Hungarian university students can once again access the full Erasmus+ exchange programme after all the necessary funding agreements were signed, ending years of restrictions on institutions run by public-interest asset management foundations.
The Erasmus+ student exchange programme has fully returned to all Hungarian universities, European Commission Executive Vice-President Roxana Mînzatu announced on Monday. The Tempus Public Foundation, which coordinates the programme in Hungary, confirmed that all the necessary funding agreements have now been signed following the removal of the legal obstacles.
🇭🇺🇪🇺 @EUErasmusPlus is back for students at every Hungarian university!
For almost four years, students at some Hungarian universities missed out on opportunities that their peers across Europe could enjoy.
Today, that changes. And I am happy to welcome them back to the Erasmus+ family!
Students from all Hungarian universities can now access these opportunities again, with applications possible as early as this autumn.
This means more opportunities for young people. More connections across Europe. And more doors open for every Hungarian student.
#erasmusasaright
— Roxana Mînzatu (@RoxanaMinzatu) October 26, 2026
When will students be able to study abroad again?
Despite the agreements being signed, students should not expect regular exchanges to resume immediately. According to the Tempus Public Foundation, regular student mobility is expected to restart in the second semester of the 2026/2027 academic year.
Some other forms of mobility may begin earlier, including short-term exchanges, blended mobility combining online and physical activities, and opportunities for university staff.
The access will allow students to study at partner universities abroad and gain professional experience through international placements. University lecturers and other staff will also be able to participate in exchanges, international research cooperation and professional development.
The affected institutions can additionally rejoin Erasmus+ partnership projects and apply for centrally managed funding opportunities.
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Why were Hungarian universities excluded?
The restrictions date back to December 2022, when the Council of the European Union introduced measures under its rule-of-law conditionality mechanism. The measures prohibited new EU funding commitments with public-interest asset management foundations, known by their Hungarian abbreviation, KEKVA, and the institutions they maintained.
The EU raised concerns about transparency, conflicts of interest and the involvement of political decision-makers in these foundations. As a result, 21 Hungarian universities operating under the foundation model were unable to renew their Erasmus+ funding agreements when the previous agreements expired.
Although these institutions were not formally expelled from Erasmus+, their students could no longer participate in the programme through the affected universities in the usual way. The previous government launched a separate Pannónia mobility programme to mitigate the consequences.
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What changed in October 2026?
The breakthrough came after Hungary’s new government agreed on reforms with the European Commission. On 13 October, EU member states unanimously ended the conditionality procedure, clearing the way for the affected universities to sign new Erasmus+ agreements.
The Tempus Public Foundation said it had begun notifying institutions about the signing process immediately after the decision.