How to Apply | Department of Network and Data Science

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Application Deadlines for Entry in September 2025

October 15, 2024: If you come from a country with lengthy visa processing time and/or would like to apply for external funding.
February 4, 2025: If you need a visa to enter Austria and/or want to be considered for CEU's financial aid.
April 15, 2025: if you need a visa to enter Austria and you plan to self-finance your studies.
July 1, 2025: If you do not need a visa to enter Austria and plan to self-finance your studies.

Self-financing candidates can find more information here.

General CEU Admission Requirements

Program Specific Requirements MS in Social Data Science

These are the requirements for both versions of our MS in Social Data Science (one-year and two-years). Applicants to the one-year program need to submit additional documentation, please review the details below.

Academic Degree:

Applicants must be in possession of a bachelor’s or higher degree in one of a broad range of disciplines, including social science, data science, physics, economics, environmental science, natural sciences, political science, sociology, and computer science.
A degree in other fields will also be considered and evaluated individually.
Applicants who are about to finish their degree can provide documentation indicating that they will earn their degree by the time of enrolling in MS SDS program.

Demonstrated ability to do quantitative studies:

Applicants to the MS in Social Data Science program should demonstrate their quantitative training by listing relevant mathematics, statistics, or data analysis courses along with the grades earned. This list should align with your submitted academic records.

Additionally, include short descriptions of projects you have worked on that showcase your ability to apply quantitative methods to social data challenges. Highlight the project objectives, your role, and key results to provide a clear picture of your quantitative skills in practice.

Proof of relevant mathematics training, GMAT/GRE or CEU Math Test:

In case you have not obtained an undergraduate or graduate degree university in Data Science, Mathematics, Statistics, Economics, Physics, Computer Science, or other quantitative fields, please submit:

GMAT certificate with a score of at least 600 (or a GRE equivalent). You may arrange for an official score report to be sent to CEU. CEU's institution code for the GMAT is 0203. CEU's ETS institution code for the GRE is 0069. Please note that GRE and GMAT scores are valid for five years. If the score report is not available at the time of your application, please upload proof of having taken the test in lieu of the score.
Proof of other relevant mathematics training during university studies will also be considered and evaluated — please list the courses and scores, which should match records in your submitted academic records, in a separate document.
The CEU Math Test (online) will take place after the application deadlines. Applicants will receive an invitation to complete the test around these dates: October 30, 2024; February 17; and April 21 - 25, 2025. You can see a sample test here.

Proof of previous training in programming:

Provide the syllabi of the programming related course and the transcript which lists this course in your online application.
An alternative is to complete the “Introduction to Programming” part under “Python Programming MOOC 2024" course offered by the University of Helsinki. This course is free and is an excellent resource to reinforce your programming fundamentals. In this case, please upload onto your online application a note in PDF format stating that you agree to provide the certificate of this course by the end of July 2025. Once you have finished the course, please send your result (the certificate and/or the scoring table) to sdsms@ceu.edu by the end of July 2025.

Motivation letter:

Submit a maximum 2-page essay introducing your research topic on a quantitative topic and explaining your academic/professional background and your interest/motivation in interdisciplinary research. Indicate how further studies at CEU would help you achieve your future career goals.

Choice of specialization with short explanation:

Submit a maximum 1-page statement to indicate and justify the specialization your choice of specialization for when you are a student in the MS in Social Data Science program. The possible specializations are Economics, Environmental Science, Political Science and Policy, and Applied Social Data Science.

Admission interview:

You may be contacted for an interview as part of the review process. The interview will be conducted online (Microsoft Teams).
The interview is a conversation with our faculty, who want to assess your profile affinity with the program, and to give you the space to introduce yourself, explain your motivation for applying to the program, and ask any questions you might have.

Additional Program-Specific Requirements for the one-year MS in Social Data Science

Additional proof of previous training in statistics, machine learning and data science methods.
Applicants must have earned a first bachelor’s degree of not less than 4 years of full-time studies, or equivalent.

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Any questions?

Ask the Admission Office!

You may contact our Admissions Office via email (admissions@ceu.edu) with questions regarding the general admissions process, requirements, and the online application form.

For program-specific questions, you may contact our program team at sds