Throughout its 15-year history, CEU's mission has been to attract students from all countries of what is commonly referred to as Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. In addition, CEU has enrolled students from Western Europe, North America, Central and South America, Africa, Asia, and Australia. Following a decision of the Board of Trustees in 2000, CEU expanded its outreach to actively recruit students from other emerging democracies, as well as students from established democracies. CEU became a truly global university with students from more than 70 countries, which is reflected in the CEU 2007/2008 student profile.

Facts about the study abroad program at CEU

The CEU study abraod program was established in 2001 with the aim to offer the opportunity for advanced undergraduate students from North America to participate directly in graduate-level courses offered as part of CEU's general graduate curriculum.

This elite study abroad program sends to CEU around 15-20 American undergraduate students per semester who are often honors students with average GPA 3.5 and higher.

During five years of its existence, the study abroad program at CEU hosted students from the following colleges and universities: Bard College, Cornell University, Simon’s Rock College, Columbia University, Swarthmore College, Sarah Lawrence College, Harvard University, Lehigh University, Rhodes College, Marlboro College, Denison University, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, University of New Hampshire, Bowling Green State University, St Mary’s College of Maryland, Hamilton College, Oberlin College, Duke University, University of Pennsylvania, University of Rochester, DePauw University, New School University, Rutgers University, Kenyon University, Baylor University, John's Hopkins University, Lewis&Clark College, Princeton University.

CEU study abroad alumni: a reference for prospective students

Prospective study abroad students are encouraged to contact CEU study abroad alumni who have first-hand experience with the program. Below is the list of the CEU study abroad alumni who can serve as a reference for future applicants:

Monica Cepak: mcepak@princeton.edu (Fall '06)	Sara Babb: babse@rhodes.edu (Spring '06)
Keeley Esterhay: sonya_hay@yahoo.com (Fall '06)	Gaia Filicori: gf763@bard.edu (Spring '06)
Christine Gasparich: cg398@bard.edu (Fall '06)	Autumn Lotze: lotze_a@denison.edu (Spring '06)
Suzanne Levy: slevy@princeton.edu (Fall '06)	Cleo Rogatko: cpr23@cornell.edu (Spring '06)
Steven Sferlazza: ssferla1@jhu.edu (Fall '06)	Anya Priester: aop2@cornell.edu (Spring '06)
	Levente Szentkiralyi: lev_szent@yahoo.com (Spring '05)

To view contact information for the alumni of the CEU Professional Internship Program click here

Quotes from the CEU study abroad alumni:

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“The benefit of CEU is its student body. In one class on ethnic conflict we were discussing the Balkans. On my left was someone who worked in the Albanian Foreign Ministry and on my right was someone who did elections monitoring in Kosovo. The first hand accounts of students from the region made classroom discussions priceless.”

—Christophe Chung, Bard College ’05

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"Studying at CEU gave me the chance to learn in an environment different from that of my American university. I was grateful especially for the many opportunities to learn outside the classroom, through traveling, cultural events, and personal interactions with other local and international students. Living in Budapest this semester has certainly been a worthwhile experience, and I recommend it to anyone interested in spending time in a vibrant and unique East-Central European city."

—Suzanne Levy, Princeton University '06

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"My time at CEU set me in the middle of a great city and a graduate level discourse that I am sure will help me in my graduate studies where ever that may be."

—Joseph Murray, Bard College '06

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"Studying at CEU was probably the best part of my college experience. Budapest is a great place to live and a fantastic homebase to travel to places from Poland to Bosnia. Students here are very proactive and willing to discuss ideas, and refreshingly idealistic and eager to better the world. The student culture, friendships, travel opportunities, Budapest life, and academic support is fantastic and something that will truly stay with you forever."

—Cleo Rogatko, Cornell University '06

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"Studying at CEU is a truly unique opportunity, to sneak a peek into the masters-level academic world as well as into the minds and hearts of the next generation of European leaders."

—Gaia Filicori, Bard College '06

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"CEU offered me a rich academic experience incomparable to any other. Sitting side be side in intimate classroom settings with the future leaders of the post-Communist world deepened my understanding of the global political environment. Both in and outside of the classroom I was opened to new perspectives while forming everlasting friendships with my colleagues from around the world. My memories from Budapest and CEU are unforgettable!"

—Cherise Barsell, Bard College '04-'05

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"Classes were exceptional. CEU did a great job of inviting us into the community, and I was especially fond of the almost daily guest lectures or movies that were held on campus. In general, I cannot think of a better way to have spent my time abroad. Besides being my most intellectually enriching semester, it wasalso my most enjoyable. Thank you for the opportunity to go to CEU."

—Eli Schlam, University of Pennsylvania '03

 

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"I lived in the center of Budapest, sharing a flat with two Poles and two Bosnians. I took two master's-level courses--art history and gender studies... While I was there, I decided on the topic of my Senior Project, a historical analysis of Hitler's Willing Executioners and Ordinary Men and how these two books have been perceived over time."

—Jared Goodman, Bard College '01

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"I came back feeling more practical and more grounded in what I want to study, where I want to direct my energy. I also became more reflective about what our country is. Now I can't wait to get into master's-level work. I'm hoping to go back to CEU to earn my master's degree in political studies."

—Rachel Garver, Harvard College '04