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1. Youth parliament

2. Youth councils and/or youth advisory boards

3. Higher education student union(s)

4. School student union(s)

5. Other bodies

Youth parliament

In Hungary the formation of Youth Parliament (Országos Diákparlament) established by the Government holds meetings every 2-3 years. In the intervening years the National Student Council (Országos Diáktanács) meets. Beyond that there are other grassroots initiatives, actions and different formations. Individual formations are listed below.

National Youth Parliament

The Act CXC of 2011 on National Public Education (2011. évi CXC. törvény a nemzeti köznevelésről) states, that the State Secretary Responsible for Public Education (in the Ministry of Interior) has the main task of convening the Youth Parliament. The state secretary convenes the Youth Parliament every other year. The plenary sessions of the National Student Council operate between the two sessions of the National Youth Parliament.

Composition

The Student Councils of schools have the opportunity to send a representative from among the students of the school to the county student parliament events. The county student parliaments, which meet annually, elect the student representatives who represent the questions and proposals formulated by the students at the National Youth Parliament (Országos Diákparlament). At the county student parliament, each county elects and sends a number of delegates to the National Youth Parliament in the proportion of the number of students in that county (Diákönkormányzat a gyakorlatban).

In 2025, about 700 candidates participated in the county youth parliaments with voting rights.

Role and responsibilities

In the presentation of the National Youth Parliament, it reviews the exercise of student rights and adopts a recommendation in which they formulate opinions and make proposals. The last session of the National Youth Parliament was in February 2026 and they accepted 64 proposals (Országos Diákparlament által elfogadott ajánlási pontok).

Funding

Information about the budget is not available.

National Student Council

Long term cooperation has been established between the National Student Council (Országos Diáktanács, NSC), the State Secretary Responsible for Public Education and the representatives of students. The National Student Council is the forum of it.

The National Youth Parliament initiated the establishment of NSC in 2017 to continue a regular representation for the significant issues in the meantime of the parliamentary sessions (2–3 years). In the last six years, they met several times. The last meeting was in January 2026.

Composition

The participants are 3 representatives from Budapest and 20 from the counties. The total number of members, including alternates, is 46. The county student parliaments delegate the members and the National Youth Parliament empowers them.

Role and responsibilities

The NSC participates in taking a stand on student policy issues (forming opinions, recommendations, engagement) and has the opportunity for regular consultation with the education government. They also participate in the preparation of the National Youth Parliament. It acts as a corps and exercises its rights in meetings.

Funding

According to the Rules of Operation (Az Országos Diáktanács Ügyrendje) the State Secretary Responsible for Public Education is responsible for the professional and administrative tasks related to the operation of the NSC, as well as for the reimbursement of travel expenses. No other information is available about funding.

Youth councils and/or youth advisory boards

There are several youth advisory bodies in Hungary. The two main actors are the National Youth Council (Nemzeti Ifjúsági Tanács, NYC) and the Board of the Children and Youth Fund (Gyermek és Ifjúsági Alapprogram Tanácsa).

National Youth Council

The National Youth Council (Nemzeti Ifjúsági Tanács, NYC) was founded in 2012. In autumn 2016, the NYC signed a strategic agreement ('Stratégiai Partnerségi Megállapodás') with the former Ministry of Human Capacities. Since then, NYC has been authorised to act as a strategic partner of the government in youth development in such important areas as youth policy, volunteering, social inclusion and education. The Ministry of Culture and Innovation (Kulturális és Innovációs Minisztérium) who is responsible for youth policy in Hungary, signed a new strategic agreement with NYC in 2024 to further strengthen the cooperation in these fields ('Stratégiai Együttműködési Megállapodás').

Composition

The members of NYC can be young people, delegates of youth organisations (public and NGOs) and youth workers and other experts working with young people. There is no publicly available data on the age or number of members, and it is continuously changing.

The most important body of NYC is the General Assembly which consists of all full members. The major decision-making body of the Delegate-Assembly: they have at least 2 meetings annually where they decide about the most important issues of the organisation. These meetings are public.

The task of the Presidency (7 board members) is to ensure the operational functions. The mandate of the 7 board members is valid for 2 years.

The 3^rd central body of NYC is the Supervisory Board, which consists of 3 members selected by the General Assembly. The task of this body is to participate in the meetings of the Board and to monitor that the activities of the Board comply with the law and other internal regulations. The mandate of the Supervisory Board is valid for 3 years.

Role and responsibilities

Several youth organisations have representation in NYC. As an umbrella organisation of Hungarian youth organisations, it supports Hungarian youth with international knowledge, relationships and information and represents their interests in youth policy-related decision-making processes.

NIT's major objectives include providing the highest level of representation of youth and their organisations; participating in forming and developing policies regarding youth, and acting as an advocate of young people towards the government in power. It also aims to support the development of Hungarian youth policy and to draw the attention of youth to public policy issues.

Funding

According to their charter, a state budget is earmarked to support the aims of NYC. In addition, the budget is managed in accordance with the Civil Code and the association operates with the help of funds from the National Cooperation Fund (Nemzeti Együttműködési Alap). Also, members pay a token membership fee.

The Board of the Children and Youth Fund

The Board of the Children and Youth Fund (Gyermek és Ifjúsági Alapprogram Tanácsa) is a professional forum through which the government communicates with leading organisations and individual professionals in the field of youth policy.

Composition

The organisations are invited by the Deputy State Secretary for Young People, operates under the Ministry of Culture and Innovation (Kulturális és Innovációs Minisztérium). The invited organisations are partly strategic partners of the government, and partly they are organisations with great traditions, representing a significant number of youngsters. The Government Decision 1292/2012. (VIII. 13.) on the Board of the Children and Youth Fund [1292/2012. (VIII. 13.) Korm. határozat] lists the participants:

• representative of the Deputy State Secretariat for Young People,
• representative of the national self-governmental bodies,
• Hungarian Youth Conference (Magyar Ifjúsági Konferencia),
• the National Organisation of Student Self-governing Bodies (Hallgatói Önkormányzatok Országos Konferenciája)
• The National Association of Large Families (Nagycsaládosok Országos Egyesülete),
• The Hungarian Scout Association (Magyar Cserkészszövetség),
• Hungarian School Sport Federation (Magyar Diáksport Szövetség),
• FIVOSZ – National Association of Young Entrepreneurs (FIVOSZ),
• Hungarian Farmers' Association (Fiatal Gazdák Magyarországi Szövetsége – AGRYA)
• two representatives from churches who have schools in Hungary.

Role and responsibilities

According to the Government Decision 1292/2012. (VIII. 13.) [1292/2012. (VIII. 13.) Korm. határozat], the purpose of the Board of the Children and Youth Fund is to make proposals on youth-related regulations, form opinion and participate in programmes related to youth.

Funding

According to the above-mentioned Government Decision the members are not receiving any honorarium for their activity in the Board.

Higher education student union(s)

Students in higher education exercise their rights within their institutions through an independent self-governing organisation. These self-governments are the so-called Student Self-Government (Hallgatói Önkormányzat) which operates as part of the higher education institutions (Hallgatói Önkormányzatok Országos Konferenciája). These organisations are grouped together in the National Organisation of Student Self-governing Bodies. Their establishment and operation are defined by the Organisational and Operational Regulation of the institutions.

The National Organisation of Student Self-governing Bodies

The National Organisation of Student Self-governing Bodies (Hallgatói Önkormányzatok Országos Konferenciája) is the representative organisation of the Hungarian student self-governments operating at Hungarian higher education institutions. It fulfils youth and higher education policy tasks that cannot be accomplished at an institutional or regional level.

Composition

The most important body is the General Assembly which consists of the representatives coming from the student self-governing bodies of the universities. They accept the Charta and vote for the President and the members of Supervisory Board. They can also establish temporary bodies to complete specific professional tasks. There is no data publicly available on the age or number of members, and it changes continuously especially because of the temporary bodies.

Roles and responsibilities

The National Organisation of Student Self-governing Bodies has the right and the opportunity to articulate the needs and opinions of young people studying at university to decision-makers at the government level. They are active in several fields, such as mentorship in university programmes, legal assistance to students, and building relationships with Hungarian student organisations abroad. They also organise events to provide information on education institutions, quiz competitions or health programmes for university students.

Funding

According to their Charta, the revenue of National Organisation of Student Self-governing Bodies consists of budgetary support provided by the state, member fees, contributions and donations from legal entities and private individuals, and income generated through its business organisations established to achieve its objectives.

Student self-governments

Higher education institutions must ensure student participation in committees and senates that address student affairs. Student self-governments (HÖK) exist at every higher education institution. It delegates 20–25% of the members of the Senate. The participants have a right of consent in approving and amending the rules of organisation and conduct as well as in reviewing finances affecting students and providing feedback on the work of student teachers.

Composition

The Act CCIV of 2011 on National Higher Education (2011. évi CCIV. törvény a nemzeti felsőoktatásról) defines that the members of the local student self-government can be young people who are students of a Hungarian higher education institution. The members are elected (annually) through democratic elections where the students of the institutions vote for the representatives. The central decision-making body is the Presidency and the President. 

Roles and responsibilities

The primary task of the student self-government is the representation of students' interest and advocacy. Besides that, they are supporting students and organising formal and informal events and international activities. They also has reconciliation right over the acceptance and modification of the Organisational and Operational Rules; the Regulation on Tuition Fees and Benefits and the regulation of education and exams based on the Act CCIV of 2011 on National Higher Education. They also participate in the student assessment system of the academic staff.

Funding

According to the law, it is the higher education institution that ensures the conditions of the student self-government's operation. There is no publicly available data on the number of members.

School student union(s)

Act CXC of 2011 on National Public Education (2011. évi CXC. törvény a nemzeti köznevelésről) states that students of a school may establish student councils to organise their joint activities in connection with education, to educate for democracy and public responsibility. These are the Student Councils (Diákönkormányzat).

Composition

The members of the Student Councils are selected in different ways at schools. In general, a certain number of pupils of the school are elected in every class and year. The regulations on Student Councils ensure the establishment, operations and legal status of Student Councils operating at the institutions.

Roles and responsibilities 

Student Councils have the right to decide on planning and organising their own community life, electing their functionaries, reconciling and take the initiative and make their suggestions. Based on the Act CXC of 2011 on National Public Education, Student Councils shall be requested to express its opinion before statutory regulations of the school's Organisational and Operational Rules are accepted, before determining the principles of providing social benefits for students, on the use of youth policy funds and before the approval of school regulations. The school's rules of procedures determine how Student Councils, the student representatives and the school management work together. Student Councils' work is supervised by a teacher.

Funding

The school takes charge of Student Councils' operational budget.

Other bodies

There are several other organisations that are active in the field of youth representation.

GYIÖT

GYIÖT [earlier they used the name Federation of Children's and Youth Municipal Council but currently they use only the abbreviation] is a Hungarian national NGO, an umbrella organisation of local children's and youth councils. It was created in 1996. The main goal is to represent local youth communities at a national level and create opportunities for them to meet and to help them develop. It cooperates with several domestic and international organisations, hereby establishing an international professional network. GYIÖT offers different services for member groups, youth community, and civil organisations: such as organising community and civil development activities, conducting youth research, and writing proposals in the field of youth and community development.

It is involved in several projects, mainly for secondary school students and their teachers, as well as professionals in the field of youth work. They are working with a 7-membered operative group that are volunteers. The decision-making body is the assembly of representatives (from the members' youth councils), which meets at least two times a year.

Association of Hungarian PhD and DLA Students

In Hungary, the Association of Hungarian PhD and DLA Students (Doktoranduszok Országos Szövetsége) has advocated on behalf of doctoral students in different higher education, political or social forums since 1994.

Composition

Based on the Act CCIV of 2011 on National Higher Education (2011. évi CCIV. törvény a nemzeti felsőoktatásról), at the national level, students participating in doctoral programmes at higher education institutions shall be represented by the Association of Hungarian PhD and DLA Students. The Association is a public body and it has established self-governments at all the 28 higher education institutions where doctoral schools exist. 

The members of the Association are the institutional doctoral self-governments of the public or private higher education institutions where there are doctoral schools accredited by the state. Within the Union, there are more than 500 people from more than a hundred doctoral schools altogether in 20 scientific departments. The assembly of the delegates is the main decision-making body, and it is entitled to decide on issues of any other body. The presidents of the institutional doctoral self-governments have the right to vote in the assembly.

Roles and responsibilities

The Association of Hungarian PhD and DLA Students plays an important role in representing the interests of students in doctoral programmes. Besides that, they organise scientific departments where students can participate in scientific, professional events, research and build relationships in the community. They also involve Hungarian doctoral students from neighbouring countries.

Funding

According to their charter, their budget and property consist of state-financed sources, from membership fees, donations of legal entities and individuals, and it has business activities as well, in its business units, to achieve its goals.

Hungarian Youth Conference

The Hungarian Youth Conference (Magyar Ifjúsági Konferencia) is the forum of Hungarian youth and youth organisations in Hungary. It was founded in 1999 on the initiative of the Hungarian Government. Ever since it has been working actively, it has organised different events and conferences. 

Composition

The organisational structure of the Hungarian Youth Conference is based on territories according to 10 regions. They currently have 45 member organisations. Different youth organisations participate in their work such as student organisations, youth organisations based on age groups, scouts and youth organisations of historical churches.

The major decisions are concluded in the final statement accepted by conference sessions. Between sessions, the primary decision-maker body is the Standing Committee of the Hungarian Youth Conference. It consists of the presidents of the regions and the president of the Hungarian Youth Conference. Its supervisory board has 3 members.

Roles and Responsibilities

The Hungarian Youth Conference is a counselling forum. It aims to make it possible for more and more Hungarian young people to participate in cross-border programmes and events which support the development of the Hungarian youth community. Another aim is coordinating dialogue and meetings on professional development between youth organisations in Hungary and abroad, and supporting programmes and events.

Funding

Information about the budget is not available.

The National Association of Young Entrepreneurs

The National Association of Young Entrepreneurs (FIVOSZ) is a community of young entrepreneurs in Hungary. Its aim is to support the next generation of entrepreneurs in realising business development plans, to give them opportunities to communicate with each other and new business contacts, and to provide information on trends and technologies. (For more information on FIVOSZ, see 3.2 Administration and governance)

Hungarian Scout Association

In Hungary, the Hungarian Scout Association (Magyar Cserkészszövetség) was founded in 1912, and currently, there are circa 200 scouting groups with more than 10 thousand Scouts working actively. The Association is a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement, which is an advisory member of the United Nations.

Their aim is to provide a life model for young people, and educate them with the help of volunteers. They provide this opportunity to everyone who is open to the values of the movement and would participate actively in the life of his/her community. In general, this education means informal education, which focuses on small community education, learning by doing, as well as inspiring and pleasant programmes.

Hungarian Youth Association

The Hungarian Youth Association (HYA) is a non-profit organisation established to inform Hungarians studying abroad and build their communities while representing their interests. The company aims to provide a platform for the Hungarian youth where young people can share their experiences and create connections with peers of similar backgrounds. The Headquarters leads community engagement and representation activities, coordinates sponsor relations and commissioned research projects, and optimises marketing and finances. The work of National Organisations and the Headquarters is therefore tightly interlinked, and as national communities grow, HYA aims at internationalising these responsibilities.

National Association for Student Information

The first meeting of the National Association for Student Information (Országos Diáktájékoztatás Egyesület) was held in September 2022. Its members are currently students and editors of the website (diaktajekoztatas.hu). The aim of the association is to inform students about as many student events as possible and to provide them with more information about student life. According to the Ministry's information, the future aim is to provide regular training and an organisational framework for youth interested in advocacy.