I would like to extend a very warm welcome to the Department of Historical Studies at Central European University. Our Department was established in 2024 through the merger of the Departments of History and Medieval Studies. We are proud that, in more than three decades, excellent students from all around the globe have chosen us for their graduate studies. We are delighted to see that afterwards they build successful and international careers in academia and beyond. We are looking forward to welcoming now new students to our enlarged Department of Historical Studies.
We offer a comprehensive array of degrees, programs, and advanced certificates which are designed to give our students a broader perspective beyond their particular research fields and their accustomed method. Our courses provide comparative and interdisciplinary perspectives, for example, on the transformation of empires, on medieval societies, on totalitarian regimes, on the history of philosophy and religion, and on numerous aspects of political, social, intellectual, ecclesiastical, material, cultural and urban history. The multinational character of our faculty and their backgrounds in different academic traditions is unique and helps students to approach their research topics from multiple angles. Most importantly, we want our students to be critical and self-reflexive. Our students come from all over the world and learn from each other, about other cultures, religions, customs, languages, and about other moral and political standards. Discussion takes place in the classroom, in the hallways of CEU as well as in the parks and pubs of Vienna. Thus, the comparative and interdisciplinary character is not only the essence of our educational program; it is also part of our students’ daily life.
I invite you to look through our webpages and learn more about us, our department, and our programs. Do not hesitate to get in touch with us if you have questions. I hope you will follow up by contacting our staff and we would be delighted if you plan to visit us.
Volker Menze
Head of the Historical Studies Department