S.J.D. in Comparative Constitutional Law

Degree requirements

Applicants for the S.J.D. in Comparative Constitutional Law program must hold an LL.M. degree in a related field from a recognized university or institution of higher education. Students enrolled in a doctoral program at CEU cannot be simultaneously enrolled in other institutions of higher education. For more information on degree requirements, please refer to section 2.2 of the Legal Studies Doctoral Regulations.

Application requirements

Complete applications must be submitted by the deadline. 

Required documents for online application:

NOTE: Late submission of required documents is not possible, and incomplete applications may lead to early stage rejection.

Examination

For CEU graduates applying to Doctoral Programs no separate testing will be offered. Admission is based on the academic records and the submitted application.

Applicants who have not earned their LL.M. degree at CEU are required to take the CEU-administered admissions tests according to the following scheme:

At CEU testing location

NOTE: Applicants from countries with a local CEU representation must travel to the testing site location to take the admission test.

Candidates who received their law degree from an accredited American law school need not take the CEU-administered legal reasoning test. Rather, they should submit a copy of their LSAT scores with their application for admission, and follow the alternative testing instructions.

Alternative testing

NOTE: Applicants from countries without a local CEU representation may follow the alternative testing scheme, or if possible they may travel to a neighboring country to take the admission test.

Candidates who are unable to travel to a testing location, and who have not previously taken a Law School Admissions Test, are welcome to take the LSAT (see the LSAC website for LSAT administration information). CEU will accept a copy of their LSAT score report for the admissions process. However, taking the LSAT is not mandatory.

The Legal Studies admissions examination administered at the testing site is composed of the following:

  • Legal Reasoning Test (LSAT) 
  • Short academic essay (45 minutes).
  • Telephone/Skype interview offered selected applicants on the basis of the essay results.

Candidates applying to the S.J.D. in Comparative Constitutional Law Program should be familiar with the Constitution of the United States, and with the public law system of their country of residence.
A typical question for the essay is: "Who declares war under the US Constitution? Why is this so?"
Recommended reading: Limiting Government by András Sajó, Central European University Press, 1999.

The test day will be structured as follows:

1. LSAT

2. Short academic essay(s).

Short-listed applicants, who did not submit their English language test results, will be invited to take the CEU-administered TOEFL test on a later date.

The alternative Legal Studies admissions examination is composed of the following:

  • Short academic essay via email
  • Telephone/Skype interview offered selected applicants on the basis of the essay results.

Candidates applying to the Comparative Constitutional Law Program should be familiar with the Constitution of the United States, and with the public law system of their country of residence.
A typical question for the essay is: "Who declares war under the US Constitution? Why is this so?"
Recommended reading: Limiting Government by András Sajó, Central European University Press, 1999.

 

 

Frequently asked questions