I am from ... and want to study at the University of Vienna. What do I have to keep in mind?

This website is aimed at students from Non-EU/EEA countries who are interested in studying at the University of Vienna. Your steps in the admission procedure depend on several questions.  

  • Which degree programme are you interested in?
  • Is the degree programme instructed in German or English?  
  • Which country did you complete your previous education in?  

If your previous education is from specific countries, you have to keep several things in mind. Carefully read the info about the particularities with education from specific countries, before you submit your application for admission to a degree programme. 

If your country is not included in the list, please follow the step-by-step instructions for the admission to bachelor/diploma programmes or admission to master programmes. 

Student with thoughtful facial expression

I want to study a bachelor/diploma programme

General requirements for the application for admission to bachelor/diploma programmes

  • scan of your valid your passport or personal ID card (front and back!) as JPEG or PNG file
  • all pages (!) of your original secondary-school leaving certificate
    • including the required legalisation according to the issuing country
    • plus sworn translation (if not issued in German or English)
  • list of subjects in its original version
    • together with a sworn translation (if not issued in German or English)
  • if you have already studied: transcripts/diplomas in their original version
    • including the required legalisation according to the issuing country
    • plus sworn translation (if not issued in German or English)
  • proof of German language proficiency at level A2 or higher 

You have to submit the application for admission within the application period. The application period depends on your citizenship. Please note: degree programmes with entrance exam procedure have a special application period. 

 Country-specific info

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  • Afghanistan

    If you only have a secondary-school leaving certificate from Afghanistan, you cannot be admitted to a bachelor or diploma programme at the University of Vienna. The secondary-school leaving certificate from Afghanistan (12-Grade Graduation Certificate) is not is not adequate as proof of the general university entrance qualification. The differences to a secondary-school leaving certificate from Austria are too large. Your application for admission will therefore be rejected. 

    Exception:
    If your secondary-school leaving certificate is from Afghanistan and you also have already studied a degree programme you can submit an application for admission to a bachelor or diploma programme. Each application has to be processed individually. Your degree programme must fulfil the following criteria: 

    • the duration of the programme must be at least two years full-time and
    • you have achieved a CGPA of 2,5 or higher and 
    • the programme is instructed at a recognised educational institution. 
  • Bangladesh

    If you only have a secondary-school leaving certificate from Bangladesh, you cannot be admitted to a bachelor or diploma programme at the University of Vienna. The secondary-school leaving certificate from Bangladesh (Higher Secondary Certificate) is not is not adequate as proof of the general university entrance qualification. The differences to a secondary-school leaving certificate from Austria are too large. Your application for admission will therefore be rejected. 

    Exception: 
    If your secondary-school leaving certificate is from Bangladesh and you also have already studied a degree programme you can submit an application for admission to a bachelor or diploma programme. Each application has to be processed individually. Your degree programme must fulfil the following criteria: 

    • the duration of the programme must be at least two years full-time and
    • you have achieved a CGPA of 2,5 or higher and 
    • the programme is instructed at a recognised educational institution. 
  • China

    If you have completed your secondary-school leaving certificate in China and apply for a bachelor/diploma programme, you require a proof of your university entrance exam Gaokao. 

    Exception: 
    If you have already completed a bachelor/diploma programme (at least three years duration or at least 180 ECTS) you do not need a proof of your university entrance exam. The further procedure depends which country you completed your previous studies in. 

  • Iran

    If you have completed your secondary-school leaving certificate in Iran and apply for a bachelor/diploma programme, you require a proof of your university entrance exam Konkûr. 

    Exception: 
    If you have already completed a bachelor/diploma programme (at least three years duration or at least 180 ECTS) you do not need a proof of your university entrance exam. The further procedure depends which country you completed your previous studies in. 

  • Colombia

    If you have completed your secondary-school leaving certificate in Colombia and apply for a bachelor/diploma programme, you require a proof of your university entrance exam Examen de Estado para Ingreso a la Educación Superior. 

    Exception: 
    If you have already completed a bachelor/diploma programme (at least three years duration or at least 180 ECTS) you do not need a proof of your university entrance exam. The further procedure depends which country you completed your previous studies in. 

  • Republic of Korea

    If you have completed your secondary-school leaving certificate in the Republic of Korea and apply for a bachelor/diploma programme, you require a proof of your university entrance exam College Scholastic Ability Test. 

    Exception: 
    If you have already completed a bachelor/diploma programme (at least three years duration or at least 180 ECTS) you do not need a proof of your university entrance exam. The further procedure depends which country you completed your previous studies in. 

  • Nigeria

    The Austrian embassy or the Austrian consulate require a proof of the University of Vienna, before the over-legalisation can be issued? Proceed as follows: 

    1. Let your documents be legalised by the ministry of education. 
    2. Let the documents that were legalised by the ministry of education be legalised by the ministry of foreign affairs. 
    3. Apply for admission to the degree programme with these documents within the application period. You will receive an automatic confirmation, that you have applied for admission at the University of Vienna via e-mail. 
    4. Provide this confirmation at the Austrian representation and let your documents be over-legalised. This automatic confirmation is accepted as proof. 
    5. A few weeks after your application you will receive an amendment request with a deadline for submission (as the over-legalisaiton by the Austrian representation was missing in your original submission).
    6. Submit the documents with the full diplomatic certification within the deadline. 
    7. Wait for your admission letter. 
  • Pakistan

    If your secondary-school leaving certificate is from Pakistan you must fulfill the following criteria: 

    • You have attended a school with at least 12 years and 
    • you have completed the Intermediate Examination/Higher Secondary Certificate and
    • you hade a good grade average of A in Grade 10, 11 and 12 and 
    • you had the following subjects according to § 64 para 2 Universities Act 2002 (UG) in Grade 12:
      • two languages 
      • mathematics
      • one subjects in the natural sciences 
      • one subjects in the humanities 
      • one general education subject
  • Türkiye

    If you have completed your secondary-school leaving certificate in Türkiye and apply for a bachelor/diploma programme, you require a proof of your university entrance exam ÖSYS (admission to bachelor/diploma programmes, applies to Turkish citizens) or university entrance exam YÖS (admission to bachelor/diploma programmes, applies to citizens of other countries than Türkiye).

    Exception: 
    If you have already completed a bachelor/diploma programme (at least three years duration or at least 180 ECTS) you do not need a proof of your university entrance exam. The further procedure depends which country you completed your previous studies in. 

  • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ("A-levels")

    If you receive the General Certificate of Education (GCE/"A-Levels"), you have to fulfil the following requirements: 

    • Four general subjects that are independent from one another have to be completed with grade A*, A, B or C (respectively grades 9 - 4). These subjects must include: 
      • a foreign language
      • Mathematics
      • one of the subjects Biology, Physics or Chemistry
      • a subject of the Humanities
    • At least three of the four subjects have to be completed at the GCE Advanced level, the fourth subjects at the level of GCSE or IGCSE.
    • The Advanced Supplementary Level (AS) is to be equatable with the level of the GCSE under the aforementioned conditions. 

    An A-Level in the subject German, can only be accepted as proof German language proficiency at level A2. This does not replace the required proof of German language proficiency at level C1. Therefore you must provide a proof of German language proficiency at level C1, before you can be admitted to the degree programme. 

I want to study a master programme

General requirements for the application for admission to master programmes

  • scan of your valid passport or personal ID (front and back) as JPEG or PNG file 
    • higher education degree certificate and transcripts/diploma supplement
      • including the required legalisation according to the issuing country 
      • and a sworn translation (if not issued in German or English)
    • if applicable proof of English language proficiency/knowledge of other languages according to the curriculum 
    • further documents specified in the curriculum (e.g. description of qualifications)

    You can find information regarding further requirements (e.g. qualitative admission requirements, letter of motivation, language proficiency, ...) on the overview page of the individual degree programme. To find the overview choose the programme you are interested in from the list at Admission > Master programmes. 

    You have to submit your application for admission to the degree programme within the application period. The application period depends on your citizenships. Master programmes with selection procedure have a special application period. 

     Country-specific info

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    • African countries

      The Higher National Diploma does not fulfil the requirements for admission to a master programme.  

      Special case Nigeria: The Austrian embassy or the Austrian consulate require a proof of the University of Vienna, before the over-legalisation can be issued? Proceed as follows: 

      1. Let your documents be legalised by the ministry of education. 
      2. Let the documents that were legalised by the ministry of education be legalised by the ministry of foreign affairs. 
      3. Apply for admission to the degree programme with these documents within the application period. You will receive an automatic confirmation, that you have applied for admission at the University of Vienna via e-mail. 
      4. Provide this confirmation at the Austrian representation and let your documents be over-legalised. This automatic confirmation is accepted as proof. 
      5. A few weeks after your application you will receive an amendment request with a deadline for submission (as the over-legalisaiton by the Austrian representation was missing in your original submission).
      6. Submit the documents with the full diplomatic certification within the deadline. 
      7. Wait for your admission letter. 
    • Afghanistan

      If you have only completed a bachelor programme in Afghanistan, you cannot be admitted to a master programme at the University of Vienna. The differences regarding the level of education are too large. Your application for admission will therefore be rejected.

      Exception: 
      If your bachelor degree certificate is from Afghanistan and you have also already completed a master programme you can apply for admission to a master programme. Each application has to be processed individually. You have to fulfil the following criteria:

      • You have completed a bachelor programme with a duration of at least four years and
      • You have completed a master programme with a duration of at least two years and
      • You have reached a CGPA of 2.5 or higher for each programme and
      • You have completed your degree programme at a recognised academic institution and
      • Your bachelor programme is closely related or equal to the master programme you want to study.
    • Bangladesh

      If you have completed a bachelor programme in Bangladesh, you have to fulfil the following criteria:

      • You have completed a bachelor programme with a duration of at least four years and
      • You have reached a CGPA of 3 or higher and
      • You have completed your degree programme at a recognised academic institution and
      • Your bachelor programme is closely related or equal to the master programme you want to study.
      • The duration of the degree programme of four years must be fulfilled with one bachelor programme. You cannot be admitted if you completed two bachelor programmes of two years each.
      • You can only be admitted to a master programme if you fulfil all criteria.
    • India

      If you have completed a bachelor programme in India, you have to fulfil the following criteria:

      • You have completed a bachelor programme with a duration of at least three years and
      • You have reached at least 60 % or 70 % of the maximum points and
      • You have completed your degree programme at a recognised academic institution and
      • Your bachelor programme is closely related or equal to the master programme you want to study.
      • You can only be admitted to a master programme if you fulfil all criteria.
    • Iran

      If you did not complete a bachelor programme with a duration of at least three years (or at least 180 ECTS) you can also apply for admission with an Associate Degree combined with a bachelor programme with a duration of at least two years. Each application has to be processed individually. 

    • Nepal

      If you have completed a bachelor programme in Nepal, you have to fulfil the following criteria:

      • You have completed a bachelor programme with a duration of at least four years and
      • You have reached a CGPA of 2.5 or higher and
      • You have completed your degree programme at a recognised academic institution and
      • Your bachelor programme is closely related or equal to the master programme you want to study.
      • The Duration of the degree programme of four years must be fulfilled with one bachelor programme. You cannot be admitted if you completed two bachelor programmes of two years each.
      • You can only be admitted to a master programme if you fulfil all criteria.
    • Pakistan

      If you have completed a bachelor programme in Pakistan, you have to fulfil the following criteria:

      • You have completed a bachelor programme with a duration of at least four years and
      • You have completed your degree programme at a recognised academic institution and
      • Your bachelor programme is closely related or equal to the master programme you want to study.
      • The Duration of the degree programme of four years must be fulfilled with one bachelor programme. You cannot be admitted if you completed two bachelor programmes of two years each.
      • You can only be admitted to a master programme if you fulfil all criteria.

     FAQ

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    • Can I apply without the required legalisation (according to the issuing country)?

      No, this is not possible. You have to fulfil the formal requirements. This means that you must provide all required documents in your application for admission to the degree programme. Only apply for admission, if you fulfil all requirements and if you have all required documents. 

    • I don't have my bachelor certificate yet. Can I already apply for admission to a master programme?

      You can only apply for admission after you have entirely completed your degree programme and have lost the entitlement to take exams. However, you do not have to have the final documents confirming the completion of your studies. The University of Vienna also accepts a confirmation issued by your educational institution about the completion of studies in combination with your final transcripts/diploma supplement, as long as this also contains the legalisation required for your country. 

      Confirmations that you will complete your degree programme cannot be accepted (only exception: master programmes with selection exam procedure). Provisional transcripts cannot be accepted as well.

    • Can I already know which supplementary exams I will have to pass, before I submit my application for admission?

      Unfortunately, this is not possible as which and if any supplementary examinations are prescribed will only be determined individually during the processing of your documents.

    • Are there any bachelor programmes that are fully instructed in English?

      No, even if several courses are taught entirely or partly in another language, one of the admission requirements for all bachelor/diploma programmes at the University of Vienna is German. 

      Because of this, a proof of language proficiency in German at level C1 is required for the admission to any bachelor/diploma programme.

      Here you can find all information on the required German language skills.

    • I already have a university degree and now want to study a bachelor/diploma programme. Can I apply with this certificate instead of my secondary-school leaving certificate?

      Yes, if you have completed a programme with a duration of at least three years or at least 180 ECTS (e.g. a three-year bachelor programme) at a recognised post-secondary educational institution you can use this as proof of your university entrance qualification instead of your secondary-school leaving certificate.