Kenyan Students in Hungary Face Rising Costs, Language Barriers and Isolation

Kenyan student leader Dorothy Chebet has called for better preparation and support for scholars travelling abroad, saying scholarships do not always cover the full cost of living or ease the challenges of adapting to a new country.

Chebet left Eldoret for Hungary in 2023 after securing the Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship while searching online for opportunities. She had struggled to find stable employment after graduating in Kenya in 2019.

The scholarship allowed her to study environmental science, covering tuition and health insurance and providing a monthly stipend. However, she found that the allowance was not enough to meet the rising cost of living.

Her first months in Hungary were difficult and isolating. Chebet was the first Kenyan student at her university and spent several weeks without knowing about the wider Kenyan student community.

She later found a student job at a greenhouse, where she met other Kenyans. She subsequently joined the Association of Kenyan Students in Hungary (AKESH), becoming treasurer and later acting chairperson. In November last year, she was elected president of the organisation, which now represents more than 1,500 Kenyan students at universities across Hungary.

In her role, Chebet has seen the financial and emotional pressures faced by Kenyan students. Many struggle to meet the cost of rent and food because their stipends are limited. Others find it difficult to secure part-time work because they do not speak Hungarian.

Students also face pressure from families in Kenya who may assume that living abroad means having greater financial security. Chebet said such expectations can add to the stress of adjusting to life in a foreign country.

“When you leave Kenya, you are told that you have gone abroad, then you have money,” she said.

AKESH provides mentorship and emergency assistance to students in difficulty. In some cases, it has helped facilitate the return of students facing serious mental health or financial problems.

The association has limited resources and relies on partnerships with organisations including the International Organization for Migration and embassies in Nairobi and Vienna. It has also increased efforts to prepare students before they leave Kenya by providing guidance on accommodation, transport, immigration procedures and cultural adjustment.

Chebet said the challenges extend beyond financial difficulties. Rising living costs, language barriers and demanding academic programmes can leave students under considerable pressure. Those studying intensive courses such as medicine may have little or no time to take part-time jobs to supplement their income.

She advised prospective scholars to prepare financially and mentally before travelling. She also recommended learning basic Hungarian to make it easier to manage daily life and access opportunities.

Chebet said parents should also have realistic expectations about what scholarships provide. A scholarship may cover tuition and offer financial assistance, but it does not necessarily provide enough money for a comfortable life abroad.

She also called for stronger institutional support for students and graduates. After completing their studies, graduates receive a nine-month job-seeker permit, but professional opportunities can remain limited without Hungarian-language skills.

For some graduates, returning to Kenya may be the more practical option. Chebet believes additional government support could help students, particularly those whose academic programmes leave them unable to earn extra income through part-time work.

Her experience has shown that studying abroad requires more than securing a scholarship. Financial planning, preparation and support from fellow students can help Kenyan scholars manage the demands of living and studying far from home.