By Shruti Menon Seeboo
Hungary is a beautiful country known for its rich history, stunning architecture, and vibrant culture. Recently, we had the opportunity to speak with Mr. Laszlo Tiborcz, the Honorary Consul of Hungary in Mauritius. He shared valuable insights into the exceptional educational opportunities offered by Hungarian universities, which are increasingly recognised for their high academic standards and diverse programs.
Hungarian universities provide a dynamic learning environment that encourages personal and professional growth, with a strong emphasis on innovation and research. These institutions not only offer quality education but also foster international connections, allowing students to engage with different cultures and perspectives.
As the global education landscape evolves, Mr. Tiborcz highlighted the importance of enhancing cultural exchange and collaboration between Hungary and Mauritius. He expressed enthusiasm about the potential for Mauritian students to explore academic pathways in Hungary, benefiting from the unique blend of experiences the country has to offer.
We caught up with Mr. Tiborcz to learn more about the opportunities available for Mauritian students in Hungary and how they can pursue their educational aspirations in this beautiful country. Excerpts:
1. What opportunities do Hungarian universities offer for Mauritian students, both in terms of academic programs and scholarships?
In recent years, Hungary has become a popular study abroad destination. Hungary has many educational institutions which are known for academic excellence, with many of its universities ranked highly in international rankings. The Hungarian universities are known to provide a wide range of programs in multiple languages, outstanding curriculums and degrees that are accredited globally. Most of the universities offer a diverse range of fields of study, covering various disciplines and academic areas that include Engineering and Technology, Medicine and Health Sciences, IT, Computer Science and more.
2. How is Hungary positioning itself as a destination for international students, and how do Mauritian students benefit from studying in Hungary?
Hungary has recently emerged as one of the top choices for international students who aspire to study abroad. In fact, in the last decade the number of international students enrolling into programmes at Hungarian universities has grown substantially – a trend that reflects the country’s commitment to receive and educate global talent. Over 32,000 students selected Hungary for their higher education during the year 2022-2023. The common reasons behind students’ choice of Hungary as a study destination include its institutions’ record of academic success, affordability in terms of overall expenses, and its culturally rich environment.
Multiple universities in Hungary have secured places in top- ranking institutions and have been recognized for their outstanding academic performance. In this blog post, we will explore the key factors that influence international students’ decision to study in Hungary. Moreover, we will highlight important points for students who are planning to pursue their education in Hungary. Hungary’s central location in Europe offers easy access to travel around the continent. This positioning enables students to explore various destinations for leisure or to find educational and work opportunities. Therefore, this advantage is particularly beneficial for international students, as it allows them to travel and explore without being confined to a single geographical area.
3. Hungarian universities are known for their programs in Veterinary Medicine and Medicine, which have attracted Mauritian students. What makes these programs stand out for international students?
Veterinary and Medicine training in Hungary is available in three languages; apart from the Hungarian programme, we can offer English and German programmes to students coming from around 60 countries of the world who well outnumber the Hungarian students. Hungary is
home to prestigious institutions like Semmelweis University, offering high academic standards and world-class faculty for medical studies. Studying medicine in Hungary is budget-friendly, with tuition fees ranging from 6,000 to 12,000 EUR per year and a reasonable cost of living. Hungary’s medical schools are hubs for research and innovation, providing students access to cutting-edge facilities and research projects.
4. What has been the experience of Mauritian students who pursue studies in Hungary, and what support systems are in place to help them integrate and succeed in their academic journey?
The quite regular number of Mauritian students in the recent years was showing a real interest to go to study in Hungary. The entry to the country and the procedure of obtaining student resident permit is fairly easy due to the already well-established system for Mauritian citizen. The universities are providing assistance to find lodging facilities and Hungarian language courses in addition to the standard syllabus in the first year to catch up with the local language which provide good assistance in the day-to-day life of the students Mr Jozsef Meszaros, the Honorary Consul of Mauritius present in Budapest is represent an important support to the Mauritian student in case of any necessity would arise.
5. Can you tell us about any existing or upcoming partnerships between Hungarian and Mauritian educational institutions, and how these could benefit future students?
The Hungarian Government established the Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship programme to promote the internationalisation of Hungarian higher education and to attract top international students from all around the world who can establish personal and professional links to Hungary while enjoying high-quality education in the heart of Europe.
When our graduates return to their home countries with marketable skills and knowledge, they can build social, political and economic relationships, thus contributing to extending and deepening cooperation between Hungary and their home countries. During the meeting between H.E. Mr. Péter Szijjártó, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary and H.E. Mr. Alan Ganoo, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Regional Integration of Mauritius between 18-19 April 2023, the Hungarian side offered 15 Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship to the Mauritian students. The Hungarian side is ready to sign the latest draft MoU and waiting for the response of the Mauritian side. Scholarships may be granted for pursuing:
- full-time undergraduate (BA/BSc), graduate (MA/MSc) and one-tier master’s (OTM) studies in any available field of study, excluding OTM studies in the field of Medical and Health Science, as well as doctoral (PhD/DLA) studies in any field of interest; and/or
- three (3) to ten (10) months’ credit-earning part-time studies.
The list of the available study programmes at the different study levels will be published by the Tempus Public Foundation (www.tpf.hu) in the given year’s call for applications.
Regarding scholarships offered, the Hungarian Participant undertakes to provide the following to the Mauritian scholarship holders:
- tuition-free courses,
- dormitory places on the campus of the receiving higher-education institution or contribution to the accommodation costs as stipulated by the relevant legal regulations in effect at the time of the MoU’s signing,
- entitlement to health services and the option for additional health insurance covering services in a foreign language,
- use of free library services,
- monthly allowance in accordance with the prevailing legal regulations defining the amount of the scholarships for international students, in effect at the time of the signing of the scholarship contract.
On behalf of the Hungarian Participant, the Scholarship Programme is operated by the Tempus Public Foundation. Further information as regards the application and the scholarship (actual monthly allowance, accommodation, entitlement to health services) will be published in the given year’s call for applications.
6. Are there any specific scholarships or financial aid options for Mauritian students interested in studying Medicine or Veterinary Medicine in Hungary?
When it comes to scholarships for international students, Hungary offers a variety of options to cater to different needs. With the variety of scholarships available, you can make your academic journey affordable and unforgettable.
Stipendium Hungaricum is the Hungarian Government’s premier scholarship initiative, with a primary aim to support higher education’s internationalization. It fosters strong academic, and research ties, enhances Hungary’s global higher education standing, and ensures competitiveness in the international education arena. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade supervises the program, while the Tempus Public Foundation manages it, ensuring efficient operation and implementation of scholarship awards.
Hungary has bilateral agreements with several countries, providing scholarships to students based on these agreements. Therefore, the Bilateral State Scholarships offer opportunities for foreign students, researchers, and lecturers in Hungary’s higher education and art institutions.
Each partner country has its own national scholarship office, responsible for nominating candidates for these scholarships and managing the application process. Moreover, in Hungary, Tempus Public Foundation, under the Ministry of Culture and Innovation, oversees this initiative.
- Nominated by the home country: Applicants begin by submitting their applications to their national scholarship office, which assesses them and creates a list of successful candidates. These nominees then apply through Tempus Public Foundation.
- Individual application: If not nominated by the home country, applicants can directly apply through Tempus Public Foundation.
Both cases involve a thorough assessment, starting with a formal eligibility check, followed by evaluation by external experts based on professional criteria. The decision (acceptance or rejection) is communicated via email, along with additional information to support the scholars during their stay in Hungary.
Erasmus+ is a program by the European Union. It therefore enables international students to experience Hungarian education while exploring European diversity.
Promoting student mobility and academic cooperation, the program allows students to study or perform research in Hungary and other European countries. Moreover, this scholarship allows the recipient to be abroad for 2 to 12 months to earn their Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD. They can also work while studying. Furthermore, the scholarship is renewable, but not more than 12 months in one study cycle.
7. How do Hungarian universities plan to adapt and grow their international programs in the future, particularly to attract more students from Mauritius?
Although studying abroad for long or short term is getting more and more popular among students, new kind of actors are emerging in this sector: research and training organizations and business companies provide their services similar to that of Universities. In order to be successful on higher education market, Higher Education
Institutes should develop international business models to cope with changing environment and rivalry. Internationalization of higher education is a concept which has various aspects (e.g. international cooperation, mutual research and publishing; transnational study programs, staff and teacher mobility programs).
