Bachelor of Arts in Culture, Politics and Society

About the course

An interdisciplinary degree combining political science, sociology, anthropology and cultural studies to examine how societies work and change, with tracks in Cultural and Historical Studies; Political, Legal and Governmental Studies; and Social and Environmental Studies. Taught in English in Vienna; the standard Austrian degree is 180 ECTS over 3 years, with an option of a 4-year dual US and Austrian degree.

Entry requirements for Irish students

• CEU does not publish specific Leaving Certificate rules; it asks for transcripts from your last two years of school, your final exam results and your school-leaving certificate, and selects on overall academic record. Confirm with CEU admissions how your Higher Level grades (H1-H8) will be assessed.
• This programme requires an application essay (max. 500 words) as well as a CV, a letter of motivation (max. 300 words) and one confidential teacher or counsellor reference.
• English: no test is needed if English is your first language or you have spent at least two years at an English-medium secondary school, which covers most Irish students. Otherwise IELTS Academic 6.5, TOEFL iBT 88, Duolingo 120 or Cambridge C1 Advanced 180.

How to apply

1. Prepare documentsGather 5th and 6th Year reports, CV, 300-word motivation letter, 500-word essay and a teacher reference. Written work must be your own, with no generative AI beyond grammar checks.
2. Apply onlineSubmit through CEU’s online application system and pay the 30 euro fee; apply by 15 October 2026 (Round 1) or 2 February 2027 (Round 2) to be considered for financial aid.
3. Accept your offerAccept the study agreement within 14 days in the Applicant Portal and pay the 500 euro registration fee.
4. Send final resultsSubmit your Leaving Certificate results and certificate by 1 August 2027, complete onboarding by 6 August 2027 and register your residence in Vienna as an EU citizen.

Costs

• CEU is a private university: tuition is 8,000 euro a year for all bachelor’s students (published for 2025/26, payable in one or two instalments; CEU says fees may be adjusted annually for inflation). Other fees: 30 euro application fee (covers up to three programmes), 500 euro registration fee on acceptance (credited towards the first tuition instalment, non-refundable), 200 euro enrolment fee a year and the Austrian student union (ÖH) fee of 52.40 euro a year. Merit-based scholarships and financial aid are available in rounds 1 and 2 only.

At a glance