Central European University
جامعة أوروبا الوسطى (CEU)
ForsaEduforsaedu.comAbout the scholarship program
Central European University (CEU) is a private, graduate-focused university in the social sciences and humanities, founded by George Soros in Budapest in 1991; its teaching moved to Vienna from 2019. It has 12 departments, including public policy, political science, international relations, economics, legal studies, network and data science and environmental sciences, plus a School of Undergraduate Studies. All programmes are taught in English to students from over 100 countries, and CEU is a partner in the Erasmus Mundus programmes Mundus MAPP (public policy) and MESPOM (environmental sciences and policy).
Information last verified: November 4, 2026Official source
Tuition for international students
Fees are the same for all nationalities: bachelor's €8,000 a year; master's from €12,000 (€13,000 Legal Studies, €14,500 MPA, €15,000 for the business analytics and finance MSc) per the 2025–26 figures. PhD: €15,000 in year one (up to €20,000 in business administration), then about €5,000 after the comprehensive exam. Joint programmes such as Mundus MAPP and MESPOM set their own fees, and CEU offers financial aid including tuition waivers.
Admission for international students
Admission for international students
Applications are made through CEU's online system for each programme, with proof of English, and financial aid is assessed with the admission application. Applications for 2027–28 have opened in some departments; deadlines vary by programme (usually in winter for funding), so check the programme page. Mundus MAPP and MESPOM are applied to through each consortium's own site.
Official admission announcementLife and living
Vienna · Austria
Life and living
Vienna · Austria
Living in Vienna
Austria’s capital and city of music, a regular leader in global quality-of-life rankings, home to the University of Vienna, TU Wien and WU.
Student housing
Student housing in Vienna starts at about EUR 330 a month (OeAD) and EUR 335–550 in other dorms; a furnished shared-flat room costs EUR 450–950 (WU).
Transport for students
The student semester ticket was discontinued in 2026 and replaced from summer semester 2026 by an annual youth ticket for under-26s at EUR 300.
Top landmarks
Schönbrunn Palace
C.Stadler/Bwag · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
St Stephen’s Cathedral
Belvedere Palace
Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Vienna State Opera
Wiener Staatsoper GmbH · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Last verified: October 2026
Sources:Statistik AustriaWU Vienna – Living in ViennaAcademy of Fine Arts Vienna – Student discounts
Studying and living in Austria
Costs and living
Tuition Fees in Austrian Public Universities (Unique Advantage): • Non-EU/EEA International Students: A flat fee of only **726.72 EUR per semester** (~1,453 EUR per academic year) plus the mandatory Austrian Student Union fee (ÖH-Beitrag) of ~22.70 EUR per semester. • Exemptions: Students from Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and select developing partners are completely exempt from tuition fees, paying only the ÖH fee. • Universities of Applied Sciences (FH): Typically 727 to 1,500 EUR per semester. Living Costs & Financial Requirement: • Average monthly living expenses: 950 to 1,250 EUR (Dormitory accommodation: 350–550 EUR, subsidised student health insurance ÖGK: ~69 EUR/month, food, and transport). • Official residence permit financial proof (2026): Under 24 years of age requires ~672 EUR/month; 24 years and older requires ~1,217 EUR/month for a full year (~14,600 EUR).
Working while studying
Working During Studies: • International non-EU students can work part-time up to 20 hours per week throughout their Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD studies, with work permits (Beschäftigungsbewilligung) issued through a streamlined process by the Austrian Public Employment Service (AMS). • Average hourly earnings range from 12 to 16 EUR across student sectors. Post-Study Work & Settlement: • Austrian university graduates are entitled to a 12-month post-study residence permit to seek employment matching their qualifications. • Securing a qualified job offer allows direct conversion to the Red-White-Red Card (Rot-Weiß-Rot – Karte), providing a direct pathway to permanent residence in Austria and the EU.
Faculties and programmes
13 faculties · 23 programmes
Faculties and programmes
13 faculties · 23 programmes
Programmes taught at each faculty, with study levels and teaching language where the university publishes them. Admission and funding differ per programme.
Department of Public Policy
MasterPhDENEnglish- Political Science
Department of Political Science
MasterPhDENEnglish- Political Science
Department of International Relations
MasterPhDENEnglish- International Relations
Department of Economics
MasterPhDENEnglish- Business Management
- Data Science & Analytics· Master
- Economics
- Finance· Master
Show all faculties (+9)Show less
Department of Legal Studies
MasterPhDENEnglish- Corporate Law
- Criminal Law
- Human Rights Law
- International Law
Department of Network and Data Science
MasterPhDENEnglish- Data Science & Analytics
Department of Environmental Sciences and Policy
MasterPhDENEnglish- Environmental Science
Department of Gender Studies
MasterPhDENEnglish- Sociology
Department of Sociology and Social Anthropology
MasterPhDENEnglish- Anthropology
- Sociology
Department of Historical Studies
MasterPhDENEnglish- History
Department of Philosophy
MasterPhDENEnglish- Philosophy
Department of Cognitive Science
MasterPhDENEnglish- Psychology
School of Undergraduate Studies
BachelorENEnglish- Data Science & Analytics
- Economics
- Philosophy
- Political Science
Scholarships to study at this university
Scholarships from other funders that include this university among their partner universities.
Erasmus Mundus Joint Master in Public Policy & International Affairs (Mundus MAPP)
Erasmus Mundus MESPOM Joint Master Programme
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Key questions and answers regarding eligibility, documents, and application steps.
Central European University is listed as: Self-Funded. The exact benefits are not verified yet, so check the official website (https://www.ceu.edu/) before applying.
Eligible levels: Bachelor, Master, PhD.
Apply directly on the official website: https://www.ceu.edu/. ForsaEdu does not receive applications or charge any fee.
Track your academic readiness
Use the checklist in your profile to prepare your documents and make sure you meet this scholarship’s requirements.
Open readiness checklistSimilar scholarships
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