Stipendium Hungaricum for Pakistanis: HEC Nominates, Mid-January Deadline

Pakistan is a partner country for Stipendium Hungaricum, and HEC is the body that nominates Pakistani applicants. The 2027-28 call has not been published yet. The last round closed on 15 January 2026, and HEC's own portal closed the same day at 4 pm Pakistan time. Expect a similar mid-January deadline, and note that you must apply on two portals, not one.

We read the Stipendium Hungaricum website, its 2026-27 calls for applications for bachelor's, master's and doctoral study, its partner list, and HEC's Stipendium Hungaricum pages on 29 September 2026. The Hungarian site still showed the 2026-27 call as its newest.

The scholarship is run by the Hungarian government through Tempus Public Foundation. It pays tuition, a monthly stipend, housing support and medical insurance. The stipend is small, though, and both sides say it will not cover all your costs.

Pakistan is a Stipendium Hungaricum partner, and HEC nominates

Pakistan appears on the official list of sending partners, and the partner page names the Higher Education Commission as the responsible authority. Hungary only considers applicants whom HEC nominates, and HEC ranks applicants with its own written test.

A one-tier master's is a single long degree, such as medicine or dentistry, that you start after intermediate. For Pakistan, the partner page lists it in agricultural science, engineering, medical and health science, teacher training and arts.

PhD applicants can choose any field. Bachelor's and master's cover a long list, from computer science and engineering to law, economics and health science. The partner page gives the full list for Pakistan.

The Stipendium Hungaricum deadline is usually mid-January

In the 2026-27 round, the Hungarian deadline was 15 January 2026 at 2 pm Central European Time, and HEC's portal closed on 15 January 2026 at 4 pm Pakistan time. HEC's time is earlier, so it is the one to follow. The 2027-28 dates are not out yet.

The test timing last round was odd. HEC said HAT and USAT registration would open around 8 December 2025, with the test expected on 1 February 2026, after the application deadline. That test was the last chance to qualify for that round.

Plan earlier this time. The HEC HAT test on 25 October 2026 is on the calendar now, and taking it early removes one worry, if HEC accepts it for this scholarship again.

What Stipendium Hungaricum covers

The scholarship gives free tuition, a monthly stipend of HUF 43,700 for bachelor's and master's students, a free dormitory place or HUF 40,000 a month towards rent, and medical insurance. PhD students get HUF 140,000 a month, rising to HUF 180,000 in the second phase.

HUF 43,700 is about EUR 110 a month, using the call's own exchange rate of 13 October 2025. That is not enough to live on. Both the call and HEC's financial coverage page say you must add your own money, and the call warns that HUF 40,000 will not cover full rent in bigger cities, especially Budapest.

There is one more condition for bachelor's and master's students. You must take the free Hungarian language course. Skip it and you lose the stipend. Fail its exam and the stipend drops to HUF 30,000 a month.

Who can apply from Pakistan

You must be a Pakistani or AJK citizen aged 18 by 31 August of the start year. HEC says there is no upper age limit. Bachelor's applicants need intermediate, master's applicants a 16 year bachelor's, and PhD applicants an MS or MPhil, finished before 1 August.

• Final year students: can apply, but must upload the final degree and transcript before 1 August or lose the place.
• Attestation: not needed at first. After HEC nominates you, attested papers are required.
• English: some universities want IELTS or TOEFL; most accept an English proficiency certificate from your college or university.
• Two choices only: you can pick two programmes, out of more than 900 at about 30 institutions.

For attested papers, that means HEC degree attestation for degrees, and an IBCC equivalence certificate for O and A Levels. Doing both early saves a panic in spring.

Past award holders who did not travel and did not tell Tempus by 15 October are barred for a while, as are people who submit more than one application. One clean application is the safe route.

How to apply for Stipendium Hungaricum from Pakistan

Apply on the Stipendium Hungaricum portal and on HEC's scholarship portal, both before the deadline. Register for HEC's test, choose two programmes, upload your documents, and keep printed copies of both forms. Missing either portal ends your application.

1. Check Pakistan's eligible fields on the Stipendium Hungaricum partner page.
2. Register on stipendiumhungaricum.hu/apply and choose two programmes.
3. Upload your documents. PhD applicants add a research plan of at least 2 pages and a recommendation letter.
4. Apply on scholarship.hec.gov.pk under the Hungarian Scholarship Program.
5. Register for HAT or USAT at etc.hec.gov.pk.
6. Submit both forms and print signed copies.

Use the same email and phone number on both portals. HEC says both it and Tempus will contact you using those details, and it will not edit a submitted HEC form. Pick your programmes carefully too: HEC will not approve a change of subject after nomination.

If HEC nominates you, the Hungarian university runs its own entrance exam between March and May. You need at least 56 out of 100 to stay in the running. Nobody can skip that step for a fee, whatever a study abroad agent may promise.

Common questions

When is the Stipendium Hungaricum 2027 deadline in Pakistan?

It has not been announced. The last round closed on 15 January 2026, with HEC's portal closing at 4 pm Pakistan time.

Is Pakistan eligible for Stipendium Hungaricum?

Yes. Pakistan is a sending partner, and HEC is the responsible authority that nominates applicants.

How much is the Stipendium Hungaricum stipend?

HUF 43,700 a month for bachelor's and master's, and HUF 140,000 to HUF 180,000 for PhD, plus housing support.

Is there an age limit?

HEC says there is no upper age limit. You must be 18 by 31 August of the start year.

Do I need IELTS?

Only if your chosen university asks for it. Most accept an English proficiency certificate from your institution.

Can I apply only on the Hungarian website?

No. HEC says applications on both portals are mandatory, or your candidature is not considered.

How we verified this

What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.

Last checked on 29 September 2026. Pakistan's partner status, HEC as responsible authority, the fields for Pakistan and the two portal rule are read on the Stipendium Hungaricum partners page. The 2026-27 timeline, the 15 January 2026 2 pm deadline, two choices and the 56 point exam minimum are on its Apply page. Stipends, housing, insurance, the language course rule and exclusions are read in the 2026-27 calls for applications for bachelor's and master's and for doctoral study. HEC's 4 pm deadline, test dates, age and degree rules, attestation and English rules are read on HEC's Stipendium Hungaricum how to apply, eligibility, coverage and instructions pages. A 2027-28 call was not yet on either site.