Frequently Asked Questions about Admissions to CEU
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Should you have questions regarding the online application form, read the CEU Online Application Form FAQ further down on this page.
General Admissions FAQs
How do I apply?
Please review the application procedure here.
How long after the closing date will a decision be made?
Most admission decisions should be available by April 2013. In the cases of Erasmus Mundus programs, some doctoral programs, and any individual programs with extended deadlines, the notification dates may significantly differ.
How will I learn the outcome of my application?
The relevant departmental decision will be posted in your online application ("Track your status").
If my application is turned down, can I contact you to learn the reasons?
Sorry, as a matter of policy, we cannot provide an explanation as to why an application has been rejected.
What funding opportunities are available?
CEU awards an extensive range of financial packages to support its students. Please review them here.
How are your programs organized? What is the duration of my program of study?
One-year Master’s degree programs at CEU typically run for ten months, admitting students who have a four-year Bachelor’s degree. The programs include an orientation session, two 12-week semesters, and a two-month Spring Session where students prepare their thesis or research.
Two-year Master’s degree programs at CEU, typically admitting students who have a three-year Bachelor’s degree, are increasing in number. For details, please consult the web pages of the relevant departments.
CEU doctoral programs, typically for students with a Master’s degree in a related field, normally take between three and six years to complete. First year: 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. Years two to five: the period of doctoral candidacy, in which the student pursues research toward the dissertation. For further information, see University Doctoral Regulations.
Can I request deferment of admission?
Deferment of admission is not a standard option for admitted students at CEU. Individual departments may sometimes allow deferment for exceptionally qualified candidates at their discretion.
Are there admission quotas for certain countries or regions?
No. CEU admits students based on a combination of academic merit, professional experience, and demonstrated preparation for their intended degree programs.
Does CEU consider late applications?
Late applications are considered on a case-by-case basis and can be submitted only with the relevant department's approval. If you have this approval, contact the Admissions Office in order to receive a late waiver code that you will need to submit an online application for a program for which the deadline has passed.
Is there a waiting list?
Yes. Waitlisted applicants who need a visa to study in Hungary will be notified about their status six weeks before the beginning of the academic year at the latest. Waitlisted candidates needing no visa may be offered admission as late as a few days prior to the beginning of the academic year.
May a student with a three-year Bachelor's degree apply to a one-year Master's program at CEU?
Students with a three-year Bachelor’s should apply for two-year Master’s programs. If there is no two-year Master’s option offered in the subject or field they are interested in, they may apply to the one-year program. Even so, their admission will be subject to the approval of the Academic Pro-Rector.
I would like to earn a PhD at CEU while completing one at my home university at the same time. Is this possible?
No. Students enrolled in doctoral programs at CEU may not be enrolled at other universities.
Have more questions?
If you cannot find the answer anywhere on this website including this page, email the Admissions Office at admissions@ceu.hu.
Online Application Form FAQ
General issues
Educational Background
Testing
Financial Aid
Recommendations
Academic Records
Track your status
Application Fee
I can't seem to find the link to the online application form - where is it?
At http://www.ceu.hu/admissions/apply, the heading "1. ONLINE APPLICATION FORM..." is itself the link. Please click on it to start your application.
I am experiencing technical problems when trying to create an Embark account or to complete an online application/recommendation. What should I do?
CEU's online forms are operated and maintained by Embark. If you have any technical issues or concerns using them, please contact Embark's support resources at http://support.embark.com or support@embark.com.
My transcript (CV, statement of purpose, research proposal, etc.) consists of more than one page. How can I upload documents of multiple pages?
You can easily upload a document of up to a hundred pages (as long as it does not exceed 2 MB in size) if you include all pages of the document in one single file. It is a matter of how you set your scanner.
What am I to do if I want to apply for multiple programs or departments?
You must submit a separate application for each program you want to be considered for. Regarding how to do it, refer to the relevant instruction (Apply to more than one program) in Step 1 of the Application Form. DO NOT CREATE more than one account to apply to multiple programs at CEU.
I have started an application to a CEU degree program, but I have changed my mind and decided to apply to a different program. How can I change my program?
Click on the “Update my answers to preliminary questions” link in the top right corner of the application form to change the program.
I have started an application to a CEU degree program, but I have changed my mind and decided not to submit it after all. Can I delete it somehow?
Please follow the steps below:
- Login to http://www.embark.com/ using your login information for the application.
- Click on the "My Apps" tab in the middle of the website
- Delete any applications you do not need or no longer use. You can identify each application by the start date.
I have submitted an application to a CEU degree program, but I have changed my mind and decided not to apply to this program. Is there a way this application can be deleted?
You can delete an application while it is still in progress (see above). If it has already been submitted, we will mark it as withdrawn so that it should not be considered.
I submitted an application last year, and am planning to apply again. Can you use my last year's materials or do I have to resubmit my application?
It is not possible to reinstate an application submitted in a previous year, so you will need to submit a new online application complete with all required materials even if you are applying to the same program. (You may of course want to consider revising or updating your statement of purpose, research proposal, or CV at your discretion.)
I have submitted my application. How can I be sure that I have sent all required documents?
The online application automatically checks that every required question is answered and item uploaded. The very fact that you were able to submit your application means that it was complete with all required documents (except the recommendations, which are sent by the recommenders, and possibly any standard test score reports), supposing that you uploaded the right document on each page.
I have submitted my application and realized I have mistyped some data. What can I do?
If it is just a few letters or numbers that you want to change, email your corrections to admissions@ceu.hu and we will make them in your application. Please understand, however, that we are not able to retype sentences or paragraphs, let alone full essays or statements.
I am applying to a CEU degree program and have already submitted an electronic application form. Should I additionally post the required documents or is the online application enough?
An online application is enough for the time being. We'll need hard copies of some of your documents (such as your diploma, transcripts, English and other applicable test scores) if you are admitted and decide to enroll.
Why do I have to provide my mother’s name in my application?
The mother’s name is an important data item for personal identification in Hungary and is required for several purposes such as obtaining a residence permit, opening a bank account, etc. Please note that it is your mother’s BIRTH (or maiden) name you need to enter, not the one she has used after her marriage!
I am not an EU-citizen and will need a visa to Hungary. However, I do not currently have a passport. Can I apply all the same?
Yes, you can apply - just leave your passport information blank in your application. We will, however, need your passport data if you are admitted
I cannot find my school’s name in the list that pops up when I try to enter it on the Education Data page. What should I do?
The list contains nearly 20,000 (that is twenty thousand) entries, so it is very unlikely that your school is not included in it. Try different ways searching for it; entering the city in which it is located almost always helps if you cannot find it by the name. Select “School Not Found” (an item in the list!) and enter your school manually only after you have made ABSOLUTELY SURE that the list does not contain your school. If you cannot find your school, enter "School Not Found" in the search box, click on the search button, and select it before proceeding to type your school's name in the space provided.
On the Education Data page, I would like to list a Study Abroad (non-degree, unfinished degree, etc.) program I have attended, but I cannot because no such entry is found in the degree list. What can I do?
On the Education Data page, we need you to list your completed degrees only. Any other program such as Study Abroad programs, non-degree programs, and unfinished degree programs should be listed in your CV.
Where should I upload my English test score report?
There is an upload page dedicated to just that.
What is there to know about the CEU-administered TOEFL exam?
The CEU-administered TOEFL is a paper-based ITP-TOEFL, which is essentially an official paper-based test without the essay part. The test is free of charge to the examinees, but the score can only be used for the purposes of admission to CEU. Those candidates applying to other universities also are advised to take a standard TOEFL.
If I apply for a CEU-administered exam in a country other than my own, will you provide a letter of invitation for me to apply for a visa with?
Unfortunately, we can provide letters of invitation for admitted students only. Applicants, therefore, should only apply to be tested in a location they can travel to without a visa.
I have a personal TOEFL (IELTS, GRE, etc.) test score report that was sent to me after I had taken the exam. Can I submit this personal report with my application or do I have to get an official score report mailed directly to CEU?
For the time being, just enter your score and test date and upload your score report into your online application. We'll need an official hard copy if you are admitted.
I have taken the CEU-administered institutional TOEFL. When and how will I learn my score?
Your score will be appearing in your online application within about two weeks of the test date.
I have taken a CEU-administered departmental admission test. When and how will I learn my score?
Departmental test results are for internal use only and not made known to the applicants. Only the final admissions decision will be displayed in your online application.
I am applying for a Master’s program and would like to apply for full funding. However, I can’t seem to find the Full CEU Fellowship listed among the available financial aid options on the Financial Aid page. Is something wrong with the online application?
For some Master’s programs, the Full CEU Fellowship is not offered by the department or school that administers the program in question. You may want to consider applying for a Partial Fellowship only or, if this is not acceptable to you, for a different program.
I have completed my application but my recommendations are yet to be sent. Can I send my application notwithstanding, or am I to wait until my recommendations are submitted?
You can submit your application without the recommendations having been sent; note, however, that it will be considered complete only when all recommendations have been received.
Can recommendations be sent by postal mail?
Yes, they can if your recommenders cannot submit them online. Please note, however, that mailed recommendations may take much longer to receive and process than those sent via Embark's online recommendation form (OREC). Recommendations delayed or lost in transit may cause an application to be rejected.
Can recommendations be submitted by electronic mail (email) or fax?
CEU does not consider emailed or faxed recommendations.
One of my recommenders have not received an email with his login information. Can you resend it to him?
This is a fairly common problem, which is most typically caused by the recommender's spam filter settings. A solution is offered at Embark's support site.
My recommenders have no access to the internet. Can I submit their recommendations for them?
Electronically, no, as we require CONFIDENTIAL letters of recommendation, the contents of which must not be disclosed to you. By regular (postal) mail, yes, supposing they give them to you in sealed and signed envelopes.
My recommendations have been sent by postal mail. Will you let me know when you have received them?
After you have submitted your application, you can track the status of any mailed recommendations online if you log in to your application and click "Track your status". If you read "No current status. Please check back later", this means we have yet to receive and/or process that letter. Please note that mailed references may take long to receive and process, so it may take two weeks or more after they have been mailed.
My letters of recommendation have been sent by postal mail. Should they also be submitted online?
Online recommendations are strongly preferred, so if your recommenders are able to send their letters via the OREC, they should do so rather than mail them. If they are unable to submit online, then, and only then, should they send the letters by postal mail.
My recommendations have been sent by postal mail, but the Application Inspector won't let me submit my application without registering my recommenders. What should I do?
Since the Application Inspector does not know your recommendations have been posted, it will only allow you to submit your application after you have completed the recommender step, i.e. registered your recommenders. (Of course, if they have sent their letters by post, your recommenders will not have to confirm their registration for the online form.)
One of my recommendation has been sent by mail and been already delivered according to the post office. However, the status on Embark is still "Has Not Submitted". What happened?
"Has Not Submitted" means the letter has not been submitted ONLINE. Please click on "Track your status" in your application to find out the status of any recommendation(s) sent by postal mail on your behalf.
My recommendations will be sent by mail. Is there a specific deadline for them to be received by?
Letters of recommendation must be received by the same deadline as the application itself. Late recommendations are considered on a case-by-case basis.
I am applying to two (three, four) programs at CEU. Are my recommenders supposed to submit two (three, four) copies of their letters?
A recommendation, if sent online, must be submitted for each application the candidate has submitted. If it is sent by postal mail, one copy is enough per department.
Can recommendations be transferred onto another application?
Recommendations cannot be transferred from one application to another. A recommendation must be completed for each application, including multiple applications to CEU.
One of my recommenders has forgotten to attach his letter to the pdf recommendation form I have downloaded from my application and sent to him, and mailed it without the form. Will his letter still be considered?
Yes it will, supposing we can pair it with your application. This may at times be difficult without the form, which has your name on it exactly as you entered it into your application, as well as the department you are applying to.
One of my referees prefers to send his letter in a language other than English. Can he do that?
Recommendations written in a language other than English must be accompanied by an official English translation (see Note #1 on what is considered an official translation). It is the recommender's responsibility to provide an official translation along with his/her letter.
I am in the final year of a Bachelor’s (Master’s) program, so I do not have a diploma to upload yet. What shall I do?
In place of the diploma, upload a certificate of enrollment stating, if possible, your expected date of graduation. Please note that in order to be able to enroll at CEU, you must graduate before the academic year at CEU begins.
I am in the final year of a Bachelor’s (Master’s) program, so I do not have a final transcript to upload yet. What shall I do?
Upload a current transcript. If are you are accepted and enroll, we will need an official final one on paper anyway.
I graduated last year. My university, however, hasn't yet issued my official diploma for administrative reasons. I do have, however, a certificate of graduation that certifies that I have completed my bachelor studies. So, I would like to know if CEU accepts this document instead of the diploma?
Yes, a certificate of graduation, as well as a certificate of enrollment for final year students, is acceptable for application purposes.
I have earned a Master’s at CEU and am now applying for a doctoral program. Am I required to upload official copies of my academic records?
If you are applying to the same department's doctoral program you have graduated from, an unofficial transcript of your CEU grades (go to http://www.ceu.hu/sro to order one) will suffice. If it is some other department you are applying to, make sure to also submit your Bachelor's records the same way you did when applying to CEU for the first time.
My university does not issue official transcripts to its students, but sends them directly to graduate institutions. How can I meet the requirement of submitting a scan of my official academic records with my online application?
If you can get an unofficial (student) copy, submit that along with an explanatory note. In case you are unable to have even a student copy, upload an explanatory note in place of your transcript, and have your university mail us an official copy - we will upload it on receipt.
I would like to send my application package to a CEU degree program, but the Embark application system does not allow me to do so without uploading a Bachelor's transcript and diploma. However, I am enrolled in a 5-year university program from which I will graduate with a Master's diploma straight away, so I have no Bachelor's transcript (and degree) to upload. What am I supposed to do?
If you are applying to a CEU Master's program, upload your Master's records on the Bachelor's upload pages. This will not disadvantage you in any way. If you are applying to a doctoral program, upload a note of explanation on the Bachelor's pages and upload your Master's records on the Master's pages.
I have very limited financial resources. Can I get an application fee waiver in consideration of my circumstances?
Sorry, the application fee cannot be waived under any circumstances.
I am applying for five programs altogether under two separate departments. Does that mean I have to pay five times 40 dollars?
Every applicant must pay the application fee only once in an admission period. After you have paid it in your first application, check the “I have already paid the application fee…” option in any further applications for the 2013/2014 academic year.
I want to pay the application fee by wire transfer. Can I have your bank details?
Just check Wire transfer in your application and proceed to the next page. It has our bank information that you need to make a wire transfer.