Created: 2026.03.23. 15:25
The aim of the Hungarian Diaspora Scholarship is to enable members of the Hungarian diaspora living around the world to strengthen their personal connection to their ancestral homeland through higher education studies. Thanks to this opportunity, Ivan Manuel Bano from Colombia—whose ancestors originated from Hungary—is now studying at Széchenyi István University.
“My grandfather came from a noble family and lived on the family estate in Felsőmocsolád. However, the communists took everything from them, and he was blacklisted. Later, he was persecuted for his involvement in the 1956 revolution, so he had to flee. Eventually, he started a new life in Colombia together with my uncle,” recounted Ivan Manuel Bano, who became a student at Széchenyi István University nearly seventy years after his grandfather’s emigration, thanks to the Hungarian Diaspora Scholarship.
The programme aims to provide higher education opportunities for young people living in the diaspora, thereby supporting their professional development and strengthening their Hungarian identity. Anyone who lives in one of the target countries and has Hungarian ancestry is eligible to apply.
The form and extent of the support are similar to those of the Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship, meaning that successful applicants receive assistance with living expenses, accommodation, and travel. The only additional requirement is that, within one year of obtaining their degree, students must pass a Hungarian language examination or placement test. Furthermore, after completing their studies, they are required to support Hungarian diaspora communities through community work for two years in a given country.
Ivan Manuel Bano grew up in Medellín, the second-largest city in Colombia (Photo: András Adorján)
Ivan Manuel Bano graduated as a product design engineer from EAFIT University in Medellín, after which he continued his studies in the Master’s programme in Vehicle Engineering at Széchenyi István University. Hungary is not unfamiliar to him, as his uncle later returned and currently lives near the former family estate, close to Lake Balaton.
“We often came to visit our relatives and frequently stopped in the capital as well. My sibling studies at Corvinus University of Budapest, also through the Diaspora Scholarship Programme. I have a strong connection to Hungary, which is why I was happy to come to Győr. I definitely wanted to study in Europe, so this opportunity came at just the right time,” he said.
The young student quickly integrated into the international community at Széchenyi István University. He has participated in several programmes; however, his studies currently keep him busy, so he spends his limited free time exercising and relaxing. He enjoys exploring the region and has already visited Vienna, Dubrovnik, and Warsaw. He also travels frequently to Germany, where his girlfriend lives—she was studying in Győr through the Erasmus programme when they met.
“In the future, I would like to continue my studies, primarily in business management. There is also a possibility that I will return to Colombia, as my family lives there, but for now I believe I will stay in Europe,” he concluded.
The young man from Colombia (second from the right) gave a presentation on Easter traditions in his home country at a cultural programme last spring and also took part in a joint egg-decorating activity (Photo: András Adorján)
