e-mail: summeru@ceu.edu
Tel.: +36-1 327-3811
Skype: ceu-sun
FAQ
ELIGIBILITY
1. Who can apply to SUN?
Target group:
We invite applications from academics (graduate students, post-docs, junior faculty, and researchers) as well as from professionals (e.g. policy-makers, civil servants, NGO workers, etc.) For most courses, a BA is a requirement although several courses are open for undergraduates as well.
Language requirement:
The language of instruction is English, thus all applicants have to demonstrate a strong command of spoken and written English to be able to participate actively in discussions at seminars and workshops. Some of the shortlisted applicants may be contacted for a telephone interview. Please consult the eligibility section on each course website for course-specific requirements and prerequisites.
There are several types of programs we offer:
- Research-intensive courses have a strong research focus and are targeted at primarily Ph.D. students, junior faculty and researchers, and postdoctoral fellows. MA students are also eligible. Some of these courses explore policy aspects of their research focus as well and therefore tend to encourage the participation of both academics and professionals.
- Policy and Training Courses mostly address the professional development needs of practitioners, policy-makers, etc. These courses tend to provide training and/or discuss policy issues at a practical, applied level and are targeted at mostly practitioners, or a mix of academics and professionals.
- Short workshops
2. Am I required to have any prior knowledge or qualifications?
Please consult the eligibility section on each course website for course-specific requirements and prerequisites.
[back to top]
3. Is my English good enough? Will it be tested?
You need to have a strong command of English to be able to participate actively in discussions, give presentations, etc. During the course, teachers use interactive methods and you are expected to participate in a variety of class activities requiring fluent English skills.
There is no formal testing but you have to upload some proof of your English language skills in the online application form. Please check the relevant section in the How to Apply page.
Also, if you are shortlisted in the first round of selection, your course coordinator may contact you by telephone to check your language skills.
*****************************************************************
COURSES
4. Are the courses the same every year?
No. Some of the courses (or their slightly revised versions) run several times but there are always new courses on the "menu".
5. How can I find out more about the courses?
From time to time, you should check the SUN website, which is constantly updated. You'll find a separate course page containing updated brief and detailed course descriptions, syllabus, schedule, CVs of the professors, occasionally bibliographies for the course.
Application in general
6. How many courses can I apply to?
You may apply to a maximum of two summer courses. In case of being admitted, you can only attend both if the two courses do not overlap in time. Financial aid, if available, is only granted to attend one course.
7. If I submitted an application to CEU last year, can I use the same login?
If you applied to CEU’s master, doctoral, etc. programs in the 2017, 2018, 2019 or 2020 admission cycle, please use your existing login and password to start a new application. If you do not remember your password from last year click on Forgotten Password.
8. If I submitted an application to CEU Summer University last year, can I use the same login?
If you applied to CEU’s master, doctoral, etc. programs in the 2017, 2018, 2019 or 2020 admission cycle, please use your existing login and password to start a new application. If you do not remember your password from last year click on Forgotten Password.
[back to top]
9. May I apply after the application deadline has expired?
You may, but it will be at the discretion of the course director whether s/he will include it in the selection process. Possible deadline extensions will be posted on the course web sites.
10. If I am experiencing technical problems when trying to create an account or to complete an online application, what should I do?
With technical problems, bugs or errors related to the online application forms please contact the CEU IT Help Desk.
11. What are the file size and type requirements for uploading attachments?
The maximum allowable file size for upload is 2MB per file and the acceptable file formats are PDF, JPG and JPEG. Ensure all security features (e.g. passwords and encryption) are removed from the documents before uploading them.
12. Will I need to submit a reference letter?
Some, but not all courses may request one confidential letter of recommendation submitted as part of your application. (In case you apply for two courses that require recommendations then a separate letter should be submitted for each course.) The letter must be written in English by your faculty members, employers, or thesis or job supervisors (i.e. people most familiar with your academic and/or professional abilities and character) and sent via the online application system by the recommenders themselves. (You must not know the contents of the letters and therefore cannot submit them.)
13. Can recommendations be mailed?
If a recommendation is requested, (please check the "How to Apply"- section on the course web site) it is expected to be submitted online.
In order to enable your recommenders to send in their letters, you need to register them in the relevant section of the online application form AND submit your application; they won’t receive an email with a link to a recommendation form until after you have submitted your application. All recommendations must be received within two weeks of the time the application is submitted. Late references may or may not be considered.
14. I have submitted my application and just realized I need to make some corrections in it. What can I do?
Contact the Summer University office to check what modifications are possible after submission.
[back to top]
15. I am a former CEU student and am now applying to a SUN course. Am I required to upload official copies of academic records if the course requires these?
No, we have your records on file.
*****************************************************************
ACCEPTANCE
16. When will I find out about the decision?
In case of Summer courses we will notify applicants about the decision by mid-May, at the latest. In case of Winter programs notification depends on the course dates. You can check more about our program timeline on the Dates and Deadlines page. Make sure you put the summeru@ceu.edu email address on your white list.
17. I got accepted. How do I confirm/decline my participation?
- Please go to the Applicant Portal and log in with your user name and password.
- Go to My Application.
- Click on the View Offer button to see the details of the offer.
- Scroll down and respond to the offer.
[back to top]
18. If I'm accepted, is there anything I need to do before the course?
You need to go through the following steps in order to be enrolled for a course:
- accept the offer on the applicant portal
- go to the onboarding section
- complete the onboarding steps as soon as you can
- register on the e-Learning site if you receive an invitation from the Summer University office
19. If I am on the waiting list, what are my chances to be accepted?
It is difficult to predict. Each year, there are accepted applicants who have to turn down our invitation for some reason and whose places will be offered to those on the waiting lists. If you live in a country from where traveling to Hungary is somewhat difficult because of visa requirements, do not expect an invitation later than the end of May.
[back to top]
20. Supposing I have been admitted but cannot come this year, does this mean I can come next year?
Unfortunately, you have to submit a new application.
*****************************************************************
21. How am I expected to prepare for the course?
Courses using the SUN e-Learning platform will make the reading materials available sometime in May. Confirmed participants will receive instructions from the SUN Office on how to prepare a login name and a password.
If you have difficulty accessing or downloading the reading materials please contact Eva Barbara Bodogan who will assist you with technical problems.
[back to top]
[back to top]
*****************************************************************
CREDITS
22. Can I get academic credits for a SUN course?
Our courses offer ECTS points (check the number on the relevant course web site), which may be accepted for credit transfer by the participants' home universities. Those who wish to obtain these credits should inquire about the possible transfer at their home institution prior to their enrollment. The Summer University Office will send a transcript to those who have fulfilled all the necessary course requirements and request one.
[back to top]
23. Will I receive a certificate?
Certificates are awarded for full attendance and active participation (discussions, individual or group presentation, submission of written assignments, etc.).
[back to top]
*****************************************************************
FEES AND FUNDING PACKAGES
24. Do I have to pay for the course?
CEU Summer University courses have a variety of financial schemes. Depending on their funding sources, sponsors, cooperating partners, etc., some courses offer financial aid in the form of full or partial scholarships (tuition waiver + travel and/or accommodation grant), or a tuition waiver, while there are a few which only accept participants on a fee-paying basis.
Participants are responsible for covering their own living expenses (local transportation, airport transfer, meals, etc.) while in Budapest (unless they receive a special scholarship offering a stipend as well).
Please check the details of the financial policy of the course of your choice in the “Financial Information” section on the relevant course web site.
[back to top]
25. What does the scholarship cover for accepted participants?
It may cover tuition costs and accommodation in double (or single) rooms in CEU’s Residence Center (or in a hotel specified at the course website). In addition, it may contain a full or partial travel grant. A few courses offer a stipend as well. Please check your course website for specific information on funding packages.
All packages will include the following:
- a minimum of 24 tuition hours per week
- ECTS credits
- a certificate of attendance
- access to course E-learning page (with readings, assignments, etc.)
- access to CEU facilities (Library, IT services, and, if you are housed in CEU’s Residence Center a sports centre including the use of the indoor swimming pool, tennis courts)
- some social and cultural events depending on the course schedules (e.g. welcome and farewell reception / outings / fieldtrips / film screenings, etc.)
26. If I did not receive a scholarship offer, are there any other funding opportunities outside CEU to help cover the tuition and/or other costs (travel and accommodation)?
We strongly encourage applicants to look for non-CEU funding sources that may offer some help with participation costs. Please consider if you or your institution can contribute to the program expenses. Faculty and Ph.D. students are advised to approach their home departments for travel grants; researchers may have research grants available that can cover their participation; professionals may turn to their employers to fund their training in the program.
There are several organizations that provide grants for conference or summer school participation, some of which are listed below:
The Zeno Karl Schindler Foundation (for Swiss applicants)
27. If I am not accepted on a scholarship basis, can I apply as a fee-paying student?
Yes, if your application was accepted on academic merit, but was rejected due to lack of funding, you may be accepted on a fee-paying basis if there are still available places in the course.
28. Who is eligible for a travel grant?
Please check your course website for specific information on funding packages.
29. If I am a fee-paying student, when and how am I supposed to pay?
For most courses fee-paying participants are expected to pay the tuition fee by May 28. A reduced Early Bird fee option is available until April 30. Fees and fee-payment deadlines, however, vary with courses so please check these on the relevant course web sites.
Information on the fee payment will be provided in the online application system.
Please do NOT include accommodation costs when you pay the tuition fee. Those who are responsible for covering their own accommodation costs should pay upon arrival at the hotel either in cash or by credit card.
Before making your payment please see details of the payment procedure.
30. Can I pay by credit card?
Yes. For details see the online application system.
*****************************************************************
FACILITIES AND HOUSING
31. What facilities does CEU Budapest offer?
The Budapest campus is housed in state-of-the-art new buildings designed to promote sustainability in downtown. All parts of the buildings are wheelchair accessible. Classrooms are equipped with the latest technology. Smart rooms have two smartboards, Windows 10 installed fully functional touch screen PCs, software includes Skype, BlueJeans, Office package, Whiteboard software, a projector, and speakers for HD quality video and audio, webcam, wireless keyboard.
CEU possesses an excellent library holding the largest collection of English-language materials in social sciences and humanities in Central and Eastern Europe.
The Vera & Donald Blinken Open Society Archives also has an associated library of books and periodicals, the core of which is the library of Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty. Additional information on the Vera & Donald Blinken Open Society Archives website.
There is a sports center with swimming pool, sauna and fitness room, basketball/football courts, and a tennis court at CEU Residence Center available for those staying there.
[back to top]
[back to top]
32. Where are we going to stay?
Most courses will be accommodated in the CEU Residence Center, a modern, air-conditioned hostel. It is a modern, air-conditioned hostel, which offers single rooms or shared double rooms for 2 persons, with 2 single beds, and a bathroom and toilet that roommates share. The reception works 24 hours a day.
Getting from the Center to the Central European University teaching facilities takes about 40-45 minutes by easy public transportation (bus+metro).
33. How long can I stay in the Residence Center?
Participants are expected to arrive the day before the course starts (e.g. if the course starts on Monday, the arrival day will be on Sunday) and depart the day after the last teaching day (e.g. if the last day of the course is a Friday, the departure day will be on Saturday).
Check-in time: 14:00 P.M.
Check-out time: 11:00 A.M.
34. Can I stay longer than the duration of the course?
If you plan to arrive earlier and/or leave later than the above standard dates, you will be able to modify them either in the housing form or by email.
35. Will I have any free time to work in the Library, see the city, etc.?
To be honest, not much. SUN is a highly intense experience. Class attendance is compulsory, so you will be mostly in the classroom until 4 or 5 p.m. with short coffee breaks and a longer lunch break in the middle of the day. You will receive reading and/or written assignments to accomplish from one day to the next. There is very little time left to do your own research in the Library or even to explore the city. Courses, however, tend to organize social events after the teaching day such as informal sightseeing, visits to ruin pubs, etc.
[back to top]
36. If I don't want to share a room with someone, can I have a single room?
Scholarship participants will be accommodated in single or shared double rooms. Self-funded participants may decide what room type they prefer.
Room rates:
Single room: 28 Euro/night including breakfasts
Double room: 17 Euro/person/night including breakfasts
37. How far is CEU's Residence Center from the university?
It is approximately a 40-45-minute ride by bus and the underground.
38. Can I stay somewhere else instead of the Residence Center?
Self-funded participants: You can stay anywhere in town.
Scholarship participants: Your housing grant can be applied in the Residence Center only. If you wish to stay somewhere else, you need to cover your accommodation costs yourself.
[back to top]
[back to top]
39. Where can I find computers on CEU premises?
Nádor street 9
- Faculty Tower 909 (Blue Lab; Capacity: 29+1 computers)
- Faculty Tower ground floor, next to elevators (Green Lab; Capacity: 19+1 computers)
- Monument Building basement (Orange Lab; Capacity: 18+1 computers)
CEU Residence Center
- Room 101 (Chat Lab; Capacity: 9 computers)
- Room 103 (Silent Lab; Capacity: 18 computers)
40. How can I contact the IT Helpdesk?
While in the CEU main campus you can contact the IT Department Helpdesks:
- in the Nádor 15. building, 4th floor, within the library(extension 3030); classroom support (extension 6000)
- in the CEU Residence Center, on the 1st floor, in front of the computer lab (extension 5543)
- in the Zrínyi 14. building, on the 5th floor (extension 2000)
- or via e-mail at helprequest@ceu.edu
41. How will I be able to use a computer and connect the CEU network?
You will receive a login name and a password at the orientation at the beginning of the course. Here you will also receive information about the opening hours and locations of computer labs, about the file, mail, printing service and the internet, as well as an introduction to the network and other useful do's and don'ts.
42. Can I use my laptop in the main campus?
Yes. If your laptop is suitable for WiFi connections, you can access the wireless network in the whole CEU campus.
[back to top]
43. Can I use my laptop in my room at the Residence Center?
Yes, you can: there is free WiFi in all rooms of the Residence Center. If your laptop is suitable for WiFi connections, you can access the wireless network similarly to the main campus.
*****************************************************************
TRAVEL AND VISA
44. What kind of visa will I need to attend thew Summer course?
You’ll need to apply for a short-term (type C) Schengen visa.
45. Will CEU Summer University arrange a visa for me?
No, you will have to apply for a short term tourist visa yourself. Please check our visa page for further information.
46. How long will the visa procedure last?
Most Schengen Embassies can process applications within 15 working days, however, there can be delays, especially in Summer due to the high season. We, therefore, recommend that you secure your visa interview date via the relevant Embassy website right after getting your notification of acceptance. The earliest visa appointment date you can request is 6 months before the date of your travel.
[back to top]
47. If I have received a travel grant, who will take care of my travel?
Travel grant recipients are expected to buy their tickets and will be reimbursed based on the granted amount of travel specified in the acceptance letter during the first week of their stay in Budapest. More information is available on our Travel page.
*****************************************************************
MISCELLANEOUS
48. I have not received any response to my email. What should I do?
Due to some spam filtering settings, some emails occasionally end up in our spam filtering system. (In order to avoid this please make sure you put ceu.edu domain on the whitelist in your email client.) We tend to respond to each incoming email within 1-2 business days. If you do not hear back from us after a week, and you cannot find our email in your spam folder either, please contact one of our colleagues via their personal email addresses. Click here for the contact information page.
49. Are there any social or academic activities organized outside of the classes?
Yes. These activities are all optional and are organized after 5 pm. and on the weekends.
The supplementary academic events include public lectures, field trips, occasional film screenings, etc.
Social events usually include welcome and farewell parties and a boat trip. Depending on the program schedule most of the two-week courses will be invited to a boat trip on the Danube during their stay in Budapest. There will be NO centrally organized sight-seeing tours, so be prepared to explore the city on your own or with your fellow participants. Your course coordinator may, however, offer the group an optional walking tour. At the end of the course, usually there is a farewell party arranged for each course separately.
50. How do I get to the hotel from the airport/station?
All summer course participants are expected to get to their hotels on their own. Please check the links on the Accommodation page for directions to the Residence Center. If you stay elsewhere you can use any online map applications to find your way to the hotel.
[back to top]
51. Can I bring my family with me?
The workload is high during your course therefore we advise you not to bring your family with you. If, however, you would still like to bring someone, it is your responsibility to find out in advance whether there is a double room available. You have to take care of the visa arrangements if any, and pay for all additional costs.
52. Do we receive meals?
If you are staying at a hotel, room price includes breakfast. All other meals should be covered on your own. The SUN Office will offer tips about where you can have lunch at a reasonable price in the university's neighborhood.
53. Do I receive medical treatment in case I need it?
All participants are responsible to have a valid health insurance during their stay at CEU. If you suffer from a chronic disease, please make sure you bring your medication with you.
With minor problems you can contact the CEU Doctor on campus. In case of emergency you will receive proper clinical or hospital treatment covered by your insurance.
54. What's the weather like in Budapest in July?
The weather tends to be hot in July (25-35 degrees Celsius). Classrooms, the Residence Center and some of the other hotels are air-conditioned so bring something warm if you find the air-conditioning sometimes too cold inside the buildings.
You can click on http://weather.cnn.com/weather/forecast.jsp?locCode=BUDX or http://daily.webshots.com/content/weather/html/full/e_BUDAPEST.html to check the weather prior to departure.
55. Is there a dress code?
Faculty and participants tend to dress informally for class. If you wish, you can however bring something formal as well for special occasions that the course may decide to organize.