István Antal graduated from the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Pécs with a degree in Social Policy. He later completed his doctoral studies at the Doctoral School of Sociology at Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE), specializing in Interdisciplinary Social Research. His research focuses on Roma elite education, higher education institutions, and the sociodemographic characteristics of Roma families.

Following his studies in social policy, he worked in public administration and played a key role in the founding of the Jesuit Roma College. He initially served as Academic Director and was later appointed Rector of the institution. He subsequently worked as an external researcher at the Institute for Minority Studies within the Centre for Social Sciences, part of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, and also served as the professional lead for the Roma Platform initiative.

Antal later became Head of the Social Groups Research Centre at the Kopp Mária Institute for Families and Demography (KINCS), where he was later appointed as a presidential advisor.

He currently serves as Head of the Roma Talent Program at Mathias Corvinus Collegium, overseeing both the professional and operational management of the program.