Central European Studies MA

Central European Studies MA

Central European Studies is an interdisciplinary master's program at Eötvös Loránd University, involving five institutes at the Faculty of Humanities.

The aim of the program is to train broad-based area experts by providing a comprehensive and wide-ranging knowledge of the Central European region. Some courses deal with the region’s history, cultures, languages, literary traditions and societies; other subjects focus on past and present political systems, geopolitical factors, economies, international relations, minorities and minority politics, cities, and urban architecture. There is an emphasis on the common heritage of Central Europe, but the curriculum also provides an opportunity for students to immerse themselves in the histories and current characteristics of individual countries.

A major attraction of Central European Studies is the opportunity to learn regional languages (e. g. Polish, Czech, Slovak, Serbian, Croatian, Slovene, Romanian or Ukrainian). The program builds upon the uniquely rich variety of languages taught at ELTE and the expertise of philology departments in language instruction. English academic writing is also part of the curriculum.

Core Courses

• The Emergence and Transformation of Central Europe in the Middle Ages and the Early Modern Period
• The Austro-Hungarian Monarchy and its Heritage
• Economy in Central Europe: Past and Present
• Minorities and Minority Policies in 19th-21st Century Central Europe: Diversity and Coexistence
• Cities of Central Europe: Urban Development, Architecture, Heritage and Culture
• Literary and Cultural Studies in Central Europe
• Literatures of Central European Peoples from the 19th Century to the Present
• English Academic Writing
• Ukrainian Language Exercises 1-2*
• Slovenian Language Exercises 1-2*
• Slovakian Language Exercises 1-2*
• Serbian Language Exercises1-2*
• Polish Language Exercises 1-2*
• Croatian Language Exercises 1-2*
• Czech Language Exercises 1-2*
• Romanian Language Exercises 1-2*

*It is mandatory to choose one language from the language exercise courses.

• Degree: Central European Studies Expert
• ECTS credits: 120

Cultural diplomacy, foreign affairs, public administration; regional NGOs and foundations; doctoral programs and academia international multinational companies or institutions where Cemtral-Europe-specific language skills, regional local knowledge are an advantage or an explicit expectation.

Cultural institutes of other countries operating in Central European states; Central European foundations, domestic and foreign research institutes, universities, non-profit organizations, companies and organizations operating in various fields of cultural tourism or economy; private companies and corporations (including trade and commerce) operating in Central Europe or similar companies elsewhere with a Central European clientele.

Job examples

Program manager or coordinator at a cultural institute or foundation; analyst or research fellow at a research institute; journalist; grantee of a doctoral program; area manager/specialist at a trading company