Central European University (CEU)
Bachelor of Arts in Culture, Politics and Society
Vienna, Austria
BA
DURATION
4 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
TUITION FEES
EUR 7,000 / per year **
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* final deadline for applicants who have citizenship or permanent residency in an EU/EEA country or require a student residence permit but do not require a tourist visa to enter Austria
** payable in one or two installments, non-refundable initial tuition fee installment (€500 EUR) is paid to confirm your acceptance of our offer of admission and is credited towards the 1st tuition fee installment in year 1
Key Summary
In CEU’s bachelor’s degree in Culture, Politics, and Society, you will study with peers from around the world, examine issues from various perspectives, learn to present your ideas and knowledge effectively, and prepare for exciting careers, all in beautiful Vienna.
Why choose the CEU Culture, Politics, and Society bachelor’s degree?
Because you will:
- Earn an American and Austrian Bachelor’s Degree in Four Years
- Enjoy the U.S. Liberal Arts Undergraduate Experience in Europe
- Live in Vienna, the World’s Most Livable City
- Study in Another Country in Year 3
- Benefit From a Private University Education at a Reasonable Cost
- Learn From World-class Faculty in One of Europe’s Top Research Universities
- Access a Wide Variety of Career Paths
What will you learn in a liberal arts program at CEU?
You will be able to:
- Determine What’s Fact and What’s Fake
- Critically Analyze Various Information Sources to Form Your Opinion
- Seek Inspiration in Fields From Ancient Philosophy to Cutting-edge Social Sciences
- Sift Through Information, Make Connections, and Draw Your Conclusions
- Use Data and Digital Tools to Present Your Ideas
Sound good so far? We think so. We’ve tailored the program so that you will delve into a variety of topics in the humanities and social sciences, focus on what interests you most, and emerge with a multitude of skills and knowledge that you can put to use in the real world. So if you want to:
- Challenge Yourself in the Classroom and Beyond
- Become an Active Member of a Global Intercultural Community
- Tackle the World’s Biggest Problems
- Make a Difference Using Your Knowledge and Ideas
- Be a Savvy Consumer of Culture and a Producer of Knowledge
- And Open a World of Career Options
How does CEU's Culture, Politics, and Society program work?
In the Culture, Politics, and Society bachelor’s degree program, you’ll explore how society works from a variety of angles – political, cultural, historical, sociological, and more. At the same time, you’ll learn to communicate your newfound knowledge effectively, in writing, by presenting, through a podcast, making a short film, assembling images, or using data to produce infographics. You’ll also have the opportunity to expand and use your knowledge outside the classroom. You will enjoy:
- Small Class Sizes, With a Student-to-faculty Ratio of 7:1
- Discussion-based Seminars Where You’ll Participate and Contribute Your Ideas
- Individual Attention From Leading Professors and Researchers
- A Community of Faculty and Students From More Than 100 Countries
- Courses With All Your Classmates in the First Year, Then Increased Specialization and Course Choice as You Progress within the Program
- Experiential Learning Opportunities Outside the Classroom Each Year
- Personal Supervision by a Professor for Your Capstone Project in Your Fourth Year
At the End of Four Years, You’ll Have an Austrian and an American Bachelor’s Degree (BA).
CEU enjoys the support of generous donors, including our alumni, who support talented students with scholarships and awards. Here you’ll find information about these opportunities and how to apply.
- Partial Tuition Award
- Presidential Scholar Award
- External financial support and scholarship opportunities
Partial Tuition Award
A small number of Partial Tuition Awards is available for outstanding applicants to the BA/BSc in Data Science and Society, BA in Culture, Politics and Society, and BA in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics programs.
Details
This is a merit-based award, which may fund up to 50% of the tuition fee (up to €3,500 per academic year).
Application
Applicants who want to be considered for this award must apply by February 1, 2024.
Presidential Scholar Award
Two outstanding candidates will receive a Presidential Scholar Award with a total value of €5,000 each. The Presidential Scholars Fund was established by CEU President and Rector Michael Ignatieff and his wife Zsuzsanna Zsohar to support students who demonstrate exceptional academic credentials and leadership promise.
Details
The Award covers part of the tuition fee throughout the four years of BA studies as follows:
- Year 1: €500
- Year 2: €1,000
- Year 3: €1,500
- Year 4: €2,000
Application
All applications submitted by February 1, 2024, will be automatically considered for this award. There is no need to submit a separate application or indicate your interest in this award in the CEU Application Form ('Funding' section) by visiting the university's website.
External Financial Support Opportunities
You can find information about some of the opportunities from governments and other funders on the university's website. Please note that this list is by no means comprehensive. Be sure to check the eligibility requirements before applying.
CEU’s undergraduate liberal arts degree in Culture, Politics, and Society is for you. In your first year, you’ll take a mandatory set of courses with all your classmates, where you’ll be introduced to themes in many of these subjects and examine the relationships between them.
Later, you can take courses in these subjects, then major and minor in what you like best!
Majors
- Cultural and Historical Studies
- Political, Legal, and Governmental Studies
- Social and Environmental Studies
- Visual Theory and Practice *
*Only as a double major in combination with one of the other majors.
Minors
- Cultural Heritage
- Environmental Studies
- Gender Studies
- History
- Human Rights
- International Relations
- Nationalism
- Philosophy
- Political Science
- Sociology and Social Anthropology
- Visual Theory and Practice
What can you do with a liberal arts degree?
With an American and Austrian bachelor’s degree in Culture, Politics and Society, you will acquire vital skills to approach an issue you’re passionate about. You’ll know how to collect valuable information, analyze and synthesize it all, produce your own theory, generate your own solution, and communicate it in multimedia form to any audience.
Transferrable Skills
- Quantitative and qualitative theory and methods
- An interdisciplinary approach to problem-solving
- Critical thinking and reasoning
- Grasping and producing complex information
- Research and analysis
- Analytical skills
- Research skills
- Traditional communication skills (writing, presentation, public speaking)
- These skills open many doors, from graduate study at CEU or another university to career options in the private, public and non-profit sectors. CEU’s Career Services Office team members will guide you in finding the right door for you to open.
The CEU bachelor’s degree in Culture, Politics, and Society combines traditional liberal arts with experiential learning, a foundation that supports many exciting career paths. Your competence in analyzing and communicating knowledge will be in high demand. You’ll be ready to continue your studies in graduate school or start a career in media or business, government or non-profits, startups, or multinationals. Here are some examples: pursue a master’s or Ph.D. degree at CEU or other leading universities in subjects such as:
- Anthropology
- Business
- Cultural Studies
- Digital Humanities
- Environmental Science
- Gender Studies
- History
- Human Rights
- International Relations
- Media
- Philosophy
- Policy
- Political Science
- Sociology
- Visual Arts
Pursue a career at:
- Universities and Think Tanks
- Consulting and PR firms
- Media and Advertising Companies
- Theaters, Museums, and Galleries
- NGOs and International Organizations
- Government and Policymaking Bodies
- Startups and Incubators
- Large Companies and Multinationals
For example, after graduating with a BA in Culture, Politics, and Society, you could work at an NGO that promotes renewable energy infrastructure where you’d be able to:
- Independently Master Industry and Scientific Multimedia Sources on New Developments in Renewable Energy Technology and Policy
- Identify Relevant Experts and Communicate With Them
- Develop Your View of Best Practices for Technological and Government Frameworks for Promoting Renewable Energy
- Present Your Work to Your Organization and the Public With Written Reports, Big Data Presentations, Website development, and Visual Media Campaigns
- Show Leadership in Team and Group Projects
- Effectively and Confidently Communicate Your Work to Colleagues, Government Officials, and the Public at Large in Multimedia Presentations
- Organize Events for the Public and Relevant Stakeholders