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[anon_expat]

What is it like for an expat to live and work there? Good support? Salaries? Life in Budapest?

[anon_expat]

...or anything in general about the language, food, other institutions of higher education?

[donstefano]

Budapest is a great city to live in (but very hot in summer) Unfortunately not as cheap as it used to be. Great cultural life, good public transport etc. And CEU is a good place.
Most young people speak english, and the old ones german.
Hungarian is considered to be a very difficult language - the Hungarians I know claim they have never heard a foreigner speak it perfectly. The good thing about it is that Hungarians never expect anyone to speak it, and that you can get far by just knowing some basics. Just two easy things about the language: it is pronouned as it is written (once you know how to distinguish between u, ú, ü and ú' - that's u with double accent - my keyboard can't do it); and the grammar is difficult but quite logical with few exceptions.

[anon_expat]

Thank you donstefano!

I have read a bit about the currency troubles there (well everywhere, but particularly there last year)--is this affecting the Universities in any major ways? Is there much of an academic expat community?

[bright]

academically CEU is a great place.  good programs and good (graduate only) students.  For the most part a vibrant and fun intellectual atmosphere.  Support for expat faculty (most faculty are expats) is not great but getting better.  Salaries (dominated in euro, paid in hungarian forint) are good before they deduct taxes and social security.  Check what your actual take home pay will be.  On the whole excellent especially for single people or young couples with few or no kids.  Expenses start to add up if you come with a family and kids. But, on the whole, highly recommended.  The university has not been affected by the current crisis so far.

[malcha]

They turn out amazing Latinists. 

[donstefano]

I've actually always wondered what they pay at CEU, and how do they decide who is paid what?
I can't imagine they pay low Hungarian faculty wages. What can you expect as an ass, assoc or full?

[bright]

salaries are comparable I believe to mid-range US universities.  About 40,000+ euros for assistant, 55-60 thousand euros for associate and 70 thousand euros and above for professors.

[anon_expat]

Thank you for the additional information, bright!  Would the costs add up for families due to school fees for children? Or in other areas? Would support for expat faculty fall into this area?

Also, where are good areas to live?

[bright]

i guess mainly school fees.  though I forgot to say that the CEU offers some school tuition fee support (not sure how much this is).  a good place to live is very subjective.  the 12 and 2nd districts are nice if you like being in the hills with greenery around you, the 5th and 6th are pretty and pleasant and quite upscale and right in the middle of the city, the 7th, 8th and 9th have a different vibe, young and fun with cafes and bars.  though some parts of the 8th are a bit iffy.  the 7th is partly the old jewish quarter and is very atmospherical.  These seem to be the areas to where foreigners gravitate. 

[anon_expat]

Thanks for the information, bright!

Is there good support for recruiting and funding students? Any sort of start-up funding to get research going?