Community and Civil Development Studies MA

Title

Community and Civil Development Studies MA

Degree

Expert in community and civil development studies

Type

Degree program

Level

Master

Accreditation number

FNYF/475-2/2022

Language

English

Duration

4 semesters (2 years)

ECTS credits

120

Minimum number of students

10

Maximum number of students

25

Description

The goal of this programme 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 non-profit 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 solving the problems in the community. As a result, students will be able to apply their community and civil development knowledge and skills in decisions of the social and economic life, international relations and communication, as well as in their professional career. They are prepared to continue their studies in doctoral training.

This programme is recommended to applicants who

  • want to learn community development knowledge, methods, modern civil management and strategic thinking,
  • believe in community solution, collective wisdom and teamwork,
  • like to learn from others, to share experiences, and open to working forms of social learning,
  • plan to explore civil society or conduct research about communal dilemmas, want to understand its significance.

This programme enables students to

  • be a coordinator, manager or leader of a non-profits organization,
  • plan and organize community development programmes,
  • make social project, fundraising programmes.
Strength of program

One of the main features of the programme is that we work together with Hungarian and international non-profit organizations (Red Cross, Ashoka, Amnesty International, UNESCO, United Nations etc.), local municipalities, community centres and cultural institutions. With our group methods the participants learn teamwork, independent work and project works. 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 non-profit management. Most of the teachers of the programme have international teaching experience and they regularly give classes also at foreign universities. Some of them are leaders of international non-profit organizations or experts of community development.

Professors of the programme: Dr. Habil. Maria Arapovics PhD Associate Professor, Dr. Habil. Gábor Juhász Associate Professor, Dr. Habil. Agnes Van-Til PhD Associate Professor, Dr. István Sziklai PhD Associate Professor, Dr. Zsombor Farkas PhD assistant professor, Dr. Dorottya Sík PhD Assistant Professor, Bulcsú Mihály Master teacher, Edit Kovács Master teacher, as well as guest lecturers, experts of community development and leaders of NGOs.

Find the structure of the programme on this link.

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 centres, 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
  • Non-profit managers
  • Project managers, fundraisers
  • SCR developers
  • Volunteer-coordinators
  • International aid/development workers
  • Social researchers
  • Civil referents
  • Academic researchers, market researchers
     
EU/EEA students
non-EU/EEA students
Tuition fee/semester

1300 EUR

3500 EUR

Application fee

EUR 50 (non-refundable) between 01/10/2024-15/11/2024________________ EUR 100 (non-refundable) between 20/11/2024-30/04/2025________________ EUR 180 (non-refundable) between 05/05/2024-31/05/2025

EUR 50 (non-refundable) between 01/10/2024-15/11/2024________________ EUR 100 (non-refundable) between 20/11/2024-30/04/2025________________ EUR 180 (non-refundable) between 05/05/2024-31/05/2025

non-EU/EEA students
Tuition fee/semester

3500 EUR

Application fee

EUR 50 (non-refundable) between 01/10/2024-15/11/2024________________ EUR 100 (non-refundable) between 20/11/2024-30/04/2025________________ EUR 180 (non-refundable) between 05/05/2024-31/05/2025


Offered for the next academic year

Yes

Start program

01, Sep, 2025

Deadline for applications - September intake

31, May, 2025

Is there a February intake

No


Admission requirements

Entry requirements: Applicants must have a BA/BBA degree in any of the following fields: Humanities, Social Sciences, Educational Sciences, Economics, Law, Public Governance, International Administration. In case of other bachelor's degrees: individual consideration.

If the BA degree does not meet all the necessary requirements, the applicant may be required to complete additional credits in the relevant fields during their first year of study to fulfil these requirements upon acceptance.

Language requirements:

Minimum level of language proficiency (oral) (A1-C2): B2 (CEFR)
Minimum level of language proficiency (written) (A1-C2): B2 (CEFR)

Further comments:

Accepted Certification of English knowledge (both written and oral):

B2 (CEFR)
IELTS Score: 5.5
TOEFL iBT Band: 46-59
Cambridge English Scale Score: 162.

If the applicant does not have any of the above certifications, their English proficiency will be assessed based on the admission video. Any letter of acceptance issued by the Faculty of Social Sciences is based on the verified fact that the applicant’s command of English has been assessed; therefore, they are considered eligible to pursue their studies at the institution.

If the applicant can prove that they completed their former education entirely in English by submitting a notarized attestation and a detailed academic transcript, no proof of language knowledge will be required throughout the admission process.

Documents to submit with application
Document Comment
Online application form  
Bachelor-level degree  
Transcript of records  
Motivation letter The general guidelines and expectations for the letter are: the applicants introducing themselves, their motivation, interests and goals with the programme. The length of the motivation letter is between 1500 and 4000 characters.
Copy of the main pages of the passport needs to be valid
Copy of application fee transfer  
Language certificate If the applicant has one.
 

 

 

Application procedure

The application starts in the online application system. Students need to register in the system, fill in the online application form, upload the required documents and follow the instructions during the application process.

Students who hold Hungarian citizenship and/or dual citizenship, must apply through felvi.hu Please note that if an application is submitted not according to the aforementioned, it will be rejected. 

Procedure of the entrance examination

The application deadline refers to the final submission of the complete application package through the online application system

For the September intake, there are three application periods:

  1. Early Bird Period: October 1, 2024, to November 15, 2024, 23:59 (CET)
  2. Regular Period: November 20, 2024, to April 30, 2025, 23:59 (CET)
  3. Last Call Period: May 5, 2025, to May 31, 2025, 23:59 (CET)

 

These distinct periods allow applicants the flexibility to submit their applications at their convenience. All applicants within each period have an equal chance of gaining admission to the programme.

After each application deadline, the Admission Board reviews the applications. After the admission interview, applicants are informed of the selection outcome through the online application system within approximately one month after the admission interview. Admission letters will be sent out through the online application system until the end of June. For February intake and Early Bird applications, admission letters will be sent out through the online application system until the end of December.

Applicants with a full application package will be notified after the application deadline about the exact time and date of application interviews conducted via Ms Teams. Applicants are responsible for having technically suitable conditions for the interview from their side

Applicants are expected to be prepared taking questions regarding the compulsory admission materials (see: Recommended readings for the entrance exam) from the side of admission committee composed of a professor, a lecturer and a student representative.

Based on the results, certain students may be placed on a waiting list. Final results are expected by the first half of August.

Type of entrance exam: Oral

Entrance exam location: Online

Applicants with a full application package will be notified about the exact time and date of application interviews conducted via Skype or Ms Teams. Applicants are responsible for having technically suitable conditions for the interview from their side

Applicants are expected to be prepared taking questions regarding the compulsory admission materials (see: Required readings for the entrance exam) from the side of admission committee composed of a professor, a lecturer and a student representative.

The application interview via Skype or via Ms Teams will include a discussion.

Recommended Readings:

State of Civil Society Report 2018. Year in Review: Top Ten Trends. CIVICUS 2018.

https://www.civicus.org/documents/reports-and-publications/SOCS/2018/socs-2018-overview_top-ten-trends.pdf
Arapovics Mária – Vercseg Ilona (ed.): Community Development Methodological guide. Hungarian Open Air Museum Museum Education and Methodology Centre NMI Institute for Culture Nonprofit Ltd. National Széchényi Library 2019.

https://cselekvokozossegek.hu/wp-content/uploads/community_development_methodological_guide.pdf

Gyenes Zsuzsa (ed.): In the Service of Communities - in Small Local Communities. Collection of case studies. 2020
https://kofe.hu/wp-content/uploads/Dokumentumok/efop-2018-2020/eStudySeries_final.pdf

Further details of selection and evaluation

Applicants with a full application package will be asked to participate in an oral entrance exam. The institutional admission scores are based on a total evaluation of academic excellence (based on the submitted documents) and the results of the entrance exam. The entrance exam seeks to assess the general and professional knowledge and interest of the applicant.

A successful oral entrance exam is the prerequisite of getting admitted. If the applicant fails the oral entrance exam, the application will be rejected.

Program leader
Dr Maria ARAPOVICS
Habil. Associate Professor
Program coordinator

Ágnes GERTHEIS
Department Administrator
gertheis.agnes@tatk.elte.hu
Phone/ext.: 372-2500/6630

International Office, Faculty of Social Sciences
TEL: +36-1-372-2500/6779
E-mail:  international@tatk.elte.hu
Postal address:, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/A, Budapest, H-1117

More information
Faculty Website
Facebook page of the Faculty of Social Sciences

Faculty of Social Sciences

Faculty of Social Sciences

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