Following the ousting of the previous administration, attention is turning to how the incoming government, led by Péter Magyar’s Tisza Party, will reshape Hungary’s relationships with the EU and rebuild international education relations.
Ákos Király, a Hungarian higher education professional currently working at SRH Higher Education in Germany, described the result as both personal and professionally significant.
“The election in Hungary is, for me, more than just a political moment – it is also deeply personal. Having lived and worked in Germany for many years in the international higher education sector, I continue to follow developments in Hungary very closely,” he said.
“The Tisza program addresses the right priorities: restoring university autonomy, re-engaging with European programs such as Erasmus+ and Horizon Europe, and strengthening international partnerships.
“These are not abstract ambitions – they are essential conditions for Hungarian universities to fully reconnect with the European Higher Education Area,” he said.
“What stands out most to me is the message behind this vote. On the anniversary of the 2003 EU referendum, Hungarian voters have sent a clear signal that they see their future firmly anchored in Europe. From my perspective in Germany, that is both powerful and encouraging,” Király continued.
“I see this as a genuine opportunity for a reset – one that can rebuild trust, reactivate international collaboration, and reposition Hungary as a valued and active partner in the European higher education and research landscape.”
I see this as a genuine opportunity for a reset – one that can rebuild trust, reactivate international collaboration, and reposition Hungary as a valued and active partner in the European higher education and research landscape
Ákos Király, SRH Higher Education
A key issue for universities is the expected restoration of access to EU funding programs, particularly Erasmus+ and Horizon Europe, which were suspended for major Hungarian institutions in 2022.
Péter Árvai, deputy director at the University of Pécs’ International Centre, said institutions are anticipating rapid progress.
“Within Europe, we anticipate restoring a trust-based partnership. Hungarian higher education is deeply integrated into the European higher education framework, forged through long-standing personal connections as well as research and educational projects and collaborations.
“This trust-based partnership was severely impacted in 2022 when the European Commission suspended access to EU funds for major Hungarian universities. We expect this suspension to end this year, and we are eager to rejoin the Erasmus+ and Horizon Europe programs as soon as possible.
“Accessing Erasmus+ and Horizon Europe funds is a top priority for the incoming administration, and we expect immediate results from this. This will be the first and most significant gain,” added Árvai.
“In recent years, we have observed a decline in incoming student mobility from EU countries. This trend not only affects traditional mobility programs but also impacts our German-taught medicine, dentistry, and veterinary programs, which attract thousands of German-speaking students from various EU countries. We hope that European students will return to Hungary following this regime change,” said Árvai.
The expectation is that improved political relations with the EU could help reverse this trend and restore Hungary’s attractiveness as a study destination.
Elsewhere, Hungary’s higher education system has faced sustained scrutiny over governance and academic freedom.
The forced departure of Central European University, founded by philanthropist George Soros, became a defining point in concerns over academic freedom during Orbán’s administration, alongside wider reforms.
One of the most contentious of these was the restructuring of universities into foundation-run institutions, referred to as the “model change”.
“The so-called ‘model change’ in higher education, whereby the previous government outsourced 21 leading Hungarian universities to specially designed foundations run by the government’s most loyal supporters, was particularly damaging. Péter Magyar’s Tisza Party has emphasised that reversing this policy will be a top priority,” said Árvai.
“We also hope for changes in immigration policies and, equally importantly, in the tone and culture surrounding discussions about individuals of different colours, ethnicities, and religious backgrounds,” he added.
“Immigration and labor policies affecting third-country citizens have been significant obstacles to the growth of international enrolment. While we remain hopeful for changes, it seems that Péter Magyar is being cautious with rhetoric on this topic and appears to prefer maintaining the policies of the previous government, at least for now.”
Árvai also expects a shift in foreign policy beyond Europe.
“The previous Hungarian foreign policy emphasised the ‘Eastern and Southern Opening’ strategy, which involved opening embassies, directing aid, and providing a significant number of scholarships to countries in the Global South. We hope to retain the accomplishments of this policy, but we are confident that Hungarian foreign policy will now focus more on traditional European and regional partnerships.”
