Degree Programs

One-Year Master's Degree Programs

The one-year Master's degree programs typically run on an academic calendar of ten months, including an orientation program, two 12-week semesters (Semester I and Semester II), and a two-month Spring Session during which the student prepares a Master's thesis or research project. The one-year programs normally admit students who have completed a four-year Bachelor's degree in a recognized institution of higher education.

All one-year Master’s programs are approved and registered by the New York State Education Department. In addition, some of the one-year programs are accredited in Hungary as Master’s Level Further Specialization Degrees.

Two-Year Master's Degree Programs

Increasingly, CEU is introducing two-year Master’s degree programs, following the Bologna process degree cycle reform and requirements for degree programs accreditation in Hungary. In addition to approval and registration by the New York State Education Department, the two-year Master’s programs are accredited, or are in the process of being accredited, by the Hungarian Accreditation Committee and are offered by the Hungarian recognized private higher education institution Közép-európai Egyetem (translated as Central European University).

The two-year programs normally admit students who have completed at least a three-year Bachelor's degree in a recognized institution of higher education.

Erasmus Mundus Master’s Degree Programs

CEU is a partner institution in several Erasmus Mundus consortia, offering two-year degree programs in the following areas:

• Environmental Sciences, Policy and Management (MESPOM)
• The Joint European Master in Women's and Gender Studies (GEMMA)
• Public Policy (Mundus MAPP)

Doctoral Degree Programs

The CEU doctoral programs normally take three to six years to complete. During the first year of doctoral study, students must complete the taught course credits specified by their department. Dependent upon the successful completion of a comprehensive examination and a dissertation proposal (or an extensive research paper), students are approved for full doctoral candidacy. Doctoral candidacy is the period in which the student pursues research toward the dissertation; this period normally lasts two to five years. For further information, see University Doctoral Regulations.

Students approved for full doctoral candidacy are encouraged to pursue their dissertation research and to build international scholarly contacts through a special study abroad program. CEU sponsors a Doctoral Research Support Grant Program, which is designed to cover the living expenses of CEU doctoral students while they are studying abroad.

Additionally, CEU collaborates closely with the Academic Fellowship Program, (AFP) of the Higher Education Support Program (HESP) that supports young scholars from the region in finding placement in their home countries or in other countries in the region.

These programs offer CEU doctoral students an additional edge: experience in another country, access to resources which enhance their research and a means by which to establish contacts for professional placement upon the completion of their degrees.

Modular Doctoral Program for HESP-Supported Institutions and AFP Departments

CEU offers a modular doctoral program for the junior faculty of HESP supported institutions and HESP AFP Departments. The program allows the students to work on their dissertation while continuing teaching at their home departments. It is a flexible program with an individualized approach that does not require continuous residence on the university premises. The tuition fees for this program are covered by CEU, and the stipend and travel expenses are covered by HESP for up to six years of doctoral study for selected applicants. Further information is available here.

Degree Programs of the CEU Business School

The CEU Business school offers a number of undergraduate and graduate degree programs, approved and registered by the New York State Education Department, including a Dual Undergraduate Degree in International Business, offered with Bocconi University in Milan, Italy, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Global Management. Both are four-year programs. At the graduate level, the Business School offers an Executive MBA, a one-year MBA and a one-year Master of Science in IT Management. Further details are available at the school’s website.

List of Degree Programs

MA in Economics (two years)
MA in Economic and Legal Studies (one year)
PhD in Economics

MS in Environmental Sciences and Policy (one year)
MSc in Environmental Sciences, Policy and Management (MESPOM; two years)
PhD in Environmental Sciences and Policy

MA in Gender Studies (one year)
MA in Critical Gender Studies (two years)
The Joint European Master in Women's and Gender Studies (GEMMA) (two years)
European Master in Women’s and Gender History (MATILDA) (two years)
PhD in Comparative Gender Studies

MA in Central European History (one year)
MA in Historical Studies (two years)
PhD in Comparative History of Central, Southeastern and Eastern Europe

MA in International Relations and European Studies (one year)
PhD in Political Science (International Relations track)

LLM in Comparative Constitutional Law (one year)
LLM in Human Rights (one year)
MA in Human Rights (one year)
LLM in International Business Law (one year)
LLM in Economic and Legal Studies (one year)
SJD Doctor of Juridical Sciences

MS in Applied Mathematics (two years)
PhD in Mathematics and its Applications

MA in Medieval Studies (one year)
MA in Historical Studies (two years)
PhD in Medieval Studies

MA in Nationalism Studies (one year)
Note: a PhD Specialization in Nationalism Studies is available under the PhD in History/PhD in Political Science

MA in Philosophy (one year)
MA in Philosophy (two years)
PhD in Philosophy

MA in Political Science (one year)
MA in Political Science (two years)
PhD in Political Science

MA in Public Policy (one year)
Mundus MAPP: Erasmus Mundus Masters Program in Public Policy (two years)

MA in Sociology and Social Anthropology (one year)
MA in Sociology and Social Anthropology with Specialization in Global and Urban Studies (two years, US accreditation in process)
PhD in Sociology and Social Anthropology

BBA, Laurea (Dual Undergraduate Degree in International Business)
BSc in Global Management
MBA (Master of Business Administration, one year)
MS in IT Management (one year)
Executive MBA (International Master's in Management)