Stipendium Hungaricum is Hungary’s government funded scholarship programme, open to Nigerian students under the bilateral education agreement between Nigeria and Hungary. Like the Commonwealth Scholarship, this is not a scholarship you can simply apply to online and expect to be considered. Nigerian applicants must also secure a nomination from Nigeria’s Federal Scholarship Board (FSB), and missing this second step is the single most common reason otherwise qualified Nigerian applicants are not considered.
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Who is eligible
- You must meet the academic requirements for your chosen level of study and chosen Hungarian university’s specific programme, since Stipendium Hungaricum funds undergraduate, Master’s, and doctoral study across a wide range of fields.
- You must be nominated by Nigeria’s Federal Scholarship Board as the country’s designated sending partner for this programme. Only nominated applications move forward in Hungary’s own selection process.
- You must complete your application through the official online application system within the published deadline window.
The two step process: online application and FSB nomination
This is where Stipendium Hungaricum differs from a typical direct scholarship, and where many Nigerian applicants go wrong by completing only one of the two steps:
- Submit a complete application through the official online system before the published deadline. This system has in past cycles closed in January, ahead of studies starting later that year, though exact dates shift by cycle, so confirm the current deadline directly on the official Stipendium Hungaricum site at stipendiumhungaricum.hu.
- Be nominated by the Federal Scholarship Board. The FSB may set its own internal deadline earlier than the online system’s published date, and may request additional documents by email or in hard copy beyond what the online system itself asks for. Contact the FSB directly and early to confirm its specific local timeline for Stipendium Hungaricum nominations, since this internal deadline is not always publicised as widely as the main online deadline.
Importantly, the Hungarian Embassy in Abuja does not receive applications, make nominations, or provide updates on individual applications. All nomination related contact must go through the FSB directly, not the embassy.
Contacting the Federal Scholarship Board
The FSB now operates under the Federal Ministry of Education as the Department of Scholarship Awards, so you may see either name on official notices. Reach it directly through:
- Contact person: Mrs. Khadijat Liman Ahmed, listed as Nigeria’s Stipendium Hungaricum contact on the programme’s official sending partners page at stipendiumhungaricum.hu/partners
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: +234 803 301 6249
- Address: 245 Samuel Ademulegun Street, Central Business District, Abuja
- Website: education.gov.ng/federal-scholarships-board
Older contacts, such as [email protected] and 0807 788 4417, came from the 2025/2026 listing and still circulate online, but the programme’s official partners page has since replaced them, so check that page for the latest details before you send any documents. Also check the Ministry’s scholarship pages at education.gov.ng/federal-scholarships-board for any published guidance specific to the Stipendium Hungaricum nomination cycle.
Documents to prepare
While the exact list depends on your chosen level of study and programme, prepare these in advance so you can respond quickly to both the online system and the FSB:
- Academic transcripts and certificates for your current or most recent level of education.
- A valid passport.
- Any documents specifically requested by the FSB for the nomination stage, which can go beyond the online system’s own minimum requirements.
- A motivation letter or statement, where the chosen programme requires one.
- Language proficiency evidence, if your chosen programme requires English or Hungarian language certification.
What the scholarship covers
Hungary funds the core Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship under its own national framework. Separately, the Nigerian government has historically paid a supplementary allowance to its bilateral scholars abroad, but this allowance was cut sharply in 2024 and student and parent groups have reported it going unpaid since then, so do not build your budget around it. Confirm the exact, current benefits package, including tuition waiver, monthly stipend amount, and accommodation support, directly on the official Stipendium Hungaricum site, since benefit details can be refined between cycles.
Applying step by step
- Decide on your intended level of study and shortlist Hungarian universities and programmes through the official Stipendium Hungaricum site.
- Contact the FSB early, ideally as soon as you decide to apply, to confirm its specific local deadline and any extra documents it requires for nomination.
- Register and complete your application on the official online system before the published international deadline.
- Submit any additional documents the FSB specifically requests, separately from your online application, within the FSB’s own stated timeline.
- Confirm with the FSB that you have been included in Nigeria’s nomination list for the current cycle, since this is the step that actually allows Hungary to consider your application.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Assuming the online application alone is sufficient, without separately securing FSB nomination.
- Waiting until the main online deadline to contact the FSB, when its own internal deadline may fall earlier.
- Contacting the Hungarian Embassy in Abuja for application updates, when the embassy does not handle this process.
- Assuming the Nigerian supplementary allowance will be paid on time, when it has been cut and reportedly left unpaid in recent years.
Conclusion
Stipendium Hungaricum rewards Nigerian applicants who treat FSB nomination as seriously as the online application itself. Shortlist your programme on stipendiumhungaricum.hu, contact the Federal Scholarship Board early through its official channels on education.gov.ng/federal-scholarships-board to confirm its specific nomination deadline and requirements, complete your online application on time, and confirm your nomination status directly with the FSB rather than the embassy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to common questions about this guide
1Can I apply for Stipendium Hungaricum without going through the FSB?
No, Nigerian applicants must be nominated by the Federal Scholarship Board as the country’s designated sending partner. Only nominated applications are considered by Hungary.
2Does the Hungarian Embassy in Abuja handle applications?
No, the embassy does not receive applications, make nominations, or give updates on individual cases. All nomination matters go through the FSB directly.
3Does the Nigerian government still contribute to the scholarship costs?
The Nigerian supplementary allowance for bilateral scholars was cut sharply in 2024 and has reportedly gone unpaid since, so confirm the current position directly with the FSB before counting on it.
4What levels of study does Stipendium Hungaricum fund?
It funds undergraduate, Master’s, and doctoral study, with specific eligibility depending on your chosen Hungarian university and programme.
5How early should I contact the FSB?
As early as possible, ideally as soon as you decide to apply, since the FSB may set its own internal deadline earlier than the main online system’s published date.
6Can I choose which Hungarian university and programme I study at?
Yes, you select your preferred programmes as part of your online application, though final placement depends on the selection process and the specific programme’s own admission decision.
7Is Stipendium Hungaricum only for students who already speak Hungarian?
No, many programmes are taught in English, though some fields, particularly medicine related programmes in later years, may require Hungarian language study, so confirm your specific programme’s language requirement.
8What happens if the FSB does not respond to my inquiry promptly?
Follow up through multiple channels, including email and the listed phone numbers, and keep a written record of your attempts to reach them, since this nomination step is essential to your application being considered.
9Does a previous unsuccessful Stipendium Hungaricum application affect a future one?
Not typically, since each cycle runs its own independent selection, so a previous unsuccessful attempt does not generally prevent you from applying again in a later cycle with a stronger application.
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