Central European University

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.

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.

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.

CEU's Vienna campus is well-connected to public transportation and is located in Favoriten the Austrian capital's multicultural 10th district and one of the city's most diverse locales. It is easily accessible from across the city and beyond, with tram stops and railway and underground stations nearby. Creating a collaborative working and learning environment is at the core of CEU's vision. CEU is committed to creating spaces that are user-friendly for all community members and visitors, including people with vision and hearing impairments or mobility aids. On both the Budapest and Vienna campuses several accessibility features and tools are available.

CEU's Career Services Office (CSO) plays a leading role in institutional efforts to ensure that our graduates are prepared to transform their CEU experience into meaningful professional engagement. CSO partners with students and alumni, offering guidance, support, and information to help them develop and pursue personal visions for impact and success all over the world.