Why Political Science at CEU?

Excellence in Teaching & Research

The Political Science Department is unique within Europe with a curriculum that covers almost all areas of political studies and offers in-depth expertise in the comparative politics of Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. The Department’s reputation for excellence in teaching and research has also been acknowledged by professional world university rankings. It is currently ranked as one of the top 26 programs — and among the best 100 universities in the world for nine years consecutively — by Quacquarelli Symonds. The 2022 edition of the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) prepared by Shanghai Ranking Consultancy ranked our program at 76-100 globally.

With an original scholarship, basic and applied research, and creative instructors constituting an essential core from which to draw, graduate work at the department attracts an outstanding selection of uniquely qualified students from throughout the region and the world. 

CEU has students from more than 100 countries and faculty from more than 30. Representing a comprehensive range of academic approaches and expertise, the department’s faculty address questions of political philosophy, democratization and regime change, constitutional politics, political economy, media, voting behavior, party politics, human rights, and Europeanization in a comparative manner.

The program invites students who wish to develop the analytical skills necessary to achieve excellence in their areas of study. With an original scholarship, basic and applied research, and creative instructors constituting an essential core from which to draw, graduate work at the department attracts an outstanding selection of uniquely qualified students. We welcome individuals not just from the entire CEE region but from all over the world, therefore the admissions criteria are set by internationally-recognized standards and tests.

Each year the Department admits about 40 students to its One-year MA Program and 20 students to its Two-year MA Program. We are proud that most of our MA students receive financial aid that ranges from full or partial scholarships to tuition waivers.