HUNGARIAN LANGUAGE AND CULTURE COURSE

To enhance your stay in Hungary and deepen your Hungarian language skills, all students in foreign-language study programmes (on any level) are required to participate in a Hungarian Language and Culture course offered by their host institution.

WHY ATTEND?

This course is mandatory throughout the whole lenght of your studies pursued with the Hungarian Diaspora Schoalrship Programme and regular attendance is crucial to maintain your scholarship status.

ARE THERE EXCEPTIONS?

While this course is an integral part of your scholarship, we understand there are special circumstances where you may be exempt, such as:

  • Proven learning disabilities (e.g., dyslexia, dysgraphia, etc.)
  • A pre-existing Hungarian language proficiency certificate (e.g.; a passed exam or assessment test)
  • Enrollment in summer university courses

If you already possess Hungarian language skills but lack formal certification, we encourage you to discuss alternative learning options with your host university.

PRACTICE YOUR HUNGARIAN WITH US

In case you would like to improve your Hungarian language skills outside of study hours, please check out our self-paced online course below! This online course is free and was designed to all international students who intend to deepen their Hungarian knowledge. It helps you to learn and practice Hungarian at your own pace and to make you confident in everyday situations during your stay in Hungary.

HUNGARIAN LANGUAGE EXAM AND ASSESSMENT

If you are enrolled in a foreign language study programme, you are expected to demonstrate your Hungarian language proficiency. Check out the most important questions below!

What is the deadline for obtaining a language certificate?

To ensure you meet the requirements of the scholarship programme, you must present a Hungarian language certificate within one year after obtaining your diploma.

What is the required proficiency level?

The required proficiency level depends on the length of your scholarship:

3-4 semesters: You need to reach level A2.

5-7 semesters: You should aim for level B1.

More than 7 semesters: You need to achieve level B2.

Important note: The required language level is determined by the number of semesters your scholarship supports, not the actual duration of your study program. These levels align with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

How to certify your proficiency?

You can fulfil this requirement in two ways:

State-recognised language exam: Obtain a complex (written and oral) language certificate from an accredited language examination centre.

Hungarian Language Assessment Test: Complete a test conducted by MFA Balassi (KKM Magyar Diplomáciai Akadémia Kft.) which contains both written and oral parts and get the “Certificate of Hungarian Language Assessment Result”.

As a Diaspora scholarship holder, the Hungarian Language Assessment Test by MFA Balassi offers a great opportunity to demonstrate your Hungarian language skills. If you hold Hungarian citizenship and are unable to take the official language exams, this test is your exclusive pathway to certify your language skills.

Available twice a year in June and December, registration is simple and can be completed through the Hungarian Diplomatic Academy’s website.

If a scholarship holder does not fulfil the requirement to obtain the Hungarian language exam or test certificate, they will be required to repay the training costs.

However, there are specific exceptions to this obligation:

  • If your study programme lasts 2 semesters or less
  • If you are a partial study student
  • If you have a learning disability (e.g. dyslexia, dysgraphia, etc.) and can provide proof of it
  • If you are enrolled in summer university courses

REPORTING ABOUT THE OBLIGATIONS

Attending the Hungarian as a foreign language and culture course is checked by the host institutions. In case you are exempt or fail to meet this obligation, your host institution reports this to Tempus Public Foundation (TPF).

As a scholarship holder, you are required to report about the Hungarian language exam / assessment test directly to TPF through an online reporting surface (called Hungarian Diaspora Scholarship Report). You need to upload your Hungarian language certificate(s) here, following the guidelines provided.

Reporting is available twice a year, and the scholarship holders are updated about the latest reporting rounds via e-mail.

For more details about the obligations concerning Hungarian as a foreign language, check out the regulations of the Scholarship Programme.