Islamabad: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan has successfully facilitated 1,427 students with scholarships under the Stipendium Hungaricum Programme since 2016, allowing them to pursue various levels of higher education in Hungary. The scholarships cover a broad spectrum of academic disciplines and provide Pakistani students with fully funded educational opportunities abroad.

According to Higher Education Commission of Pakistan, the application process for the 2026 academic year is currently underway, with 26,000 applications received. The selection process is expected to conclude by June 2026. The Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship Programme offers comprehensive support for Bachelor’s, Master’s, One-Tier Master’s, and PhD studies across fields such as engineering, IT, agriculture, medicine, business, and social sciences.

The programme, initiated by a Memorandum of Understanding in December 2015, originally provided 80 annual scholarships. It has since expanded through subsequent agreements, now offering up to 400 scholarships annually, continuing through 2028. This initiative aims to foster academic collaboration between Pakistan and Hungary, enhancing educational exchange and cultural understanding.