CEU is located in the attractive urban center of one of Europe's most elegant capital cities – Budapest – the heart of Central Europe. Immersed in history yet looking to the future, Budapest is a meeting place of people, ideas and cultures from all over the world.

CEU's rapidly expanding Library has the largest collection of English-language literature in the social sciences and the humanities in Central and Eastern Europe. The Library building opened in 1995; it has approximately 2,000 square meters of Open Access Area.

CEU offers three Erasmus Mundus Master's courses: in Public Policy; Environmental Sciences, Policy and Management; and Gender Studies. These programs are operated jointly with other leading European Universities and supported by the European Commission which provides scholarships to outstanding students.

CEU holds Summer University courses in June and July, and brings in 150 faculty and 550 participants from more than 80 countries. Research-oriented, interdisciplinary academic courses, as well as workshops on policy issues for professional development are all on offer.

At CEU there is no dominant national culture. Over 1,500 students come from more than 100 countries of five continents; faculty and staff from more than 30. The language of communication and instruction is English while the students have ample opportunity to learn other languages.