Central European University
Zentraleuropäische Universität
A small English-taught social sciences university in Vienna, accredited in the US and Austria.
- Students
- 1,453
- International
- 96%
- of students
- Student–faculty
- 7.8:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- €8,000
- 2026-27
- Founded
- 1991
About CEU
Central European University was founded in 1991 by George Soros as a graduate school in Prague, Budapest and later Warsaw, and spent most of its history in Budapest. After the Hungarian government refused to sign an agreement allowing it to keep teaching its US-accredited programmes there, CEU moved most of its operations to Vienna from September 2019. Its campus is at Quellenstraße in Favoriten, Vienna's multicultural 10th district, and it keeps a non-degree presence in Budapest.
CEU is a private university with students and faculty from more than 100 countries, and every programme is taught in English. It offers 49 degree programmes: 3 bachelor's, 35 master's and 11 doctoral. Its strengths are in political science, international relations, philosophy, history, legal studies and economics, and all programmes are accredited both in the United States (Middle States Commission on Higher Education) and in Austria (AQ Austria).
Undergraduates choose between three programmes: Culture, Politics and Society; Data Science and Society; and Philosophy, Politics and Economics. Tuition is 8,000 euros a year, and bachelor's students can earn a three-year Austrian degree or a four-year US and Austrian dual degree. CEU suits internationally minded students who want small seminar classes and a research-heavy social sciences education in English.
Why students choose CEU
Dual accreditation: bachelor's students can take a four-year route to both an American BA and an Austrian degree.
All teaching is in English, in a community of students and faculty from more than 100 countries.
Tuition of 8,000 euros a year for all bachelor's programmes, with merit-based Partial Tuition Awards of up to 50%.
Four admission rounds, from 15 October 2026 to 15 July 2027, with interviews for shortlisted candidates.
Admissions
Entry in September 2027 (admission rounds from October 2026 to July 2027)
Selectivity
CEU does not publish an admit rate on its admissions pages (its factbook dashboards show offers by program). Selection is holistic: a program committee decides based on school grades, the recommendation, English, intellectual merit, experience, motivation and fit, after an interview for preselected candidates.
Typical entry requirements
| High school diploma or equivalent (Matura, Abitur, A-levels, IB, etc.) | Required by enrollment; submit transcripts for the last two years in English and any matriculation exam results |
|---|---|
| Data Science and Society | Clear, sustained achievement in mathematics; mathematics in the final year is strongly recommended for PPE |
| English language | IELTS 6.5 · TOEFL iBT 88 TOEFL iBT 88 (or 4.5 on the new scale for tests after 21 January 2026), IELTS Academic 6.5, PTE Academic 59, Cambridge C1/C2 180, Duolingo 120. Exempt if English is your first language, with IB English 5+, SAT EBRW 650+, ACT English and Reading 27+, or two years at an English-medium high school. |
Deadlines
- Round 1 Non-binding Next deadline · In 9 daysOctober 15, 2026
Decisions 1 December 2026 to 15 January 2027. CEU financial aid available. The only round open to applicants from visa-sensitive countries.
- Round 2 Non-binding In ~4 monthsFebruary 2, 2027
Decisions 1-30 April 2027. Last round with CEU financial aid; not open to visa-sensitive countries.
- Round 3 Non-binding In ~6 monthsApril 15, 2027
Decisions 15-30 May 2027. No CEU financial aid; not open to visa-sensitive countries.
- Round 4 Non-binding In ~9 monthsJuly 15, 2027
Decisions 16-30 July 2027. Only for applicants with visa-free entry to Austria (including EU/EEA); subject to space.
All deadlines are 23:59 Central European Time. CEU's bachelor's admissions page labels these rounds as the 2026/2027 cycle, but the dates run from October 2026 to July 2027 and lead to entry in September 2027.
How to apply
Online application directly to CEU (up to three bachelor's programmes) with transcripts, proof of English, CV, a motivation letter of up to 300 words, one confidential teacher or counselor recommendation (due within a week of applying), and a 500-word essay for Culture, Politics and Society. One 30 euro application fee per cycle. Written materials must be prepared without generative AI beyond grammar checks. Preselected candidates are interviewed.
What admissions looks for
- Strong school grades over the last two years, with maths achievement for Data Science and Society.
- A recommendation that speaks to academic potential, motivation and character.
- English proficiency and intellectual merit, shown in a motivation letter (and essay for CPS) written without AI help.
- Work, volunteer or extracurricular experience, clear future plans and fit with the program's goals.
Tips for applying to CEU
- 1 Apply in Round 1 (15 October) or Round 2 (2 February) if you want CEU financial aid; later rounds have none.
- 2 If you are from a visa-sensitive country, Round 1 is your only option.
- 3 Pay the 30 euro fee by card or at least a week before the deadline, because the application is not processed until Flywire receives payment.
- 4 Register your referee early: the recommendation must arrive within a week of your application.
- 5 For Culture, Politics and Society, use the 500-word essay to engage genuinely with one world problem rather than give a final answer.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in EUR
A small number of merit-based Partial Tuition Awards covering up to 50% of bachelor's tuition (up to 4,000 euros a year) are offered in Rounds 1 and 2; applicants from any country can apply by ticking the funding section of the application. Children of CEU graduates and siblings of current students can get a 20% tuition discount.
- Up to 50% of tuition, max 4,000 euros per year, merit-based
- Partial Tuition Award (bachelor's)
- 30 euros per cycle, regardless of how many programmes
- Application fee
- 500 euros, credited towards first-year tuition, non-refundable
- Registration fee on acceptance
Academics
Academic calendar: Academic year September to June, two semesters
BA in Philosophy, Politics and Economics
Three years for an Austrian degree or four for a US and Austrian dual degree, with specialisations chosen in year two and a study-abroad option in year three.
BA/BS in Data Science and Society
Pairs data science with social questions; applicants need a strong maths record and may submit SAT, AP, A-level or IB maths scores.
BA in Culture, Politics and Society
An interdisciplinary humanities and social sciences degree whose application essay asks you to analyse a pressing world challenge.
Master's programmes in political science and international relations
Political science and international relations are among the fields CEU says it is globally recognised for, taught at master's and doctoral level.
Research
- Research centres and the Blinken Open Society Archives, which hold documents on Central and Eastern Europe under communism and on human rights.
- CEU describes itself as the leading anglophone university for the social and behavioural sciences and humanities in Central Europe.
- Member of CIVICA, the European University of Social Sciences alliance.
Schools & faculties
- School of Undergraduate Studies
- Department of Economics
- Department of Political Science
- Department of International Relations
- Department of Philosophy
- Department of Historical Studies
- Department of Legal Studies
- Department of Network and Data Science
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Policy
- Department of Gender Studies
- Department of Cognitive Science
- Doctoral School of Political Science, Public Policy, and International Relations
Student life
CEU is a small community on a single campus in Favoriten, a diverse district of Vienna with direct metro (U1 Reumannplatz) and tram links. Each year starts with an Orientation Week run by the Student Services Office; in 2026 it welcomed 675 new students. CEU has no dormitories of its own, so students live in public or private student residences or shared flats across the city, and the Student Center helps with housing, health insurance and residence permits. Student groups include a debate society, and the Student Union represents students.
- Orientation Week each September for incoming students.
- Students from more than 100 countries in small seminar classes.
- Priority access to two OeAD public student residences and discounts at a private residence.
- Student Center support with Austrian residence documents and health insurance.
Housing. CEU has no dormitories of its own; OeAD guesthouses offer priority places for CEU students, and dorm rooms in Vienna start at about 350 euros a month, with most around 600 euros.
Location
CEU's campus at Quellenstraße 51-55 is in Favoriten, Vienna's 10th district, which CEU describes as multicultural and one of the city's most diverse areas. It is a short metro or tram ride from Vienna's main station. Vienna is Austria's capital, and CEU notes that students can live in many districts and commute by public transport or bicycle.
Nearest airport: Vienna International Airport (VIE)
Notable alumni
- GM Giorgi MargvelashviliPresident of Georgia 2013-2018; postgraduate study at CEU in Budapest
- LJ Lívia JárókaHungarian Member of the European Parliament; MA in sociology from CEU's Warsaw campus
- TK Tinatin KhidasheliFormer Georgian Minister of Defence; master's in political science from CEU (1996)
- IM Ilgar MammadovAzerbaijani opposition politician; studied political science at CEU
- ET Előd TakátsEconomist and former rector of Corvinus University of Budapest; master's in economics from CEU (2002)
- DM Dylan Mohan GrayFilmmaker of the documentary Fire in the Blood; MA in history from CEU
Frequently asked questions
Is Central European University in Budapest or Vienna?
CEU's degree programmes are now taught on its campus in Vienna, Austria, where it moved most operations from September 2019. It keeps a non-degree research and civic engagement presence in Budapest.
How much does CEU cost for bachelor's students?
Tuition is 8,000 euros a year for all bachelor's programmes, plus a 200 euro enrollment fee and the Austrian Student Union fee of 52.40 euros a year. Merit awards can cover up to half of tuition.
When are CEU's application deadlines for 2027 entry?
15 October 2026, 2 February 2027, 15 April 2027 and 15 July 2027. Only the first two rounds offer CEU financial aid, and applicants from visa-sensitive countries must apply in Round 1.
What English score do I need for CEU?
TOEFL iBT 88 or IELTS 6.5, among other accepted tests, unless you qualify for an exemption such as English as a first language or two years at an English-medium school.
Does CEU require the SAT?
No. Test scores are optional supporting documents, though Data Science and Society applicants are encouraged to submit a maths score such as SAT Math 650 or IB Math HL 5.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
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