You are visitor #

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who can apply to SUN? [answer]

2. Are the courses the same every year? [answer]

3. Am I required to have any prior knowledge or qualifications? [answer]

4. Is my English good enough? Will it be tested? [answer]

5. How can I find out more about the courses? [answer]

6. Do I have to pay for the course? [answer]

7. What does the fellowship cover? [answer]

8. Is financial aid available for those not receiving scholarship? [answer]

9. What facilities does CEU offer? [answer]

10. Can I attend two courses at the same time? [answer]

11. How many courses can I apply to? [answer]

12. If I apply to two courses, is it all right if I just photocopy my application? [answer]

13. If I sent an application last year as well, do I need to send a new one again? [answer]

14. May I apply after the application deadline has expired? [answer]

15. If I’m a former SUN participant, what are my chances to be accepted? [answer]

16. When will I find out about the decision? [answer]

17. If I’m accepted, is there anything I need to do before the course? [answer]

18. If I am on the waiting list, what are my chances to be accepted? [answer]

19. Supposing I have been admitted but cannot come this year, does this mean I can come next year? [answer]

20. How can I find out about recent news in the program? [answer]

21. Who is eligible for a travel grant? [answer]

22. What should I do about getting a visa? [answer]

23. If I have received a travel grant, who will take care of my  travel? [answer]

24. Can I stay longer than the duration of the course? [answer]

25. Are activities organized outside of the classes? [answer]

26. Will I have any free time to work in the Library, see the city, etc.? [answer]

27. How can I come back to CEU to do further curriculum development or research work? [answer]

28. Can I get academic credits for a SUN course? [answer]

29. Will I receive a certificate? [answer]

30. If I am a fee-paying student, when and how am I supposed to pay? [answer]

31. Can I pay by credit card? [answer]

32. Where are we going to stay? [answer]

33. If I don’t want to share a room with someone, can I have a single room? [answer]

34. How far is CEU's Residence Center from the university? [answer]

35. How do I get to the hotel from the airport/station? [answer]

36. If I’d prefer to stay somewhere else, not in the Residence Center, can I receive my housing costs to be spent on the accommodation of my own choice? [answer]

37. Can I bring my family with me? [answer]

38. Do we receive meals? [answer]

39. Do I receive medical treatment in case I need it? [answer]

40. What’s the weather like in Budapest in July? [answer]

1. Who can apply to SUN?

You can apply if you have a first degree from college or university and have a strong research interest. The program primarily offers high-level, research based courses in the social sciences and humanities for the most gifted, research oriented, young academics and professionals with the aim of providing help to develop and refine their research and policy agenda as well as integrate their teaching with innovative research. In addition, every year there are a few training courses addressing policy issues for academics and practitioners. [back to the questions]

No. Some of the courses run several times, but normally not longer than three consecutive years. After a year or two, the same or a revised course may be held again. [back to the questions]

In general, the only qualification you need is a college or university degree. However, some courses may specify additional requirements in the flyer and in their course description. Make sure you check these before you send your application. [back to the questions]

You need to have a strong command of English to be able to participate actively in discussions, give presentations, etc. During the course teachers use interactive methods and you are expected to participate in a variety of class activities requiring fluent English skills. 

There is no formal testing, but you have to fill out a self-evaluating questionnaire in the application form. If there is a discrepancy between the stated level of your English and your actual performance, your fellowship may be terminated and you will not be eligible for any other funding from CEU. 

Also, if you are shortlisted in the first round of selection, your course director may contact you by telephone to check your language skills. With a good level of English your chances of acceptance are higher. [back to the questions]

From time to time you should check the SUN web site, which will be constantly updated. You’ll find a course description, CVs of the teachers, occasionally bibliographies for the course there. See also section "Latest news" to find out about current announcements about the program. [back to the questions]

Participants from developed countries are expected to cover their participation costs. However, there are a limited number of tuition waivers available which may be applied for on a competitive basis. Participants from Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union and Mongolia, as well as those coming from emerging democracies worldwide are eligible to apply for financial aid. [back to the questions]

It covers tuition costs (EUR 250/week), a full or partial travel grant (up to EUR 1,160), insurance in Hungary for the duration of the course and accommodation in double rooms in CEU’s Residence Center. [back to the questions]

Tuition waivers can be granted after your request for it has been reviewed and found justified. A tuition waiver request should be attached in a separate letter to your application form. [back to the questions]

CEU possesses an excellent library holding the largest collection of English-language materials in social sciences and humanities in Central and Eastern Europe. You can check the CEU Library catalogue online at http://goya.ceu.hu/.

The Open Society Archives also has an associated library of books and periodicals, the core of which is the library of Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty. Additional information on the Open Society Archives is available at http://www.osa.ceu.hu. 

The university has several computer labs with free email and internet access for SUN participants. [back to the questions]

No, you can’t. [back to the questions]

You can only apply to two courses. In the application form you are supposed to indicate your preference. [back to the questions]

Not really. Since you apply to two different courses, some of the attachments will probably have to be different such as the statement of purpose, for instance, in which you explain why you want to be admitted to that particular course. [back to the questions]

Yes. [back to the questions]

You may, but your application will be stamped as ‘late’ and it will be at the discretion of the course director whether s/he will include it in the selection process. [back to the questions]

You can only apply twice in a 4-year period to a SUN course. Your chances of getting accepted for a second time are relatively slim as priority is given to new applicants. Also, you have to wait a year (academic/calendar) between a CRC visit and a SUN participation before you can apply again to either of them. All in all, you can only attend any two such events in a 4-year period. [back to the questions]

You are supposed to receive notification by the end of April. The SUN Office will send an e-mail message. If you have not heard from us till mid May, please contact the SUN Office staff. [back to the questions]

Some time in May, the SUN Office will mail participants a course reading packet if available. Please make sure you read it and accomplish the assignments it may contain. Please note that if you received course assignments and have not completed them by the deadline, the program may withdraw your invitation. [back to the questions]

It is difficult to predict. However, there is an average 15% of those every year who cannot accept the fellowship for some reason and whose places will be offered to those on the waiting lists. If you live in a country from where traveling to Hungary is somewhat difficult because of visa requirements, do not expect an invitation later than the end of May. [back to the questions]

Since courses are not the same, you have to apply again. [back to the questions]

You can check the section Latest news on this website or you are welcome to send us an e-mail. [back to the questions]

Participants coming from emerging democracies worldwide are eligible, except the citizens of the following countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Poland, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia and the western part of Ukraine.

The maximum travel grant awarded is EUR 1,160; visa costs and short domestic trips are not reimbursed. Travel grants may cover costs fully or partially depending on the amount requested and funds available for this purpose. [back to the questions]

You can find a detailed list of countries with or without visa requirement on the web page of the Hungarian Ministry for Foreign Affairs. 

A: You will not need a visa in case you come from one of the following countries: Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, EU countries, Monaco, Romania, Switzerland, United States of America. Nevertheless, please bring your CEU SUN invitation letter with you.

B: You will need an invitation letter from the SUN office in order to submit your visa application in your home country if you come from one of the following countries: Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bosnia and Herzegovina, China, Ethiopia, Georgia, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Macedonia, Malawi, Moldova, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Serbia and Montenegro, South Africa, Tajikistan, Uganda, Ukraine, Uzbekistan. Go on for further information about the visa procedure.

C: You need a SUN invitation letter and a Police endorsed invitation letter for your visa application if you come from one of the following countries: Mongolia, Nigeria or if you belong to group "B" but travel to Hungary from outside your home country. Go on for further information about the visa procedure. [back to the questions]

Participants are expected to buy their tickets. Recipients of a travel grant from SUN will be reimbursed in Budapest upon their arrival based on the granted amount of travel specified in the acceptance letter.

Please note that for reimbursement you will need to produce the original invoice of your ticket issued by the travel agency. If no invoices are available, we can only reimburse you upon sending the original tickets/invoice back to Budapest. Reimbursement can either be done by bank transfer or check and only up to the actual travel expenditure supported by the submitted documents. No visa costs can be included.

In exceptional cases, SUN can assist participants who have difficulty purchasing a ticket on their own. Please contact Sarolta Szabó with such requests and all other travel related questions. [back to the questions]

Depending on housing availability, you can stay longer. You need to contact the SUN Office to find out if there is a room available. Single rooms in the Residence Center cost EUR 28 per night and you have to pay for one out of your own pocket. [back to the questions]

Yes. These activities are all optional and are organized after 5 pm. and on the weekends. 

The supplementary academic events include public lectures, occasionally film screenings, etc.

Social events include welcome and farewell parties and a boat trip. If your course starts on July 4, you will be invited to the opening reception. If it starts later, your course will organize its own reception to welcome participants. You will also be invited to a boat trip on the Danube on one of the weekends during your stay in Budapest. There will be NO centrally organised sight-seeing tours, so be prepared to explore the city on your own or with your colleagues. Your course coordinator may, however, offer the group an optional walking tour. At the end of the course, usually there is a farewell party arranged for each course separately. [back to the questions]

To be honest, not much… SUN is a highly intense experience. Class attendance is compulsory, so you will be mostly in the classroom until 4 or 5 p.m. with short coffee breaks and a longer lunch break in the middle of the day. You will receive reading and/or written assignments to accomplish from one day to the next. There is very little time left to do your own research in the Library or even to explore the city. [back to the questions]

There are various fellowships available that you can apply for, such as a CRC visit, Junior/Senior Research Fellowships, etc. You can find out more about them from the SEP Office of CEU and at http://www.ceu.hu/special_extension_programs.html.  [back to the questions]

The courses are not part of a formal accreditation system. However, many students' home universities will accept Summer School courses towards their own degree programs and we can provide you with additional documentation for this purpose upon successful completion of the course. Should you need such documentation, please indicate your requirements to your course director at the beginning of the course. S/he can give you a written assignment and grade it, issue and sign a transcript for the course listing the topics your course covered. You can then negotiate it with your home department whether they accept your coursework for credit. [back to the questions]

Certificates are awarded for full attendance, satisfactory class participation and the production of satisfactory coursework such as individual or group presentation, submission of written assignments, etc. [back to the questions]

Fee-paying participants are expected to pay EUR 250 per week of instruction by May 30, 2005.

Transfer payment:

A) Those wishing to transfer HUF to the University's HUF account will need the following information:

Bank name: Inter-Európa Bank Rt.

Bank address: 1054 Budapest, Szabadság tér 15.

Name of account: Central European University

Account number: 11100104- 19677196-10000001

B) Those wishing to transfer money to the University's USD account from Europe will need the following information:

Bank name: Inter-Európa Bank Rt.

Bank address: 1054 Budapest, Szabadság tér 15.

SWIFT Code: INEBHUHB

Name of account: Central European University

Account number: 9001983202

IBAN number: HU47 1110 0104 9001 9832 0200 0006

C) Those wishing to transfer money to the University's EURO account from Europe will need the following information:

Bank name: Inter-Európa Bank Rt.

Bank address: 1054 Budapest, Szabadság tér 15.

SWIFT Code: INEBHUHB

Name of account: Central European University

Account number: 11100104 - 90019832 - 05000005

IBAN number: HU21 1110 0104 9001 9832 0500 0005

D) Those wishing to transfer money to the University's USD account from non-European countries will need the following information:

Bank name: Citibank N. A.

Bank address: 111 Wall Street, 6th floor, New York, NY 10043

ABA Code: 021000089

Name of account: Central European University

Account number: 4074 9438

Check payment:

Checks should be sent to the address of the Summer University Office. They will be passed on to the Finance Office by the SUN Office staff.

  [back to the questions]

You can only pay by credit card in the Residence Hall. [back to the questions]

Participants of most courses stay at CEU's Residence Center, which offers double rooms to SUN participants at the rate of 17 EUR/person/night including breakfast. The Residence Hall is a modern, air-conditioned building with a swimming pool, various sports and catering facilities and a computer lab, which is open till 2 a.m. [back to the questions]

A single room with a private bathroom costs 28 EUR per night. If you are a scholarship participant, a double room accommodation is included in the scholarship. You can upgrade your room, but will then have to pay for the difference out of your own pocket. You have to contact the SUN office if you would prefer to have a single room and are willing to pay for the difference. [back to the questions]

It is approximately a 45-minute ride by a bus and the underground. [back to the questions]

Each participant will receive notification with detailed program information in April or May. This will include directions to the Residence Center. [back to the questions]

No, there’s no such option for scholarship participants. [back to the questions]

The workload is high during your course therefore we advise you not to bring your family with you. If, however, you would still like to bring someone, it is your responsibility to find out in the Residence Center in advance whether there is a double room available, you have to take care of the visa arrangements if any, and pay for all additional costs. For reservation please contact the Residence Center at dormreception@ceu.hu. [back to the questions]

You will receive breakfast every day. All the other meals should be covered on your own. The SUN Office will include tips about where you can have lunch at a reasonable price in the university’s neighborhood. [back to the questions]

The insurance for funded participants is covered by the program. If you do not receive funding, you have to buy some basic insurance for emergency in your home country which will be valid in Budapest. If you suffer from a chronic disease, please make sure you bring your medication with you. [back to the questions]

You can click on http://weather.cnn.com/weather/forecast.jsp?locCode=BUDX or http://daily.webshots.com/content/weather/html/full/e_BUDAPEST.html to check the weather forecast.

[back to the questions]