Sunway University

In conjunction with the National Day of Hungary, Malaysia celebrates the enduring friendship and expanding educational partnership between the two nations, a collaboration that continues to create meaningful opportunities for students and academics on both sides.

At the heart of this partnership is the Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship Programme, the Hungarian Government’s flagship initiative offering Malaysian citizens opportunities to pursue bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD degrees at leading Hungarian universities. Each year, 40 scholarships are made available to Malaysians, enabling them to experience Hungary’s rich academic and cultural environment while gaining world-class education and exposure to European research networks.

In a gesture of reciprocity, Sunway University has become the first Malaysian higher education institution to offer three PhD fee-waiver positions to Hungarian students, further strengthening academic collaboration and symbolising the shared commitment between both nations to educational exchange and mutual growth.

Formal partnerships between Malaysian and Hungarian universities have also contributed to this growing relationship. Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) have been established between Sunway University and renowned Hungarian institutions such as the University of Debrecen, University of Miskolc, and Óbuda University, facilitating student and staff exchanges, joint research, and academic cooperation.

A landmark moment in these ties was the first Malaysian-Hungarian Rectors’ Forum, held in Kuala Lumpur in February 2025. Organised by the Hungarian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur and the Hungarian Rectors’ Conference, with Sunway University as host, the event brought together academic leaders to discuss collaborative initiatives and new pathways for exchange.

Professor Sibrandes Poppema, President and Vice Chancellor of Sunway University, remarked “Our collaboration with Hungarian institutions is a testament to Sunway University’s global outlook and commitment to academic excellence. Through initiatives such as the Stipendium Hungaricum and our own reciprocal PhD fee waiver programmes, we are nurturing a new generation of scholars who embody the values of cross-cultural understanding and mutual respect.”

This growing partnership reflects the shared belief that education is a powerful tool for building enduring friendships between nations.