Central European University
Vienna, Austria
Quick facts
- World rank
- #200
- Acceptance rate
- 20%
- Students
- 1,500
- International students
- 90%
- Institution type
- Private non-profit
- Founded
- 1991
Overview
Central European University (CEU) is a private, research-intensive university located in Vienna, Austria. Founded in 1991 by George Soros, CEU offers 49 degree programs at bachelor's, master's and doctoral levels in social sciences, humanities, law, public policy, and data science, all taught in English. CEU is dually accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) in the United States and by AQ Austria, and is committed to the values of open society and interdisciplinary research.
Fields of study
- Economics
- Environmental Sciences and Policy
- Gender Studies
- Historical Studies
- International Relations
- Legal Studies
- Network and Data Science
- Philosophy
- Political Science
- Public Policy
- Sociology and Social Anthropology
- Cognitive Science
- Data Science
- Culture, Politics and Society
- Business Administration
- Finance
- Business Analytics
Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE); Agency for Quality Assurance and Accreditation Austria (AQ Austria)
Admissions requirements
- IELTS (minimum)
- —
- TOEFL iBT (minimum)
- —
- GPA (minimum)
- —
- Intakes
- September
- Application deadlines
- Varies by program, typically early months of the year.
- Rolling admissions
- No
- Admissions contact
- admissions@ceu.edu
Requirements differ between programs. Check the program page and the university's admissions office for the latest criteria.
Tuition & costs
International students
€10,000 – €25,000 / year
From about $10,800 / year
Domestic students
€8,000 – €20,000 / year
Bachelor's programs: €8,000/year. Master's programs: €12,000–€15,000/year (varies by program; Legal Studies €13,000, MPA €14,500, MS Business Analytics and AI/MS Finance and AI €15,000). Doctoral programs: €5,000–€20,000/year (varies by program and stage). Fees for AY 2025/26. Additional required fees include Austrian Student Union Fee (€52.40/year), Enrollment Fee (€200–€250/year), and a one-time Registration Fee (€500–€3,000 depending on program). Joint programs (Mundus MAPP, MESPOM, GEMMA) have separate fee structures.
Tuition varies by program. Confirm with the university before applying.
Official fee source (opens in a new tab)Programs
| Program | Level | Duration | Tuition | Deadline | Intakes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Science in Data Science and Society (opens in a new tab)English · Full Time | Bachelor's | 4 years | €8,000 / year | Varies | — |
| Bachelor of Arts in Culture, Politics and Society (opens in a new tab)English · Full Time | Bachelor's | 4 years | €8,000 / year | Varies | — |
| Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, Politics and Economics (opens in a new tab)English · Full Time | Bachelor's | 4 years | €8,000 / year | Varies | — |
Information last verified Oct 3, 2026. Last updated Oct 14, 2026. Fees, deadlines and requirements change — always confirm with the university.