National approach to Higher Education in Austria

In Austria there is a wide variety of institutions providing tertiary education. There are academies, public and private universities and since 1993, Austria also offers Fachhochschul-Studiengänge (degree programmes at universities of applied science).

The postsecondary sector also includes the university colleges of teacher education and teacher training institutes, the colleges and institutes for the training of religious education teachers, the post-secondary colleges for the training of vocational teachers and the post-secondary colleges and institutes for the training of teachers for agricultural and forestry schools.

An overview of all major fields of study at Austrian universities and universities of the arts / music can be found in the Austrian Study guide; the current Fachhochschule degree programmes can be found at http://fachhochschulen.ac.at.

http://www.oead.at/ provides additional information and contact addresses of all Austrian study programmes (in German and English) that are of special interest for incoming students.

The System of Higher Education in Austria

Picture 1: Chart showing the system of Higher Education in Austria including providers, programmes and degrees (incl. ISCED categories)

Admission to studies

What does admission mean?
It means the entitlement to embark upon a specific study programme at a university or in a Fachhochschule programme without any further requirements. It is given in a written form and applies to the institution which has issued it. The requirements which grant admission to degree programmes are listed below. The requirements which grant admission to non-degree programmes – i.e. university study courses, advanced training courses and single courses being part of a degree programme – are regulated on an individual basis, which means that an applicant will get the necessary information only from the respective institution.

Where do you apply for admission?
At each Austrian university a study department (registrar‘s office) is responsible for handling applications for admission. It issues the necessary forms and provides information on related questions. The Rector’s office will then decide on the applicant's admission. In Fachhochschule programmes applications and decisions are taken by the programme directorate.

Who may apply for admission?
In principle everyone who has the university qualification, for Fachhochschule programmes and people with a relevant professional qualification. However, in some cases there are specific further requirements which are described in detail below.

What must be submitted?
An applicant has to submit:

• proof of citizenship by means of an official ID card or valid passport;
• a secondary-school leaving certificate and a leaving certificate of the final school year or another certificate proving that the applicant is entitled to embark upon studies at a university (e.g. a certificate on the admission examination for studies in the arts), or on a relevant professional qualification (this applies only to Fachhochschule programmes);
• (at universities, except for citizens of an EU or EEA country) proof that all requirements prescribed by the state issuing the secondary-school leaving certificate, have been met, in addition to the secondary-school leaving certificate for the studies selected. (If, for instance, the state issuing the secondary-school leaving certificate prescribes en-trance examinations for specific studies or a certain grade average, the student has to submit the respective certificate);
• a leaving certificate plus course book and transcript of another institution of higher education if the student began or completed his/her studies there;
• proof of sufficient knowledge of German (in some cases, however, the proof may be a restricted one);
• proof of physical-motor aptitude (for the Teacher Training programme in Movement and Sports, and the degree programme in Sports Science).

These documents must be submitted either as original or attested copies. Documents in languages other than German must be accompanied by certified German translations. All foreign documents must be legalised. The documents together with the necessary forms must be submitted to the study department or programme directorate, respectively.

Restrictions of study places

In some fields of study (e.g. biology, business administration, dentistry, human medicine, psychology, pharmacy, veterinary medicine) the number of places is probably restricted. Information on their distribution can be obtained from the universities concerned. In Fachhochschule programmes, there are only a limited number of places as a rule for which the programme directorates will organise a selection procedure for all applicants.

Specific requirements have been set up by the University Entrance Qualification Decree for certain fields of study. If applicants have not passed the respective subjects in secondary school they have to take supplementary examinations before their admission.

http://www.bmukk.gv.at/schulen/recht/erk/aend_universitaetsber_vo.xml

Important!

Foreign citizens are advised to observe the following deadlines: They must submit their completed application for admission to the study departments of the respective university not later than September 1 to begin their studies in a winter semester, and not later than February 1 to begin their studies in a summer semester. These deadlines cannot be extended! The Rectorate then decides on the application, so that actual admission is possible within the period specified by the respective university. These deadlines are the same for Austrian nationals and applicants of an EU/EEA country or of Switzerland. For the Fachhochschule programmes, there are other deadlines; the programme directorates will provide the necessary information.

Special procedures are necessary if an applicant's foreign secondary-school leaving certificate is not equivalent to an Austrian one or if the study programme selected requires certain knowledge or skills. In this case the receiving institution is likely to prescribe supplementary examinations, which are a precondition for enrolment. With some states, among them most European countries, agreements have been concluded which regulate the equivalence of secondary-school leaving certificates.

There are exceptions from specific requirements for certain groups of foreign citizens, such as families of accredited diplomats and graduates from Austrian schools abroad. Further information will be provided by the study departments or programme directorates, respectively.

For contact points at the respective universities and Fachhochschule programmes, see 
http://www.portal.ac.at/

For general information on admission please contact


ENIC NARIC AUSTRIA

Federal Ministry for Science and Research
Department I/11
Teinfaltstraße 8

A-1014 Wien

Phone.: (0043/1) 53120/5921
Fax: (0043/1) 53120/7890
E-mail: naric@bmwf.gv.at

Homepage: http://www.bmwf.gv.at/wissenschaft/international/enic_naric_austria/

Residence title / permit

Persons from EU/EAA countries and Swiss residents only need a proof of citizenship (official ID card or valid passport) and no other formal entry or residence permits.

For a stay exceeding 3 months, a formal registration card, issued by the responsible public authority (governor, municipality, administrative district authority) is necessary.

Checklist – registration card:

• Form (filled in and signed) – available at the responsible public authority and on the website of the Austrian ministry for internal affairs;
• The following documents: official ID-card and/or valid passport, health insurance certificate, proof of sufficient financial resources (around 400€ per person / month), confirmation of acceptance issued by the educational institution;
• 15 Euro administrative charge (with possible additional charges).

The complete guidelines can be found  at: http://www.oead.at/_english/austria/entry/index.html

Further information - Please note: This list is not exhaustive
Grants database
Incoming / Outgoing services Austria -
„Österreichischer Austauschdienst (ÖAD)“
Centre International Universitaire (CIU)
Austrian Students Council