We the 2021 South African DHET and Stipendium Hungaricum 2021 recipients , wish to support the call for financial support from DHET to increase from R2 000 to the universal cohort intake of R5 500. The current stipend of R2 000 is not sufficient to cover living expenses, accommodation and research support. 

As the 2021 intake we wish to highlight the following grievances:

1. Many of us are indirectly forced to work part time. It is not necessarily a problem to work  but in Hungary another consideration is that job opportunities for part time as  internationals are scarce.
2. Furthermore, the minimum wage is low and economical unrealistic, thereby forcing many to work more hours to compensate (if they are lucky enough to get a job in the first place).
3. We as the 2021 intake students  currently based on the combined stipends can not meet our  basic survival needs.This is a persistent hinderance to our studies and research initiatives.
4. The macroeconomic environment such as the consistent energy and basic food price inflation caused by the pandemic( as well as the war in Ukraine) has deteriorated the standard of living in Hungary. 

Therefore we request  DHET to prioritize raising financial support for the us, the 2021 intake.