Vienna State University

• Founded: 1365;
• Total number of students: approximately 91,000 people;
• Rector: Georg Winkler;
• Location: Vienna, Austria.

One of the most prestigious universities in Austria and Central Europe, without a doubt, can be called the Vienna State University, the largest in the entire German-speaking space. The University of Vienna was founded in the 14th century and has been constantly evolving, modernizing and expanding to provide students from around the world with the opportunity to receive a high quality and prestigious education. Today, more than 80,000 students from 120 countries study here! Approximately 12,000 people are studying in the master's program.

In 1365, the Duke of Rudolph IV, together with his brothers, decided to organize the establishment of a quality, prestigious higher education in the Vienna capital - the University of Vienna began its work under the name Alma Mater Rudolphina. A full-fledged work began in 1385, together with the opening of the first building, and an active search for employees, teachers, experienced and qualified professors was conducted for another 12 years. Most of them came from the Sorbonne: Paris at that time was considered to be almost the center of European education, had an impeccable reputation. Even the first rector was Albert of Saxony, a teacher at the Sorbonne: this greatly influenced the working methods and structure of the Vienna University. The university also received a blessing from the Catholic Church, which made it possible to start the work of the Faculty of theology. Development and modernization took place for more than 200 years, but history interfered: the attack of the legendary Ottoman Empire practically destroyed all works, and after the siege of Vienna there were only 100-200 pupils instead of 6000. A new spiral of development became possible thanks to the support of Maria Theresa and Joseph II: in 1749 the University of Vienna made significant reforms and actually reopened. For some time, the directions of the study were completely subordinated to the requirements of the Jesuit church (almost exclusively theology and philosophy), but in 1764 the legendary Botanical Garden was opened, the main attention was paid to the exact and natural sciences, and the students were allowed to study, In 1897, women were allowed to study here.

This is one of the largest research centers in Europe of our days. The walls of the University of Vienna have become a home for almost 7,000 scientists, 16 research platforms of various orientations. Projects are actively financed and employees, professors and academicians from all over the world are attracted (grants in 2013 exceeded 80 million euros). The University owns even its own artificial Earth satellite UniBRITE!

Here there is the highest percentage of students attending lectures, the highest level of academic preparation and achievement. One of the unofficial names of the university is the "Cradle of the Austrian School of Economics": it was here that Karl Menger, Friedrich von Wieser, and Joseph Schumpeter, known all over the world, who studied the fundamentally new direction of economic theory. The institution is proud of its graduates: 9 of them became laureates of the most prestigious Nobel Prize (5 - medicine, 2 - physics, one - chemistry and economics). Students are often called the Vienna State University Hauptuni - "Main University", and it fully justifies the prestigious national title. The list of famous graduates is famous for such names:

• Sigmund Freud ("the father of modern psychoanalysis");
• Josef Breiger (Freud's teacher, psychologist);
• Gregor Mendel (founder of the science of genetics);
• Otto Rank (psychologist and psychoanalyst, one of the best and closest disciples of Freud, the creator of the concept of "birth trauma");
• Hans Aspenger (psychiatrist, pioneer one of the main violations of personal development - Aspenger syndrome);
• Frederick August von Hayek (philosopher, economist, theorist of liberal economics - Nobel Prize 1974);
• Theodor Adorno (philosopher, the brightest representative of the Frankfurt school, a supporter of phenomenology and existentialism);
• Erwin Schrödinger (theoretical physicist, one of the "fathers" of quantum mechanics and the creator of the theory of wave mechanics, author of the famous paradox "Schrodinger cat", Nobel Prize for 1933);
• Eugen von Bömbaverk (economist, politician, theoretician of libertianism and the brightest representative of the new Austrian economic school)
• Theodore Bilroth (surgeon, founder of abdominal surgery);
• Stefan Zweig (writer and biographer, creator of the genre of artistic biography, worked on the histories of Casanova, Nietzsche, Freud, Maria Stewart and many others).

The Vienna State University actively cooperates with student exchange programs, in particular ERASMUS and SOKRATES (a total of 130 variants!), which enables local students to study in another country for several months or a semester. This makes the students more educated, flexible, able to solve different situations, they better perceive someone else's point of view and look more broadly at things.

Studying is offered at 18 faculties, including specialized Catholic and Protestant - the general list is as follows:

• Mathematical;
• Philological and cultural;
• Physical;
• Legal;
• The Faculty of Geography, Earth Sciences and Astronomy;
• Historical and cultural;
• The Faculty of Catholic Theology;
• Chemical;
• Faculty of Sports Science (University Sports Center);
• Economics;
• The Faculty of Evangelical Theology;
• Sociology;
• Philology;
• Philosophy and education;
• Faculty of life sciences;
• Computer science;
• Psychology;
• Translation.

Sam Jones

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

What additional activities and clubs are there for students?

Almost anything! Social, sports clubs and events, excellent studying conditions, hundreds of equally passionate peers who are ready to share your interests and hobbies. Universities on their online portals always post comprehensive information about such communities, at the beginning of the academic year they organize introductory events: come and get to know each group and club personally!

Subject list: African Studies (MSc), anthropology, archeology, Art, astronomy, BA African Studies, biology, business, Business and management, Comparative Literature and Culture BA, computer techologies, Doctoral/PhD programmes, Earth Sciences MSci, economics, Egyptology, Fennistics, geography, history, Japanology, Jewish Studies (MSt), Jewish Studies BA (Hons), Koreanology, Languages & Cultures, law, linguistics, Master programme Materials Sciences, Mathematics BSc, media, meteorology, Musicology, Natural Sciences BSc / MSci, Nutritional Sciences, Oriental studies, Pharmazy, philology, philosophy, politics, Psychology, Slavic Studies, sociology, sports science, Statistics, theatre studies, theology
Activity list: badminton, ballet, basketball, Beach volleyball, billiards, Chorus, cross, dancing, gymnastics, handball, hockey, music studio, Symphony Orchestra, water polo,  Mountain bike

• Students can attend any classes of their choice, even those that are not part of the program in their specialty: for example, the optional Chinese.
• In-demand, valuable and prestigious specialties. Today, the university provides educational programs in almost all modern areas: jurisprudence, technical sciences, economics, sports and physical education, medicine, mathematics, linguistics and etc.
• Ability to travel freely in Europe, visit other countries and cities. The special student card that every Austrian student receives opens up ample opportunities for free movement within the Schengen countries. Austria borders on 8 European countries - it's a great chance to get acquainted with other cultures, customs, traditions.
• Students can independently create their own schedule, determine the dates for attending lectures and even exams: this teaches discipline and time management.
• Work permit during studying (from 10 hours weekly) - so you can significantly reduce educational costs, additionally having gained valuable practical experience and having completed an internship.
• Excellent technical equipment, the use of modern equipment, laboratories, ample opportunities for the implementation of thematic projects and research.
• Low studying costs.
• The widest choice of academic programs of study - there are more than 170 of them: 112 master's (12 are taught in full in English). programs on philosophy and geography are recognized as one of the best in the world and are included in the TOP-50.
• The ability to additionally learn one of the modern foreign languages.

The buildings of the University of Vienna are located immediately in several districts of the capital: the first, the historical building is in the Ringstrasse and is practically a symbol of the university (like the nearby hospital, now also given to the institution). Most of the remaining buildings are located in 1 (Inner City) and 9 (Alsergrund) areas, in addition, the University includes the Botanical Garden, its own observatory and library.

Citizens of the CIS countries (including Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan) must pay a registration fee (every six months). Basic education (in particular the bachelor's program) can be passed for free, the Austrian government finances universities enough.

The terms of studying range from 6 to 12 semesters, depending on the chosen specialty.

As a rule, international students enter the Vienna State University after completing their first year at a local university - this is due to the difference in studying programs, but this principle is strictly observed only in medical specialties and directions. Additionally, you will be asked to demonstrate a sufficiently high level of the German language - at least B2 (if necessary, you will have to pass additional, intensive language courses). If you plan to enroll in the Master's program in English, you will need a certificate of English knowledge, respectively.

The full package of documents is adjusted every year and is displayed on the website of the university, so it makes sense to clarify it in advance - but in general it meets the standard requirements of European institutions. Collected documents are submitted personally or sent by courier mail, to download online or to send by e-mail is not provided. Applications are processed within 12 weeks, in case of a positive response, an official invitation is sent.

A bachelor's or specialist's diploma (translated into German and certified by a notary) is required for applicants of post-graduate programs (master's, doctoral studies), and the speciality must coincide with that for which the student is going to arrive in Vienna. It will also be required to present evidence of financial viability (an extract from a bank account, a sponsorship letter or a certificate of receipt of a grant or scholarship).

Application deadline:

• for the undergraduate program: for the summer semester - until February 5, for the winter semester - until September 5;
• for the master's program: for the winter semester - until January 15, for the summer - until July 15.

Talented and gifted students, both Austrians and foreign students, can take part in various social programs or receive an educational grant that is able to fully reimburse studying costs. There is also a system of reduced contributions for countries with an emerging and a weak economy and differs for each country.

In general, scholarships are paid to participants of postgraduate programs. The total number of permanent university scholarships is 7:

• 3 for doctors of jurisprudence;
• 2 for academics;
• 1 for students with limited abilities;
• 1 for gifted students with outstanding academic results (available to students of any program, including undergraduate ).

In addition, there are federal grants to Austria, for example:

• Scholarship to them. Bertha von Suttner
• The Austrian grant (Osterreich Grant)
• The grant to them. Franz Werfel
• Scholarship to them. Ernst Mach and others.

They are aimed at funding doctors of science and graduate students, while not covering the costs entirely, but only compensating them.

The University of Vienna, like the rest of the Austrian universities, receives excellent funding from the state: according to data for 2014, one student accounts for approximately 12,000 euros.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision