Higher education in Vienna 2024

Austria is a beautiful country with the purest Alpine air and picturesque landscapes. Today it is the best choice for higher education. There are a large number of universities in the country with excellent rankings, accessibility and prestige of education.

Vienna is a city with great number of sightseeing, comfortable and safety staying for the foreign students. It is a wonderful city for living in the world with many parks, equipped reservoirs, beautiful palaces, temples and other architectural masterpieces. It has a convenient public transport system — students of preparatory courses can easily get to any point of the city by metro, tram or bus. Also, Vienna is home to the best universities whose graduates have won the Nobel Prize.

Higher education in Vienna encompasses Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral programs. Bachelor's programs typically span three years, Master's one to two years, and Doctoral studies can extend up to six years.

The academic year is divided into two semesters, beginning in late September or October, and again in March. Students enjoy a two-week winter break over Christmas and a semester break in February, often used for exam preparations and assessments.

Vienna's universities emphasize foundational knowledge and success in specific fields. They adopt a five-point grading system (with 1 being the highest) and the European Bologna credit system. This system requires accumulating a specific number of credits, indicative of study hours, to earn degrees.

Practical learning is integral, with internships and opportunities to study for free at universities or gain employment with a salary. Each university maintains an online platform where professors upload lectures and exam materials.

Sam Jones

Recruitment Director for Partnership with INTO Universities (Europe and Central Asia)

What firstly should be considered when choosing a university?

It depends on the student - everyone determines the most important criteria for himself. I would advise you to take several rankings and compare them with each other, plus take into account the cost of the course, the location of the university and its scale, the percentage of graduates' employment. See where graduates continue their studies or where they go to work.

Vienna's higher education landscape is divided into three main types:

• Teacher training colleges.

• Universities of applied sciences.

• "Standard" universities and universities of the arts.

International Study Options in Vienna

Vienna is home to some of Europe's most established and respected educational institutions, including state and private options. The University of Vienna, dating back to 1365, is an internationally recognized institution with a diverse student body and notable alumni, including Nobel laureates. The Vienna Technical University is famed for contributions in economics, engineering, and physics. Other significant establishments include the Vienna University of Economics and Business, renowned for business education, and the Vienna Medical University, where Freud contributed significantly. The Vienna University of Music and Performing Arts stands out for conservatory education. The city also hosts a branch of the American Webster University.

To enroll, international students must prepare a document package in either German or English, ensuring accuracy and notarization. Deadlines are October 1 for the winter term and March 1 for summer. Necessary documents include:

• A completed entrance form from the institution's website.

• Academic certificates with a list of grades and courses.

• A confirmation letter from a previous educational institution.

• Proof of German language proficiency (ÖSD B2).

• Recommendation letters.

• A portfolio (if needed).

• A motivation letter.

Entrance exams vary by discipline and competition level. Fields like medicine, psychology, law, and architecture consistently require exams, while other departments may waive them depending on applicant numbers.

EU citizens often enjoy free education at state institutions. Non-EU students face fees ranging from about $1,700-$1,800 annually. Studying in German incurs costs around $800-$1,200 yearly, covering administrative and academic expenses, while English-taught programs start at about $1,500 annually. Private establishments set fees between $1,000 to $45,000 per year, influenced by the institution's prestige and location.