Student Report
Name of the University: Central European University
Exchange semester: Fall/Winter 2012/2013
I. PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Before leaving Norway
The registration procedure before being accepted was a bit tedious, hence once accepted it
only took a couple of weeks before I had received all information. Furthermore the
coordinator of the Public policy institute (where I was enrolled) was very helpful in case any
problems or questions aroused prior to arrival.
Travel
With flights to Budapest every day travel arrangements were easily managed. Both Ryanair
and Norwegian fly from Oslo to Budapest.
Housing
I was in contact with previous MA students from BI who are now enrolled as PhD students at
CEU and they helped me arrange for housing. Hence even without their help it shouldn’t have
been a problem. Budapest has a wide range of accommodation available for a student friendly
price.
Costs
Approximately how much per month did you spend on rent, books, food, transportation, and
other personal expenses?
Rent
Food
Transport
Other
NOK 2000
NOK 1500
NOK 200
NOK 1500
Culture and language
Hungarian is a difficult language and it would require time and effort and I therefore chose
not to take part in a language course. However, young Hungarians are in general good at
English and you will not encounter any major problems getting around without speaking
Hungarian, except the occasional grumpy attitude. That said, Hungarians can come across as a
bit grumpy and service is not their best quality. However once you get to know Hungarians
and their culture, you might find yourself not wanting to leave. Particularly in the summer
when there are a lot of free concerts and festivals.
Cultural and social effects from the exchange experience
CEU is a very international institution thereby I have managed to build a global network of
young professionals.
II. ABOUT THE SCHOOL
The University is right in the centre of Budapest, convenient access from metro, busses and
trams. However, since housing is cheap, it’s recommended to live in the centre and within the
city centre most things are within walkable distance.
Course registration
Course registration will be done during zero-week (first week of school with introduction to
all courses), be aware that there is competition among students over places. Most courses
have a limited number of students allowed, course registration usually open at 8 in the
morning and I recommend to log in at 8 to be sure you get the courses you want.
Academic calendar
Autumn semester mid-September to mid-December and Winter semester runs from midJanuary to mid-April.
Arrival
I arrived a couple of weeks before the semester started. It was nice to get some time to settle
in and see this beautiful city. Since I also worked as a research assistant at the institute of
Public Policy I quickly came in touch with people who could help me settle.
The International Office
There is not one international office as in BI, instead it is a labyrinth of offices, hence staffs
are helpful and guide you where to go in case you need any assistance during your stay.
Promoting BI and Norway
Unfortunately, there was no international day as the one we have at BI, but I utilized other
more informal opportunities to promote BI. In general, people seemed interested in Norway
and BI.
Social activities
There are many social activities arranged by the university, however the majority of them take
place at the university´s dormitory which is located a bit outside the city. There are also
several sports team, I joined the football team and this was a great way to get to know people
from other from other departments for the university.
III. ACADEMICS
In the classroom
There tend to be fewer students in classes than at BI, ranging from 5 to 15 students per class.
Interactive lectures and debates are encouraged by professors and your participation will
always be a part of your grade.
Course materials
Most courses are based on academic articles, so there is no need to buy any books. The
workload is heavier than that of BI.
Exams
Grades are usually based on several elements such as participation, presentation, a final exam
and/or a term paper. It is nice because it spreads the workload over the entire semester.
Library and technology
Description of courses
Course code & name
Energy policy
International policy
practice
Macroeconomics and
public finance
The political economy
of
the
European
Union
Introduction
to
environmental policy
Master/
Bachelor
Master
Master
Master
Exam form
Approved as
Presentations, participation Core
and Termpaper
Presentations, participation Core
and Termpaper
Final exam 100%
Core
Master
Presentations, participation Core
and Termpaper
Master
Presentations, participation Elective
and final exam
Any other experiences/comments about your exchange experience?
It’s been a great year. I’m very satisfied with my stay in Budapest and I think that being on
exchange really adds an extra dimension to your master’s degree. If there is anyone out there
thinking about whether to go or not, I can only say, go!