Studying in Vienna
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Vienna is the biggest university town in Austria, boasting not only the highest number of university students, but also a large variety of more than a hundred university programs.
Depending on your choice of study you will need to register at one of the following universities Vienna offers: the University of Vienna (the Main University), the University of Medicine, the Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration, the Vienna University of Technology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, or the University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences, Vienna. Moreover, you can choose to study at the University of Music and Dramatic Arts Vienna or the University of Applied Arts Vienna. Schools also exist in Vienna for overseas students such as the Austro-American Institute of Education.
For every course of studies you find a curriculum laid down by the Austrian Federal Ministry for Education, Science and Culture, which is set up in co-operation with the individual faculties. All university programs require the completion of mandatory subjects and offer a number of optional subjects. There is no general time limitation, but tuition fees of 363.36 euros per term.
Most university programs consist of two parts. Once you finished both stages you are required to write a diploma thesis in order to get the Masters degree. After obtaining a Masters degree you can continue your academic career with writing a dissertation in order to be awarded a Doctoral degree.
Students compile their personal timetable for each semester consisting of three general types of classes: lectures, exercise classes, and seminars.
Lectures are typically held in over-crowded halls with the professor holding a monologue in front of the class. Attendance is not mandatory. For exercise classes and seminars registration is necessary, because the number of students is limited. Attendance and participation (assignments, presentations, academic papers) is mandatory.
Examinations can be in a verbal or a written form. You are allowed to fail three times, if you do not pass the fourth exam, you are forced to stop studying.
External links
- Study in Austria: A Guide (http://www.haardt.net/studyinat.htm)
- the University of Vienna: http://www.univie.ac.at/
- the Vienna University of Technology: http://www.tuwien.ac.at/
- the University of Agriculture: http://www.boku.ac.at/
- the University of Economics and Business Administration: http://www.wu-wien.ac.at/
- University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna: http://www.vu-wien.ac.at/
- the Academy of Fine Arts: http://www.angewandte.at/htdocs/ie.php?page=
- the Academy of Music: http://www.mdw.ac.at/
- the Austro-American Institute of Education: http://www.amerika-institut.at/