Central European University(or CEU, for short) is one of the reasons the Magyar capital is so full of international students. We decided to have a chat with a few of them, to see what Budapest student-life is all about…

Basic Stats

Name: Divna

From: Bulgaria

Time here: 2 years

Other places lived: Madrid

Studying: Medieval Studies

Why Budapest? Why CEU?

Before coming to CEU, I was studying philosophy, but became more interested in medieval history. At the university in Sofia, there was no Medieval Studies department, so I applied to CEU, where I got my Master’s degree, and now I’m in the PhD program. 

And how does studying here differ from your past experiences?

Well, it’s very different. At CEU, the resources are much greater than at home. CEU has its own Medieval Studies library, located at ELTE, and the faculty is extremely supportive of your work. The department is very much interdisciplinary, so I study history as well. And the classroom experience is very different; we have smaller groups, which means more personal attention from professors. I’ve also studied in Spain, so I’m used to the international environment CEU offers – I wanted to continue that, which is why I applied to come here.

It can’t just be about study for you here. What are your favorite extra curricular activities?

Going to bookstores. It’s more difficult to find English books in Sofia, but in Budapest there are many used books and antique stores with English language books. And the art cinemas, I really enjoy going to see independent movies, and Budapest has a number of great cinemas. While Budapest is a small city, like Sofia, here there are more cultural choices.

What’s the best thing about Budapest?

I love the summers here, when you can visit all the outdoor cafés, walk along the Danube and hang out on Margaret Island. I love going to the baths, which I do anytime of year. Mostly, I enjoy walking around the city; it’s pedestrian friendly, the streets are wide and you can get around so easily on foot.

And has it changed you academically?

I had to mature academically – I had to specialize and refocus and learn how to work independently. The program here is research-oriented and requires a lot of discipline. In the PhD program, I rely on myself – with help from my supervisor, of course – but mainly I rely on myself, which is a big change because I hadn’t worked so independently as an undergraduate.

Has your time here changed you?

Well, I’ve made a lot of close friends at CEU, from many different countries. I’m sure that once we’re done with our degrees, we’ll remain friends for a long time.