Last updated: August 2026
Central European University offers some of the most competitive merit-based funding in Europe — full doctoral scholarships with a real living stipend, meaningful tuition awards at Master’s level, and partial funding for undergraduates. But before anything else, there’s a fact worth getting right that a surprising number of scholarship roundup articles still miss: CEU’s main campus is now in Vienna, Austria — not Budapest, Hungary.
CEU relocated the bulk of its accredited degree programs to Vienna in 2019, following a legal dispute with the Hungarian government. It retains a presence and some programs in Budapest, and its financial aid office operates in both cities, but if you’re picturing yourself studying in Hungary specifically, know that your day-to-day campus experience will most likely be in Vienna. This matters practically too — as you’ll see below, CEU’s PhD stipend is taxed under Austrian rules, not Hungarian ones.
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Application Status Right Now
CEU runs multiple application rounds, but financial aid is only available in the earlier rounds — later rounds admit students on a space-available basis without funding. For the current cycle:
- Round 1 — mid-October — financial aid available
- Round 2 — early February — financial aid available (this is the only deadline for Doctoral programs)
- Round 3 — mid-April — no financial aid, space permitting
- Round 4 — mid-July — no financial aid, space permitting
If you’re aiming for a scholarship or tuition award, you need to apply in Round 1 or Round 2 — applying later might still get you admitted, but not funded. Check CEU’s official admissions deadlines page for the exact current-cycle dates, since round dates shift slightly year to year.
Which Fields Are Available?
CEU offers over 50 degree programs spanning the social sciences, humanities, and data-driven fields, including mathematics, sociology, environmental sciences, international relations, legal studies, data science, political science, philosophy, and gender studies, among others.
Who Can Apply?
- International students of any nationality, at Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Doctoral level.
- A strong academic record and English proficiency are expected across all levels.
- For financial aid consideration specifically, you must apply by the relevant funded round (see above) and actively indicate your interest in financial aid within the “Funding” section of the CEU application form — it isn’t assumed automatically just because you applied.
What the Funding Actually Looks Like, by Degree Level
This is where it’s worth being precise, since a lot of listicles round these figures up or blur “tuition award” into “full scholarship.” Based on CEU’s current official terms:
Bachelor’s: Partial Tuition Award
A small number of merit-based Partial Tuition Awards are available for outstanding undergraduate applicants, covering up to 50% of the tuition fee, up to a maximum of €4,000 per academic year. This is a partial award, not a full ride — budget for the remaining tuition and your living costs in Vienna accordingly.
Master’s: Tuition Award + Stipend Award
Master’s financial aid is merit-based and comes in two separate components that can be combined:
- Master’s Tuition Award: typically covers 50% to 80% of the tuition fee. A full tuition award exists but is reserved for exceptional cases only — don’t assume you’ll receive one by default.
- Master’s Stipend Award: ranges from €300 to €750 per month, depending on the strength of your application.
PhD: Full Tuition + Doctoral Stipend
Doctoral applicants who apply by the financial aid deadline (Round 2, early February) are automatically considered for the CEU Doctoral Scholarship, which covers full tuition plus a monthly stipend of €2,002 gross, paid for up to 48 months total.
A few practical details worth knowing if you’re considering the PhD route:
- The stipend is taxable in Austria and treated as self-employed income there, meaning PhD students need to register with Austria’s SVS health insurance provider and pay social security contributions themselves.
- Stipends are paid by the 4th of each month, once you’re matriculated and physically present on the Vienna campus — no retroactive payments are made if you arrive after your program’s start date.
- Your bank account needs to be a euro-currency account with a SEPA-eligible bank (a standard European bank, or SEPA-eligible online options like Wise, Revolut, or N26).
What Happens If You Withdraw Mid-Program?
If you withdraw from your program partway through the academic year, CEU does not require you to repay the financial aid you’ve already received — you’ll need to inform your department, and they’ll handle the necessary administrative steps from there.
How to Apply
- Explore CEU’s degree programs and pick the one(s) that fit your field and level — you can apply to up to 5 programs within a single application cycle.
- Check the specific eligibility requirements for your chosen programme(s) and degree level.
- Create an account and complete the online application through CEU’s official application portal.
- Indicate your interest in financial aid in the “Funding” section of the application form — this step is required to be considered for any award.
- Gather and upload required documents: transcripts, CV, letters of recommendation, proof of English proficiency, and (for many programs) a statement of purpose or research proposal.
- Pay the non-refundable application fee before submitting — incomplete applications, including unpaid fees, won’t be accepted.
- Submit before your target round’s deadline, then track your status through CEU’s Applicant Portal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CEU still in Budapest? Partially. CEU relocated most of its accredited degree programs to Vienna, Austria in 2019, and Vienna is now the primary campus for the majority of students. CEU maintains an office and some programs in Budapest, and financial aid support is available in both cities, but plan for your studies to be based mainly in Vienna.
Is the Master’s scholarship really “fully funded”? Not automatically. Full tuition awards at Master’s level exist but are reserved for exceptional cases — most funded Master’s students receive a partial tuition award (50–80%) plus a stipend of €300–750/month. Only the Doctoral Scholarship guarantees full tuition as standard.
How much is the PhD stipend, and is it taxed? €2,002 gross per month, paid for up to 48 months. It’s taxable in Austria and treated as self-employed income, so PhD students are responsible for registering with SVS health insurance and paying their own social security contributions.
Do I need to separately apply for a scholarship? No separate form — you indicate your interest in financial aid within the main CEU application, in the “Funding” section, and must apply within a round where aid is offered (the two earliest rounds) to be considered.
What if I apply in a later round? You can still be admitted in later rounds (typically April and July), but financial aid is not available in those rounds — you’d be attending on a self-funded basis, space permitting.
This guide is based on Central European University’s official admissions and financial aid pages. Deadlines, award amounts, and campus details can change between cycles — always confirm current terms at ceu.edu before applying.
