Admission to the bachelor programme in Mathematical Foundations of Data Science

Detailed information on the aptitude test procedure for applicants with

  • secondary-school leaving certificate from a non-EU/EEA country 

The aptitude test procedure takes place once per academic year (before the winter semester) and is valid for two semesters.

You need a proof of English language proficiency at level B2 to be admitted to this degree programme. Visiting the University Preparation Programme of the Vienna Universities (VWU) is not possible. 

 Deadlines and overview

  • Application and registration period: from 3 March to 3 June 2025
  • Administration fee: 50 Euro
  • Available university places: unlimited
  • Aptitude test: 22 August 2025
  • Test language: English
  • Test duration: 90 minutes
  • Admission period winter semester 2025/26: after the announcement of results until 31 October 2025
  • Admission period summer semester 2026: from 7 January to 31 March 2026
  • Semester start: 1 October (winter semester), 1 March (summer semester)

The admission to the degree programme is only possible after having successfully passed the aptitude test procedure, provided you fulfil all requirements for the admission to a bachelor programme at the University of Vienna.

Schedule of the academic year

 Required documents

for the registration in u:space

  • your valid passport or personal ID card (front and back!) as JPEG or PNG file

for the application for admission

  • all pages (!) of your original secondary-school leaving certificate
  • list of subjects in its original version
    • together with a sworn translation (if not issued in German or English)
    • merged into one PDF file
  • if available, transcripts/diplomas in their original version (in case you have already studied at a university)
    • together with the required legalisation according to the issuing country
    • plus sworn translation (if not issued in German or English)
    • merged into one PDF file
  • proof of English language proficiency at level B2

 Your steps in the admission procedure

Step 1: Complete the Online-Self-Assessment (OSA)

The Online-Self-Assessment (OSA) serves as a guide for choosing a degree programme. You will find out to what extent the chosen degree programme corresponds to your expectations and interests. You will also receive detailed feedback. Allow one to two hours to do this. The OSA requires no specific preparation, is not evaluated and does not have any impact on the reception of a study place.

After having completed the OSA, you receive your OSA code. You will need it in the further procedure.

Step 2: Prepare the required documents

  1. Scan all required documents and save them in proper format. Make sure that your files are easily readable and scanned in high quality. 
  2. Merge several pages of the same document (e.g. front and back of the secondary-school leaving certificate plus translation) into one PDF file by means of an online tool of your choice.

Step 3: Apply for admission and register

  1. Activate your u:account in u:space within the application period. Make sure you remember the login data, because you will further need the u:account during your studies.
  2. Log in to u:space, complete the registration and select the degree programme of your choice. Upload the required documents.
    • If you do not have your secondary-school leaving certificate yet, enter the relevant information. You can already register for the aptitude test procedure and upload your secondary-school leaving certificate later.
  3. Enter the OSA code.
  4. Click on "continue to submission" and check the summary to see if the data you entered (especially your e-mail address) is correct.
  5. Then, click on "pay and submit application" and pay the administration fee of 50 Euro by credit card or by eps online transfer (only possible from an Austrian bank account).

Check the status of your application in u:space:

a) You have already uploaded a secondary-school leaving certificate. The status of your application is "submitted".

b) You have not uploaded any secondary-school leaving certificate yet. The status of your application is "amend" and the status of your secondary-school leaving certificate is "deficient!". This means you can upload your secondary-school leaving certificate later on.

Now you are registered for the aptitude test procedure. Your confirmation of registration is available in u:space. Several days after the application deadline, you will be informed by e-mail about whether a written test will take place or not. Also check the spam folder of your mailbox.

You will only receive your admission letter after the written test. Checking your documents before that is not possible. 

Step 4: Prepare for the test with recommendations and sample exercises

Test preparation academic year 2025/26

Step 5: The aptitude test

At least 14 days before the test date, you will receive an e-mail with information on the place, time and procedure of the written test as well as the link to your permission to attend ("Einlassbestätigung"). Without the permission to attend a participation in the written exam is not possible. Make sure you are free on the day of the exam and travel to Vienna a day earlier, if necessary.

At the end of the test you will be informed of the further steps.

Step 6: Waiting for the test result and admission letter

Wait for the test result

Approximately 14 days after the exam, you will receive an e-mail with your results and the next steps.

Admission to the degree programme is possible, if you achieve least 50 % of the maximum possible overall score in the written aptitude test. You also have to meet all requirements for admission to a bachelor programme instructed in English at the University of Vienna. You will be informed if you fulfill these requirements in your admission letter. 

Wait for the admission letter 

As soon as the test results are announced, your application can be processed. Missing documents will delay the processing of your application! So make sure, that you have uploaded all required documents in your application.

After you were successful in the aptitude assessment procedure and have received your admission letter you can complete the admission procedure as described in step 7. For the admission to the bachelor programme in Mathematical Foundations of Data Science no supplementary examinations in the University Preparation Programme (VWU) programme are prescribed.

If you do not fulfill all admission requirements (e.g. missing documents) you cannot be admitted to the bachelor programme in Mathematical Foundations of Data Science. This is also the case, if you achieved more than 50 % of the maximum possible overall score in the written test. 

Step 7: Admission to the degree programme

This is how you complete the admission procedure:  

  1. Log into the Servicedesk with your u:account and u:account password. Message us, which of the degree programmes you have applied for you want to be admitted to. We will preliminarily admit you within the admission period. This may take several working days. Please also check your spam folder. 
  2. We will confirm that you were preliminarily admitted via e-mail. Please note: 
    We may ask you to book an appointment for online first-time admission. 
  3. Pay the tuition fee/Students' Union fee. The admission is complete, as soon as the prescribed fee is received in u:spaces > Financial Matters > Tuition fee/Students' Union fee. 

Step 8: Order the u:card and create your semester schedule

As soon as the tuition fee/Students' Union fee is received, you can order your student ID card, the u:card.

Furthermore, you can print out your student documents (student record sheet and confirmation of enrolment) in u:space > Personal matters > My documents.

After the admission, you can create your semester schedule and register for courses. The registration deadlines are available in the course directory in u:find as well as in u:space.