We see many universities where you can study European Studies. Unfortunately, many of them are in countries like Britain and the United States or Canada, where tuition and housing are extremely expensive, and where a trip to Eastern Europe costs a month’s wage and a full day’s travel.
Why not study Eastern Europe in Europe?
East European Universities that may be of interest to people in Cluj
You can study East European or Central European studies while residing in Cluj. Or, at least while visiting Cluj every other weekend. I mean, you could study anything online, theoretically, but why not study something related to your surroundings? (And if you study technology, might as well go to one of the Universities based in Cluj, right?)
Free University of Berlin (East European Studies program)
Although the program is taught in both English and German, students are expected to have at least level B2 of German before starting.
Berlin has a good reputation, but the town has been called “boring” by cartoonists for the Telegraph newspaper. So, if Cluj is more your thing… But maybe the online version is no longer offered (the website has changed, and it is now unclear what the offering is.)
https://www.fu-berlin.de/en/studium/studienangebot/master/osteuropastudien/index.html
University of Miskolci, (Central European studies program)
They used to have an online degree option, but that seems gone. No, it’s not really communiting distance, but it’s close enough to visit Cluj on some weekends. We included it in case the online edition comes back.
It’s kind of expensive for Eastern Europe, 2500 euros tuition per semester. That’s more than similar programs in Holland or Estonia. And the 150 euro application fee is also a little higher than other countries.
It requires a bachelors or masters in social sciences or human sciences, and an English level of Ielts 6.0 or equivalent. (I’m not sure what that is in the A1-C2 system, but I’m sure native speaker should be good enough, if you have the paperwork to prove it.)
Southeast European Studies in Belgrade
This seems to be still running, in Austria and Belgrade, Yugoslavia. (Sorry, Serbia. Some of our data is out of date.)
If you don’t need a visa to enter Austria, and you have a time machine, you can still apply. (But for this year, applications closed on 23 June, 2026).
Tuition seems to be 3600 Euros for the entire program, so less than the Hungarian one.
https://www.jointdegree.eu/en/southeast-european-studies/
International Joint masters in Central and East European, Russian and Eurasian Studies
A couple of years ago, on their website, they say they have cut ties with their Russian partner due to sanctions and the invasion of Ukraine. And they are not currently acception applications. HOwever, I will include the link in case they change their mind. (The link has changed in the past couple of years, like others, so it might not be permanent.)
https://erasmusmundus-ceeres.eu/
University of Munich elite program for Eastern European studies
Not online, but you have the choice of two towns in Germany. And Wizzair or Ryanair, to visit Cluj.
https://www.en.osteuropastudien.uni-muenchen.de/index.html
University of Bologna (Masters in East European and Eurasian Studies)
Laura Bassi defended her PhD at Bologna on 17 April, 1732. The University of Bologna was the first university to award a woman a doctorate in science, nearly 300 years ago.
However, if you plan to work in America or with Americans, it might not be an idea to go there. The American word “bologna” pronounced baloney, is a non-swear (or very weak swear) to mean nonsense, or untrue things. Just as “pulling someone’s leg” is a metaphor for lying to someone.
- employer
- -Where did you get your degree?
- graduate
- -University of Bologna
- employer
- -So, you’ve been pulling my leg this whole time?
So, if you are writing to Americans, it makes sense to say “In Italy.” Yes, it’s not online either. But you can practice your Romanian in Italy, lots of Romanians there.
https://corsi.unibo.it/2cycle/mirees
University of Amsterdam (East European Studies)
Here’s one we wish was online. (try finding student housing in Amsterdam. It’s possible, but a minor headache.)
university of Bern, Masters in Eastern european studies (humanities or PS?)
The Swiss university used to offer their masters in Eastern European Studies in English, but now it seems to be only available in French and German.
Interdisciplinary East European Studies (Master)
While classes are in German and English, your level of German must be relatively high (C1) before you start. I would want to have at least C2, but a lot of universities in Europe allow you to start with only a B2 level.
The masters program is relatively small, with only 4 graduates in the last year. (That can’t be right, but it’s what the website says.)
A russian school that teaching in English (HSE). has a masters in Eastern European studies. maybe after the war? We are only listing it for completeness, but will not provide a live link until, well, things are sorted.
https://www.hse.ru/en/ma/inhist/
University of Warsaw has an eastern European studies program in Polish. No live link here because their website acts weird.
https://studium.uw.edu.pl/
University of Bremen
A Phd program in Eastern European studies. This is another fun one for Americans, and even non-English speakers. If you go as a mature student, people might confuse it with the musicians of Bremen.
https://www.forschungsstelle.uni-bremen.de/en/4/20161025222709/PhD_programme.html
There are many other Eastern European studies centres, most of which seem to be aimed at research rather than teaching. If you would like us to list one that you are involve in, please let us know a little about it. The websites didnt say much.