Call for applications – Hungarian Language and Cultural Studies cross-semester 2026

Call for scholarship application of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary for the Hungarian Language and Cultural Studies Programme in the academic year of 2026 (cross-semester)

Note: This document has been prepared in English as complementary material to the official Hungarian language call-for-application. In case of doubt, please refer to the original version and/or contact us.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary (hereunder, MFA), based on the 606/2023. (XII. 22.) Government Decree and the 11/2022. (IX. 6.) MFA Order on the Organizational and Operational Rules of the MFA, within the Balassi Scholarship Programme with Márton Áron Scholarship, invites applications from individuals of Hungarian descent living in the Southern Hemisphere’s Diaspora outside the Carpathian Basin who wish to strengthen their language knowledge and cultural identity in the academic year of 2026 for the

HUNGARIAN LANGUAGE AND CULTURAL STUDIES PROGRAMME.

1. THE GOAL OF THE APPLICATION

The application provides an opportunity to participate in Hungarian Language and Cultural Studies training as a scholarship holder.

The objective of the Hungarian Language and Cultural Studies scholarship is to improve and broaden the Hungarian language skills and knowledge related to Hungary of young people of Hungarian descent, who are citizens and residents of other countries (the so-called “Diaspora”). The two-semester course takes place in Budapest with the cooperation of an institution providing adult education, the KKM Magyar Diplomáciai Akadémia Kft. (hereunder KKM MDA Kft), in accordance with the 396/2023. (VIII. 24.) Government Decree. To successfully achieve the goals of the scholarship program, the MFA cooperates with the member organizations of the Hungarian Diaspora Council, especially with the organizations promoting youth community building, such as the Hungarian Scout Association in Exteris.

2. THE OBJECT OF THE APPLICATION

The programme consists of Hungarian language and cultural studies and provides an opportunity for participants to actively explore Hungary and living Hungarian culture. In the framework of cultural studies, students learn about history, literature, geography, ethnography, art history, and social studies. At the end of the cultural studies programme, students take a final exam (depending on their language level) on a chosen topic, defend their final essay. The applicant undertakes to take Hungarian language exam officially recognized by the Hungarian state at the end of the academic year or, if this is not possible for objective reasons, to certify the level of Hungarian language knowledge with a “Certification of the result on the Hungarian language level assessment” issued by the KKM MDA Kft. (The level and type of the language exam and the amount of the examination fee depends on the decision of the language skills assessment committee.)

Participants of the programme will receive a certification at the end of their successful studies.

Class attendance is compulsory. Should a participant miss classes without cause, or violate the Scholarship Agreement, he/she will lose immediately the right to continue the programme and the right to dormitory placement. Any individual who has been expelled from the programme will have to repay all stipend (monthly allowance) received up to that date as set out in the signed scholarship agreement.

3. THE LENGTH AND THE CONTENT OF THE SCHOLARSHIP

The duration of the programme is 9 months (February 2026 – June 2026, September 2026 – December 2026).

The scholarship includes:

• full tuition fee
• HUF 45,000/month allowance (to be paid monthly)
• free accommodation
• student card (offering discounts)
• basic health services

Maximum number of scholarships to be awarded: 20

4. CONDITIONS OF THE APPLICATION

The application is open to individuals of Hungarian origin who have reached the age of 18 at the start of the training have pursuing or starting higher education studies. Those who have not reached the age of 35 by the start of the training can apply. All applicants should have foreign (non-Hungarian) citizenship. Volunteer work in foreign Hungarian communities (e.g scouting, folk dance, Hungarian school, Hungarian church, etc.) and in other Hungarian civil communities, and a university recommendation, furthermore, any other activities related to Hungarian culture, art or any field are all taken into consideration in the selection of the applicants. The scholarship application for the 2026 academic year is mainly for the southern hemisphere countries applicants.

5. DEADLINE OF APPLICATIONS

Deadline of applications: 16 October 2025, 24.00 (UTC+1)

6. INFORMATION ON THE SUBMISSION AND EVALUATION OF THE APPLICATION

Steps of application:

1. Application website

Applications are to be submitted via the application website https://spjelentkezes.mdakft.hu

Please visit the site, prepare and submit your application according to the information provided there.

2. Required documents

Required documentation and references for the application:

• signed statement of the applicant (format: .pdf; .jpg) [mandatory document]
• signed medical declaration of the applicant (format: .pdf, jpg, jpeg),
• CV (format: .pdf) [mandatory document]
• an approx. 300-word self-written essay on why you would like to study in Hungary and how can utilize acquired knowledge in your home country (format: .pdf) [mandatory document]
• copy of passport certifying foreign citizenship or other travel document entitling to travel to and from home country (format: .pdf; .jpg) [mandatory document]
• copy of transcripts and diplomas (including secondary school leaving certificate) with study results (format: .pdf, .jpg), [mandatory document]
• reference letter from a social organization (eg. scouts, school, foundation, church, etc.) or a recognized individual (format: .pdf) [recommended document]

Evaluation of the Application

The applications are evaluated by taking into account the applicant’s curriculum vitae, the essay, studies and qualifications, as well as the optional reference letter. The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade (responsible for operating the scholarship) makes decisions on the applications based on the proposal of the Evaluation Committee set up by the MFA. The decision is binding on all applicants.

There is no right of appeal against the decision; nonetheless, the applicant may submit an objection to the leader responsible for the MFA Balassi Programmes, if in the applicant’s opinion the application procedure, the acceptance of the application or the application decision violates the law. The applicant must submit the objection within 10 workdays of becoming aware of the contested measure or default, but no later than 30 workdays from the date of the contested measure or default.

Publication of the results

Applications will be evaluated by 12 November 2025 and applicants will be notified about the results within 3 workdays afterwards via e-mail.

Successful applicants must confirm the acceptance of the scholarship via e-mail at the latest by 19 November 2025.

The scholarship does not cover the following expenses:

• travel to and from Hungary
• language exam fee (approx. HUF 45.000)
• spending money
• the fee of visa for the purpose of training obtained from the relevant Hungarian embassy, if necessary

7. CONDITIONS OF WINNING AND OBTAINING THE SCHOLARSHIP

• Signing Scholarship Agreement and Adult Education Agreement with the KKM MDA Kft.
• Any applicant providing unreal, false information on the datasheet, and/or making such a statement when applying, and/or withholding any fact or data concerning the assessment and result of the application may be excluded from the application procedure.
• Participation in the application or winning the scholarship does not preclude the applicant from participating in the application of the Hungarian Diaspora Scholarship Program (DFP) in November 2025.
• By submitting their application, applicants consent to the processing of their data on the application form by the MFA, and by KKM MDA Ltd. and by the decision-shaping bodies and decision-makers defined above for 3 years after the announcement of the results of the application.

By submitting their application, the future scholarship holders consent to the processing of their personal data uploaded to the application form by the MFA and KKM MDA Ltd. during their scholarship period. Failure to comply with this data provision obligation will result the termination of the scholarship. The data processing information regarding the scholarship program is available at: https://balassieducation.hu/hu/adatkezelesi-tajekoztato

• The list of scholarship winners is public. By participating in the application, the applicant agrees that his/her name and nationality will be published on the website of the scholarship programme if s/he is awarded a scholarship by the MFA.
• The applicant acknowledges that the MFA – in case of vis major situation (an unexpected, unforeseen, uncontrollable, unavoidable situation or circumstance that makes fulfilment by the contracting party impossible due to reasons beyond its control, e.g. natural disaster, epidemic, etc.) or due to changes in the legislation applicable to training or participants – may postpone the pre-planned start date of the Hungarian Language and Cultural Studies Programme (2 February 2026) and/or apply online learning methods in the training, or in a serious situation may refuse to start the training or to the admission of certain participants, may decide to suspend the training and continue it after the suspension has been lifted, and may decide to apply a training period shorter than it is determined in this call for application. The applicant acknowledges that the implementation of professional programmes may depend on the evolution of vis major situation and related rules. The applicant undertakes that in case of the occurrence of any of the above circumstances s/he does not file a claim for damages against the MFA or KKM MDA Ltd. regarding this circumstance.
• The applicant acknowledges that certain vaccinations and the results of certain screening tests are required to continue studies in Hungary. The applicant undertakes that if, upon enrolment, he/she does not have the vaccinations and test results required to continue studies in Hungary, he/she will participate in the health screening test organized by KKM MDA Ltd. after enrolment in the training, in accordance with Section 7 (3) of the Government Decree. The scholarship holder’s legal relationship will be terminated if the applicant does not have the necessary vaccinations and test results or does not participate in the screening test, or if the doctor issues a “not recommended agreement for training from a medical point of view” results based on the test. Scholarship holders with the right of free movement and residence or with a long-term residence permit may participate in the screening test based on their voluntary declaration.
• The MFA reserves the right to change the framework of implementation of the training (currently adult education training) before or during the academic year.

8. FINANCIAL SOURCE OF THE PROGRAMME

Act on the central budget of Hungary for 2026, Annex of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Amount: 163.531.720 HUF

9. CONTACT

For further information, please contact:

Ms Charlotte Hársi-Dömötör (Hungarian Scouts Association in Exteris)

E-mail:

Mr Gábor Szórád (Hungarian Scouts Association in Exteris)

E-mail: 

KKM MDA Kft.

Ms Melinda Kenéz

E-mail: 

Phone: +36 70 777 8552