Application requirements

Please provide us with all relevant academic records based on the information below.

• If you are in your final year of high school, please submit a transcript of records showing all your subjects and grades from the three previous years, any results available from the current year, and a certificate of enrollment stating your expected date of graduation, if possible. If you are able to obtain predicted grades for your final term, please make sure to include those in your application.
• If you have already graduated, please submit an official final transcript showing the subjects and grades from your last four years of high school. Besides that, we also ask you to upload the results of your matriculation examination (e.g. Matura, Abitur, A-levels, etc.) and your High School Diploma or Certificate that marks the completion of your secondary education.
• If you have transcripts from a university you have previously attended or are currently attending, then in addition to the documents mentioned above you’ll need to provide a university transcript showing all grades you’ve earned so far.

If your transcripts are not in English, please provide an English translation of each, certified by your school or a registered translator – along with the originals. An official translation bears the stamp and signature of an official of the institution or the translator.

Applicants to the Data Science and Society (DSS)* program must demonstrate a clear and sustained level of achievement in mathematics. This can be fulfilled in one or more of the following ways:

1. High school transcripts: transcripts should demonstrate competency in mathematics throughout high school
2. Standardized tests: we encourage but do not require, applicants to submit a standardized mathematics test as proof of mathematics competency. Applicants who have completed a standardized test should upload (only) one of the following test results: SAT, ACT, AP Calculus, A-levels, International Baccalaureate Math. The following scores are considered competitive:

• SAT Math or Physics Subject Test: 650
• ACT: 27
• AP Calculus: 4
• A Levels: B
• IB Math HL: 5 or IB Math SL: 6

Note that the scores listed above serve as a point of reference for applicants to the Data Science and Society program, and do not guarantee nor disallow admission into the program.

You’ll need to demonstrate proficiency in English by submitting your results on standardized English language tests such as TOEFL or others listed below.

You may request an exemption from this requirement by answering the question about English Language Qualifications in the Qualification section of the online application form. Exemptions will be considered if any of the following apply:

• your first language is English
• you’ve been enrolled for at least two years at a high school where teaching is exclusively in English
• you’ve scored 5 or more in English (HL or SL) in the International Baccalaureate (IB)
• you’ve scored 650 or more on the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing portion of the SAT
• your ACT score is 27 or more for both English and Reading

If the language of instruction is not clearly stated in your high school credentials, you’ll need to upload an official letter from the school confirming that you were taught exclusively in English throughout your studies.

If you are submitting a test score of one of the exams listed below, you’ll need to upload your score report in the online application.

CEU's ETS institution code is 0069. 

You may choose to provide additional documents in support of your application, such as other test scores or evidence of other work, training, or volunteer work you’ve done. These documents must be merged into one PDF file not exceeding 2 MB. Some examples of supporting documents include:

• standardized test scores, e.g. SAT (CEU’s code for College Board is 4567), ACT, Advanced Placement (AP), etc.
• academic competition scores/awards
• additional recommendation letter (academic or work-related) if it provides a different perspective on you than the mandatory recommendation. For applicants to the Data Science and Society (DSS) program: this could be a recommendation letter from your teacher of a quantitative class, such as mathematics, physics, or statistics.
• any information or document that does not fit anywhere else in the application, but provides context that is relevant for your university application and you feel your application would not be complete without it

Your CV should be in reverse chronological order and bullet-point format. We’d like to see your secondary education history and any extracurricular activities, exchange programs, academic competitions, and volunteering or work experience that you think is relevant.

You may use the following document as a template: 

Template: CV (High School)

Please note that this is just an example — feel free to adjust it according to your needs.

You’ll need to write a short essay, of no more than 500 words, addressing the topic below. The essay should be an original piece of work written specifically for this application.

Application essay topic for the Culture, Politics and Society (CPS) bachelor’s degree

Identify what you see as the most important challenge we are facing today in the world. This can be of a social, political, cultural, economic, or environmental nature — or a combination. How do you see that a degree in Culture, Politics and Society can help make sense of this challenge, and can help tackle it?

We are not looking for a full and final answer to the question, but for evidence of a genuine engagement with a problem that is of concern to you, and a desire to gain the knowledge and tools necessary to analyze it and consider solutions. If you have not studied relevant subjects at school, don’t worry — ideas from your existing studies, and from following news and media may stimulate interest in issues and questions which can then be addressed in your study of Culture, Politics and Society.

Application essay topic for the Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) bachelor’s degree

Tell us about your interest in a question that has a connection with philosophy or politics or economics. For example: What makes societies fair or just? Can artificial intelligence really think? What is the justification for democracy? Are we ever genuinely free to choose what to do? 

These are just examples — feel free to pick your own question.

We are not looking for a full and final answer, but for evidence of a genuine interest in these topics, and a real engagement with a question that puzzles you. If you have not studied these subjects at school, don’t worry — ideas from the study of science or literature or history or other subjects may stimulate interest in questions which can then be addressed in your study of Philosophy, Politics and Economics.

Application essay topic for the Data Science and Society (DSS) bachelor’s degree

Tell us about your interest in Data Science and Society. What do you think are some of the major challenges in understanding human society? Why do you think quantitative approaches (involving mathematics, computation, and data analysis) are necessary for this task? What are some of the questions that cannot be answered from this perspective  alone, and require also a qualitative component? 

These are just examples — feel free to pick your own question.

We are not looking for a full and final answer, but for evidence of a genuine interest in these topics, and a real engagement with a question that puzzles you. If you have not studied these subjects at school, don’t worry — ideas from your existing studies, and from following news and media may stimulate interest in issues and questions which can then be addressed through your studies in Data Science and Society.

Please submit a letter of motivation of max. 300 words in length addressing why you chose to apply to CEU, why your program of choice matches your interests and aspirations, and how you think you would contribute to the CEU community.

You’ll need to submit one confidential letter of recommendation, in English, from a teacher or counselor supporting your application. The letter should review your academic achievement and potential, skills, abilities, strengths, motivation, and character, as well as your disciplinary record. The referee must send the recommendation via the online application system directly, so that you can’t view it, and it remains confidential.

For applicants to the Data Science and Society (DSS) program: If you wish to support your application with an additional recommendation letter from a teacher of a quantitative class, such as mathematics, physics, or statistics, you can do so by uploading it under the section 3. 'Other Supporting Documents'. To enable your referee to send in their letter, you’ll register them in the online application form. If you’re applying for more than one degree program, you’ll need to do this for each application separately. Then be sure to go ahead and submit your application! After that, your referee will receive an email with a link to the recommendation form. The recommendation must be received within one week of receipt of your application. A late recommendation may or may not be considered. You'll be able to track the status of your recommendation on the Applicant Portal after you submit your application.

• All application materials must be submitted with the online application form(s). Materials sent by postal mail, electronic mail, or fax will not be considered.
• If you want to apply to more than one bachelor’s degree program, you’ll need to submit a complete application for each one separately.
• Applications cannot be edited after submission, except for certain data (contact information) that can be updated via the Applicant Portal. Please submit your application only when it is 100% final and complete.
• CEU does not return application documents or provide copies thereof.
• If you applied to CEU in a previous 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. With technical problems, bugs or errors related to the online application forms please contact the CEU IT Help Desk via helprequest@ceu.edu.

Start your CEU Application

CEU charges a one-time application fee of EUR 30 for each candidate irrespective of the number of programs applied to in the given admissions cycle. The application fee is non-refundable and cannot be waived. The fee must be paid via the online application form after the first application is submitted in the given admission cycle. Once you hit "submit" on your application, the page will redirect you to the payment portal where you can pay the application fee.

NOTES: 

• Fee payments to CEU are processed by Flywire, and for us to receive your (first) application, Flywire must verify the receipt of your application fee. With bank card payments, this usually happens instantly. Therefore, card payment is strongly encouraged.
  If, however, you are paying the application fee by another method such as bank transfer, verifying your payment may take several days. In that case, we recommend that you submit your application with your fee payment one week before the deadline to avoid any issues.
• Any subsequent applications for further programs can only be submitted after your first application was submitted and the application fee payment was received.

Start your CEU Application

Our admissions committee will review the applications and select finalists who will be invited to an online admissions interview. If you’re selected as a finalist, you’ll be informed and given instructions by email.