Information for asylum seekers

The range of degree programmes offered by the University of Vienna comprises more than 180 degree programmes (bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes). You can receive about the offered degree programmes information from:

• Teaching Affairs and Student Services
• StudiesServiceCenters/StudiesServiceUnits of the degree programmes
  
• uniorientiert – Open Days for pupils and prospective students
• Austrian National Union of Students (ÖH) of the University of Vienna (Website in German)
  

Before the start of your studies, get informed how starting a degree programme or a course in the Preparation Programme of the Vienna Universities might affect your financial situation or benefits. Different regulations apply according to your student or resident status.

• Allowance ("Grundversorgung") for asylum seekers (in German)
  
• Needs-based minimum benefit for recognised refugees and people granted subsidiary protection (in German)
• Study grant for recognised refugees by the Austrian Study Grant Authority (in German)
• Austrian Database for Scholarships and Research Grants

The legalisation of documents is not necessary. Instead, you will need to proof your status as a recognised refugee/asylum seeker (e.g. Convention travel document, etc.).

Please note that some degree programmes have an entrance exam procedure. You have to participate in it once you have sufficient German knowledge.

• Information on the admission to degree programmes without entrance exam procedure
• Information on the admission to degree programmes with entrance exam procedure

If you lost your secondary-school leaving certificate or your university degree certificate, you can apply for a replacement certificate at the responsible Federal Ministry:

Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research (BMBWF) (in German)

If you do not yet have German proficiency at level C1, the supplementary examination German will be proscribed in your admission letter (except for master and PhD programmes instructed in English). In this case, you can participate in a German language course within the Preparation Programme of the Vienna Universities (VWU) for four semesters as a non-degree student.

Attention: For the application for admission to a degree programme instructed in German, a proof of German knowledge at A2 level is mandatory.

Information on the required German language proficiency

Here you can find all information on the German language courses offered at the Preparation Programme of the Vienna Universities (VWU).

Asylum seekers and recognised refugees may get the fee reimbursed by means of a scholarship of the Unviersity of Vienna.

Further support:

• Social funds of the Austrian National Union of Students (ÖH) of the University of Vienna (in German)
• Language courses of the Austrian Integration Fund (ÖIF) (in German)

Asylum seekers, convention refugees and people granted subsidiary protection can apply for equal status with EU/EEA citizens and are exempted from the tuition fee during the minimum study duration + two semesters of tolerance in case of a bachelor, master or doctoral programme. During this time period, only the Students' Union fee has to be paid.

Once you have been admitted to a degree programme, you can plan your semester and create your timetable.

Information on planning your semester

The University of Vienna offers STEOP mentoring. As part of the mentoring, open questions at the beginning of the study are answered, information about the examination and course planning is given and tips on successful reading and/or learning techniques are given. The formation of the first student networks and learning groups is encouraged and first-semester students get a first-hand insight into their field of study from their peers.

Further information about the STEOP mentoring (in German)

Nostrification is the recognition of a foreign university degree as an Austrian university degree. It recognises the university degree completed aborad as fully equal to a degree programme completed in Austria and confers the same rights and duties of that university degree (e.g. the right to use an academic title). You can only file an application for nostrification if the requested nostrification is mandatory for practising a profession or for continuing your education (this primarily applies to regulated professions such as teacher education, pharmacy, law).

You can find further information on nostrification on the website of the Studienpräses.

For the admission to a further degree programme (master, doctoral/PhD programme), a nostrification is not necessary.

The Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) offers various (digital) formats, such as Academic Writing in English, for students of the University of Vienna.

Information about Academic Writing in English

Yes, library cards are free of charge for refugees or asylum seekers as they are exempted from the annual fee. Usually, asylum seekers and people entitled to asylum have documents that define their status, as well as a certificate of registration. They receive an "05 annual pass" for the Vienna University Library. Overdue fees and overdraft fines might incur.