In response to student demonstrations, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has written an open letter to Hungarian national student union HÖOK in which he pointed out that the Government’s current decisions on higher education reform did not take place unexpectedly.

In his letter, Viktor Orbán recalled his pleasant memories of last year’s meeting with a HÖOK student delegation about the act on higher education, which was under discussion in the Parliament at the time. At that meeting, the Government briefed participants about all the details of the planned multi-step reorganisation of higher education. The Government previously also held consultations with the university rectors’ conference. The Prime Minister stressed that nothing has changed compared to what had been scheduled at that time.

The Government approved the basic elements of the reorganisation of Hungary’s higher education system on 6 December. The proposal sets aside 10,480 full scholarships and 46,330 partial scholarships in post-secondary education. In addition, 16,000 scholarships would be awarded at master’s level and 1,300 at doctoral level. Considering labour market needs, studies in technical subjects, science, IT, agriculture, and medical and health sciences would be given a priority and sport scholarships would also be introduced.

The new higher education concept is based on a system in which the State will finance everyone’s studies, either by granting them scholarships or a new type of student loan. Under the old system in which only the first type of free-to-use student loan existed (diákhitel 1), when someone did not get a state-financed place, they could only attend higher education if they were able to finance their studies from their own resources. Under the new terms, the State will repay the student loan for anyone who works in the public sector after completing their studies. If they find employment in the private sector, the Government will offer tax incentives to companies to repay the student loans on behalf of new employees who have just graduated.

The new system will enable 100,000-120,000 students to attend higher education as against 50-60,000 within the current system.

(Prime Minister’s Office)