Central European University (CEU)

Central European University is an undergraduate- and graduate-level “crossroads” university where faculty and students from more than 100 countries engage in interdisciplinary education, pursue advanced scholarship, and address some of society’s most vexing problems.

CEU is accredited in the United States and Austria and offers English-language bachelor's, master's and doctoral programs in the social sciences, the humanities, law, management and public policy. Located in Vienna, the heart of Europe, CEU has a distinct academic and intellectual focus, combining the comparative study of the region's historical, cultural, and social diversity with a global perspective on good governance, sustainable development and social transformation.

Founded in 1991, at a time when revolutionary changes were displacing the rigid orthodoxies imposed on Central and Eastern Europe, CEU is based on the premise that human fallibility can be counterbalanced by the critical discussion of ideas and that this critical spirit can be best sustained in societies where citizens have the freedom to scrutinize competing theories and openly evaluate and change government policies.

CEU is one of the most densely international universities in the world. Its rare mix of nationalities, ethnicities, and cultures creates an ideal environment for examining such “open society” subjects as emerging democracies, transitional economies, media freedom, nationalism, human rights, and the rule of law. It also brings multifaceted perspectives to all aspects of community life.

CEU is known for excellence in teaching and research—with purpose. At the core of its mission lies a set of principles: the pursuit of truth wherever it leads, respect for the diversity of cultures and peoples, and commitment to resolving differences through debate, not denial.

Our Mission

Central European University is an institution of advanced research and teaching, dedicated to socially and morally responsible intellectual inquiry. Having launched a new undergraduate offer in 2020, CEU’s distinctive educational program builds on the research tradition of the great American universities; on the most valuable Central European intellectual traditions; on the international diversity of its faculty and students; on its commitment to social service; and on its history of academic and policy achievements in transforming the closed communist inheritance.

CEU is committed to promoting the values of open society and self-reflective critical thinking. It aims at excellence in the mastery of established knowledge, courage to pursue the creation of new knowledge in the humanities, the social sciences, law and management, and engagement in promoting applications for each, in particular through their policy implications. CEU is a new model for international education, a centre for the study of contemporary economic, social and political challenges, and a source of support for building open and democratic societies that respect human rights and human dignity.

How CEU Works

Central European University ("CEU" or the "University") was founded in 1991 to support the democratic transitions in Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. In 2020, CEU launched a new undergraduate offer. The University is deeply international: it is home to students from more than 100 countries and faculty from over 50.

The mission of the University, conducted through its 13 academic departments and its world-leading research centers, is to promote open societies and democracy, through advanced research, and research-based teaching, primarily in the social sciences and humanities. The language of instruction is English.

Accreditation

United States Accreditation

CEU holds an absolute charter from the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York, for and on behalf of the New York State Education Department. In the United States, CEU is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. The CEU Status of Accreditation is available from the MSCHE website. You can find the latest CEU Self-Study report submitted to the MSCHE here.

In addition, all CEU degree programs are registered with the New York State Education Department.

In Austria, CEU is authorized to operate all of its US degree programs by the decision of the Agency for Quality Assurance and Accreditation Austria (AQ Austria) under para 27 sections 1-4 of Austria’s law on quality assurance in higher education.

Austrian Accreditation

In Austria, CEU's Austrian entity Central European University Private University (CEU PU) is recognized as a private higher education institution under §§ 24 and 25 HS-QSG and § 1 Private University Act (PUG) in conjunction with § 14 Private University Act (PrivHG). CEU PU is accredited by the Agency for Quality Assurance and Accreditation Austria

Undergraduate Programs

To apply to CEU’s bachelor's programs, you’ll need to gather documents such as transcripts, your CV, and proof of English proficiency, obtain a recommendation letter, write a motivation letter and an essay, and fill out the application form online, where you’ll also upload everything and pay the application fee. Here you can find a list of what you’ll need for your application. To apply to the Culture, Politics, and Society bachelor’s degree program, you’ll need to write an essay about what you see as the most important challenge we are facing today.

The topic can be of a social, political, cultural, economic, or environmental nature - or a combination. How do you imagine a degree in Culture, Politics, and Society will help make sense of this challenge, and of trying to tackle it? We’re looking for your opinion, your analysis, and your passion. You can find more information here. Once you’ve submitted your application, CEU faculty and admissions staff review it alongside all the others. Finalists are invited for interviews with a panel of professors, then decisions are made, and successful applicants are notified.

Eligibility Requirements for Master's Programs

Applicants must have a first degree (bachelor's or equivalent undergraduate degree) from a recognized university or institution of higher education or provide documentation indicating that they will earn such a first degree before enrollment in a CEU master's program. Applicants applying for two-year master’s programs must have collected a minimum of 180 ECTS credits* (or equivalent) during their undergraduate studies, while applicants for one-year master’s programs, a minimum of 240 ECTS credits* (or equivalent).

(In exceptional cases, applicants with a three-year bachelor’s degree [180 ECTS credits or equivalent] may be allowed admission into one-year master’s programs. The applicants should be aware that they may not be able to pursue a doctoral degree in the European Higher Education Area if they have accumulated less than 300 ECTS credits (or equivalent) in their prior university studies. Applicants wishing to pursue an academic career in the countries that have adopted the ECTS framework should choose their master’s program accordingly [two-year master’s in case they collected 180 ECTS (or equivalent) and one-year master’s in case they have 240 ECTS credits (or equivalent)]. For the list of conditions under which exemptions may be granted, please refer to the program’s website.)

Students enrolled in a master's program at CEU must not be simultaneously enrolled in another higher education institution unless they provide official documentation about having obtained a leave of absence from the other institution for the entire duration of their studies at CEU. Admitted students are required, if applicable, to indicate enrollment at another institution in the matriculation form at the beginning of their studies at CEU.

*One ECTS credit is worth 0,5 US credits.

Eligibility Requirements for Doctoral Programs

Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) and a master's degree (or equivalent) in a related field from a recognized university or institution of higher education, or provide documentation indicating that they will earn such a degree before enrollment in a CEU doctoral course of study. Those students holding a five-year master’s degree are not required to have a bachelor’s.

In exceptional cases, the Department of Cognitive Science will also consider candidates who only hold a bachelor's degree, provided it is in a discipline closely associated with cognitive science.

Students enrolled in a doctoral program at CEU must not be simultaneously enrolled in other institutions of higher education, and are required, at the beginning of their studies at CEU, to sign a declaration to this effect.

Language Requirements

The language of instruction for all master's, doctoral, and non-degree programs offered by Central European University is English. Candidates must demonstrate proficiency in English by submitting standardized English language test scores. Candidates whose first language is English are normally exempt from this requirement.

Visa and Residence Information for the CEU Vienna Campus (Austria)

Visa and residence permit applications can only be processed by the Austrian immigration authorities. You can find your nearest Austrian representation office here. The office for immigration in Vienna is the MA 35. CEU PU is not allowed to apply for a visa or residence permit on behalf of students, nor are we legally entitled to make inquiries with relevant authorities on the student's behalf. Please follow the steps on this page for application instructions and recommendations.

First-time applicants

Step 1: Find out what kind of document you need before entering Austria

Non-EU (European Union) and Non-EEA (European Economic Area) nationals (third-country nationals): find out if you need a visa to enter Austria. Please check this OeAD list to see if you have the right to a 90-day visa-free stay. If you need a visa to enter Austria, please submit your student residence permit application in your home country as soon as you receive your confirmation of acceptance for visa purposes (see Step 2 below).

Students who can enter 90-day visa-free or hold a residence permit from another Schengen country may apply in Austria.

Attention: Applying to Austria does not allow you to overstay the 90-day visa-free time. For that reason, we strongly recommend you only apply in Austria if you have prepared all your documents before entering Austria and have requested an appointment with the immigration authority. If you exceed your visa-free stay before your residence permit has been approved, you will need to leave the Schengen area until you receive your student residence permit.
EU or EEA citizens: You do not need a visa, nor a residence permit to reside in Austria, however, you must apply for a Confirmation of Registration (Anmeldebescheinigung) within four months of your arrival in Austria. You can find further information on the government website.

Step 2: Get an appointment

Please get an appointment at your local Austrian embassy or consulate, or the MA 35 office in Vienna. The appointment at the embassy should be scheduled as soon as you have accepted your CEU offer of acceptance. You need to apply in person*. If you are applying at the MA 35, please note that you can get an appointment eight weeks in advance. We recommend you get an appointment at the MA35 for the middle of September.
*Please note: you may need to visit the embassy multiple times before your application is approved.

Step 3: Prepare all required documents for the application, listed here. Please make sure that your police clearance certificate needs to be legalized and translated by a certified court translator. A Confirmation of Acceptance document will be made available on your applicant portal once you have officially accepted an offer of admission.

Step 4: Wait for approval from the MA35. You will receive an E-Mail once the decision has been made.

Step 5*: Apply for a visa D to enter Austria.

Step 6*: Travel to Austria and apply for an appointment at MA35.

Step 7: Prepare the documents to pick up your residence permit.

Step 8: Pick up the residence permit and bring all required documents to your appointment.

*in case you need a visa to enter Austria.

Want to find out what kind of residence permit or visa you need?

Follow the flowchart below to see if you need a residence permit or a visa. The flowchart will also show you when and how you should apply for a residence permit.

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