEC call published. Write your motivation letter (sample) and get reference letters
By mid-January 2027	Submit on both the HEC portal and the SH portal (expected deadline around 15 January; confirm)
February 2027	HEC nomination list
March to May 2027	University entrance exams or interviews (online)
June to early July 2027	SH results. Self-funded students: confirm admission and pay tuition
July to August 2027	Residence permit application at the Hungarian Embassy in Islamabad
Late August to September 2027	Travel, register, biometrics at the immigration office

Common mistakes Pakistani applicants make

Applying only on the SH portal and forgetting the HEC portal (or the other way round). You need both.
Choosing a programme that is not on HEC's approved discipline list.
Underestimating the entrance exam or interview. Universities can reject nominated candidates who score below 56/100.
Assuming the SH stipend covers all living costs. For bachelor's and master's students it does not.
Starting attestation late. IBCC, HEC and MOFA together can take several weeks.
Paying agents who promise guaranteed SH seats. SH is free to apply for.

Official links

Stipendium Hungaricum: https://stipendiumhungaricum.hu/
How to apply (SH): https://stipendiumhungaricum.hu/apply/
HEC, Stipendium Hungaricum: https://www.hec.gov.pk/english/scholarshipsgrants/lao/SHSP/Pages/default.aspx
University of Szeged, SH benefits 2026: https://eco.u-szeged.hu/english/2026/stipendium-hungaricum
ELTE visa information: https://elte.hu/en/visa
University of Pécs, residence permits and study-to-work permit: https://international.pte.hu/faq/study-work-residence-permit
Hungarian immigration authority: https://oif.gov.hu/
Erasmus Mundus catalogue: https://www.eacea.ec.europa.eu/scholarships/erasmus-mundus-catalogue_en

Figures checked on 10 October 2026. Always confirm on the official sites before applying.