Admission to the bachelor programme in International Legal Studies

Detailed information on the entrance exam procedure and the admission procedure for applicants with

  • secondary-school leaving certificate from an EU/EEA country or Switzerland and
  • German language level A2 or B1

If you are in your final school year and do not have your secondary-school leaving certificate yet, you can already apply for admission. As soon as you receive the document, upload it in u:space.

You cannot participate in the entrance exam procedure yet, but you can apply for admission to the degree programme and then attend a German course. Please read the information on the required German knowledge carefully!

 Deadlines

  • Application period: from 4 March to 5 June 2024
  • Admission period winter semester 2024/25: from 11 July to 31 October 2024
  • Admission period summer semester 2025: from 7 January to 31 March 2025
  • Semester start: 1 October (winter semester), 1 March (summer semester)

Schedule of the academic year

 Important note: University Preparation Programme

Keep in mind the registration deadlines of the University Preparation Programme of the Vienna Universities (VWU). While attending the VWU you have to consider some things regarding your admission to the University of Vienna.

 Required documents

for the registration in u:space

  • your 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 
    • together with a sworn translation (if not issued in German or English)
    • merged into one PDF file
    The application is even possible before your secondary-school leaving certificate is issued.
  • proof of German language proficiency at level A2 or higher merged into one PDF file
  • proof of English language proficiency at level B2 or higher merged into one PDF file
  • if necessary, proof of any additional exams merged into one PDF file

 Your steps in the admission procedure

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

Take one or two hours to complete the Online-Self-Assessment (OSA). Even though you do not have sufficient German knowledge yet, you are required to take the OSA.

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

  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 submit your application and upload your secondary-school leaving certificate later.
    • Select “No, my German knowledge is not yet sufficient. I want to attend a German course in the University Preparation Programme of the Vienna Universities (VWU).”
  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. Then, click on "submit application".

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.

As soon as the status of your application in u:space below “My applications” is “submitted”, you may proceed with step 4.

Step 4: Register for the University Preparation Programme (VWU)

  1. Book an online appointment by using our appointment-booking tool.
    Detailed information regarding the booking of appointments

    As your identity needs to be verified, you have to complete this step in person. Representation by third parties is not possible. 
  2. During this appointment, the Admission Office checks your documents. Afterwards, you will receive an admission letter via e-mail. This document is required to register at the VWU. Choose a cooperation partner and register for a German course within the corresponding registration period.

Step 5: Admission

This is how you complete the admission procedure:

  1. Send us the confirmation of your VWU registration via the Servicedesk of the University of Vienna. You will be admitted to a non-degree programme (for the purpose of attending the preparation programme). You cannot yet start with your degree programme and are only allowed to take the supplementary examination at the VWU. After the admission you will receive an e-mail.
  2. Pay the Students’ Union fee afterwards. The admission is completed as soon as the prescribed fee is received in u:space > Financial matters > Tuition fee/Students' Union fee.

The admission to the degree programme is only possible after having successfully passed the entrance exam procedure and the supplementary examination in German.

Step 6: Order the u:card

As soon as the 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.

 Registration for the entrance exam procedure

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

When you have acquired level B2 or C1 of German language proficiency, don’t forget to register for the entrance exam procedure in u:space in due time.