Hungarian university students will regain access to the European Union's Erasmus+ exchange programme beginning the 2026/2027 academic year, the Hungarian government announced Thursday.
The move follows years of dispute between Budapest and the European Commission over the governance of Hungary's university foundation system. Universities and researchers previously affected by restrictions are also expected to regain access to Horizon Europe, the EU's flagship research and innovation programme.
The government characterized the development as a major achievement during its first 100 days in office, attributing the breakthrough to negotiations with Brussels and a restructuring of Hungary's university foundation system.
Hungarian students had been excluded from full participation in Erasmus+, which facilitates student and researcher mobility across EU member states and partner countries. The programme provides funding for study periods, internships, and collaborative projects among European institutions.
The restoration of access represents a resolution to longstanding tensions between the Hungarian government and EU authorities regarding institutional autonomy and academic governance standards. The restructuring of the university foundation framework addressed concerns that had prompted the restrictions.
Horizon Europe, which supports research and innovation initiatives across the EU, had similarly been inaccessible to Hungarian researchers under the previous restrictions. The reinstatement of access to both programmes is expected to expand opportunities for Hungarian academic participation in EU-wide initiatives.