Hungary-Georgia exchange: Easiest way to study abroad

If you are a student at any higher educational institution in Georgia or Hungary and studying abroad sounds like a nice idea to you, then you are reading the right article.

The Georgian and Hungarian governments signed an agreement about a student exchange program in 2013, which sees 50 Georgian students per year go to Hungary and five Hungarian students come to Georgia to study at any local university from 2014 to 2016.

To encourage studying abroad, Hungary has offered 50 scholarships in a range of areas to Georgian students. For full undergraduate study programmes, there are: 10 scholarships in the field of Agriculture, 10 scholarships for Natural Sciences and Sustainable Development, 10 scholarships for Engineering and Technology, 10 scholarships for Water Management, Economics and Business Administration and five scholarships for Nursing. Furthermore, five scholarships are also available for full PhD studies in English language in any field of interest.

From Georgia’s perspective, the country is offering five scholarships per year to Hungarian students to pursue studies in English for full postgraduate study programmes at the Georgian Technical University in any of the following areas: Design, Biomedical Engineering, Agricultural Science, Physics Engineering and Architecture.

Tbilisi State University is the oldest university in the Caucasus region. Photo by Nino Alavidze.Agenda.ge

Georgian students wanting to go to Hungary can choose whether to study in English or Hungarian. Prior to commencing higher education studies in the Hungarian language, students have an opportunity to take part in a one-year preparatory course at Balassi Institute, Hungary’s government-funded institute that promotes Hungarian language and culture.

Meanwhile students applying for programmes in the English language in Hungary, as well as in Georgia, need to have an appropriate knowledge of English that meets a certain level defined by the host institution.

What is included?

The first question that probably comes to mind right now is "how much will it cost me?” The answer is nothing - the student exchange is free.

The Hungarian side will provide Georgian scholarship recipients with:

• Free tuition for their chosen course;
• Accommodation at the university campus or dormitory reisdence;
• Medical insurance;
• A monthly allowance (The amount per month will be granted by the host institution. The amount of the scholarship according to the actual laws in force is HUF 40,460 (about €135) stipend per month in case of BA/BSc, MAIMSc programmes, and HUF 100,000 (about €334) stipend per month for PhD students).

Similarly, the Georgian side will provide Hungarian scholarship recipients with:

• Free tuition for their chosen course;
• Accommodation;
• Medical insurance;
• A monthly allowance of 300 GEL (about €124).

The first Georgian student scholarship recipients enrolled in Hungarian universities in September 2014. The latest joined in February 2015. The programme allows students to spend one semester abroad before returning to complete their four-year degree at home.

The programme will last for two more years, allowing 100 more Georgian and 10 more Hungarian students the opportunity to study abroad. Those interested in applying for a scholarship are advised to do so as soon as possible, as applications are usually open for only a short period in late March each year.

Hungary’s Consul and the deputy head of the Hungarian Mission to Georgia Gyebnar Istvan told Agenda.ge that this programme aimed to provide studying-abroad opportunities to Georgian youth.

"Georgia does enjoy assistance from the European Union but Hungary wanted to do something for Georgia bilaterally,” Isvant said.

"And the most important thing nowadays is investing in human capital.”

What should you do?

If you are a Georgian student interested in participating in this exchange programme, you should go to the administration of the university you are currently studying in. Then, your university will submit your application to Georgia’s Education Ministry and the Ministry will then send your application to the Hungarian side. If your application is positively assessed, you will be invited to the host university in Hungary.

In February or March each year the Hungarian side informs Georgia’s Education Ministry about the scholarship availability. Then, the Ministry asks Georgia’s state universities to select applicants. If the state universities do not have the faculties which the Hungarian side opened for Georgians, then the Ministry allows Georgia’s private universities to participate in the programme.

So, Georgian students can receive information about the programme from their university, while universities are provided with information from the Education Ministry.

As for Hungarians, Hungary's Ministry of Human Resources is the right place where you can ask for further information about the exchange program. 

Any student studying in any of Georgia's state universities (and in some cases private university students too) are eligible to compete for the scholarship. Photo by Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge  

Last year only 23 Georgian students took advantage of this opportunity, which meant 27 scholarships were wasted. The Hungarian Consul hoped more Georgian students would be aware of this opportunity and all 50 scholarships would be used this time.

Why should you do it?

Located in central Europe, Hungary is a great contributor to the science and culture of Europe. Although small in size, Hungary is home to about 20 Nobel Prize laureates and important inventors. Even the Rubik’s Cube was invented by a Hungarian.

Moreover, Hungary is a member state of the European Union and the Schengen Agreement, which grants students like you with the opportunity to discover other parts of Europe while earning a higher education degree.

For prospective Hungarian scholarship recipients, Georgia is believed to be one of the most exciting and stimulating countries in the world. A mix of modern and traditional, Georgia is the place where Europe meets Asia, where delicious food is served at every corner of every city and where one of the world’s most unique and oldest languages is spoken. The sea, mountains, desert and plains are features that make it absolutely worthwhile to spend a semester here.