The Hungary Initiatives Foundation together with Mathias Corvinus Collegium (Budapest, Hungary) is proud to announce the establishment of the Budapest Fellowship Program, a full-time, fully-funded transatlantic fellowship opportunity in Budapest, Hungary, for young American scholars and professionals.
The goal of the 10-month program is to cultivate the next generation of American policy professionals and equip them with a thorough understanding of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and Hungary.  The fellows will have an opportunity to conduct independent research on the topic fellows choose while gaining practical experience working at a Hungarian host institution that matches their professional interests.
The program’s structure is designed to nurture an understanding of Central and Eastern European, and specifically, Hungarian history and culture. The program will offer extensive professional and personal networking opportunities and fellows will be matched with local mentors to guide them during their fellowship journey.
The program is expected to run from September 2020 through June 2021.
The scholarship will provide:

• a monthly stipend to cover living expenses in Budapest ($1500/month for Junior Fellows, $2000/month for Senior Fellows, $2500/month for Senior Fellows with a family),
• housing in Budapest (upgraded college dorms on the campus of the Ludovika – University of Public Service for Junior Fellows, private apartment for Senior Fellows),
• roundtrip air travel to Hungary,
• health insurance assistance for the fellow’s visa application process,
• Hungarian language classes,
• book stipend and research support,
• organized field trips to neighboring countries and the Hungarian countryside.

BUDAPEST FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
Research, Teach, Learn and Network in Hungary
RESEARCH. Fellows will conduct their own independent research guided by a mentor and will gain practical experience during the 10-month internship/fellowship experience at a Budapest-based host institution (Hungarian think tank, academic institution, government agency, parliamentary office, NGO, media outlets etc.) corresponding with their own academic or professional fields. Mathias Corvinus Collegium (MCC) will assist them also to publish their findings.
TEACH. Fellows will have an opportunity to work out teaching plans for lectures, courses and workshops for BA students of specialized training programs in MCC, and for MA students of the MCC Leadership Academy as well as for the participants of the postgraduate programs (e.g. MCC Women Public Leadership Program, Transylvanian Political School, Subcarpathian Public Leadership Program).
LEARN. The program will also feature thematic seminars on the history of Hungary, Hungarian democratic traditions, the post-communist legacy in CEE, Hungary’s foreign policy orientations, Hungarian cultural geography, US-Hungary and EU-Hungary relations, and current human rights issues. The program will also include monthly organized field trips to neighboring countries in the Carpathian Basin and cities in the countryside of Hungary to better understand the regional differences and dynamics within Hungary, the Visegrád countries, and the Carpathian basin. Fellows will also be enrolled in a basic Hungarian language course to support their cultural immersion process.
NETWORK. The program will hold regular discussions with respected, area experts, scholars and business leaders allowing the fellows to refine their leadership skills, advance their professional development, and deepen their economic, political, historical and cultural understanding of Central and Eastern Europe. Continuous mentoring will be provided for fellows to help set realistic personal goals, research and/or teaching plans, as well as to develop strong personal connections with key individuals in their respective profession or field of study. Upon completion of the program, participants will be integrated into HIF’s alumni activities in Washington and Budapest and will be invited to participate in MCC research projects, as well as to return back to Hungary to participate in MCC-organized events.
ELIGIBILITY AND APPLICATION
The Budapest Fellowship Program, is open for two categories of applicants:

• Junior Fellows: senior graduate students
• Senior Fellows: post-doctoral researchers and early career professionals

The Program will host two Junior and two Senior Fellows starting September 2020.
All applicants must: 

• Be US citizens,
• Have a research interest in Central and Eastern Europe,
• Have outstanding research and academic credentials,
• Have demonstrated leadership potential,
• Develop a research plan specifically tailored to Hungary focusing on one of the following areas: economic development, human rights, foreign and defense policy, energy security, public diplomacy, EU-Hungary relations, US-Hungary relations, the history and legacy of communism in Hungary, contemporary Hungarian society and the neighbouring countries.

Mathias Corvinus Collegium (MCC) – Budapest, Hungary
MCC is an extracurricular educational institution and knowledge center in Hungary with an outstanding reputation for its academic excellence. With almost 25 years of experience in non-profit talent promotion, MCC aims to educate well-prepared intellectuals with critical thinking who are also able to responsibly address the challenges of our time. In its capacity as a university think tank, the Collegium aspires to elaborate on relevant, socially divisive topics through scientific research, while communicating them for the public, applying clear and straightforward language in a thoughtful, logical manner.

The Hungary Initiatives Foundation (HIF) – Washington, DC
HIF is an independent, US-based non-partisan and non-profit organization committed to strengthening the understanding and cooperation between Hungary and the Unites States of America. This program is part of HIF’s Liberty Bridge Program, launched in 2020, with the goal of reinvigorating the US-Hungary relationship through programs that will bolster the professional, academic, public and people-to-people dialogue between the two countries. The idea behind the program is the core conviction that the US and Hungary share value-driven bonds built on the concept of Liberty. As part of this program, HIF invests in scholars and fellows who have demonstrated leadership skills and will serve as future bridge builders between the two countries.
 
In Partnership with
Ludovika – University of Public Service – Budapest, Hungary 
Ludovika is a specialised higher educational institution, the principal aim of which is to educate highly qualified personnel for the civil service, the military as well as the different branches of law enforcement. Besides the faculties, the Ludovika research institutions focus on topical international questions as well as the theory of the state. In the autumn, new programs like the College of Visegrád and the Hungarian Diplomatic Academy will be launched. The beautifully restored old Royal Ludovika Academy symbolises the important heritage of the university, while the newly built educational facilities are equipped with state of the art technology to help the educational activities. The campus in Orczy Park is easy to reach by public transport and home to sports facilities, like a swimming pool, a sports hall as well as horse riding stables. The dorms for visiting fellows are self-contained units.  Erasmus as well as Stipendium Hungaricum students ensure vibrant international student life.