2021
New funding system in HE
As of September 2021, the educational funding in HE based on the number of students will be complemented with separate funding for research and infrastructure. As a consequence, the new system will have three pillars and will be more adjusted to different HE needs.
Calls for funding
955 billion HUF (out of 1509) is allocated for the HE reform involving infrastructural, organisational and educational development. 382 billion HUF is allotted to science and innovation establishments („science and innovation parks”, laboratories); 172 billion HUF out of 1509 billion HUF will be dedicated to the trans-sectoral development of vocational education, adult training and higher education programmes organized in a coordinated manner.
2020
Redemption moratorium
Redemption moratorium of the Student Loan took effective from 18 March 2020 as a result of the situation caused by the coronavirus worldwide. The moratorium lasts until the end of this calendar year, so debtors don’t have to pay their loan until 31st December 2020. It has been lengthened until 30 September.
Student Loan Plus
The objective of the Student Loan Plus is to give students interest-free general purpose loans in this new crisis situation. These loans help students who may have lost their job or have difficulties in paying their studies. It can be taken in parallel with Student Loan 1 and 2 but not in case the student has Language Learning Student Loan.
ITE of teachers teaching at ISCED 2
The HE Act increases the number of semesters from 8 to at least 10 for the undivided ITE programme of teachers teaching in lower secondary education. The programme period includes two semesters of in-school training.
Extension of Klebelsberg Training Scholarship
To support young people who want a teacher career the government has decided to extend the Klebelsberg Training Scholarship. From 1 September 2020 in addition to the students preparing for teaching at lower and upper-secondary level and in SEN education, the support will be available to students preparing for teaching at primary level.
Student normative
The change affecting higher education is that the student normative increased from 128 520 HUF to 166 600 HUF from February. This is significant because the institutions pay the students’ social and study grants from this normative, so the monthly allowance will be higher.
Admission requirement: Advanced level Maturity exam
As of 2020, the basic and universal requirement for admission to an initial HE programme (BA, BSc or equivalent) and undivided master’s programmes is that the applicant complete at least one subject of the upper secondary school leaving exam at advanced level or he/she has a HE degree (BA/BSC from previous studies, or collegue qualifications from the pre- Bologna system).
Eötvös Loránd Research Network
The government decided to restructure research and development: the research institutions of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences were transferred to the newly created Eötvös Loránd Research Network (ELKH), which consists of the Secretariat of ELKH and other research centres, institutions and research groups operated by ELKH as central budgetary bodies or business organizations.
2019
Take-over of the responsibilities for Higher Education
The government has decided to transfer the field of Higher Education to the Ministry for Innovation and Technology from the Ministry of Human Capacities as of September 1, 2019. The scope of ministers’ tasks and responsibilities are detailed in a government decree.
Increase in the number of doctoral students
The annual number of places for doctoral students will be increased from 1300 to 2000 from the academic year 2019/2020. The aim is to educate future teachers for the HE sector and to contribute to the development of a highly qualified workforce.