The FAO-Hungarian Government Scholarship is a joint programme run by the Government of Hungary and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) under an agreement signed in 2007. It funds full Master of Science (MSc) study at partner Hungarian universities and is built around sustainable rural development, so the offer is limited to three English-taught engineering MSc tracks: Environmental Engineering at the University of Sopron, Crop Production Engineering at the Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences (Godollo campus), and Horticultural Engineering at the same university's Buda campus in Budapest. Every cost the student carries is financed by the Hungarian Government: application and tuition fees for the whole 2-year programme, basic books and notes, dormitory accommodation, subsistence costs, and health insurance. Family members are not supported. Eligibility is restricted to nationals who are also residents of roughly 50 named developing and transition countries, and applicants are preferably under 30 with strong school records and English proficiency. Selection runs in two phases: FAO pre-screens every dossier, then the Hungarian Ministry of Agriculture and the chosen university make the final decision, sometimes after a written or oral English test. Because the stipend value, exact deadline, and the list of eligible countries are reset every cycle, confirm the current 2026/2027 figures and the application window on the official FAO fellowship page before you apply.
Applications are submitted by email to FAO with a complete dossier during the published application window; FAO then pre-screens before the Hungarian authorities decide.
The scholarship funds the student only; spouses and children are not supported. Files without a complete dossier or without the applicant's name are not processed.
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, North Macedonia, Madagascar, Mali, Myanmar, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Namibia, Nigeria, Palestine, Philippines, Cabo Verde, Serbia, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen
Selection runs in two phases. First, FAO pre-screens every complete dossier against the eligibility criteria (citizenship and residency, academic record, English proficiency, motivation, health, and age) and forwards qualifying files to Hungary's Ministry of Agriculture. The Ministry passes them to the applicant's chosen university, which may set a written or oral English examination and runs its own merit-based selection before notifying successful candidates directly.
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a United Nations agency founded in 1945 that leads international efforts to defeat hunger and improve food security. Under a 2007 agreement, FAO partners with Hungary's Ministry of Agriculture to fund MSc study aimed at sustainable rural development.
Answers below are best-effort estimates from the most recent application cycle. Values marked ~ or (est.) may shift year-to-year — confirm specifics on the official scholarship page.
It is a joint programme of the Government of Hungary (Ministry of Agriculture) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), based on a 2007 agreement.
It funds Master of Science (MSc) study only, across three named English-taught engineering programmes at partner Hungarian universities.
Environmental Engineering at Sopron, Crop Production Engineering at the Godollo campus, or Horticultural Engineering at the Buda campus in Budapest.
Application and tuition fees, basic books and notes, free dormitory accommodation, a subsistence allowance of about EUR 400 (est.) per month, and health insurance for the student.
No. The scholarship covers the student's costs only; spouses and children are not funded.
Nationals who are also residents of one of the roughly 50 eligible developing and transition countries listed for the cycle.
There is no hard cut-off, but candidates under 30 are preferred.
Yes. All three MSc programmes are taught in English, so you must be proficient and may face a written or oral English test.
You submit a complete dossier by email to FAO during the application window; incomplete or unnamed files are not processed.
FAO pre-screens first, then the Ministry of Agriculture and your chosen university make the final, merit-based decision.
The window historically opens in mid-January and closes at the end of February (about 28 February 2027, est.); confirm the exact dates on the official FAO page.
On the official FAO fellowship/partnership page, which publishes the eligible countries, benefits, and binding deadlines each cycle.