Central European University (CEU) is looking at ways to expand its work in Budapest after years of political pressure forced it to move most of its academic activities to Vienna. The university sees a new chance to grow under Hungary’s new government, led by Prime Minister Péter Magyar.
Carsten Q Schneider, the university’s interim president and rector, said CEU was open to offering more courses and programmes in the Hungarian capital. However, he said any expansion must protect the quality of education and the experience of students.
The university has not started formal talks with the new government. Schneider said both sides had shown interest in working together, but the government was dealing with many important issues.
CEU moved most of its teaching activities from Budapest to Vienna in 2019. The move followed pressure from the government of former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. His administration introduced a law that made it difficult for the university to continue its degree programmes in Hungary.
The law became known as Lex CEU. Critics said it was aimed at the university because of its international structure and work in higher education.
George Soros, a Hungarian-American financier and philanthropist, founded CEU in 1991. The university aimed to support democracy, education and open debate across Central and Eastern Europe.
In 2020, the European Union’s top court ruled against Hungary over the law. It found that the legislation broke the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. However, the ruling came after CEU had already moved most of its academic work to Austria.
The university still has staff and operations in Budapest. It employs 312 people in the city, mainly in administrative roles. Another 476 staff members work in Vienna, where most teaching now takes place.
Schneider said a stronger presence in Budapest could send an important message about academic freedom and the strength of independent education. He also said the university would need reliable funding and support that did not depend on the Hungarian government.
He made clear that CEU was not asking for special treatment. Instead, the university wants to find a fair way to work with the new government and increase its activities in Hungary.
The university’s 13-member board will make the final decision about its future in the country. George Soros and his son, Alexander Soros, are among the board members.
However, CEU has no plan to move all its operations back to Budapest. Schneider said the university was doing very well in Vienna and wanted to protect its progress.
Any new plan must also make learning easier for students. Schneider said students should be able to combine subjects such as economics and history without having to travel more than 200 kilometres between Vienna and Budapest.
CEU focuses on social sciences, law and humanities. It has more than 1,400 students from 103 countries. Most of them are studying for master’s degrees or doctorates.
The university has also seen a change in its student population. Schneider said students from the United States now make up the largest group of master’s students for the first time in the university’s 25-year history. They account for 10% of this group.
He linked the increase in US applications to growing concerns about academic freedom in the country. Since returning to the White House, President Donald Trump has taken action against several major universities.
His administration has cut federal funding to some institutions and sought greater influence over their internal policies. These steps have raised concerns among academics about the independence of higher education.
Schneider has held informal discussions with US academics about ways to protect universities during periods of political pressure. He said academic leaders should understand the plans of political movements that challenge universities.
He also said some political leaders had raised real concerns about higher education. However, he warned that attacks on universities could also be part of wider efforts to shape public debate and control cultural influence.
Schneider believes universities should work together when facing political pressure. He said they should build support among students, former students, parents and other academic institutions.
He also stressed the need to protect subjects that face political criticism, including gender studies.
CEU’s interest in expanding in Budapest comes after a major political shift in Hungary. Péter Magyar won a landslide election victory in April after promising to fight corruption and reform state institutions.
His government has also pledged to restore academic freedom. This has created new hope for institutions that faced pressure under the previous administration.
However, CEU’s plans remain at an early stage. The university must consider funding, government cooperation and student needs before making a final decision. Its leaders say academic independence and education standards will remain the main priorities.
