We Offer

*** START YOUR APPLICATION NOW ***

We offer US and Austrian-accredited BA, One- and Two-year MA Programs, as well as a doctoral education in political science.

MA in Political Science / 1 YEAR / 2 YEARS /

Our international curriculum helps you develop a critical understanding of the challenges contemporary political communities and their citizens face. We move across borders and disciplines to give you a comparative perspective, along with hands-on, transferable skills. To gain an even more comprehensive picture, you can join cross-country research projects, and apply for research grants and travel funds to attend conferences.

Our program comes in two formats, with the One-year MA Program offering a more intensive study experience. The Two-year MA Program is an ideal stepping stone for PhD research and training, thanks to a more extensive research period. Students with three-year and four-year bachelor’s degrees in the social sciences and related disciplines are both eligible to apply for the latter.

PhD in Political Science

The program is run by CEU’s Doctoral School of Political Science, Public Policy and International Relations. Students explore areas such as comparative politics, political theory, political economy, international relations and public policy.

For more information on the BA program - Philosophy, Politics, and Economics, please visit https://www.ceu.edu/ppe.

What you can specialize in

  • Comparative politics
  • Electoral politics
  • Political communication
  • Political economy
  • Political research methodology and social analysis
  • Post-communist politics
  • Social and political theory

Scholarships and tuition fee waivers are available for both Master (One-year and Two-year) and PhD studies on a competitive basis. The majority of CEU students receive internal or external financial aid while about 90% of the students at the Political Science Department are granted some kind of institutional financial aid, ranging from full stipends to tuition waivers.

Our programs focus on research methods, comparative political economy, democratic political institutions, political regime change, party systems and voting behavior, the role of media in democratic politics, analytical and normative political theory, constitutional theory and political sociology. We aim to foster critical thinking and analytical skills through debates, workshops, seminars and conferences.

The Department’s reputation for excellence in teaching and research has also been acknowledged by professional world university rankings: placed the 30th best globally in 2020 — and among the best 100 universities in the world for eight years consecutively — by Quacquarelli Symonds; and ranked one of the best political science departments in Europe with six stars from the prestigious CHE – Centre for Higher Education Development in 2010.

Our students come from more than 30 countries and our outstanding 7:1 student/faculty ratio ensures the opportunity for professional development for each and every student.Central European University offers not only a unique experience in postgraduate studies through a dynamic and highly international graduate school environment, but also enables students to achieve successful international careers.

The Political Science program has an excellent placement record in terms of alumni careers, and targets both future academics and students who wish to pursue professions in non-academic jobs requiring considerable skills in social and political analysis (e.g. civil service, news media, NGOs, political and cultural organizations, and private businesses).

Application deadlines:

February 1, 2021 (23:59, Central European Time)

Deadline for applicants to master’s programs who wish to be considered for CEU financial aid (if applicable). Scholarship application deadline for doctoral programs. Priority deadline for applicants to bachelor’s programs. All applications must be complete with relevant standard test scores (TOEFL, IELTS, GRE, etc.).

March 15, 2021 (23:59, Central European Time)

Final application deadline for self-financing Master’s applicants who are citizens of countries outside the EU/EEA area and require a study visa. All applications must be complete with applicable standard test scores (TOEFL, IELTS, GRE, etc.).

April 12, 2021 (23:59, Central European Time)

Final deadline for applicants to bachelor’s programs. All applications must be complete with applicable standard test scores (TOEFL, IELTS, GRE, etc.).

May 1, 2021 (23:59, Central European Time)

Final application deadline for applicants to the MS in Finance and the MS in Business Analytics who are citizens of countries outside the EU/EEA area and require a study visa. All applications must be complete with applicable standard test scores (TOEFL, IELTS, GRE, etc.).

 August 16, 2021 (23:59, Central European Time)

Final application deadline for self-financing master’s applicants from EU/EEA countries (or who hold a valid permanent residency permit in an EU/EEA country). All applications must be complete with applicable standard test scores (TOEFL, IELTS, GRE, etc.). Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis (subject to spaces available).

For more detailed information you can watch our departmental presentation "Why Political Science az CEU?":

*** START YOUR APPLICATION NOW ***