2026

There have been no reforms yet this year.

2025

Integration of artificial intelligence into higher education

In September 2025, the government renewed Hungary’s Artificial Intelligence Strategy for the period 2025–2030 (Government, 2025a) and adopted the related implementation measures; (Government Resolution No. 1324 of 2025 (3 September) on the renewal of Hungary’s Artificial Intelligence Strategy and related implementation measures for the period 2025–2030). In this context, the Minister responsible for higher education and the Government Commissioner for artificial intelligence were mandated to develop, by 31 March 2026, a roadmap for integrating artificial intelligence into higher education, and to ensure its implementation by 31 December 2026 (Government Decision No. 1405 of 2025 (4 November) on Measures to Raise Public Awareness of Artificial Intelligence). Higher education and research institutions have been invited to appoint artificial intelligence experts (Government Decision No. 1406 of 2025 (4 November) on Measures to Strengthen the National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence and Prioritise Key Areas of Development). The government has also decided to carry out annual reviews of the strategy.

The government has launched a programme to modernise halls of residence. 

Within the framework of the “Students First 2025” grant scheme, HUF 317 million (EUR 823,377) has been allocated for the refurbishment of 30 higher education halls of residence (Call for Proposals: Focus on Dormitory Residents 2025 – Funding for Infrastructure and Equipment Improvements to Enhance Student Living Conditions). According to the ministry, these developments are expected to improve living conditions for approximately 30,000 students.

Changes to doctoral studies

Through amendments to the Higher Education Act (https://njt.hu/jogszabaly/2025-57-00-00.0#PB4), the government has established a new system for doctoral studies. This system is built around a three-pillar structure of doctoral programmes: In addition to traditional taught programmes, which are divided into formal classes and individual research, there will be cooperative programmes, in which doctoral students simultaneously work at a university, hospital, or company, while completing their doctoral studies, as well as research excellence programmes, in which students join research projects led by outstanding Hungarian scholars selected on the basis of excellence. The research excellence pillar is intended to serve as a new flagship for educating future researchers. Under the programme - supported by the increased budget of the National Research Excellence Program - 300-350 new doctoral researcher positions will be created in the coming period.

Thanks to these changes, the monthly income of doctoral students will increase significantly: those participating in cooperative programmes will receive a state scholarship of HUF 250,000 net per month (approximately EUR 641); while those in the research excellence programmes can expect a gross monthly income of at least HUF 600,000 (approximately EUR 1,537).

To encourage timely completion of degrees, a target bonus will be introduced: if a doctoral student obtains their degree earlier than the planned four years, they will still receive the remaining full scholarship. From September 2026, universities will be required to repay funds, according to specific criteria, if they are unable to increase the degree completion rate of doctoral students at their institution. Simultaneously, universities will be given greater freedom in designing their doctoral programmes. (https://kormany.hu/hirek/uj-lenduletet-kapnak-a-doktori-kepzesek)

Student Loan debt forgiven for women under 30 with children

By government decision, student loan debt will be fully forgiven for women under 30 who have children. (https://kormany.hu/hirek/varga-bajusz-veronika-elengedik-a-diakhitel-tartozast-a-30-ev-alatti-anyaknak)

Student Loan Interest Rate Cap Extended

According to a government decision, the interest rate cap for student loans - introduced on January 1, 2023, to mitigate the effects of international crises - will be extended. For student loan agreements concluded up to December 31, 2024, the Student Loan 1 scheme will continue into the second half of 2025 with a maximum interest rate of 7.99 %. Targeted education schemes, such as Student Loan 2 and Training Loan, will also remain interest-free. (https://kormany.hu/hirek/meghosszabbitjuk-a-diakhitelek-kamatstopjat)

Higher Education Mentoring Programme receives one billion forints in funding

The government is reinforcing the peer-support programme run by the National Conference of Student Unions (HÖOK) - a scheme that has been active for 16 years - by providing it with a stable financial base. Within the programme, senior students assist first-year students in adapting to university life, succeeding in their studies, and even preparing for future careers, with particular attention to supporting disadvantaged young people. The programme focuses on fields of study considered vital to the national economy, including medicine, agriculture, natural sciences, engineering, and initial teacher training. To ensure long-term sustainability, the government has approved funding of HUF 1 billion (EUR 2.57 million) for the programme through 2029. Over this period, the initiative aims to involve about 9,000 participants across 35–40 universities, which translates to roughly 2,300 students each year.  (https://kormany.hu/hirek/varga-bajusz-veronika-egymilliard-forinttal-tamogatjak-a-felsooktatasi-mentorprogramot)

Ten billion-forint higher education mobility programme for disadvantaged students

The Hungarian government has launched a new HUF 10 billion (EUR 25.7 million) programme to help students from disadvantaged backgrounds gain international experience. This initiative provides additional financial support that participating students can use for essential expenses during their mobility period. The programme also offers resources for teachers and staff who work with these students, ensuring comprehensive support. From this budget, the government expects to fund around 3,500 mobility projects, enabling 2,650 students and 850 staff members, teachers, and researchers to take part in international study or research opportunities. (https://kormany.hu/hirek/varga-bajusz-veronika-ujabb-tizmilliard-forintos-mobilitasi-program-indul)

New university operating model

MOL has purchased the ordinary shares of the state-owned company established to maintain Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME Fenntartó Zrt.) for HUF 50 billion. Under the terms of the agreement, the purchase price will be paid in annual instalments over the next 10 years. The aim of the transaction is to ensure a sustainable and competitive organisational and financing structure for domestic engineering and IT education, research and development in the long term, as well as to strengthen MOL's role in the development of Hungarian innovation ecosystem. At the same time, by holding Type B priority shares, the state will continue to have strategic supervisory rights over the university, while the university itself will hold the Type C shares. This series of steps has created a new type of university operating model in Hungary. 

New university operating model

Energy company MOL has purchased the ordinary shares of BME Fenntartó Zrt., the state-owned company that maintains Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME), for HUF 50 billion (EUR 128.5 million). Under the agreement, MOL will pay the purchase price in annual instalments over the next ten years. The transaction aims to create a sustainable and competitive organisational and financing structure for Hungarian engineering and IT education, research, and development, while also strengthening MOL’s role in the national innovation ecosystem. Despite the sale, the state retains strategic supervisory rights by holding Type B priority shares, and the university itself holds Type C shares. Together, these steps establish a new model of university governance in Hungary. (https://kormany.hu/hirek/hanko-balazs-a-mol-tobbsegi-tulajdonaba-kerul-a-bme-fenntarto-zrt )

Strengthening Klebelsberg Scholarship Programme

Klebelsberg Training Scholarship Programme, established by the government in 2013, aims to ensure a steady supply of well-trained, professionally committed teachers with practical experience. It supports students in initial teacher education and training by providing scholarships and guaranteed jobs that match their qualifications after graduation. Beginning with the 2024/2025 academic year, eligibility has expanded to include students enrolled in cycled teacher training programmes, and the scholarship amounts have increased significantly. For those in single-tier or cycled initial teacher education and training, the scholarship now provides HUF 500,000 (EUR 1,285) or HUF 750,000 (EUR 1,927) per semester per person, depending on the programme. Scholarship recipients commit to taking and maintaining a teaching position corresponding to their qualifications and professional skills for a period twice as long as they received the scholarship.

Support for students having children

The government will provide state scholarships for married university students with children up to the age of 30. The amended higher education law (40/2024. (IX. 2.) BM rendelet) also stipulates that if a student has previously been admitted to a self-financed status, he or she must be transferred to a state scholarship status. The law also provides that the internal rules of higher education institutions must allow students with children under the age of 14 to be absent from lectures and seminars to care for their children. However, such absence may not lead to exemption from the basic academic requirements. Doctoral students with children will be allowed to extend the deadline for submitting their doctoral thesis by three academic years in view of childbirth and in specific cases as detailed in the doctoral regulations. They will also be entitled to childcare allowance as parents, following the amendment of the Act on Social Administration and Social Benefits (1993. évi III. törvény).

Review of the role of artificial intelligence in higher education

Following an amendment to the Act on Higher Education (2011. évi CCIV. törvény), higher education institutions must review their internal regulations, in particular their study and examination rules, by 1 September 2025 in order to regulate the use of AI in an appropriate manner. They should also review their learning outcomes and curricula to ensure that the introduction to AI is part of their degree programmes.

Relaunch of the Student City - Dormitory Development Programme

On the initiative of the government, the Parliament amended the Act on Fudan Hungary University Trust Fund (2021. évi LXXXI. törvény) in December 2024, renaming it as Knowledge Space Trust Fund and adding the development of internationalisation of higher education to its mission. The Fund's public interest tasks also include the implementation of the Student City - Dormitory Development Programme in cooperation with universities, dormitory development, and the development of student welfare services. In order to achieve this goal, certain properties owned by the Municipality of Budapest and the Municipality of Ferencváros District in the IXth district of Budapest became the property of the State on 1 January 2025, and will subsequently be transferred to the Fund as property allowance.

Possibility to convert a student loan taken out abroad into a Hungarian student loan

With the amendment of the regulation on Student Loan (1/2012. (I. 20.) Korm. rendelet), the government has made it possible, from January 2025, for young people under 45 who study abroad and graduate from abroad to convert their foreign student loan into a domestic student loan when they move home, subject to certain conditions. Applicants must undertake to maintain a student or employment status in Hungary for at least 5 years within 7-year period after the loan conversion has been completed. Within the 5-year period, the student status may not exceed 2 years.

Extension of the Pannonia Scholarship Programme

The government has extended the Pannonia Scholarship Programme to cover general schools and VET institutions run by higher education institution excluded from the EU's Erasmus+ and Horizon programmes. This means that, from January 2025, more than 20,000 students and 2,500 staff from 31 additional general education and VET institutions will be able to participate in international mobility again, as was previously the case under the Erasmus programme.

2024

Support for students in early childhood care and education ITE programmes

The government has launched a scholarship scheme (EFOP plusz 6.2.1) to support students in higher education ITE bachelor programmes of early childhood care and education (as well as vocational secondary education programmes of early childhood care and education). The aim of the scholarship is to ensure the availability of a skilled workforce in childcare institutions, so students receiving the scholarship must commit to working in a nursery after completing their studies. The non-reimbursable scholarship, available from December 2024 for a maximum of 20 months, amounts to HUF 125,000 net (EUR 311) per month (and HUF 59,000/EUR 147 for secondary VET students). The support is funded by the European Union.

Strengthening teacher training

Following last year's changes, this year saw a further 25% increase in the number of applicants for initial teacher education (ITE), doubling the number of applicants in the last two years.

Further strengthening of doctoral education

Scholarships have been expanded and restructured: the New National Excellence Programme will continue from 2024 under a new name, the University Research Scholarship Programme (UREP) (with the Cooperative Doctoral Programme (KDP) as a sub-programme). The new name also includes new elements: the scholarship applications will be announced by the higher education institutions, subject to minimum threshold conditions, evaluation criteria and binding commitments; the allocation of resources between institutions will include new criteria such as industrial property rights activity, publication performance and the proportion of students studying in a dual scheme; the relevant legislation sets a minimum budget of HUF 10 billion per year (50% for the UREP, 50% for the KDP), which is an increase compared to previous years. The amount of the UREP grant is at least HUF 125 000 per month, up to a maximum of HUF 250 000.

New research funding programme

The government has launched a programme to promote international cooperation in Hungarian research, called HU-rizont. The programme will fund the research costs of foreign universities in partnership with Hungarian universities, in return for which the Hungarian universities will define the research objectives. HUF 8 billion is available to fund the programme in 2024. 

In addition to the HU-rizont programme, the government has earmarked HUF 6 billion to support international researchers to carry out their research in Hungary.