Admissions

Entry Requirements for the Master's Programs Applicants to all programs (Comparative Constitutional Law LL.M.; Human Rights MA/LL.M.; International Business Law LL.M.) must meet the general CEU admissions requirements. Applications to the LL.M./MA programs are to be submitted at the latest by January 25, 2012.
In addition to the general CEU admissions requirements, applicants to the Master’s programs must submit a 300-word essay on a specific legal or human rights issue of special interest of them. Applicants to the LL.M. programs must have completed a law degree. Candidates with a degree in political science or international relations may also apply for admission to the Comparative Constitutional Law Program. Applicants in the process of completing a first degree must submit an official letter in English from the university stating that they are expected to complete their current course of study by August 1, 2012.

Admissions Examination Structure
The Legal Studies admissions examination is composed of a Legal Reasoning Test (LSAT) and a short academic essay (45 minutes). The topic of the essay(s) depends upon the program(s) to which the candidate is applying. The test day will be structured as follows: 1. TOEFL (if the candidate wishes to take the CEU-administered institutional exam); 2. LSAT; 3. academic essay(s).

For more information on the CEU-administered TOEFL examination see http://www.ceu.hu/admissions/apply.

Whenever the above exam procedure is not applicable for technical or personal reasons, granted that the candidate is qualified for consideration to admission, a computer-administered (e-mail) exam will be offered, consisting of the departmental essay test only. Depending on the results of the exam qualified candidates may be granted an interview. The computer-administered exam will be administered on February 11, 2012, worldwide. The questions and the answers are sent via electronic mail. If candidates do not have access to electronic mail, the exam may be carried out by fax. If fax is not a possibility either, then candidates may apply for a special interview.

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. Candidates who are unable to sit for the CEU-administered admissions examinations, and who have not previously taken a Law School Admissions Test, are strongly encouraged to take the LSAT (see the LSAC website listed below for LSAT administration information). CEU will accept a copy of their LSAT score report for the admissions process. Only in exceptional circumstances will candidates not having taken the CEU Legal Reasoning Test or the LSAT be considered for admission.

The selection consists of two rounds: language ability and academic ranking. In order to achieve eligibility for ranking, candidates must meet the general CEU language requirements (http://www.ceu.hu/admissions/requirements#language). Subsequently, qualified candidates are ranked based on the results of their LSAT and academic essay, having due regard to past academic record and special experience. An oral interview is granted only for students unable to pass the LSAT and based on the academic achievement in the essay testing; its results will be factored into the admissions decision.

Legal Reasoning Test (Law School Admission Test)
The LSAT is a standardized test measuring analytical thinking and logical reasoning capabilities. The test consists of four sections of 20-30 questions each, and takes approximately 2.5 hours to complete. Candidates are encouraged to practice law school admission sample tests, available on the site of the Law School Admissions Council: http://www.lsac.org.
Applicants who are unable or do not wish to attend the centrally administered CEU test on February 11, 2012, may also opt to take the LSAT individually at any of the test centers operated by LSAC. For further information please visit: http://www.lsac.org/ceu.asp. Test scores must be submitted by February 29, 2012.


Essay testing - Comparative Constitutional Law Program
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.

Essay testing - International Business Law Program
Candidates applying to the International Business Law Program are expected to read the norms of their respective countries on Private International Law (Conflict of Laws), as well as the 1980 Vienna Convention on the International Sale of Goods.

Essay testing - Human Rights Program
Candidates applying to the Human Rights Program are invited to read the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), as well as a periodic State Party report prepared in the context of the ICCPR, discussing the candidate's country of residence. Periodic reports are available on the OHCHR website.

Entry Requirements for the Doctoral Programs
Students who have completed their Master of Laws degree at CEU with a "B" average or higher and whose theses were graded "completed with honors" or higher are eligible for further S.J.D. studies. Candidates possessing an LL.M. degree from another institution with a program and degree requirements similar to that of CEU, and candidates who received an MA degree after their basic law degree from another institution with a credit load and program similar to that of CEU may also be considered for admission, provided that the MA was received in a field which is consanguine with the proposed S.J.D. research.
Candidates not holding a law degree may apply to PhD financed and regulated by a special agreement with the Political Science Department (PhD in Political Science - Human Rights Track).
Each applicant should submit a detailed research project (max. 2000 words, including literature). Applicants to the S.J.D. Program must also meet the general CEU admissions requirements: http://www.ceu.hu/admissions/apply

Applicants who have not earned their LL.M. degree at CEU are required to take the CEU-administered admissions test consisting of legal reasoning test (LSAT) and academic essay, and must therefore apply by January 25, 2012, the latest. Qualified candidates may be subject to a further phone interview.