Scholarship for Christian Young People to Study in Hungary

Application for the 2024-2025 Scholarship for Christian Young People in Hungary is now open. The core mission of the scholarship is to provide the possibility of studying in Hungary for young Christian students living in the crisis regions of the world and/or being threatened in their country because of their faith. The Scholarship Program for Young Christians (SCYP Program) aims to enable young Christian students living in crisis regions and developing countries around the world to study in Hungary.

After completing their studies and research, the Christian Young People Scholarship holders will return to help their home community with their gained knowledge, and they will participate in the reconstruction of war-destroyed countries and contribute to the improvement of social situation and preservation of the culture of Christian communities.

Hungary provides high-quality education and its degrees are recognized throughout Europe and beyond. Besides, the living costs are affordable within a safe and friendly living environment with convenient public transportation. The country also has natural beauties combined with a 2000-year-old, rich Hungarian history and several UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Program Details

• Host Institutions: Budapest Business School – University of Applied Sciences, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Eötvös Loránd University, Eszterházy Károly University, Károli Gáspár University of the Reformed Church in Hungary, Óbuda University, Pázmány Péter Catholic University, Széchenyi István University, Szent István University, University of Debrecen Urban, University of Dunaújváros, University of Miskolc, University of Pécs, University of Public Service, University of Sopron, University of Szeged, in Hungary.
• Field of Study: Please click here to download the list of available programs with their host institutions.
• Number of awards: Not specified.
• Duration: Bachelor programs 2-4 years, Master programs 1.5–2 years, One-tier master programs 5–6 years, Doctoral programs 2+2 years.
• Target group: The 2024-2025 SCYP Program is announced for the citizens of the following countries: Lebanese Republic, Republic of Ghana, Republic of Niger, Republic of Chad, Republic of Iraq, State of Israel, Palestine, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Syrian Arab Republic, the Republic of Kenya, Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Republic of Armenia and Nigeria.

Scholarship for Christian Young People in Hungary Benefits

The Scholarship Program for Christian Young People in Hungary is fully funded will offer selected candidates the following Benefits:

1. Tuition-free education: exemption from the payment of tuition fee
2. Monthly stipend:
• Bachelor’s, Master’s and one-tier master’s level: monthly amount of HUF 166,600 (cca. EUR 450) contribution to the living expenses in Hungary, for 12 months a year, until the completion of studies
• Doctoral level: the monthly amount of scholarship is HUF 140,000 (cca EUR 380) for the first phase of education (4 semesters) and HUF 180,000 (cca EUR 490) for the second phase (4 semesters) – for 12 months a year, until completion of studies.
3. Accommodation: free dormitory place or a contribution of HUF 40,000 to accommodation costs for the whole duration of the scholarship period. The HUF 40 000/month is only a contribution to rental costs. It is not enough to cover the full amount of rental costs.
4. Travel allowance: HUF 200,000/academic year (cca. EUR 550);
5. Medical insurance: health care services according to the relevant Hungarian legislation and supplementary medical insurance for up to HUF 65,000 (cca. EUR 180) a year/person.

Please, use this tool to check the Cost of living in different parts of Hungary. In the first year of their studies, Scholarship Holders are required to attend the course of “Hungarian as foreign language” offered by the Host University. Scholarship Holders who do not attend the course will not be able to receive the monthly stipend.

Scholarship for Christian Young People in Hungary Eligibility

The SCYP Programme is based on the cooperation between the State Secretariat and Churches that pursue humanitarian activities in crisis regions. For the 2024/2025 academic year, applicants must meet the following criteria.

• Be a citizen of the Lebanese Republic, Republic of Ghana, Republic of Niger, Republic of Chad, Republic of Iraq, State of Israel, Palestine, Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Syrian Arab Republic, Republic of Kenya, Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Republic of Armenia and Nigeria.
• Local Churches are to verify and prove that the applicant belongs to their religious community. Please note that only letters of recommendation issued by ecclesiastical Christian denomination and rite groups listed in this PDF file are accepted.
• Only applicants with recommendations from the local Church along with the approval of the State Secretariat for the Aid of Persecuted Christians and for Hungary Helps Program will be awarded the scholarship. Please note that only letters of recommendation issued by those churches listed in the PDF file above will be accepted.
• Degree programs at the bachelor level, one-tier master’s and master programs are open to all applicants, while doctoral programs are open to those applicants who have completed their master studies in the frame of the Scholarship Programme for Christian Young People in Hungary or are registered for the last semester of their studies in the 2023/2024 academic year as Scholarship for Christian Young People scholarship holders.
• Scholarship holders must possess the relevant language and education certificates and degrees requested by the host university of the selected degree program.
• The scholarship holders commit themselves in the scholarship agreement that after the scholarship agreement ends, they return to their home countries if the local security and political conditions allow it so.
• Scholarships are for young applicants who are older than 18 years of age (born before 31st August 2006) by the time their education starts in Hungary (as of 31 August 2024).

Non-eligibility

Applications will not be considered in the following cases:

1. Hungarian citizens (including those with dual citizenships), persons granted a refugee status (“menekült”), persons enjoying temporary protection (“menedékes”), persons admitted for subsidiary protection (“oltalmazott”) and persons granted humanitarian protection (“befogadott”), stateless persons (“hontalan”), asylum seeker persons (“menedékkérő”) and persons who are already settled in Hungary. This requirement is not only for applicants, but for Scholarship Holders as well; it means that, e.g., if you obtain Hungarian citizenship or a refugee status during your studies in Hungary, your scholarship holder status will be terminated automatically.
2. Those applicants who apply for the SCYP Programme for the first cycle of education who are not resident or domiciled in the same country of their nationality or in an Official Development Assistance (ODA) recipient country. This requirement does not apply to Scholarship Holders applying for the SCYP Programme for the next cycle of education, e.g. Bachelor Scholarship Holders applying for master’s studies, master’s Scholarship Holders applying for Doctoral programmes.
3. Those applicants who are registered self-financed/fee-paying students of a Hungarian higher education institution at the time of the application deadline.
4. Those former SCYP Scholarship Holders who were awarded scholarships for full degree studies and who:
   • are now re-applying for full degree in the same cycle of education (non-degree studies, bachelor’s, master’s, one-tier master’s), therefore, SCYP Scholarship Holders can apply for the programme to continue their studies at a different cycle of education, e.g. bachelor Scholarship Holders can apply for Master’s studies;
   • or who have postponed the starting date of their scholarship studies and did not withdraw their scholarship before the current application deadline.
5. Former Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship Holders except if they apply for the programme for the next cycle of education while they still have a scholarship status at the time of application if they receive their degree until 31st August 2024 (eg. a bachelor student may apply for master studies if they get the bachelor degree by 31st August, 2024).

As part of the selection procedure, local churches of eligible sending countries have the right to rank applicants. In the selection procedure applications will be ranked according to the following priority order of available study fields:

1. agriculture, economic studies, medical and health sciences, technology
2. computer science, law, and administration, political science, teacher training
3. natural sciences
4. humanities, social sciences.

Preparatory Courses

Besides full-degree programs, full-time non-degree programs are also available within the program in certain cases, for up to one year. Please read this section if you are applying for study programs in the field of Engineering and Computer Science and Technology. Preparatory courses are non-degree programs before starting a bachelor’s or master’s level degree program at a host institution (both with the scholarship).

Only in the case of full degree study programs in the field of Engineering and Computer Science and Technology during the institutional entrance examination process, and based on the professional evaluation of the applicant, the host institutions have the right to make the decision to admit the applicant for a preparatory course (up to 1 year) before they can actually start their full degree programs.

The preparatory course is only available before bachelor and master level programs in the field of Engineering and Computer Science and Technology. Applicants, therefore, cannot directly apply for preparatory courses; it is always the host institutions’ decision whether a professional preparation year is necessary or not.

Similar opportunities

1. Emile-Boutmy Scholarship at Sciences Po for international students;
2. Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships;
3. Singapore Government Scholarship.

How to Apply for the Christian Young People Scholarship in Hungary

Eligible applicants who would like to apply for this scholarship to study in Europe must click on the apply button below and register for an account in order to have access to the application system. Please fill in the required information and upload the required documents.

Required Documents

1. Online application form (will need a recent photo of the applicant taken in the last 6 months);
2. Motivation Letter: minimum 1 page, typed in Times New Roman 12-point letters written in English language describing why the applicant had chosen the specific studies and how their studies will contribute to the greater benefit of their local community in their homeland;
3. Approved Recommendation: Recommendation of the local Christian Church (Please click here to download the list) to be approved by the State Secretariat for the Aid of Persecuted Christians and for the Hungary Helps Program (issued not earlier than 1 November 2023). In those churches, where there are no Bishops, the Letter of Recommendation must be signed at the highest episcopal level. The recommendation letter must:
   • be signed and stamped by the Bishop of the relevant Church (or by the highest relevant episcopal authority, if the Church has no Bishop)
   • be typed and printed on the official letterhead of the relevant Church
   • have the name of the bishop printed on it
   • state all the personal details of the applicant (i.e: full name, country of residence, date, and place of birth) and the date of issuance (according to Gregorian calendar)
   • cannot be handwritten
4. Scanned copy of the original proof of language proficiency, with a minimum level determined by the Host Institution;
5. School certificates;
6. Transcript of Records;
7. Medical Certificate (not earlier than 1 November 2023). Applicants must use this form. The medical certificate must be submitted by those applicants whose applications are forwarded for the entrance examination to the chosen Host Institution (until 30th April). However, it is possible to upload it from the beginning of the application period. Certificates have to be accompanied obligatory by laboratory tests of the following illnesses: AIDS, Hepatitis B, C or any other epidemic conditions;
8. Copy of Identification Document. Applicants can upload a copy of their national ID if they do not have a passport at the time of application;
9. Acceptance of Statement for Application in the online system. All applicants need to accept the “Statement for Application”, in order to be able to submit their applications.
10. Research Plan: minimum 2 pages, typed in Times New Roman 12-point font size letters, written in the language of the selected study program (Only for PhD Applicants);
11. Statement of the Supervisor: Statement by the Supervisor at the proposed host institution stating that the supervisor will supervise the student’s work (Only for PhD Applicants);
12. Letter of Recommendation: one signed Letter of Recommendation from the applicant’s former or current academic supervisor (Only for PhD Applicants);

Missing Documents

All documents listed above are mandatory application documents. However, certain documents are accepted to be uploaded even after the application deadline, provided that the applicant could not possibly obtain the document by the deadline of the application. In this case, the applicants need to upload a signed statement that they will obtain and upload the missing document(s) until 31st July 2024 at the latest. No missing document will be accepted if the statement is not uploaded until 10th January 2024 and/or if the missing documents are not uploaded until 31st July 2024, thus such applications will automatically be rejected.

• School certificates and their translations
  1. high school certificate: only applicants registered for the last semester of their secondary school studies. Candidates should later upload a high school graduation certificate;
  2. bachelor degree certificate: only applicants registered for the last semester of their bachelor program. Candidates should later upload a bachelor’s degree certificate;
  3. master degree certificate: only applicants registered for the last semester of their master program. Candidates should later upload a master’s degree certificate;
• Certificate of language proficiency: only applicants awaiting their language test results at the time of application;
• Copy of Passport: only applicants awaiting their passports to be issued. must have uploaded a declaration signed by the applicant AND a copy of a valid national ID with translation if the original document is not in the language of the selected study program.

Please make sure that you:

• visit the website of the program and your chosen Host Institutions for details about the entrance requirements of study programs, curriculum, and so on;
• provide precise contact details and make sure your e-mail address (or any other information) is not mistyped on your application form because all information – including the selection results – will be sent there;
• do not accidentally apply to the wrong study levels (e.g. master studies while you are a Bachelor student) and do not apply to different study levels in one application;
• the documents with the correct file formats are uploaded and the files can be opened;
• submit your application before the deadline;;
• click on the submit button to submit your application after filling in all information and uploading documents;
• write down and remember your login name, password, and your e-mail address used when you submitted your application because you will need this information later (e.g. for accepting the scholarship offer), and;
• write down and remember your application registration number for later use;
• please click here for more details on host institutions.

The deadline to submit the online application is January 10, 2024. For more details on the Scholarship for Christian Young People in Hungary, please visit the official page. To be the first to see latest opportunities, please follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.