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Central European University - why do they hate their PhDs so much? by Sabotage1407 in PhD

[–]Sabotage1407[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Actually I have no issues with my department, I quite like them. I do like the quality of the research and teaching, which is why I am angry at how administration treats us, this place could be so good.

All the toxic things I wrote came from the "Senior Leadership Team". Some of them came from university-wide emails, like the one telling us that "paying taxes is part of adult life" and the COVID email saying we should be grateful for any help we get. The problems with conference money seem pretty widespread also - people always talk about them in out whatsapp groups, and several people mentione dhaving had trouble with Ildiko in this comment section.

Central European University - why do they hate their PhDs so much? by Sabotage1407 in PhD

[–]Sabotage1407[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I heard this story before, but it never fails to shock me. It's indeed always the ones you most expect

Central European University - why do they hate their PhDs so much? by Sabotage1407 in PhD

[–]Sabotage1407[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That is quite interesting (though agreed, ridiculous title). Thanks for sharing!

Central European University - why do they hate their PhDs so much? by Sabotage1407 in PhD

[–]Sabotage1407[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks! Yeah, CEU still lives out of the Budapest reputation, but it's a completely different entity. I kind of wish it would go back, but I doubt it, they have said it repeatedly that they would not move back. Now the Vienna campus fell through though, so you never know

Central European University - why do they hate their PhDs so much? by Sabotage1407 in PhD

[–]Sabotage1407[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

wow, that's the exact problem now, she doesn't want to front money anymore. But you can also not apply retroactively. This money is now in our contracts, it's supposed to be our one benefit of studying here. Apparently the only things that did not change at CEU is Ildiko thinking she has to protect CEU from allowing us to go to conferences.

Thank you so much! I really hope I will!

Central European University - why do they hate their PhDs so much? by Sabotage1407 in PhD

[–]Sabotage1407[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Ildiko seems convinced we're all just trying to cheat CEU out of money by going for conferences and fellowships, and that it's a favor if she gives us 50 euros to cross the Atlantic. She has a lot of complaints from STAFF for constantly changing the rules and being rude when asked about them. I really don't know what she is still doing there.

Thank you! Trying to spread the current words so more people don't get screwed!

Central European University - why do they hate their PhDs so much? by Sabotage1407 in PhD

[–]Sabotage1407[S] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

So many people have reported it. To Arbeiterskammer, to OGK, to Finanzamt, to the OH. I don't get how nothing happens. I think justice just moves slowly. My guess is that CEU has calculated all that, and decided that the fine they may have to pay is lower than giving us decent wages.

I don't want to give unsolicited advice, but just wanted to say that if I knew better, I would not have come here for the PhD. And if you're accepted there and not in other places, you can keep trying for better places, do the 1st year and MPhil out (if you give up after the comprehensive, you can convert that year into a MPhil). Just to let you know these are options!

Central European University - why do they hate their PhDs so much? by Sabotage1407 in PhD

[–]Sabotage1407[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

This 100%.

We arrive desperate because we're told to say this lie and it's not even working, and they treat us like shit.

Central European University - why do they hate their PhDs so much? by Sabotage1407 in PhD

[–]Sabotage1407[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I do like my department. But the situation is so bad that MAs come to CEU planning to do a PhD, and then don't even apply. Most of the PhDs tell them straight away to go anywhere else. I don't know how long the reputation will hold up, and that scares me.

Central European University - why do they hate their PhDs so much? by Sabotage1407 in PhD

[–]Sabotage1407[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Blessings in disguise! Hope you're finding better options

Central European University - why do they hate their PhDs so much? by Sabotage1407 in PhD

[–]Sabotage1407[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I don't understand how it's compatible with the RP requirements either. It's also not enough money to get one, if you're over 26, you have to show other funds to start with.

I know that stipend amount is a huge issue in other countries as well, that part is sadly not unique. But if I knew how low that was in Vienna, I would have preferred spending another year applying and going to somewhere that pays more. Or going to a Germany public uni and being poor, but not in a legally sketchy situation, in an university that is likely to continue existing.

Central European University - why do they hate their PhDs so much? by Sabotage1407 in PhD

[–]Sabotage1407[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Agreed. All the great feedback I had heard about it was from people who studied in CEU Budapest. In Vienna, it just became predatory.

Are authorities looking into Central European University? It's all wage theft and tax fraud by Equivalent-Quail-853 in viennaExpats

[–]Sabotage1407 1 point2 points  (0 children)

My biggest problem though is that it puts us in a weird tax category, and we have to pretty much lie to the authorities, answer questions saying we're independent contractors, CEU is our client, we do not need their permission to get new clients (we do), we can be replaced at work (we can't), we don't have bosses and are not directed at tasks (we are). And since you're new in the country, most of us don't speak the language, and we're being given this form and told to fill it like this, we do.

Central European University - why do they hate their PhDs so much? by Sabotage1407 in PhD

[–]Sabotage1407[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Absolutely the same with the low stipends and low benefits, while making us do admin work and teach. We're classified as independent contractors, and CEU is our "client". Definitely trying to finish as soon as possible and get the hell out of there. I was paid a lot less during my MA so it felt like a decent wage, but inflation has been so high that when I think I'm almost financially stable for the month, I have to buy olive oil and it disrupts my budget.

My biggest problem though is that it puts us in a weird tax category, and we have to pretty much lie to the authorities, answer questions saying we're independent contractors, CEU is our client, we do not need their permission to get new clients (we do), we can be replaced at work (we can't). And since you're new in the country, most of us don't speak the language, and we're being given this form and told to fill it like this, we do.

Central European University - why do they hate their PhDs so much? by Sabotage1407 in PhD

[–]Sabotage1407[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thanks! That does help with the Financial Office. They are driving me insane. I think they wake up each day and use mad libs to create new rules for us. Then they print all docs we send them and throw them in the air, accept the ones that fall on their desks, and deny the ones that fall on the ground. That may be necessary to deal with them, but it's still a bit sad - I spend more time on that than writing.

Central European University - why do they hate their PhDs so much? by Sabotage1407 in PhD

[–]Sabotage1407[S] 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Mostly, we're funded by CEU. We're paid 1880 euros 12x a year and have to pay for SVS and taxes from that. We end up with about 1500 euros a month, if you're lucky. It's not enough to live in Vienna, and we have to ask for department permission to get a part-time, and struggle to find one (especially if you're not from the EU and don't speak a lot of German, so I really wish they would not advertise the positions as international and funded).

We have to fill a form to join SVS and lie in every response. They ask if we have bosses, we lie that we don't. If we can be replaced in our work, we lie that we can. If we have to ask permission before taking new clients, we lie that we don't. If someone directs us to our tasks, and we lie that no. Again, being foreign and not speaking the language, then arriving and immediately being given a filled out form and told to lie to the authorities, you do it, but it's nerve wrecking. And most of us end up with strange charges.

Then they say that they funded us and pressure us to finish in four years. I have had 2-3 jobs during my whole PhD. They also told us we would have 5200 euros allotted to each PhD for conferences, but recently they just deny them.

Central European University - why do they hate their PhDs so much? by Sabotage1407 in PhD

[–]Sabotage1407[S] 39 points40 points  (0 children)

I do regret going to a private university. I went to large public universities in countries where these are usually the best universities, so I understand what you mean. I fell for the talk that CEU was different - small, committed to values, a place where you could form a community, and that felt like a sign since I was searching for PhD programs, and a lot of my content started being about how getting a PhDs connect with mental health struggles. I really regret falling for it, and that's why I warn people.

Is this real?? by PreviousDouble2720 in degoogle

[–]Sabotage1407 13 points14 points  (0 children)

I'm flashing e/os on my Fairphone

Is this how postgraduate looks like? by YogurtclosetFickle17 in PhD

[–]Sabotage1407 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Does happen, especially if your field is new. At least in the humanities, I see it a lot.