Sending Partners: The Gatekeepers
The sending partner system is what makes Stipendium Hungaricum unique — and confusing. Your country's sending partner is a government body that must nominate you before the Hungarian side will even look at your application. Without this nomination, your DreamApply submission is effectively ignored.
What Are Sending Partners?
A sending partner is the government agency or ministry in your home country that has a bilateral educational cooperation agreement with Hungary. They serve as the first gatekeeper in the application process.
They Filter Applicants
Your sending partner receives all applications from your country and selects who to nominate. They have a limited number of nomination slots.
They Set Extra Rules
Many sending partners add their own requirements: age limits, GPA minimums, specific fields of study, work experience, or additional documents.
They Send the List
By end of February, they send the nomination list to Tempus Public Foundation. Only names on this list proceed to university review.
How to Find Your Sending Partner
Step 1: Check the Official List
Visit stipendiumhungaricum.hu/how-to-apply/ and look for the list of sending partners by country. This is updated annually.
Step 2: Contact Them Directly
Once you find your sending partner, contact them early (November-December). Ask about:
- • Their specific application deadline (often earlier than January 15)
- • Any additional documents they require
- • Whether they have age or GPA restrictions
- • Whether they conduct their own interviews
- • How many students they nominated last year
Step 3: Apply to Both Simultaneously
Submit to your sending partner AND to DreamApply. The two processes run in parallel. Missing either one means automatic rejection.
Country-Specific Requirements That Differ
Sending partner requirements vary significantly. Here are some documented differences.
Tempus has no age limit, but many sending partners do. For example, some Middle Eastern and African sending partners restrict Bachelor's applicants to under 23, and Master's applicants to under 30. Always verify with your specific sending partner, as these limits change annually.
Some sending partners require minimum GPAs that are higher than what the Hungarian universities themselves require. For instance, some Asian sending partners require a minimum of 3.0/4.0 GPA, while the Hungarian side only requires a passing grade.
Some sending partners restrict which fields you can apply for, prioritizing STEM, medicine, or fields aligned with their national development goals. Your country may not allow applications for arts or humanities programmes, even though they're available on DreamApply.
Some sending partners require: police clearance certificates, proof of employment, additional recommendation letters (beyond what DreamApply asks), a separate application form in the local language, or interviews conducted in the local language.
Some sending partners require you to sign an agreement to return to your home country after completing studies. This is separate from Hungary's own policies. Breaking this agreement could affect your eligibility for future government scholarships in your home country.
The Nomination Process Explained
You Apply to Your Sending Partner
Submit all required documents to your country's designated agency. Their deadline is often in December or early January.
Sending Partner Reviews Applications
They evaluate all candidates from your country. Some conduct interviews. They rank applicants and create a nomination list.
Nomination List Sent to Tempus
By end of February, the sending partner sends their nomination list to Tempus Public Foundation. Each country has a quota.
Tempus Matches with DreamApply
Tempus cross-references the nomination list with DreamApply submissions. If your name is on the list AND you submitted on DreamApply, your application proceeds to university review.
University Review
Hungarian universities review nominated applications for their specific programmes. They may conduct additional interviews.
What If Your Sending Partner Doesn't Nominate You?
This is one of the most frustrating aspects of the SH programme. If your sending partner doesn't nominate you, there is no appeal process through Tempus. Here's what you can do:
Contact Your Sending Partner
Some sending partners will tell you why you weren't nominated. Use this feedback to strengthen your application for next year.
Reapply Next Year
Many successful SH scholars applied 2 or 3 times before being nominated. Use the year to strengthen your profile, improve your language score, or gain relevant experience.
Consider Alternatives
Look into CEEPUS, bilateral scholarships, or university-specific Hungarian scholarships that may not require sending partner nomination.
Apply to Other Scholarships
Don't put all your eggs in one basket. Consider DAAD, Erasmus Mundus, Chevening, or MEXT as parallel applications.
Example Sending Partners
These are examples only. Always verify the current sending partner for your country on the official Stipendium Hungaricum website.
| Country | Typical Sending Partner | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bangladesh | Ministry of Education | High competition, limited slots |
| Egypt | Ministry of Higher Education | Often requires specific GPA |
| Jordan | Ministry of Higher Education | Conducts own interviews |
| Nigeria | Federal Ministry of Education | Very high applicant volume |
| Pakistan | Higher Education Commission | May restrict to specific fields |
| Turkey | YTB/Presidency for Turks Abroad | Has own online portal |
| Vietnam | Ministry of Education | Prioritizes STEM fields |
| Brazil | CAPES | Focuses on postgraduate level |