According to the Vietnamese Embassy in Hungary, more than 1,000 Vietnamese students are currently pursuing studies and research in Hungary. The Vietnamese student community is known for its vibrant participation in student activities and mutual support.

Vietnam and Hungary established diplomatic relations in 1950. Over 75 years, the bilateral relationship has flourished across multiple fields, particularly education. Since 2013, Hungary’s government scholarship program has significantly bolstered academic cooperation, awarding 200 scholarships annually to Vietnamese students at the undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral levels. These scholars are expected to contribute to both nations' development.

Vietnamese student earns Hungarian Government scholarship

At a recent European Vietnamese Women’s Forum held in Budapest, many Vietnamese students studying in Hungary gathered to volunteer and participate.

Among them was K.T., a 19-year-old student majoring in business data analytics at the University of Debrecen. She received a full scholarship from the Hungarian government. The university, founded in 1538, is one of the country’s oldest and most prestigious public institutions.

To qualify for the scholarship, applicants must complete at least one academic year at a public university in Vietnam with strong academic performance. K.T., a former student at Kim Lien High School in Hanoi, had completed her first year at the National Economics University before transferring to Hungary.

K.T. shared that her program is taught entirely in English and includes international students from diverse backgrounds. To succeed, she stressed the importance of a solid foundation in English, mathematics, and general education subjects acquired during high school and the first year of university in Vietnam. Her major combines business, economics, and information technology with data analysis, making prior academic strength critical.

In addition to academic performance, mastering Hungarian is essential. All students receiving government scholarships must pass two Hungarian language courses. Failure in both exams leads to termination of the scholarship and repatriation.

Life in Debrecen and beyond

K.T. described Debrecen and Hungary as safe and welcoming. Her university offers strong student support services and promotes intercultural exchanges. Scholarship recipients can participate in trips and cultural exchanges within Hungary and other European countries with minimal personal expenses, as most costs are covered by the university.

To balance study and life abroad, she advised students to maintain close connections with family, build new friendships, and engage in school-organized activities and cross-cultural experiences.

Nguyen Manh Quan, a 20-year-old freshman studying mechanical engineering at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME), was among the volunteers at the recent forum. Previously a mechatronics student at Hanoi University of Science and Technology, he took academic leave and moved to Hungary as a self-funded student.

“I chose Hungary after learning about the favorable study and living conditions. I also knew several successful Vietnamese living here, which motivated me,” Quan said.

His program spans three and a half years. To manage living expenses, Quan works part-time two days a week at local restaurants in Budapest. He sees this not only as financial support but also as a way to gain life experience and better integrate into local society.

Thuy Hang (Thanh Nien)