Study Sociology and Social Theory in Europe

This bachelor's program provides a solid foundation in sociology and public administration, blending theoretical knowledge with practical insights into organizational structures, social issues, and administrative systems. Core topics include sociological theories, public administration, political theory, management, social policy, and both quantitative and qualitative research methods. Students explore specialized areas through restricted electives such as social entrepreneurship, demography, sociology of family and work, and environmental sociology. The curriculum also includes a study project and culminates in a bachelor’s thesis. The program belongs to the field of Social Sciences.

To qualify for this bachelor's program, applicants must have completed secondary education that allows access to university in their home country. Good English language skills are required (at least CEFR level B2, IELTS 5.5, TOEFL 520, or TOEFL iBT 68). Additionally, candidates must pass an online aptitude test in social sciences. For more on European grading comparisons, visit https://www.studyineurope.eu/grades/

This master's program offers advanced knowledge in sociology with a focus on organizational structures and public administration. Core subjects include sociological theory, public and non-governmental sector management, social welfare, policy analysis, and human development. Students also study research methods, demography, and the quality of life. Elective options allow further specialization in areas such as project management, innovation, environmental sociology, and European Union funding. The program concludes with a master’s thesis and prepares students for roles in public policy, social research, and organizational development.

To apply for this master's program, applicants must hold a bachelor's degree or an equivalent qualification in social sciences or humanities. Those with degrees in other fields are also eligible but should have basic knowledge of social theory and research methodology. English language proficiency is required, with a minimum IELTS score of 6.0, TOEFL score of 547, or TOEFL-iBT score of 76. These requirements ensure that students are prepared for the theoretical and analytical focus of the program.

This master's program offers a comprehensive foundation in sociological theory, contemporary institutions, and social inequalities. In the first year, students study topics such as the sociology of modernity, research design, and various methods in social science research. The second year is dedicated primarily to a major research project or dissertation, with an optional internship to gain professional experience. Selected courses are available in English, covering themes like linguistic diversity and epistemological perspectives. Optional courses depend on student enrollment and offer further specialization opportunities.

This master's program evaluates candidates based on academic background (50%), scientific achievements (15%), professional experience (10%), and motivation (25%). Applicants are assessed on a 0–20 scale, with a minimum score of 11 required for admission. Priority is given to candidates with degrees in sociology or related social sciences. Scientific output, research involvement, and relevant professional activities are also considered. Motivation is judged through a written letter and possibly an interview. Ties are broken by the highest final degree score and application submission date. International qualifications are conditionally accepted pending internal recognition.

Delivered jointly with two partner institutions, this doctoral program involves in-depth study of social structures, relationships, and cultural processes. It fosters critical thinking and advanced analytical and methodological skills, equipping students to conduct independent research and generate new insights in sociology, while also developing the ability to analyze complex social phenomena and understand the dynamics of contemporary society. Current research areas include risk and security studies, social resilience, and risk communication, as well as civil society and social innovation.

Core coursework covers classical and contemporary sociological theories alongside sociological research methodology and modern research methods, providing essential grounding in the field. Students can further individualize their studies through a wide range of elective modules, including topics such as aging in contemporary sociological discourse, the anthropology of post-socialism, demography, environmental sociology, ethnicity and nationalism, family sociology and fertility studies, migration and social change, public opinion surveys, social movements and protest, social policy, social stratification and mobility, the sociology of religion, culture, education, health, mediated communication, and work and organizations, statistical methods in the social sciences, the information society, gender studies, theories of regional development, and the welfare state beyond Europe.

Alongside these subject-specific modules, students build core research competencies through a dedicated set of skills modules, including academic and technical research writing, design thinking in research, digital tools for research writing and publication, research data management, research ethics, grant management for research projects, science communication for public audiences, and systematic literature review methods.

Applicants must hold a master's degree or an equivalent higher education qualification, along with prior scientific research experience or participation in research activities, and English proficiency at the B2 to C2 level.

Admission is based on a weighted competition score combining the applicant's scientific publications, scored on a ten-point scale (10%), an assessment of their proposed scientific research project (30%), the grade point average from the diploma supplement of their master's degree or equivalent qualification (30%), and a motivational interview (30%).

This bachelor's program trains professional sociologists, building a solid grasp of the concepts, principles, and methods of sociology and the ability to identify and interpret social problems meaningfully. Teaching combines traditional lectures and seminars with project-based learning, including one semester of intensive project work, and is well suited to students interested in understanding how social roles and norms organize cooperation, how conflicts emerge and are managed at both individual and societal levels, and how new technologies shape everyday life. It is delivered over three years, entirely in English.

Foundational coursework in sociology, social theory, and social history runs through most of the program, including multiple introductory sociology courses, the study of family and society, a three-part sequence on social history, coursework on social structures and processes, the major currents of social thought, and the history of sociology itself.

Alongside this theoretical foundation, students build quantitative research skills through coursework in sociological research methods, data analysis, and statistics, culminating in an intensive, multi-semester project seminar. Students also complete elective coursework in qualitative methods, choosing from options such as interviewing, narrative interviewing, the hermeneutical analysis of narrative interviews, or the analysis of historical sources.

The program draws on related disciplines through coursework in psychology, cultural anthropology, philosophy for social scientists, social psychology, and the history and theory of international society, with further electives available in areas such as citizenship and nationalism or human rights.

Students also complete a substantial block of elective coursework in specific subfields of sociology, with options including inter-ethnic relations, urban studies, the sociology of youth, culture, or communication, social theories of modernity, the sociology of illness and the body, social media research and big data, network research, the study of organizations, and readings in memory, identity, and microsociology, among others. Students wishing to deepen their expertise in a particular area can pursue specializations such as data analysis or criminology, which group coursework within a focused subfield and lead to an additional certification upon completion.

The program requires a supervised internship and dedicated coursework in academic communication, and concludes with a thesis, supported by both a thesis-writing course and thesis consultation.

Graduates go on to work across teaching, research, politics, public administration, media, social and health services, advertising, journalism, law, publishing, industry, and marketing, in roles such as community officer, social worker, youth worker, equality and diversity officer, or positions in marketing, research, public relations, recruitment, and human resources. The program also prepares students to continue into a master's degree in sociology or a related field.

Applicants must submit their secondary school certificate, records from their final two years of secondary school, a motivation letter describing their background, interests, and goals for the program, and a valid passport copy.

English proficiency must be demonstrated at B2 level, through an IELTS score of at least 5.5, a TOEFL iBT score between 46 and 59, a Cambridge English Scale score of at least 162, or another recognized certification; if no certificate has been obtained, proficiency will instead be assessed through a required video submission. Applicants who completed their prior education entirely in English are exempt from this requirement if they submit a notarized attestation and a detailed academic transcript confirming this.

As part of the application, applicants must submit a short video, approximately five to six minutes long, discussing social problems they observe in their personal life or society and reflecting on their possible causes; this video also serves as the program's entrance exam. Admission is based on a combined evaluation of academic performance, as reflected in the submitted documents, and the results of this video assessment, and a passing result on the assessment is required for admission.

This PhD program prepares a new generation of scholars in the social sciences, particularly sociology, for independent academic research and teaching at the postgraduate level, following international educational standards. It is offered across three tracks: Sociology, International Studies, and Interdisciplinary Social Research. The doctoral school welcomes students, faculty, and research topics without discrimination based on ethnic or cultural background, political views, disability, gender identity, self-expression, or sexual orientation.

The program examines social phenomena and their interrelationships within their cultural, historical, economic, and social contexts, drawing on a diversity of methodological approaches that combine quantitative and qualitative methods. It emphasizes research-oriented, interdisciplinary training compatible with international social science doctoral programs, close individual mentoring, and opportunities for shorter study periods abroad. Students are expected to conduct independent research leading to innovative solutions, present their findings internationally according to scientific communication standards, and apply their results for the benefit of society.

Graduates go on to work as research experts, university teachers, and training specialists across the theoretical and practical sides of social policy. Typical roles include university professor, social researcher, scientific expert, political analyst, political expert, social policy analyst, media expert, and international policy expert.

Applicants must hold an MA or MSc in social sciences or a related field, or another university-level qualification relevant to their research topic, and pass an admission interview. Hungarian citizens must apply through a separate national application portal rather than the standard online system. For the International Studies track specifically, research plans are reviewed in advance for thematic relevance, and only applicants whose proposals fit the program's scope are invited to interview.

English proficiency must reach at least B2 level in both speaking and writing (CEFR B2, IELTS 6, or TOEFL 72); a university degree or high school diploma is sufficient proof if the applicant's previous education was conducted in English. Completing the program also requires an additional intermediate-level state examination or equivalent in a non-Hungarian foreign language, though a native language other than English may fulfill this requirement, demonstrated through a university degree or high school diploma.

Required documents include an application form, the master's degree certificate, a transcript of records, a CV, a motivation letter, a research work plan, a passport copy, a language certificate, and a reference work of no more than 6,000 words, such as workshop work, a shortened thesis, or a published paper; a letter of recommendation, a list of publications, a supervisor's statement, and records of awards from professional competitions may also be submitted but are optional. The oral entrance exam, conducted online, assesses the applicant's general and professional knowledge and interest and is a prerequisite for admission; final rankings combine this evaluation with an assessment of the applicant's submitted academic record.