The European Investment Bank expects its €100 million loan to Hungary’s state-owned student lender to support around 136,000 beneficiaries, as the bank continues financing the country’s student-loan scheme.
The EIB announced the agreement on Nov. 6, naming Diákhitel Központ as its Hungarian counterpart. The bank expects residents of less-developed regions to account for more than 63% of beneficiaries.
The financing is intended for degree programs, vocational qualifications and adult education. The lender offers Student Loan 1 to help with living and study expenses; its Student Loan 2 product pays tuition.
The EIB says general student-loan eligibility extends to applicants younger than 45 who have residency rights in Hungary and valid student status. Some vocational and adult learners may qualify for training loans through age 55.
Hungary’s student-loan scheme began in 2001, according to the EIB, and this agreement is its seventh financing operation for the program. The EIB’s project database lists approval on May 6, 2026, and estimates total project costs at €294 million, of which about €100 million is EIB financing.
The EIB also cited responses from existing users. Nearly half of Student Loan 1 users and close to six in 10 Student Loan 2 users said the loans were necessary for them to complete their education.
The bank’s environmental and social assessment says the project should improve access to education, with possible effects extending beyond enrollment. It identifies stronger labor productivity, greater workforce participation by women and better income opportunities as potential benefits, especially for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. The assessment also provides for monitoring and evaluation of borrowers.
EIB Vice-President Marko Primorac said, “Talent is everywhere in Hungary, but access to finance should never determine who can study and who cannot.”
By the end of 2028, the EIB expects the financing to have supported around 136,000 beneficiaries.
