Central European University - CEU Speciality : Philosophy
programme: Philosophy

Central European University was founded in 1991 in Hungary and has been standing out for its research programs with the highest standard and student diversity. Currently, the Department of International Relations is ranked 32th, and the Department of Philosophy 37th in QS World University Rankings by Subject. I enrolled at the Department of Philosophy for a two-year master’s program in 2021, two years after they relocated from Budapest to Vienna due to the political conflict with the Government of Hungary.
Their campus lies in the middle of the 10th district of Vienna, which is infamous by locals for its unsafe environment. Honestly, I was a little scared at first as there were some sketchy buildings on the way to the campus from the closest metro station, but it turned out that it was an amiable neighbourhood if not the fanciest. The campus is surrounded by some supermarkets, restaurants/ stands where you can get a quick snack between classes, and even bars run by a lovely old Turkish couple where you can hang out with your colleagues and some locals after your studies. Although it’s not a typical Viennese environment, I must say, it provides you with the essentials for studying in Vienna. I grew quite fond of the district in the end. (I herald the university is now, for better or worse, relocating again close to a bigger station. It will be slightly more accessible from other districts thanks to various tram lines and Sbahn.)
The students come from all over the world. I thought I would be the only Japanese student in the university, but I found one even within the Philosophy department and several more in the other departments. Although they have got a pretty diverse body of students, many of them are from countries in Europe or Central Asia. As such, it will be easier for you to find a community if you are from one of those countries. I hasten to add that it does not necessarily mean you will be marginalised if you are not. There are various club activities and events organised by the student union, such as a music club or a hiking club. I had been a member of the music club and performed at several university events. I am pretty sure you can eventually find someone who has got the same interest if you keep being on the lookout.
The faculty at the Department of Philosophy consists of world-renowned professors. Compared to other bigger universities, the faculty is so much smaller: it’s got only about 20 professors. Despite that, the department managed to offer classes that matched all the students’ diverse interests. Sadly, it should be mentioned that though they have classes that are various enough to cover all the main topics in philosophy, sometimes the perspectives and insights you get from professors are more or less limited. The classes are supposed to be about the general overview of a specific topic, but when it comes to evaluating a specific theory or methodology, some professors did not countenance some of them. I personally found it interesting as I got to see how they evaluate what is good or bad in their already established theories, which is a skill you are required to have when you are pursuing your career in philosophy, but some students might have found it a little too constraining as they were having trouble finding a thesis supervisor who would agree with their theories. However, it is also true that once you find a supervisor who’s suitable for your topic, they are never reluctant to put so much effort and time into your thesis.
There was this one very famous professor whose classes I had been very keen to take during my master’s. The professor’s class was offered university-wide because of his popularity. The Department of Philosophy has 40 – 50 students including master’s and doctoral students. As opposed to the usual number of students in a class which is about 10 – 15, the famous professor’s class eventually got more than 50 students. In other classes, I was enjoying the teaching style of the university: a small number of people, close discussions, and class materials tailored to each student’s interest. Although his class itself was very stimulating, I think it lacked specificity as it was meant to be taken also by non-philosophy students. I do think it is great that the university provides so many options as to what to study, but at the same time, I think the university has to figure out a way to maintain what it stands out for, namely, its close discursive class style.
Overall, I can say I had a great experience at Central European University. Although the faculty and also the campus are a little limited compared to other universities, CEU is a great option if you are looking for real and close connections to professors. It is a relatively new university. I am looking forward to seeing how it is going to develop in the future at the new location.

It has great architecture but does lack natural environment with no outdoor areas. the faculty is great overall, highly qualified but some might not have the best English fluency. The administration is generally helpful to student concerns.