Reviews of Central European University Budapest (CEU) | Hungary

Useful | 1

Vladimir A

Univerzitet "Sv. Kiril i Metodij", Skopje, Macedonia
Environmental Sciences, Graduate, Independent

Overall

I wish I had known...

Hungarian everyday way of life.

In my opinion:

Most people loved it.

Important factors in my choice
(1) Unimportant – (4) Very important

Academic reasons

4

Culture

3

Costs

2

Activities

3

Campus life

1

Party / people

3

Weather / location

2

Personal recommendation

Good programme and professors, one of the best in Europe.

During my experience abroad, I ...
(1) Never – (4) A lot

Became familiar with another culture

4

Traveled

3

Improved language skills

3

Met people from other countries

4

Became more independent

4

Partied a lot

3

Experienced a change in life

3

Advanced my studies & career

4

Final comments

Cheap airline tickets from Budapest to the rest of Europe is a great advantage. Make friends with Hungarian colegues - very helpful when dealing with the Hungarian service sector (very poor English).

Useful | 0

Diana U

Universitatea din Bucuresti, Bucharest, Romania
Public Administration, Graduate, Soros Foundation Scholarship

Overall

I wish I had known...

Going through a different education system can be extremely demanding!

In my opinion:

Most people loved it.

Important factors in my choice
(1) Unimportant – (4) Very important

Academic reasons

4

Culture

2

Costs

4

Activities

3

Campus life

3

Party / people

3

Weather / location

2

Personal recommendation

Make sure all necessary information is available on-line before the students' enrollment!

During my experience abroad, I ...
(1) Never – (4) A lot

Became familiar with another culture

3

Traveled

3

Improved language skills

4

Met people from other countries

4

Became more independent

3

Partied a lot

3

Experienced a change in life

4

Advanced my studies & career

4

Final comments

Don't be surprised if most Hungarians don't speak and don't give a damn about English

Useful | 0

Marcin P

,
Economics, Masters, Study abroad program

Overall

I wish I had known...

Hungarian language;

In my opinion:

Most people loved it.

Important factors in my choice
(1) Unimportant – (4) Very important

Academic reasons

4

Culture

3

Costs

2

Activities

3

Campus life

2

Party / people

3

Weather / location

1

Personal recommendation

The best university in the region, focused on social sciences. Great student life, great friends from many coutries.

During my experience abroad, I ...
(1) Never – (4) A lot

Became familiar with another culture

4

Traveled

3

Improved language skills

4

Met people from other countries

4

Became more independent

3

Partied a lot

3

Experienced a change in life

3

Advanced my studies & career

4

Final comments

Try to learn some words in foreign language before going anywhere. Very few people speak foreign languages.

Useful | 1

Vladimir A

Univerzitet "Sv. Kiril i Metodij", Skopje, Macedonia
Environmental Sciences, Graduate, Independent

Housing

Type of housing: Apartment/House

Arranged by: Independently - My choice

If returning, I would choose: Apartment/House

Why?

I can make my time schedule with much less strain from others. I take full responsability for my decisions, without any outside interference.

Personal assessment

Cost

Facilities

Location

Cleanliness

Space

Personal comments

The University (CEU) was very helpful in providing housing assistence and well organized for that.

Useful | 0

Nigora S

Russian-Tajik Slavonic University, Dushanbe, Tajikistan
Sociology, Graduate, Open Society Institute-Soros Foundation

Languages

Language of instruction: English

Local language was: Different than language of instruction

Was learning English a key decision factor?

Yes, I wanted to improve my English

Was learning the local language a key decision factor?

Yes, I wanted to improve my the local language

How much did you improve your English?

My level before: No problems in any areas (including slang)
My level after: No problems in any areas (including slang)

How much did you improve your the local language?

My level before: Did not speak it
My level after: Everyday knowledge (shopping, directions, etc.)

Language difficulties

Social

Educational

Administrative / Institutional

Overall

Personal comments

The language did not pose any barriers. I have studied previoiusly in the US, so I am very fluent in English: my TOEFL is 647. However, it is a bit difficult without the knowledge of Hungarian, particularly in social, public situations.

Useful | 0