Hungary CEEPUS Scholarships 2027 Open in 16 Central European & Western Balkan Countries
Students across Central Europe and the Western Balkans looking for an affordable international study experience now have another major opportunity to prepare for. The Central European Exchange Program for University Studies (CEEPUS) has officially opened applications for its academic mobility programme, allowing university students, PhD researchers, and teachers to study, teach, conduct research, complete internships, or participate in summer schools across 16 participating countries.
Unlike many international scholarship programmes that focus on one destination, CEEPUS connects universities across an entire region, enabling participants to build academic partnerships, gain international exposure, and experience multiple higher education systems with financial support provided by the host country.
Whether you are planning to spend a semester abroad, conduct thesis research, attend an international summer school, or teach at a partner university, CEEPUS offers one of Europe’s most accessible mobility programmes.
What Makes the CEEPUS Programme Different?
CEEPUS (Central European Exchange Program for University Studies) was created to strengthen academic cooperation between universities in Central Europe and the Western Balkans. One of its strongest features is Network Mobility, which allows universities from at least three participating countries to collaborate on joint academic and research activities.
Applicants can participate through established university networks or apply independently as a Freemover if their university is not currently part of a CEEPUS network.
The programme supports mobility lasting anywhere from 6 days to 10 months, depending on the selected activity.
CEEPUS Member Countries
Applicants can undertake mobility in the following participating countries:
| Participating Countries |
|---|
| Albania |
| Austria |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| Bulgaria |
| Croatia |
| Czech Republic |
| Hungary |
| Kosovo |
| Moldova |
| Montenegro |
| North Macedonia |
| Poland |
| Romania |
| Serbia |
| Slovakia |
| Slovenia |
What Types of Mobility Are Available?
CEEPUS offers several mobility pathways depending on your academic stage and objectives.
| Mobility Type | Eligible Applicants | Duration | Purpose |
| Semester Student Mobility | Bachelor’s, Master’s & PhD students | 3–5 months | Study courses, earn academic credits, internships |
| Short-Term Student Mobility | Bachelor’s and Master’s thesis students, PhD candidates | 1–2 months | Thesis research, laboratory work, consultations |
| Summer Schools | University students | 6–30 days | Intensive academic programmes |
| Teacher Mobility | University teachers | Minimum 5 working days | Teaching or thesis supervision (minimum 6 teaching hours) |
| Freemover Mobility | Students or teachers outside CEEPUS networks | Depends on activity | Study or teaching at an eligible host institution |
Who Can Apply?
Applicants may be eligible if they meet the following conditions:
- Be enrolled as a student or employed as a teacher at an accredited university in one of the participating CEEPUS countries.
- Student applicants must have completed at least two semesters before applying.
- Both Network Mobility and Freemover applications are accepted.
- Applicants with different citizenship are eligible if they study or teach in a CEEPUS member country.
- Applicants cannot receive a scholarship to study or teach in their own country of citizenship or residence.
- Double funding for the same mobility activity from another scholarship programme is not permitted.
- Student mobility funding is limited to a maximum of 10 months for both Bachelor’s and Master’s study cycles.
Individual universities may also establish additional selection requirements.
What Financial Support Does CEEPUS Provide?
CEEPUS scholarships are financed by the participating countries rather than a central funding body.
Successful applicants receive their scholarship directly from the host country, meaning financial support is adjusted according to local living costs.
For example, scholarship recipients studying in Hungary receive payments through their Hungarian host university after admission has been confirmed.
The funding generally helps cover living expenses during the approved mobility period, while exact scholarship amounts differ from one destination country to another.
How to Apply for CEEPUS Scholarships
Applicants should begin by identifying a suitable host university within the CEEPUS network.
For Network Mobility, approval is required from both the home university’s network coordinator and the host university’s coordinator.
Applicants applying as Freemovers must first contact the host university directly and obtain a formal Letter of Acceptance before submitting their online application.
All applications are submitted electronically through the official CEEPUS online application portal, where the Mobility Wizard guides applicants through each stage of the submission process.
CEEPUS Scholarship Application Deadlines
The Hungary CEEPUS Scholarship Programme follows fixed annual application deadlines depending on the type of mobility selected. Applications for Network Mobility during the winter (first) semester must be submitted by 31 August 2026, while applications for the summer (second) semester close on 31 December 2026.
Applicants choosing Freemover Mobility for the winter semester can apply on a rolling basis, usually from 1 July until available scholarship places are filled, whereas Freemover applications for the summer semester must be submitted by 30 November 2026. Since host university approvals and supporting documents can take time to arrange, prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to begin preparing their applications well before the relevant deadline.