Community and Civil Development Studies MA
Budapest, Hungary
DURATION
2 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
30 Apr 2025*
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2025
TUITION FEES
EUR 3,500 / per semester **
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* Early bird period - application fee is 50 Euro
** €1550/semester: for EU/EEA students | €3500/semester: for non-EU/EEA students. Application fee: EUR 50 (non-refundable) between 01/10/2024-15/11/2025; EUR 100 (non-refundable) between 20/11/2024-30/04/2025; EUR 180 (non-refundable) between 05/05/202
Introduction
Community and Civil Development Studies MA
The aim of the studies is to train community and civic development professionals who are able to work effectively in the life of the communities, knowing the values of the communities and the national, European and global role of civil society and nonprofit organizations. They are committed to the development of civil society / non-profit organizations and local communities, to the improvement of the quality of life, and to help solve the problems in the community. As a result, the students will be able to apply their community and civil development knowledge and skills in decisions of social and economic life, international relations and communication, as well as in their professional carrier. They are prepared to continue their studies in doctoral training.
This program is recommended to applicants who
- want to learn community development knowledge, methods, modern civil management and strategic thinking.
- believe in community solutions, believe in collective wisdom and teamwork
- like to learn from others, to share experiences, and are open to working forms of social learning
- plan to explore civil society or make research about communal dilemmas, want to understand its significance.
This program enables students to
- be a coordinator, manager or leader of a nonprofit organization
- plan and organize community development programs
- make social project, fundraising programs
Strengths of the program
One of the main features of the program is that we work together with Hungarian and international nonprofit organizations (Red Cross, Ashoka, Amnesty International, UNESCO, United Nations etc.), local municipalities, community centers and cultural institutions. With our group methods the participants learn teamwork, independent work and projectworks. We have a great variety of courses to acquire leadership skills, project and sustainable thinking. Our graduates will have a broad knowledge in many aspects of community and civil studies as well as in nonprofit management. Most of the teachers of the program have international teaching experience and they regularly give classes also at foreign universities. Some of them are leaders of international nonprofit organizations or experts of community development.
Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
Several scholarship options are available. Please contact the university for more information.
Curriculum
Mandatory Courses
Theoretical Foundation
- Contemporary Social Policy
- Legal and Administrative Theories and Skills
- Roma Minorities in East-Central Europe
- Organizational Sociology and Psychology
- Psychology of Groups
Theoretical Frameworks and Social Characteristics of Modern Community
- Community Theory
- Concept and Role of Civil Society and Nonprofit Sector
- Participation and Democratic Values in Community Work
- Global Civil Society
Specific Aspects of Community and Civic Development Work
- First Encounter with the Profession - Preparatory Professional Practice
- Community Development by Public Institutions
Methodology
- Methods, Working Processes in Community Work
- Management in the Civil Sector
- Research Methodology (Thesis Pro Seminar)
Practice and Skills Development
- Practicing Community Work
- Field Practice Seminar
Additional Theoretical Knowledge
- Introduction to Community Economic Development
- Comparative Nonprofit Law
Thesis
- Thesis Seminar 1
- Thesis Seminar 2
Elective Courses
Contexts of Developmental Work (min 2 courses)
- Modernization and Democratization
- Community Development as a Social Intervention
- Financial Resources of the EU to Promote Equal Opportunity
- Monitoring and Evaluate Development Programs
- Fundraising
- Settlement and Urban Development
Methodological Development Competencies
- Methodology (special groups)
- Project Planning and Management
- Conflict Management
- Case Studies of Community Work
- Adult Education Theories and Practice
- Publicity, Public Discourse, Public Deliberation, and Public Life
- Anthropological Theories and Methods
Optional Courses
- Volunteering
- Participatory Theater
Program Tuition Fee
Career Opportunities
Our former students have been working as academic researchers or professors in different universities: as civil experts or community developers at municipalities, at cultural community centers, at community houses or museums. Most of them became leaders of Hungarian or international non-governmental and voluntary organizations. Some of them have also found job possibilities in market research and multinational companies. Others work as social workers, social politicians or members of media.
Job examples
- community organisers, community developers
- charities workers
- nonprofit managers
- projectmanagers, fundraisers
- SCR developers
- volunteer-coordinatiors
- international aid/development workers
- Social researchers
- civil referents
- academic researchers, market researchers
Program Admission Requirements
Show your commitment and readiness for Grad school by taking the GRE - the most broadly accepted exam for graduate programs internationally.