Scholarship Programme for Christian Young People

Call for Applications

2024-2025

hungaryhelps.gov.hu/apply

[email protected]
1. The Scholarship Programme for Christian Young People .............................. 3
1.1. Mission of the Programme.............................................................................. 3
1.2. Available Scholarship Types .......................................................................... 3
1.2.1. Study Levels............................................................................................. 3
1.3. Provisions Covered by the Scholarship .......................................................... 4
2. Eligibility.............................................................................................................. 5
2.1. Eligible Participating Countries, available study levels, preferred study fields 5
2.2. Non-eligibility .................................................................................................. 6
2.3. Available Host Institutions and Study Programmes ........................................ 7
2.4. Selected Study Programmes .......................................................................... 7
2.5. Language of Study Programmes .................................................................... 7
2.6. Preparatory Courses ...................................................................................... 8
3. The Application Process .................................................................................... 8
3.1. Application Timeline ....................................................................................... 8
3.2. Application Documents to be submitted to Hungary Helps Agency ................ 8
3.2.1. Basic Application Documents ................................................................... 8
3.2.2. Additional Documents for Doctoral Level ................................................11
3.3. Missing Documents .......................................................................................11
3.4. Submitting the Application .............................................................................13
3.4.1. Application to Hungary Helps Agency .....................................................13
3.4.2. Application “Dos and Don'ts” ...................................................................13
3.4.3. Flow chart of application process ............................................................15
3.5. Selection Procedure ......................................................................................16
3.5.1. First round of selection: technical check and the approval of Letter of
Recommendation (until 15 February 2023) .......................................................16
3.5.2. Second round of selection: the institutional evaluation (until 30 April 2024)
..........................................................................................................................17
3.5.3. Final decision on Scholarship Holders (until 15 June 2024) ....................17
3.6. Acceptance of the Scholarship ......................................................................18
3.6.1. Acceptance of Scholarship for Approved Scholarship Holders ...............18
3.6.2. Acceptance of Scholarship for Conditionally Approved Scholarship Holders
..........................................................................................................................18
3.6.3. Acceptance of Scholarship for Approved Scholarship Holders ..............19
4. Studying in Hungary..........................................................................................19
4.1. Visa Applications ...........................................................................................19
4.2. Arrival and Enrolment ....................................................................................19
4.3. Rights and Obligations ...............................................................................20
4.3.1 Operational Regulations, GDPR and Student Contract ............................20
4.3.2. Staying in Hungary ..................................................................................21
4.3.3. Other Scholarships and Double Financing ..............................................21
4.3.4. Termination of Scholarship Status ..........................................................22
5. Contact Details ..................................................................................................23
6. Annexes..............................................................................................................23

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1. The Scholarship Programme for Christian Young People

1.1. Mission of the Programme

Hungary provides high quality education in the heart of Europe. Today, there is a
growing demand of international students to study in Hungary. Besides the quality of
education and degrees recognised throughout Europe and beyond, students are
attracted by the affordable living costs with an extremely favourable cost-to-value ratio,
a safe and friendly living environment with convenient public transportation, the central
location of the country in Europe, and the unspoiled natural beauties combined with a
2000 year-old, rich Hungarian history and several UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Hungary is also within the top countries with the highest number of scientific Nobel
Prize Winners per capita, and a numerous scientific inventions from Vitamin C to
Rubik’s cube and so on.

The core mission of the Scholarship Programme for Christian Young People
(hereafter: SCYP Program) is to provide the possibility of studying in Hungary
for young Christian students living in the crisis regions and developing
countries of the world. After completing their studies, the Scholarship Holders will
return to help their home community with their gained knowledge, and they will
participate in the development of their countries and contribute to improvement of
social situation and preservation of culture of Christian communities.

The Programme is managed by the State Secretariat for the Aid of Persecuted
Christians of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade responsible for the Scholarship
Programme (hereinafter: State Secretariat) and is implemented by Hungary Helps
Agency Nonprofit Private Limited Liability Company (hereinafter: Hungary Helps
Agency).

1.2. Available Scholarship Types

1.2.1. Study Levels

Scholarships are available for bachelor’s, master’s, one-tier master’s and doctoral
programmes.

Available Scholarship Qualifications at the Available

Duration
Types end of programme study modes
Bachelor
2-4 years BA or BSc degree full degree
programmes
Master
1.5–2 years MA or MSc degree full degree
Degree programmes
programmes One-tier master
5–6 years MA or MSc degree full degree
programmes
Doctoral
2+2 years doctoral degree full degree
programmes

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Note about one-tier master’s programmes:
In the Hungarian education system, one-tier master’s programmes cover both the
bachelor and the master level of studies; therefore it is an undivided master programme
that results in a master degree. These one-tier programmes are offered in specific
study fields such as general medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, architecture, law,
veterinary surgery, forestry engineering, etc.

Note about doctoral programmes:

In Hungary, the duration of doctoral programmes is 8 semesters. Doctoral programmes
are divided into two different phases: the first phase (4 semesters) is for professional
training and research, while the second phase (4 semesters) is for research and
dissertation. At the end of the first 4 semesters, doctoral students are obliged to take
a complex exam, where the educational and research progress of the student is
evaluated. Doctoral students can only continue with the second phase of their studies
upon the successful completion of the complex exam. The amount of the monthly
stipend is different in the two phases of doctoral programmes. Please see section 1.3
about financial details and section 3.2.2. about the details of application for doctoral
programmes.

1.3. Provisions Covered by the Scholarship

 Tuition-free education
o exemption from the payment of tuition fee
 Monthly stipend
o bachelor’s, master’s and one-tier master’s level: monthly amount of
HUF 166,600 (cca. EUR 450) contribution to the living expenses in
Hungary, for 12 months a year, until the completion of studies
o doctoral level: the monthly amount of scholarship is HUF 140,000 (cca
EUR 380) for the first phase of education (4 semesters) and HUF
180,000 (cca EUR 490) for the second phase (4 semesters) - for 12
months a year, until completion of studies.
 Accommodation contribution
o free dormitory place or a contribution of HUF 40,000 to accommodation
costs for the whole duration of the scholarship period. Please note that
the HUF 40 000/month (cca. EUR 110) is only a contribution to rental
costs if the student does not live in the dormitory. In bigger cities –
especially in the capital city – this contribution would not cover the full
amount of rental costs.
 Travel allowence
o HUF 200,000 /academic year (cca. EUR 550/academic year)
 Medical insurance
o health care services according to the relevant Hungarian legislation (Act
LXXX of 1997, national health insurance card) and supplementary
medical insurance for up to HUF 65,000 (cca. EUR 180) a year/person

Please, bear in mind that these provisions are only a contribution to the living
expenses of the Scholarship Holders. It means that the monthly stipend does not fully
cover all the costs of living, and therefore, Scholarship Holders might need to add
their own financial resources in order to cover all living expenses in Hungary. All

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applicants are highly advised to check the expected living expenses both in Hungary
and in the city that they wish to live in before applying. Please, check the Cost of Living
Calculator by clicking here:
http://www.studyinhungary.hu/living-in-hungary/menu/your-costs-of-living.html

In the first year of their studies, Scholarship Holders are required to attend the course
of „Hungarian as foreign language” offered by the Host University. Scholarship Holders
who do not attend the course will not be able to receive the monthly stipend (mentioned
at 1.3.).

2. Eligibility

2.1. Eligible Participating Countries, available study levels, preferred study fields

The SCYP Programme is based on the cooperation between the State Secretariat for
the Aid of Persecuted Christians and Churches that pursue humanitarian activities in
crisis regions. For the 2024/2025 academic year, the scholarship is announced for the
citizens of the following countries: Lebanese Republic, Republic of Ghana, Republic of
Niger, Republic of Chad, Republic of Iraq, State of Israel, Palestine, Islamic Republic
of Pakistan, Syrian Arab Republic, Republic of Kenya, Federal Democratic Republic of
Ethiopia, Republic of Armenia and Nigeria.

List of the ecclesiastical Christian denomination and rite groups can be found in
Annex 1. Please note that only letters of recommendation issued by those
ecclesiastical Christian denomination and rite groups listed in the Annex 1. will be
accepted.

Degree programmes at bachelor level, one tier master’s and master programmes
are open to all applicants, while doctoral programmes are open to those
applicants who have completed their master studies in the frame of the
Scholarship Programme for Christian Young People in Hungary or are registered
for the last semester of their master’s level studies in the 2023/2024 academic
year as Scholarship Programme for Christian Young People Scholarship
Holders.

Local Churches are to verify and prove that the applicant belongs to their religious
community. Only those applicants can be awarded with the scholarship who have the
recommendation from the Local Church, and their recommendation is approved by the
State Secretariat.

As part of the selection procedure Local Churches of eligible sending countries have
the right to rank applicants.

The State Secretariat for the Aid of Persecuted Christians may give preference to the
candidates of the partner churches with which the Hungary Helps Agency is currently
carrying out or in the future will carry out support projects, thereby also helping that,
on the recommendation of the churches, the most appropriate and committed students
can participate in the SCYP Programme, thus helping the prosperity of the Christian
communities remaining in their home country to the greatest extent.

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Please bear in mind that recommendation letter from the Local Church is not
equal with the ranking list of the Local Churches of eligible sending countries.

In the selection procedure applications will be ranked according to the following priority
order of available study fields:

1: agriculture, economic studies, medical and health sciences, technology

2: computer science, law and administration, political science, teacher training
3: natural sciences
4: humanities, social sciences

Scholarship Holders must have the relevant language and education certificates,
degrees requested by the Host University of the selected degree programme. The
Scholarship Holders commit themselves in the scholarship agreement that after the
scholarship agreement ends, they will return to their home countries, if the local
security and political conditions allow it so. The student contract is signed by the Host
Institution and the Scholarship Holder for the duration of the scholarship period after
the arrival of the Scholarship Holder.

2.2. Non-eligibility

Applications will not be considered in the following cases:

a.) Hungarian citizens (including those with dual citizenships), persons

granted a refugee status (“menekült”), persons enjoying temporary protection
(“menedékes”), persons admitted for subsidiary protection (“oltalmazott”) and
persons granted humanitarian protection (“befogadott”), stateless persons
(“hontalan”), asylum seeker persons (“menedékkérő”) and persons who are
already settled in Hungary.
Please note: this requirement is not only for applicants but for Scholarship
Holders as well; it means that, e.g., if you obtain a Hungarian citizenship or a
refugee status during your studies in Hungary, your Scholarship Holder status
will be terminated automatically.

b.) Those applicants who apply for the SCYP Programme for the first cycle of
education who are not resident or domiciled in the same country of their
nationality or in an Official Development Assistance (ODA) recipient country.
This requirement does not apply to Scholarship Holders applying for the SCYP
Programme for the next cycle of education, e.g. bachelor Scholarship Holders
applying for master’s studies, master’s Scholarship Holders applying for
doctoral programmes.

c.) Applicants born after 31st August 2006 (= applicants under 18 years old as
of 31st August 2024).

d.) Those applicants who are registered self-financed/fee-paying students of a

Hungarian higher education institution at the time of the application deadline.

e.) Those former SCYP Scholarship Holders who were awarded scholarships
for full degree studies and who:

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  are now re-applying for full degree in the same cycle of education
(non-degree studies, bachelor’s, master’s, one-tier master’s),
therefore, SCYP Scholarship Holders can apply for the
programme to continue their studies at a different cycle of
education, e.g. bachelor Scholarship Holders can apply for master
studies;
 or who have postponed the starting date of their scholarship
studies and did not withdraw their scholarship before the current
application deadline.

f.) Former Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship Holders except if they apply

for the programme for the next cycle of education while they still have a
scholarship status at the time of application if they receive their degree until 31st
August 2024 (eg. a bachelor student may apply for master studies if they gets
the bachelor degree by 31st August, 2024).

Doctoral scholarships are available only for those who have completed their master’s
studies in the frame of the SCYP Programme in Hungary or are registered for the last
semester of their studies in the 2023/2024 academic year as Scholarship Programme
for Christian Young People Scholarship Holders.

2.3. Available Host Institutions and Study Programmes

The lists of available study programmes and Host Institutions are accessible in
the online application system (https://apply.scyp.hu/). Please note that only these
study programmes can be applied for.

The full list of available study programmes is accessible in Annex 2.

2.4. Selected Study Programmes

Each applicant can apply for ONE study programme.

During the application process, the selection and examination process will be
conducted for the study programme selected by the applicants.

Please note that after submitting the application, the selected programme cannot be
changed by the applicant. We strongly advise all applicants to carefully check the
minimum entry requirements of the study programme. Please note that for the same
study level, the scholarship can only be awarded once.

2.5. Language of Study Programmes

The SCYP Programme offers study programmes available in English language.

Applicants are eligible to apply only if they meet the minimum language criteria set by
the chosen Host Higher Education Institution. Please visit the online application system
(https://apply.scyp.hu/) to see the exact language criteria for each study programme.
In general: applicants are required to have a level of English proficiency required by
the Host Institution.

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 2.6. Preparatory Courses

Besides full degree programmes, full-time non-degree programmes are also available
within the programme in certain cases, for up to one year. Please read this section if
you are applying for study programmes in the field of Engineering or Computer
Science and Technology.

Preparatory courses are non-degree programmes before starting a bachelor’s or

master’s level degree programme at a Host Institution (both with the scholarship).

Only in case of full degree study programmes in the field of Engineering and Computer
Science and Technology during the institutional entrance examination process, and
based on the professional evaluation of the applicant, the Host Institutions have the
right to make the decision to admit the applicant for a preparatory course (up to 1 year)
before they can actually start their full degree programmes. The preparatory course is
only available before bachelor and master level programmes in the field of Engineering
and Computer Science and Technology. Applicants, therefore, cannot directly apply
for preparatory courses; it is always the Host Institutions’ decision whether a
professional preparation year is necessary or not.

3. The Application Process

Please note that the following dates are indicative only.

3.1. Application Timeline

until 30 April July-August

until 2024 2024
15 February institutional
10 January until 15 June visa application
2024 admission
October 2023 2024 2024 after 1 July process,
technical check, procedure
publishing deadline of decision by 2024 submitting
approval of and
Call for submitting Minister notification about missing
church deadline of
Applications applications responsible for selection result documents
recommendation submitting
online Higher Education 1 September
and ranking medical 2024 arrival to
process certificate Hungary
(Annex 6)

3.2. Application Documents to be submitted to Hungary Helps Agency

No hard copies of any of these documents are required from by Hungary Helps Agency
at the time of application.

3.2.1. Basic Application Documents

All of the following application documents are compulsory and must be submitted via
the online application system by all applicants until 10th January, 2024 (23:59
Budapest time).

Please note that only files with a total maximum size of 4 MB can be uploaded in
the system.

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The following documents are compulsory and must be submitted to the online
application system by all applicants:

Application
Detailed Requirements
Documents
- the applicants must fill out and save all requested information on the
Online application online application form in English
form - a recent photo of the applicant (taken not earlier than 6 months prior to
the submission of the application)
- minimum 1 page, typed in Times New Roman 12 point letters written
in English language describing why the applicant had chosen the
Motivation Letter
specific studies and how their studies will contribute to the greater
benefit of their local community in their homeland.
- Recommendation of the local Christian Church issued not earlier
than 1st November 2023 to be approved by the State Secretariat for
the Aid of Persecuted Christians. The Letter of Recommendation must
be issued by the highest possible level, i.e: by the Bishop in the
Church. In those Churches, where there are no Bishops, the Letter of
Recommendation must be signed at the highest episcopal level.
- Formal criteria for the Letter of Recommendation:
1. must be signed and stamped by the Bishop of the relevant
Church (or by the highest relevant episcopal authority, if the
Approved
Church has no Bishop)
recommendation
2. must be typed and printed on the official letterhead of the
relevant Church
3. must have the name of the bishop printed on it
4. must state all the personal details of the applicant (i.e: full
name, country of residence, date and place of birth) and the
date of issuance (according to Gregorian-calendar)
5. cannot be handwritten
- For the list of the ecclesiastical Christian denomination and rite groups
see Annex 1.
- scanned copy of the original proof of language proficiency, with a
Proof of language minimum level determined by the Host Institution AND its translation
proficiency and - see section 2.5. for further details
their translations - in case the student has completed his/her previous level of studies in
in the language of English language (i.e. graduated from a high school or university where
the selected study the language of education was officially English), a proof can be
programme or in uploaded about the fact that the language of education was English.
Hungarian - translations only have to be attached if the copy of the original
document is not in English or in Hungarian
- bachelor level full time programmes: scanned copy of the original
secondary school graduation certificate or equivalent AND its
translation
School certificates
- master level full time programmes: scanned copy of the original
and their
bachelor degree certificate or equivalent AND its translation
translations
- one-tier master level full time programmes: scanned copy of the
English or in
original secondary school graduation certificate or equivalent AND its
Hungarian
translation
- doctoral level: scanned copy of the original master degree certificate or
equivalent AND its translations

9
 - translations only have to be attached if the copy of the original
document is not in English or in Hungarian
- copy of the original transcript of records regarding all academic
Transcript of
semesters or school years completed during previous studies (in the
Records and its
highest level of education that the student has participated in) AND its
translation in
translation
English or in
- translations only have to be attached if the copy of the original
Hungarian
document is not in English or in Hungarian
- must be submitted until 30th April (the medical certificate must be
submitted by those applicants whose applications are forwarded for
entrance examination to the chosen Host Institution, however, it is
possible to upload it from the beginning of the application period)
- scanned copy of a medical certificate of satisfactory health condition
issued not earlier than 1st November 2023
- please note that there is a form provided by Hungary Helps
Agency for this certificate, it cannot be any certificate that the
particular hospital uses or the particular physician issues (see
Annex 6)
Medical certificate - medical certificates have to be issued and signed by a physician to
declare the medical condition of the applicant (according to the
diseases listed on the form provided in Annex 6)
- certificates has to contain readable stamp and signature of the
physician
- certificates has to be accompanied obligatory by laboratory tests of the
following illnesses: AIDS, Hepatitis B, C or any other epidemic
conditions
- please note that despite the applicants need to upload this document,
the Host Institutions might require the student to take a medical test at
the time of enrolment (free of charge for the Scholarship Holders)
- provided that the applicant already has a passport, the scan of the
passport should be uploaded
- in case the applicant does not have a passport, the applicant should
Copy of
upload the scanned copy of the valid national ID card AND its
Identification
translation
Document
- the page that displays both the personal data and the photography of
the applicant should be uploaded
- translations only have to be attached if the copy of the original
document is not in the language of the selected study programme
- all applicants need to accept the “Statement for Application” (please
see Annex 3 for a sample)
Acceptance of
- the statement can only be accepted in the online system, therefore
Statement for
scanned and signed copies should not be uploaded
Application in the
- the statement appears in the online application system after
online system
registration – all applicants need to click on accepting it in order to be
able to submit their applications

All documents that cannot be obtained in English or in Hungarian, have to be

translated into English and the translations have to be submitted together with
a copy of the original document.

Please note, that all documents you submit must be valid, intact and official. We
cannot accept scanned copies of documents that show visible signs of any

10
damage, repair or handwritten correction. The act of submitting not official
documents or documents that show visible signs of damage, repair or
handwritten correction may result in disqualification from the application
procedure.

Please note, that in compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation
(GDPR) of the European Union law, you need to give your consents regarding
data protection and accept our Privacy Policy (Annex 4) in order to be able to
submit your application. These consents appear in the system after registration
as well as the Privacy Policy (Annex 4).

3.2.2. Additional Documents for Doctoral Level

Besides the documents listed in Section 3.2.1., applicants applying for studies on a
doctoral level need to upload the following documents as well. All of the following
documents are compulsory and need to be submitted to the online application system
by doctoral applicants until 10th January 2024.

Application
Detailed requirements
Documents
- minimum 2 pages, typed in Times New Roman 12 point font size
Research Plan
letters, written in the language of the selected study programme
- Statement by the Supervisor at the proposed Host Institution
declaring that the supervisor undertakes to supervise the student’s
Statement of the
work within the doctoral programme
Supervisor
- written in the language of the selected study programme or in
Hungarian
Letter of - one signed Letter of Recommendation from the applicant’s former
Recommendation or current academic supervisors

All applicants of doctoral programmes are required to visit http://www.doktori.hu before

they submit their application. The website provides information about the Hungarian
doctoral schools, available research field and research topics as well as the possible
supervisors of doctoral students in English and Hungarian Language. Proposed
research topics are available at:
http://www.doktori.hu/index.php?menuid=115&lang=EN.

Doctoral applicants are also required to contact their chosen Host Institutions and
doctoral schools in advance in order to discuss the available research topics in the
institution as well as the possible supervisors for those topics. These pieces of
information need to be considered when preparing the application materials (e.g.
Research Plan) and choosing a matching doctoral school and research area.

3.3. Missing Documents

All documents listed under point 3.2. are mandatory application documents. However,
certain documents are accepted to be uploaded even after the application deadline,
provided that the applicant could not possibly obtain the document by the deadline of
application.

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In this case, the applicants need to upload a signed statement that they will obtain
and upload the missing document(s) until 31st July 2024 the latest. No missing
document will be accepted if the statement is not uploaded until 10th January 2024
and/or if the missing documents are not uploaded until 31st July 2024, thus such
applications will automatically be rejected.

Please note that there is a form provided by Hungary Helps Agency for this
statement (Annex 7).

The following missing documents can be submitted after the application deadline, but
no later than 31st July 2024 (23:59 Budapest Time):

Who can be What has

Which missing documents exempted to upload What has to be uploaded to be
can be uploaded after 10th these missing instead until 10th January uploaded
January 2024? documents by 10th 2024? until 31st
January 2024? July 2024?
only applicants
registered for the last high school
high school statement signed by the
semester of their graduation
certificate applicant
secondary school certificate
studies
statement signed by the
applicant
only applicants AND
bachelor bachelor
registered for the last high school certificate and
School degree degree
semester of their translation if the original
certificates certificate certificate
bachelor programme document is not in the
and their
language of the selected
translations
study programme
declaration signed by the
applicant
only applicants AND
master master
registered for the last bachelor degree with
degree degree
semester of their translation if the original
certificate certificate
master programme document is not in the
language of the selected
study programme
only applicants
awaiting their certificate of
Certificate of language statement signed by the
language test results language
proficiency applicant
at the time of proficiency
application
declaration signed by the
applicant AND a copy of valid
only applicants copy of
Copy of Passport national ID with translation if
awaiting their passport passport
the original document is not
to be issued
in the language of the
selected study programme

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3.4. Submitting the Application

3.4.1. Application to Hungary Helps Agency

All applications shall be submitted through the online application system of the
Programme. After registration, the applicants will be able to access the application
system and upload the required documents.

It is strongly recommended to register with an e-mail address that works properly and
that the applicant reads frequently. In case there is a change in the e-mail address –
including during the study period in Hungary – the Host Institution and the Hungary
Helps Agency should be immediately informed and be provided with the new e-mail
address by the Applicant/Scholarship Holder. It is always the responsibility of the
applicant and the student to manage his/her own email account and to read the letters
regularly. The Hungary Helps Agency is not responsible for the malfunctioning of the
registered e-mail account. Please, avoid using a Hotmail or a Yahoo account because
in case of these accounts e-mails from the Hungary helps Agency usually go to the
Spam folder.

Applications should be submitted; only saved applications will not be considered.

Applications can only be submitted by clicking on the “submit” button in the application
system.

Please note that no applications will be accepted out of the online submission and after
the deadline. No hard copies are required.

The deadline for submitting the complete application package:

10th January 2024, 23:59 (Central European Time)

The online application system can be reached here

https://apply.scyp.hu/

The information provided on the application – including the study programmes– cannot
be changed after the application is submitted. By submitting the application, the
applicant declares that all information provided through the online application system
of the programme – including the content of all uploaded documents – are true and
correct to the best of their knowledge and belief.

3.4.2. Application “Dos and Don'ts”

Please make sure that

 you read and understand all parts of the Call for Applications,
 you visit the website of the programme and your chosen Host Institutions for
details about the entrance requirements of study programmes, curriculum and
so on,
 you provide precise contact details and make sure your e-mail address (or any
other information) is not mistyped on your application form because all
information – including the selection results – will be sent there,

13
  you do not accidentally apply for the wrong study levels (e.g. master studies
while you are a bachelor student) and do not apply to different study levels in
one application
 you upload the documents with the correct file formats and the files can be
opened,
 you submit your application in the online application system until the deadline,
 you click on the “submit” button to submit your application because the “save”
button will only save your system but the application will not be submitted,
 you write down and remember your login name, password and your e-mail
address used when you submitted your application because you will need these
information later (e.g. for accepting the scholarship offer), and
 you write down and remember your application registration number because
this is how we will be able to identify your application later and this is the number
that Scholarship Holders will need to use.

We strongly suggest you

- not to use a Hotmail or Yahoo account when submitting your application
in order to avoid any technical problems.

The information provided by the application – including the study programme – cannot
be changed after the application is submitted!

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 3.4.3. Flow chart of application process

Please note that the dates are indicative.

November 2023 -
October 2023 - December 2023 until 10 January 2024
December 2023
applicants read and understand applicants submit the application
all details of the Call for applicants get in touch with the documents to the online system
Applications 2024-2025 and Local Churches about their Letter of Hungary Helps Agency and
prepare all application of Recommendation and collect click on "submit" button
documents all relevant documents needed
for the application

end of April 2024 until 15 February 2024

the Host Institutions select the end of February 2024 technical check of the applications
appliants who meet the minimum and approval of church
the nominated applicants are recommendations by Hungary
entry requirements and inform
forwarded to the Host Institutions Helps Agency, Local Church
them about the details (date and
for the admission process partners rank the submitted
method) of the examination,
exams start applications and send a nomination
list to Hungary Helps Agency

beginning of May 2024

end of April 2024 Hungary Helps Agency allocates the after 15 June 2024
the Host Institutions forward the admitted applicants based on the the Minister responsible for
application preferences, the entrance Higher Education decides on
result of the admission process exam results, the capacities of the Host
to Hungary Helps Agency Institutions, and the educational Scholarship Holders
cooperation agreements

until 31 July 2024

July - August 2024 successful applicants accept after 1 July 2024
prospective students start their their scholarship in the online the applicants are informed about
visa application procedure and system (if relevant, any missing the final results by Hungary
organise their travel to Hungary documents are also uploaded Helps Agency
until 31 July 2024)

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3.5. Selection Procedure

3.5.1. First round of selection: technical check and the approval of Letter of
Recommendation (until 15 February 2023)

Applications that are only saved in the online system but not submitted, will be
automatically rejected. Only the applications successfully submitted to Hungary Helps
Agency’s online application system are checked. This is called a technical check and
it is done by Hungary Helps Agency. In this step, we check some of the eligibility
criteria; for example the age, citizenship, the previous scholarships, and check if the
applicant has applied for a scholarship type and/or study programme that is available
within the framework of the programme. Also, we will formally check if the required
documents are uploaded in the application system or not, and check if the Statement
for Application (Annex 3) is accepted in the system. However, it is the Host Institution
that checks whether the uploaded files and their quality can be accepted and whether
these documents meet their entry requirements or not.

Applicants will be automatically rejected during the technical check if they:

 do not successfully submit their application in the online system until the 10th
January 2024;
 do not successfully submit a Letter of Recommendation issued by their
respective Church;
 Letter of Recommendation issued by their respective Church is not accepted by
the State Secretariat for the Aid of Persecuted Christians;
 are Hungarian citizens, hold a Hungarian dual citizenship or they are persons
granted a refugee status, enjoying temporary protection, admitted for subsidiary
protection or granted humanitarian protection;
 have a citizenship that is different from the sending country/territory they apply
through; are not resident or domiciled in the same country of their nationality or
in an Official Development Assistance (ODA) recipient country. This
requirement does not apply to Scholarship Holders applying for the SCYP
Programme for the next cycle of education, e.g. bachelor Scholarship Holders
applying for master’s studies, master’s Scholarship Holders applying for
doctoral programmes;
 were born after 31st August 2006 (= applicants under 18 years old as of 31st
August 2024);
 do not accept the Statement for Application (please see Annex 3 for sample) in
the online system; or
 they are former SCYP or Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship Holders or self-
financed students at a Hungarian higher education institution, except in cases
described in Section 2.2. about non-eligibility.

After the technical check, the Letters of Recommendations will be approved by the
State Secretariat for the Aid of Persecuted Christians. Only applicants with an
approved Letter of Recommendation can be sent to partner Local Churches for review
and ranking.

As part of the selection procedure Local Churches of eligible sending countries have
the right to rank applicants.

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The State Secretariat may give preference to the candidates of the partner
churches with which the Hungary Helps Agency is currently carrying out or in
the future will carry out support projects, thereby also helping that, on the
recommendation of the churches, the most appropriate and committed students
can participate in the SCYP Programme, thus helping the prosperity of the
Christian communities remaining in their home country to the greatest extent.
Please bear in mind that recommendation letter from the Local Church is not
equal with the ranking list of the Local Churches of eligible sending countries.

After the selection decision of the Local Churches a nomination list, including a reserve
list will be issued and forwarded to Hungary Helps Agency until 15th February 2024.
Only applications nominated by Local Churches will be sent to the Host Institutions for
institutional evaluation and admission procedure.

3.5.2. Second round of selection: the institutional evaluation (until 30 April

2024)

The professional evaluation of the applications – including the reserve list – is done by
the Host Institutions before the entrance examinations. The institution will also run a
formal check first to see if all the documents submitted by the applicants meet the
requirements of the call for application and the minimum entry requirements of the
selected study programme.

Applicants with eligible, valid, formally correct application that meets the minimum
entry requirements can proceed to the institutional entrance examinations. Each
applicant can participate in one institutional entrance examination – in accordance with
their submitted application.

The exact date and method of the entrance examination varies by institutions. Each
applicant will be individually informed about further details (e.g. date of
examination) directly by their selected Host Institution(s).

Applicants are evaluated on a 100 point scale. The final examination results and the
examination points given by the Host Institution are then forwarded to Hungary Helps
Agency.

Important note: the required minimum to be achieved is 56 points (on a 100 point
scale). No applicants shall receive a scholarship offer with an examination result below
56 points.

3.5.3. Final decision on Scholarship Holders (until 15 June 2024)

Hungary Helps Agency is responsible for the allocation of the admitted applicants. The
principles are in the following priority order:

1. quotas defined by State Secretariat for the Aid of Persecuted Christians based
upon the cooperation with the responsible Local Churches,
2. the capacity (minimum and maximum number of available places) of the
university’s specific study programme,

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 3. the selected study programmes on the application form (please carefully read
Section 2.4. about this),
4. the examination results (maximum 100 points) given by the Host Institutions and
the ranking order of the applicants on the Local Church partners’ nomination
lists
5. priority of study fields and ranking of nomination.

Based on the above mentioned criteria, a list of recommended Scholarship Holders

will be compiled by Hungary Helps Agency and sent to the State Secretariat. As the
next step, the State Secretariat will issue the complete list of recommended
Scholarship Holders, and forward it for final decision to the Minister responsible for
Higher Education in Hungary.

The final decision on Scholarship Holders is made by the Minister responsible for
Higher Education in Hungary.

Applicants can expect to be informed about the final result of application after 1
July 2024.

3.6. Acceptance of the Scholarship

Those who do not accept their scholarship until the deadlines below are automatically
considered withdrawn from the scholarship.

Applicants who are awarded the scholarship shall not receive a Scholarship Holder
status if they:
 withdraw from the scholarship in writing (sent to both Hungary Helps Agency
and the Host Institution) or via the application system;
 fail to upload their missing application documents until 31st July 2024;
 fail to accept their scholarship until the deadline given via the online system;
 do not hold a secondary school graduation certificate until 31st July 2024;
 withdraw their data protection (GDPR) consents
 provided false information during the application process

3.6.1. Acceptance of Scholarship for Approved Scholarship Holders

In order to gain a Scholarship Holder status, approved applicants must accept their
scholarship and consent to the Operational Regulations (Annex 5) of the programme
in the online application system within two weeks after receiving the notification e-
mail about the application decision, but no later than 31st July 2024!

3.6.2. Acceptance of Scholarship for Conditionally Approved Scholarship

Holders

If the applicant is conditionally approved because they have any missing documents
that can be uploaded after the application deadline, all these missing documents need
to be uploaded via the online system immediately after receiving all documents (and
after receiving the notification about the conditional status), and no later than 31 July
2024.

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Please see details in Section 3.3. on missing documents.

The conditional Scholarship Holders are only able to accept their scholarship in the
online system if all missing documents are uploaded first!
After uploading all missing documents, conditionally approved Scholarship Holders
must accept their scholarship and consent to the Operational Regulations (Annex 5) of
the programme in the online application system within two weeks after uploading
the missing documents, but no later than 31st July 2024!

3.6.3. Acceptance of Scholarship for Approved Scholarship Holders

In order to gain a Scholarship Holder status, approved applicants must accept their
scholarship and consent to the Operational Regulations of the programme (see Annex
5 for the Operational Regulations) in the online application system within the time frame
written in the notification e-mail page (usually this is within two weeks after receiving
the notification e-mail about the application decision, but it can be a shorter period) but
no later than 1 August 2023.

4. Studying in Hungary

4.1. Visa Applications

You are requested to start your visa application process immediately after
receiving the positive decision about the scholarship. Officially, it may take 30 days
until a visa is issued. In order to apply for visa to Hungary, you need to contact the
competent consular office. For more information please, contact the website of the
Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
(http://konzuliszolgalat.kormany.hu/en) and the National Directorate-general for Aliens
Policing (http://oif.gov.hu/index.php?lang=en).

Please note that the citizens of some countries do not need a visa to enter Hungary
due to the Visa Waiver Agreements, at the time of writing, these countries include:
Israel from the list of eligible countries only. Please make sure to visit the Consular
Services website for up to date information about your country:
http://konzuliszolgalat.kormany.hu/visa-waiver-agreements.

The visa administration and extension of the residence permit are free of charge for
the Scholarship Holders.

Please note that the Scholarship Holder status does not automatically guarantee a
visa.

4.2. Arrival and Enrolment

Scholarship Holders are required to inform the coordinator of the Hungarian higher
education institution about their expected date of arrival 30 – but not less than 15 days
before arrival.

Successful applicants are expected to make their own travel arrangements to Hungary.
The scholarship covers HUF 200 000/academic year as travel allowance, which is

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provided by the Host Institution in two instalments after the student has enrolled and
signed the Scholarship Holder agreement. No visa, administrative services or
additional contribution to family members or accompanying persons is provided by the
scholarship programme.

Scholarship Holders are expected to obtain their visa and arrive to Hungary no later
than 30th September 2024 (for study programmes starting in the Autumn Semester) –
or the date set by the Host Institutions.

The applicant who is granted the scholarship must enrol to the Host Institution in the
semester in which he was granted admission. If s/he does not enrol within one month
after the beginning of the academic year/semester or the deadline provided by the Host
Institution, s/he will be automatically excluded from the scholarship programme.

In principle, it is not possible to postpone the start of the scholarship studies to

another semester or academic year – except for very special, unforeseeable, vis maior
cases described in the Operational Regulations of the programme (Annex 5), with the
special approval of Hungary Helps Agency. Therefore, in principle if the Scholarship
Holder does not enrol until 30th September 2024 – or the date set by the Host
Institutions, they will be automatically excluded from the scholarship programme.

Please note that the Host Institutions have the right to require the students to take a
medical test at the time of enrolment, however it is free of charge for the Scholarship
Holders.

Please read the Operational Regulations of the programme (Annex 5) for details about
the acceptance of the scholarship, enrolment and postponement procedures.

4.3. Rights and Obligations

4.3.1 Operational Regulations, GDPR and Student Contract

All Scholarship Holders are bound by the Operational Regulations of the Scholarship
Programme for Christian Young People. Please make sure to read it carefully (see
Annex 5).

Scholarship Holders are required to sign a scholarship contract with the Host
Institution including study-related details and the rights and obligations of the
Scholarship Holders (see sample on our website).

Scholarship Holders are required to credible proof of the use of the travel
allowance for each semester (e.g. air tickets). They must report on the use of the
financial support no later than the end of the academic year. They will not be
entitled to receive the financial support for the following academic year in the
absence of such an account.

The Scholarship Programme for Christian Young People stipendium is a

contribution to the living costs of the Scholarship Holder only, therefore – within
the framework of the programme – visa-related assistance, additional allowance
and administrative services are not provided for any accompanying people or

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family members. The legal entity of the scholarship contract is exclusively the
Scholarship Holder and the Host Institution.

The Scholarship Holders are expected to follow the regulations of the Host Institution
and the Scholarship Programme for Christian Young People and continue their studies
in good faith, to the best of their abilities, in order to meet the academic requirements
of the study programme and thus finish the programme successfully. By accepting the
scholarship offer, the Scholarship Holders agree to participate in the annual events
(opening and closing ceremonies) organised by the Hungary Helps Agency twice a
year, in the alumni system of the programme that supports the maintenance of
relationships with the Scholarship Holders and facilitates the flow of information – such
as the alumni website, alumni events and surveys about the satisfaction of students,
career monitoring and the evaluation of research activities.

Please note that the Scholarship Holder students generally complete 30 credits in a
semester, therefore we suggest to register courses with at least 30 credits in total.
Please also note that if the Scholarship Holder do not complete at least 18 credits on
the average during the last two semesters with an active student status (in total 36
credits), their scholarship status shall be terminated.

Please note that the Operational Regulations of the Scholarship Programme for
Christian Young People (Annex 5) can be subject to change, and the Scholarship
Holders are always bound by the prevailing regulations at any given time.

Please note that in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
in European Union law, all applicants need to give consents regarding data protection
and accept the Privacy Policy (see Annex 4) in order to be able to submit an
application. These consents appear in the online application system after registration.

4.3.2. Staying in Hungary

Scholarship Holders are obliged to live and study in Hungary, therefore they are
not allowed to live habitually in any other country during the study period
otherwise their Scholarship Holder status will be terminated. The student must
register in person at the international office of the Host Institution at the beginning of
each semester. The Scholarship Holders are obliged to inform their Host Institution if
they leave Hungary during the study period for more than 10 days in a row.

4.3.3. Other Scholarships and Double Financing

The Scholarship Programme for Christian Young People entitles Scholarship Holders
to carry out studies in Hungary, therefore the Scholarship Holders are not entitled to
use financial support for getting enrolled in full time or partial (exchange) study
programmes outside Hungary (e.g. Erasmus +, CEEPUS, Campus Mundi) except for
special cases described in the Operational Regulations of the Programme (Annex 5).
Scholarship Holders can only participate in conferences or research activities that are
professionally relevant for their studies. These activities should not prevent the student
from habitually living in Hungary.

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Applicants are also not eligible to receive the Scholarship Programme for Christian
Young People scholarship in case they have another concurrent scholarship from the
Hungarian central budget for studies in Hungary. If the Scholarship Holder was
awarded more than one scholarship, they have to choose one of the scholarships and
withdraw from the other ones. However, the Host Institutions are allowed to provide
additional financial support for the students on a social, performance-related or other
basis.

In accordance with the regulations of Government Decree 51/2007. (III. 26.),

Scholarship Holders are entitled to be awarded with the National Higher Education
Scholarship (“nemzeti felsőoktatási ösztöndíj”).

At the end of their study period or academic year as Scholarship Holders, students are
obliged to submit a Student Report to Hungary Helps Agency until the given deadline.

4.3.4. Termination of Scholarship Status

The details and cases when the scholarship status is terminated are listed in the
Operational Regulations of the programme (Annex 5). It is important to highlight that–
after the consultation with Hungary Helps Agency and in case the university does not
have other interior regulations about this – the Host Institution has the right to terminate
the scholarship status of the student if the student does not complete at least 18
credits on the average during the last two semesters (in total 36 credits) when
they had an active student status.

Besides, the scholarship status of the Scholarship Holder is terminated when:

 their student status is terminated by the Host Institution,

 the Scholarship Holder withdraws the scholarship in a written form (sent to both
Hungary Helps Agency and the Host Institution),
 if the Scholarship Holder student does not complete at least 18 credits on the
average of the last two semesters with an active student status
 the Scholarship Holder has obtained their degrees (or completed their non-
degree studies) at the study programme supported by the scholarship,
 the Scholarship Holder has used up all their scholarship semesters awarded to
them and have not handed in an extension request or when they are not entitled
for extension,
 the Scholarship Holder does not live in Hungary habitually and the Host
Institution terminates their scholarship status for this reason,
 do not arrive and enrol until the registration date specified by the Host Institution
(except cases described in the Operational Regulations in Annex 5),
 Hungarian citizens (including those with dual citizenships), persons granted a
refugee status (“menekült”), persons enjoying temporary protection
(“menedékes”), persons admitted for subsidiary protection (“oltalmazott”) and
persons granted humanitarian protection (“befogadott”), stateless persons
(“hontalan”), asylum seeker persons (“menedékkérő”) and person who are
already settled in Hungary,
 in other cases described in the Operational Regulations of the programme
(Annex 5) in effect.

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5. Contact Details

General information about applications:

Hungary Helps Agency Private Limited Liability Company

Address: H-1011 Budapest, Szilágyi Dezső tér 1.
E-mail: [email protected]
Homepage: https://hungaryhelps.gov.hu/apply/

6. Annexes

 Annex 1: List of the ecclesiastical Christian denomination and rite groups

 Annex 2: List of Available Study Programmes
 Annex 3: Sample Statement for Application
 Annex 4: Privacy Policy
 Annex 5: Operational Regulations
 Annex 6: Medical Certificate Form
 Annex 7: Statement Form

All the Annexes can be downloaded from the website (hungaryhelps.gov.hu/apply/).

Please note that the Call for Applications of the Scholarship Programme for
Christian Young People can be subject to change in the future, therefore we
suggest all applicants to follow our website.

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