Minimum number of credits

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• By when do I have to obtain the minimum number of credits and what deadlines do I have to meet?

  The relevant examination results and other study achievements must be obtained no later than one month after the end of the fourth semester from the start/resumption of your studies. This means you have time until 31 October or 31 March, depending on whether the fourth semester is the summer or the winter semester.

  For example:
  You start your bachelor's programme in the winter semester of 2022/2023. You neither interrupt your studies nor take a leave of absence. You must obtain the minimum number of credits by the summer semester of 2024 the latest. The deadline is on 31 October 2024.

  If you take a leave of absence, the semesters during which you are on leave do not count. After the end of your leave of absence, the semesters are counted again until you have studied for four semesters.
• Do I also have to complete the minimum number of credits when I resume my studies?

  Students of all bachelor's programmes and diploma programmes who start or resume their studies in the winter semester of 2022/2023 or later must obtain the minimum number of credits. In these cases, the minimum number of credits must be obtained once within four admitted semesters. If you interrupt (again) during these four semesters, the counting of the ECTS and the semesters continues after resumption. However, once the minimum number of credits has been obtained, it does not have to be obtaineded again for this degree programme.

  For example:
  You started your studies in the winter semester 2022/23, studied for 2 semesters and earned 12 ECTS. You interrupt the following semester. You resume your studies in the summer semester 2024. Then you still have 2 semesters to complete the missing 4 ECTS - i.e. until one month after the end of the fourth semester at the latest.

  If you interrupt your studies again after that, you do not have to prove that you have obtained a minimum number of credits in this study programme again.

  For studies that you started before the winter semester 2022/23 and have not yet interrupted, you do not have to obtain a minimum number of credits.

  Update from 29th September 2022
• Who does not have to obtain the minimum number of credits (exemptions)?

  Students with proven non-temporary physical and/or mental impairments do not have to obtain the statutory minimum number of credits. You can take the following steps:

  1. The University of Vienna strives to enable equal opportunities during studies and to promote students’ examination activity (‘Prüfungsaktivität’). Students with an impairment have a right to  alternative modes of assessment. The Accessible Studying team provides information about different possibilities to compensate for disadvantages at the University of Vienna. It is our common objective to help you progress in your studies.
  2. If you are unable to obtain the minimum number of credits within four semesters despite these measures, you can apply for an exemption. For this application, you require a disability identity card or a medical certificate issued by a medical specialist, psychotherapist or clinical psychologist to provide proof of an impairment relevant to your studies. You will receive information about the required proof in due time in the fourth semester of your degree programme.

  Please note: According to section 3 of the federal equal opportunities for people with disabilities act (Bundes-Behindertengleichstellungsgesetz), a non-temporary impairment is an impairment expected to last more than 6 months.
• Who has to obtain the minimum number of credits?

  All students who are admitted to a bachelor’s or diploma programme in the winter semester of 2022/2023 have to obtain the minimum number of credits for this programme within four semesters. This applies to newly admitted students as well as to students who resume or change their bachelor’s or diploma programme at this time and to students who enrol on an additional degree programme.
  
  Students with proven physical/mental impairments are exempt from this rule and don't have to obtain the minimum number of credits. You will be informed how to provide the proof.

  The minimum number of credits does not apply to bachelor’s or diploma programme to which you were admitted before the winter semester of 2022/23.

  The minimum number of credits also does not apply to master’s or doctoral programmes.
  
  
• How are ECTS credits counted when I resume my studies?

  If you resume your studies within the same curriculum, the counting of the ECTS credits continues after resumption.

  If you interrupt your studies and later resume your studies on a succeeding curriculum or if you add a new teaching subject to your combination, your previous achievements must first be recognised to ensure that they count towards the minimum number of credits. If you still lack ECTS credits for the minimum number of credits, you have to obtain them within the stipulated and/or remaining time.
• What options do I have if it becomes apparent that I will not be able to meet the minimum number of credit?

  Option 1: Leave no stone unturned and make use of the following offers and information:

  • Registration for courses and exams
  • Support services provided by the University of Vienna for successful studying
  • Psychologische Studierendenberatung: Counseling for study-related and personal issues
  • Information for students with physical/psychological disabilties
  • Student Life - Who can help me with...?
    

   

  Option 2: If you can claim one of the precisely defined reasons, apply for a leave of absence. Please note the appication deadlines, as well as the consequences of taking a leave of absence.

  All info about taking a leave of absence

  Option 3: you do not want to continue your studies? Close it.  Before closing, inform yourself about the possible impliations upon re-enrolment.

  All info about closing a degree programme/withdrawing from the University of Vienna
  
• What happens if I do not obtain the minimum number of credits?

  If you do not obtain the minimum number of credits (16 ECTS credits) for a degree programme within the first four semesters, your admission to the degree programme expires on 31 October or 31 March, depending on whether the fourth semester is the summer or the winter semester. You will be excluded from this programme for four semesters. Once four semesters have passed, you can apply for re-admission to the same degree programme at the University of Vienna.
• I am continuing my studies after it has been changed to a new curriculum. Do I have to obtain the minimum number of credits again?

  No. A conversion to the successor curriculum is considered a continuation of the previous degree programme.
• Do I also have to obtain the minimum number of credits in complementary degree programmes?

  No, you do not have to obtain the minimum number of credits in complementary degree programmes. Achievements completed in complementary degree programmes are not recognised for the minimum number of credits.
• I am enrolled in the bachelor's programme in Teacher Education. Do I have to obtain the minimum number of credits for each teaching subject separately? What happens if I change my teaching subject?

  You have to obtain the minimum number of credits for the entire bachelor’s programme in Teacher Education (i.e. for both teaching subjects together), and not for each teaching subject separately.

  As long as one of the two teaching subjects remains the same, the semesters and the ECTS credits that can be recognised for the new combination continue to be counted.

  If you do not obtain the minimum number of credits in due time, you will be excluded from this programme for 4 semesters. You are excluded from those teaching subjects for which you have already been admitted for 4 semesters. The combination with a teaching subject for which you have been admitted for less than 4 semesters is possible. In this case the semesters that you have already completed and the ECTS credits from the previous subject combination that can be used for the new subject combination are then counted.

  Example 1: You interrupt the teacher education programme after 3 semesters and resume your studies sometime later (with at least one teaching subject remaining the same): You have 1 semester to obtain the required 16 ECTS credits.

  Example 2: You changed one teaching subject in the 3rd semester. You were not able to obtain the minimum number of credits within 4 semesters and are excluded from the teacher education programme. You can study the teaching subject that you only studied for one semester for another 3 semesters in combination with another teaching subject to obtain the minimum number of 16 ECTS credits. ECTS credits obtained in the first semester that can also be used for the new subject combination are counted.

  Example 3: You were not able to obtain the minimum number of credits within 4 semesters and are excluded from the teacher education programme. You begin a teacher education programme with a completely different combination of teaching subjects. The counting of ECTS credits and semesters for the minimum number of credits starts at 0 again.
• I am studying a complementary teacher education programme. Do I have to obtain the minimum number of credits?

  No, you do not have to obtain the minimum number of credits in complementary degree programmes.

  If you include a teaching subject from a complementary teacher education programme in your subject combination, only the semesters from previous subject combinations of the newly combined subjects are counted.

  Example:

  You are studying a subject combination and a complementary degree programme at the same time. After 3 semesters, you exchange one of your teaching subjects with the subject of your complementary degree programme. You have to obtain the minimum number of credits within the remaining fourth semester of the combination programme. You can apply for the recognition of achievements completed in the complementary degree programme, if you completed them within the first four semesters of the combination programme and if you apply for the recognition for the fourth semester in due time (see FAQ: “Are recognised achievements accepted for the minimum number of credits?”).
• Are recognised achievements accecpted for the minimum number of credits?

  Whether a recognised achievement is accepted for the minimum number of credits depends on the date on which the achievement (= initial achievement) was completed. The initial achievement must have been completed within the period relevant for the minimum number of credits from the first start of a degree programme and its recognition must have been approved. Only then does the recognised achievement count towards the minimum number of credits.

  Therefore, apply for recognition with your responsible StudiesServiceCenter well in advance. Note that it might take up to two months until a decision is taken and that the complaints procedure in case of a negative decision also takes time. If you have completed a course/exam multiple times, only the date of the last examination result counts.