Updated: October 10, 2026 | Reading time: 10 min | Written by: StudyTribune Team
The Stipendium Hungaricum documents list is short, but one missing item can reject an otherwise strong application. The Tempus Public Foundation requires everything to be uploaded online by the deadline, with a 4 MB limit per file and no hard copies, while your sending partner may ask for extra paper documents. This guide to Stipendium Hungaricum documents follows the official 2026/27 Call for Applications and explains each requirement, the translation rules, the missing-document exception and a sample motivation letter.
This page is part of our complete guide to the Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship.
Quick answer: every applicant uploads an online form with a recent photo, a motivation letter of at least one page, proof of language proficiency, school or degree certificates, a transcript, a passport or ID copy, and an accepted online Statement for Application. The medical certificate is needed only if you win. The 2027/28 checklist may change, so confirm it in the new Call.
Table of Contents
Key Rules for Stipendium Hungaricum Documents
| Rule | What the 2026/27 Call says |
|---|---|
| Deadline | All basic documents by the online deadline (15 January 2026, 2 p.m. CET last time) |
| File size | Maximum 4 MB per file |
| Hard copies | None required by the Tempus Public Foundation. Sending partners may require them |
| Translations | Required for any document not in the language of the selected programme or Hungarian, submitted with a copy of the original |
| Only submitted applications count | Saved but unsubmitted applications are rejected |
| Agents | No additional costs. The Call strongly suggests not applying through agencies |
The Basic Stipendium Hungaricum Documents Checklist
| Document | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Online application form | Filled in English, with a recent photo taken no earlier than two years before submission. Partial-study applicants must state the length in months and the start date (September or February) |
| Motivation letter | At least one page in Times New Roman 12 point, written in the language of the selected programme or in Hungarian |
| Proof of language proficiency | Scanned original at the minimum level set by the host institution, plus a translation. If your previous studies were in the same language, you can upload proof of that fact instead |
| School or degree certificate | Depends on your level (see below), with a translation |
| Transcript of records | All semesters or school years completed at the highest level of education, with a translation |
| Identification | Scan of the passport data page with your photo, or the national ID card if you have no passport yet |
| Statement for Application | Read and accepted online. Do not upload a signed scan |
| Medical certificate | Needed only if you receive a scholarship. Do not upload it; bring it to Hungary for the compulsory medical examination |
For 2026/27 the medical certificate could not be dated earlier than 1 November 2025, so expect a similar cut-off for 2027/28 and wait for the official rule before getting examined.
Stipendium Hungaricum Documents by Study Level
| Level you apply for | Certificate to upload |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s (full time) | Secondary school graduation certificate or equivalent |
| Master’s (full time) | Bachelor’s degree certificate or equivalent |
| One-tier master’s (full time) | Secondary school graduation certificate or equivalent |
| Hungarian language preparatory course | Secondary school graduation certificate |
| Partial (exchange) studies | Certificate of student status from your current institution, where required |
The doctoral programme has its own Call for Applications and its own checklist. You can apply to the doctoral call or to the other levels in one round, not both.
The Stipendium Hungaricum Motivation Letter
The Call sets only the minimum format: at least one page, Times New Roman 12, in the language of the programme. What the host university wants to read is up to you, so write a separate letter for each of your two choices. A strong letter covers four points:
- why this programme at this Hungarian university;
- your academic and professional background relevant to it;
- what you plan to do with the degree in your home country;
- why you are ready for the study load and for living in Hungary.
See also our guide to writing a personal statement for a scholarship and our CV guide.
Sample motivation letter (fictional)
Do not copy this letter. It is an example of structure and tone, and every name and detail is invented.
Dear Selection Committee,
I am applying for the MSc in Civil Engineering at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics through the Stipendium Hungaricum programme. I graduated with a second-class upper bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering and have worked for three years as a site engineer on drainage and road projects.
Flooding is the most serious infrastructure problem in my city, and my work has shown me that many failures come from weak design standards and poor maintenance planning, not only from budget limits. BME’s courses in hydraulic and structural engineering match the skills I lack, and your laboratory work on water infrastructure is the kind of training I need.
After graduating I intend to return to my home country and join the state drainage authority, where I will apply what I learn to flood-resilient design and train junior engineers. I know that Stipendium Hungaricum covers only part of my living costs, and I have prepared a plan to meet the rest. I am ready to study in English, complete the Hungarian language course, and contribute to the university community.
Thank you for your consideration.
Yours sincerely,
[Name]
Missing Stipendium Hungaricum Documents: What You Can Upload After the Deadline
All listed documents are mandatory, but a few can be uploaded late if you cannot get them by the deadline. You must upload a signed declaration, written by you (the foundation provides no form) by the application deadline, and the document itself by 1 August. Without the declaration, or if the document is late, the application is rejected automatically.
| Document | Who may upload it late | Upload by the deadline | Upload by 1 August |
|---|---|---|---|
| High school certificate | Students in the last semester of secondary school | Signed declaration | Graduation certificate |
| Bachelor’s degree certificate | Students in the last semester of their bachelor’s | Signed declaration and secondary school certificate | Bachelor’s certificate |
| Master’s degree certificate | Students in the last semester of their master’s | Signed declaration and bachelor’s degree with translation | Master’s certificate |
| Language certificate | Applicants awaiting test results | Signed declaration | Language certificate |
| Passport | Applicants awaiting a passport | Signed declaration and national ID copy | Passport copy |
Extra Stipendium Hungaricum Documents for Art, Music and Self-Financed Applicants
- Art and music applicants must also upload a portfolio as set by the host institution, in the Media Files section. If the file is over 4 MB, upload a document containing a download link.
- Self-financed students already in Hungary applying for the same study level need a recommendation letter from their Hungarian host university, uploaded by 15 March, and their cumulative average must be above the programme average.
- Your sending partner may require additional documents, including hard copies. Ask it directly. For examples, see Stipendium Hungaricum Nigeria.
Recommendation letters are not on the basic list in the Call, but some sending partners and programmes may ask for them. If yours does, our guide to writing a recommendation letter for a scholarship and the free samples in our scholarship reference letter guide will help your referee.
How to Prepare Your Stipendium Hungaricum Documents
- Read the Call and checklist as soon as they are published, and note changes from last year.
- Order certificates and transcripts early. Translations take time, so start before the call opens.
- Scan every document clearly and keep each file under 4 MB.
- Write one motivation letter per programme in the programme’s language.
- Use a reliable personal email address. The foundation advises against Hotmail and Yahoo (messages often go to spam) and against institutional addresses that may expire.
- Submit, do not just save. Click submit before the deadline and check your account for confirmation.
Common Mistakes with Stipendium Hungaricum Documents
These errors most often cause Stipendium Hungaricum documents to be rejected.
- Forgetting to submit. Only submitted applications are considered.
- Uploading a signed copy of the Statement for Application. It must be accepted in the online system.
- Uploading the medical certificate. Scholarship holders bring it to Hungary; applicants do not upload it.
- Missing the declaration for a late document. A signed declaration must be uploaded by the deadline.
- Skipping translations for documents not in the programme’s language.
- Reusing one motivation letter for two different programmes and universities.
- Assuming the checklist never changes. The Call says it can change from year to year.
Frequently Asked Questions About Stipendium Hungaricum Documents
Do I need to send hard copies for Stipendium Hungaricum?
The Tempus Public Foundation requires no hard copies at the time of application. Your sending partner might, so check its requirements directly.
What is the file size limit for Stipendium Hungaricum documents?
Each file you upload can be at most 4 MB. For an art or audio portfolio larger than 4 MB, upload a document containing download links.
How long must the Stipendium Hungaricum motivation letter be?
The Call requires at least one page, typed in Times New Roman 12 point, in the language of the selected study programme or in Hungarian.
When do I need the medical certificate?
Only if you are awarded a scholarship. You do not upload it. You bring it to Hungary and present it at the compulsory medical examination. For 2026/27 it could not be dated before 1 November 2025.
Can I upload some Stipendium Hungaricum documents after the deadline?
Yes, for a few documents such as a final certificate, language test result or passport. You must upload a signed declaration by the deadline and the document itself by 1 August, or the application is rejected.
Do I need translations of my Stipendium Hungaricum documents?
Yes, for any document not in the language of the selected study programme or in Hungarian. Upload the translation together with a copy of the original.
Do I need a passport to apply?
If you have a passport, upload its data page with your photo. If you do not have one yet, upload your national ID card and a signed declaration, then the passport copy by 1 August.
What if my previous studies were in English?
You can upload proof that the language of your previous education was the same as the language of the programme you apply for, instead of a separate language certificate.
Are recommendation letters required?
Not on the basic list in the Call. Self-financed students already in Hungary need one from their host university, and some sending partners or programmes may ask for others.
How old can the photo in my Stipendium Hungaricum documents be?
The recent photo on the online form must have been taken no earlier than two years before you submit.
Related Reading
- Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship: the complete guide
- Stipendium Hungaricum selection process
- Stipendium Hungaricum Nigeria
- Stipendium Hungaricum Pakistan
- English proficiency certificate guide
Official sources: the 2026/27 Call for Applications and the Stipendium Hungaricum website.
Conclusion
Good Stipendium Hungaricum documents are complete, translated, under 4 MB each and submitted before the deadline. Use this checklist to prepare early, then confirm every requirement in the official 2027/28 Call for Applications before you upload.