Hungary could miss the opportunity to rejoin the European Union’s Erasmus+ student exchange programme in time for the start of the 2026/27 academic year unless the government submits its outstanding rule-of-law reforms to Brussels soon, despite earlier optimism from both Prime Minister Péter Magyar and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Following Magyar’s election victory in April, both the Hungarian government and the European Commission indicated that Hungarian students could return to Erasmus+ from September. However, according to Euronews, time is now running short, and without immediate administrative action, the suspension is unlikely to be lifted before the new academic year begins.
EU waiting for Hungary’s reforms
In May, Ursula von der Leyen announced that Hungarian students could once again become part of the Erasmus community from the next academic year after reaching a political agreement with Prime Minister Péter Magyar to unlock EUR 16.4 billion in previously frozen EU funds.
Most Hungarian universities were excluded from Erasmus+ in late 2022 after Brussels suspended funding for 21 institutions operated by public interest asset management foundations, citing concerns over transparency, governance and the rule of law.
After taking office, the Magyar government pledged to bring these university foundations back under state control in an effort to satisfy the European Union’s demands for greater transparency and accountability. The necessary legislation is currently making its way through parliament.
September deadline at risk
According to a European Commission official who spoke to Euronews on condition of anonymity, Hungary is unlikely to regain access to Erasmus+ in the near future unless it submits the required reforms under the EU’s rule-of-law conditionality mechanism during the summer.
Diplomatic sources told Euronews that Hungary has already completed the relevant “super milestone” package but plans to submit it only at the end of August as part of a broader package containing 27 reform milestones.
If that timetable remains unchanged, the Commission is unlikely to have enough time to assess the reforms and lift the suspension before September.
The Ministry of Education and Children’s Affairs told Euronews that the affected universities have already submitted their Erasmus+ mobility applications for 2026.
According to the ministry, the grants have been provisionally allocated and will become available once the Council of the European Union lifts the existing restrictions. Officials also noted that if Hungary were to submit the necessary reforms before August, Brussels could potentially remove the Erasmus+ suspension during the summer.
Government hopes for a temporary solution
During his first visit to Brussels after winning the election, Prime Minister Péter Magyar expressed confidence that a solution could still be found.
He acknowledged that the original Erasmus application deadlines had already passed but said the government hoped to create supplementary opportunities allowing Hungarian students to study at leading European universities from September.
However, Dr Loretta Huszák, a lecturer at Corvinus University of Budapest, told Euronews that securing Erasmus funding for the 2026/27 academic year is now practically impossible.
She explained that universities organise Erasmus exchanges months in advance, and the next full application cycle funded by Erasmus+ is more likely to affect the 2027/28 academic year.
Pannónia scholarship programme continues
While Hungary remains excluded from Erasmus+, the government has continued operating the nationally funded Pannónia Scholarship Programme as a replacement. The Ministry of Education and Children’s Affairs said funding remains available for international student, academic and staff mobility through the domestic scheme.
The ministry also stressed that universities can continue preparing the technical and administrative aspects of Erasmus scholarships even before EU approval is granted. However, scholarship agreements cannot be signed and funding cannot be released until the Council formally lifts the restrictions.
Officials added that the Hungarian government is continuing to work with EU institutions to ensure that the affected universities can return to Erasmus+ as quickly as possible once the necessary legal and political conditions have been fulfilled.
What this means for Hungarian students
For students hoping to study abroad this autumn, uncertainty remains. Universities have already submitted Erasmus+ applications, and preparations can continue, but unless the European Commission and the Council approve Hungary’s reforms in time, many exchanges planned for the start of the 2026/27 academic year may have to rely on the government’s Pannónia Scholarship Programme instead. A full return to Erasmus+ funding for all eligible institutions may ultimately be delayed until the following academic year if the current timetable slips further.
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