Central European University Budapest (CEU)

Since I'm a Transylvanian Hungarian (Transylvania being part of Romania), my first language is Hungarian, that's why I didn't have any problems with the language of the host-country, which is Hungary. My English seemed to have improved during my time at CEU but not because of the other students but because either of the academic work (lectures, working with texts) or some of the students (native speakers of English.) Unfortunately, most of the students at CEU have at best an upper-intermediate level of English which is further downgraded to some sort of Eastern-European pidgin-English when they interact among themselves (speakers of English as a second language).

No financial suprises. A cost-saving tip however would be: don't live in the dorm (on campus). It's much cheaper to rent a flat in the city and you are your own boss.

I think for anyone from Eastern Europe, CEU is a good opportunity to start a potentially international academic career. For those of you from Western Europe or Americe, I understand that CEU is much cheaper than any other Western university.

Rooms were ok, if small, we had our own indoor showers and everything. But the walls were so thin I could hear everything going on in my neighbours' rooms. :)

ninguno