Updated: October 10, 2026 | Reading time: 9 min | Written by: StudyTribune Team
Stipendium Hungaricum Pakistan is run by the Higher Education Commission (HEC), and the HEC deadline is earlier than the Hungarian one. In 2026-27 HEC offered 400 seats for Pakistani and AJ&K nationals across bachelor’s, one-tier master’s, master’s and PhD study. This guide to Stipendium Hungaricum Pakistan for the 2027/28 round explains the two-portal rule, the seats by level, the aptitude tests, the time-zone trap in the deadlines, and what to prepare before the call opens.
This page is part of our complete guide to the Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship.
Quick answer: you must apply on both the HEC scholarship portal and the Hungarian (Tempus Public Foundation) portal. Applications on only one portal are rejected. The 2027/28 call is not yet published. In 2026-27, HEC closed at 4:00 p.m. Pakistan time on 15 January 2026, two hours before the Hungarian 2 p.m. CET deadline.
Table of Contents
Stipendium Hungaricum Pakistan at a Glance
| Item | Details (2026-27 round) |
|---|---|
| Sending partner | Higher Education Commission (HEC), Pakistan |
| Who can apply | Citizens of Pakistan and Azad Jammu & Kashmir |
| Seats | Bachelor’s 200, one-tier master’s 70, master’s 100, PhD 30 (400 in total) |
| One-tier master’s split | 20 for medicine/general medicine, 10 for dentistry, 40 for all other disciplines |
| Portals | HEC scholarship portal (scholarship.hec.gov.pk) and the Hungarian portal (apply.stipendiumhungaricum.hu) |
| Deadline for both portals | 15 January 2026, 16:00 Pakistan Standard Time |
| Hungarian online deadline | 15 January 2026, 14:00 CET (18:00 in Pakistan) |
| 2027/28 call | Not yet published at the time of writing |
Stipendium Hungaricum Pakistan: The Two-Portal Rule
HEC’s call asks you to submit the complete application on both its own scholarship portal and the Stipendium Hungaricum portal. The Tempus Public Foundation’s Call for Applications says the same thing from the Hungarian side: every application must also be submitted to the sending partner, which pre-selects candidates and sends a nomination list and a reserve list by the end of February. HEC’s advert adds that applications submitted outside its online portal will not be entertained and that its recommendation is final and binding.
The time-zone trap: Hungary’s deadline is 2 p.m. CET, which is 6 p.m. in Pakistan in January. HEC’s own deadline in 2026-27 was 4 p.m. Pakistan time, so HEC closed two hours earlier. Always work to the earlier of the two.
Seats and Levels for Stipendium Hungaricum Pakistan
| Level | Seats in 2026-27 | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s | 200 | All available disciplines |
| One-tier master’s | 70 | 20 for medicine/general medicine, 10 for dentistry, 40 for other disciplines |
| Master’s | 100 | All available disciplines |
| PhD | 30 | All available disciplines |
You can only apply for study fields that HEC has approved and that Hungary lists for Pakistan. Check HEC’s approved study fields and the Study Finder before choosing, and remember the Hungarian Call lets you choose up to two programmes in order of preference. Medicine is the most competitive field: the Call says most host institutions expect to fill medical places from first-choice applicants, so a medical programme chosen only as second choice is unlikely to be considered. Our guide to the Stipendium Hungaricum selection process explains how places are allocated.
Stipendium Hungaricum Pakistan Eligibility
- Citizenship: Pakistan or AJ&K. You can only apply through your own country’s sending partner.
- Degree level: HEC’s call asks for the qualification required for the level you apply to. Press coverage of the 2026-27 call reported a 16-year bachelor’s degree for master’s applicants and an MS/MPhil for PhD applicants. Confirm this in HEC’s advert.
- Final-year students: result-awaiting applicants can apply, but the Hungarian Call requires a signed declaration by the deadline and the missing certificate by 1 August, or the application is rejected.
- Age: applicants born after 31 August 2008 were not eligible in 2026/27.
- Return commitment: news coverage reports that HEC requires awardees to return and serve Pakistan for a prescribed period, with a possible penalty otherwise. Read the undertaking in HEC’s call.
- Regulated fields: HEC’s advert refers to the professional councils (for example PMDC for medicine and dentistry and PEC for engineering). Check its note on recognition before you choose a regulated field.
HEC Aptitude Tests for Stipendium Hungaricum Pakistan
HEC’s 2026-27 advert said that MS/MPhil and PhD applicants take the HEC Aptitude Test (HAT) and undergraduate applicants take the USAT, both conducted by the Educational Testing Council with a tentative schedule of January to February 2026. This is separate from the Hungarian universities’ own entrance examinations later in spring. Check HEC’s page for the 2027/28 schedule.
Stipendium Hungaricum Pakistan Timeline for 2027/28
HEC’s 2026-27 announcement appeared in late November 2025. The 2027/28 call is not yet public, so the dates below follow the official 2026/27 cycle and are expected, not confirmed.
| When | What happens |
|---|---|
| Mid to late November 2026 | HEC announcement and Hungarian online system expected to open |
| November 2026 to January 2027 | Choose approved fields, prepare documents, apply on both portals |
| Mid-January 2027 | HEC deadline at 4 p.m. Pakistan time; Hungarian deadline 2 p.m. CET (6 p.m. Pakistan time) |
| January to February 2027 | HEC aptitude tests (tentative, based on 2026), technical check, HEC nominations by end of February |
| Mid-March to end of May 2027 | University entrance examinations for nominated applicants |
| End of June to mid-July 2027 | Results; accept the scholarship and upload missing documents by 1 August |
| By 30 September 2027 | Arrive in Hungary and register |
How to Apply for Stipendium Hungaricum from Pakistan
- Check HEC’s approved study fields and match them with programmes in the Study Finder.
- Prepare your documents from the official checklist, including a motivation letter written for each programme.
- Apply on the Hungarian portal and submit before the deadline, with up to two programmes in order of preference.
- Apply on the HEC scholarship portal and choose the Hungarian scholarship programme. Submit before HEC’s 4 p.m. deadline.
- Sit the HEC aptitude test (HAT or USAT) if it applies to your level.
- Prepare for entrance exams and accept the scholarship in the online system by 1 August if you are selected.
Common Mistakes with Stipendium Hungaricum Pakistan
- Applying on one portal only. Applications on only one portal are rejected.
- Working to the Hungarian deadline. HEC closes earlier in Pakistan time.
- Choosing a field HEC has not approved. Only approved fields offered by the Hungarian portal can be selected.
- Listing medicine as second choice. Host institutions fill medical places mainly from first-choice applicants.
- Leaving missing documents to chance. A signed declaration must be uploaded by the deadline, and the document by 1 August.
- Using an agent. The Call says there are no additional costs and advises against agencies.
Frequently Asked Questions About Stipendium Hungaricum Pakistan
Who can apply for Stipendium Hungaricum from Pakistan?
Citizens of Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir can apply through the Higher Education Commission, which is Pakistan’s sending partner. HEC covers bachelor’s, one-tier master’s, master’s and PhD study.
How many Stipendium Hungaricum seats did HEC offer for 2026-27?
HEC offered 400 seats: 200 for bachelor’s, 70 for one-tier master’s (20 medicine, 10 dentistry, 40 other), 100 for master’s and 30 for PhD.
Do I need to apply on both portals?
Yes. You must submit the complete application on both the HEC scholarship portal and the Stipendium Hungaricum portal. Applications submitted on only one portal are rejected.
What was the deadline for 2026-27?
15 January 2026 at 16:00 Pakistan Standard Time on both portals, according to HEC. The Hungarian system’s own deadline was 14:00 CET, which is 18:00 in Pakistan.
Is the HEC aptitude test required?
HEC’s 2026-27 advert said MS/MPhil and PhD applicants take the HEC Aptitude Test (HAT) and undergraduate applicants take the USAT, conducted by the Educational Testing Council. Check HEC for the 2027/28 requirements.
Can final-year students apply?
Yes. Result-awaiting applicants can apply, but they must upload a signed declaration by the deadline and the final certificate by 1 August, or the application is rejected.
Is medicine available for Pakistani applicants?
Yes. HEC’s 2026-27 one-tier master’s seats included 20 for medicine/general medicine and 10 for dentistry. Medicine is very competitive, and hosts mainly fill medical places from first-choice applicants.
What does the Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship pay?
It covers tuition and pays a monthly stipend of HUF 43,700 (about €110) for bachelor’s and master’s students, plus a free dormitory place or a HUF 40,000 housing contribution and medical insurance. Travel is not covered.
Can I apply for two programmes?
Yes. You can choose up to two programmes in order of preference, but you cannot change them after the deadline.
When will the 2027/28 call open?
It is not yet published. HEC’s 2026-27 announcement came in late November 2025, so expect a similar timing and check HEC and the official Stipendium Hungaricum website.
Related Reading
- Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship: the complete guide
- Stipendium Hungaricum Nigeria
- Stipendium Hungaricum selection process
- Stipendium Hungaricum documents checklist
- Writing a recommendation letter for a scholarship
- Personal statement for a scholarship
Official sources: the HEC Stipendium Hungaricum page, the 2026/27 Call for Applications and the sending partners page.
Conclusion
For Stipendium Hungaricum Pakistan, the winning habits are applying on both portals, respecting the earlier HEC deadline and choosing HEC-approved fields. Confirm every date, seat number and requirement on HEC’s 2027/28 announcement before you submit.