Working or studying? Why not combine the two – with a dual study programme!
Advisor Story
You want to enter the workforce but study at the same time? Or you are already working and in search of a new challenge?
Many people believe that you have to decide – when in reality, you can do both: A dual study programme combines classes at university with valuable practical experience in a company.
A clever and practically relevant start to your career!
What is the difference between a dual study programme and a part-time one?
Both models allow you to combine studying and working. The main difference lies in how closely the two are interwoven:
Part-time study programme (as a working person)
You work – regardless in which field – and study in parallel. Most courses are held either in the evenings, on weekends, or in blocked form. This is ideal if you wish to remain flexible or if your current job is not directly connected to your study programme.
Dual study programme
In this type of programme, studying and working are closely interwoven: Your company is the official training partner, and the practical phases are a fixed component of your curriculum. You work on real projects, switch between the UAS and the company, and earn money from the beginning.
Tip:
- If you have not found a suitable company yet, the St. Pölten UAS supports you in your search for one.
- Some companies also offer training-integrated models – such as Siemens with the professions of infotronics and electrical engineering.
“I wanted to learn something new, something with practical relevance. The dual study programme was exactly the kind of challenge I had been looking for.”
Dual study programmes at the St. Pölten UAS
Here you find all UAS study programmes that you can complete in a dual structure – from technology to social sciences:
Bachelor
- Rail Vehicle Technology1
- Smart Engineering of Production Technologies and Processes
- Social Work
- Social Pedagogy
Master (English-taught)
1 subject to accreditation by AQ Austria
Tip:
- Information on possible partner companies is available on the website of your chosen study programme.
- Please contact your study programme team in due time if you are looking for a partner company.
Forms of studying compared
| Dual study programme | Part-time study programme | |
|---|---|---|
| Connection between studying and working |
Closely connected – practice is |
Side by side – the job does not need to fit the programme |
| Employment relationship | Part-time employment at the partner company |
Existing or new employment relationship, |
|
Financing |
Often salary + assumption of study fees |
Self-financed or with support from the employer |
| Organisation of studying |
Either in blocked form or in turns the UAS and the company |
Mostly in the evenings, sometimes on the weekend or in the form of intensive weeks |
| Support from the UAS | Assistance in the search for a partner company | Focus on study organisation for working persons |
“Work during the week, study on the weekend – this takes discipline and good time management. But it’s the perfect foundation for my career.”
Your advantages in a dual study programme
- Practical relevance
From the very beginning, you apply your knowledge to your daily work. - Financial security
Many companies pay a salary in addition to the study fees - Career prospects
Graduates often enter directly into the company or are specialists sought after in the labour market. - Individual advancement
You learn exactly what you need for your job – perfectly aligned with your day-to-day work
Dual study programme: how it works in practice
Example: Rail Vehicle Technology in dual form
Starting from the 3rd semester, you work on practically relevant projects at the company every semester. 35 of the 180 ECTS credits are acquired directly through your employment. Courses are concentrated on weekends and in intensive blocked weeks.
Example: Smart Engineering in dual form
From the very beginning, you combine a technical vocational training, such as electrical engineering or mechatronics, with your study programme. In this way, you can apply your knowledge directly in the company and gain valuable professional experience. Many students complete an additional apprenticeship – like Hubert Eßletzbichler at Welser Profile.
Example: Digital Innovation and Research in dual form
Eva Nikolopoulou found her ideal workplace while studying at the St. Pölten UAS: the European University Alliance E³UDRES². Here she can make her dream come true: Show people what science can do.
“The dual study programme closely connects theory and practice – I brought projects from the company directly into my studies and, in doing so, found out how innovation truly works.”
Conclusion: more than a compromise
A dual study programme at the St. Pölten UAS is not “either this or that”.
It is a way to connect theory and practice so closely that you are ideally prepared – either for your current job or for completely new perspectives.
Your studies. Your career. Your future – all in one.
This is how you apply
For some degree programmes, the application is still open until 6. August 2025.
Start of studies: winter semester 2025/26
All information on admission requirements, programme structure, and partner companies is available here:
Further dual study programmes – start in the winter semester 2026/27
The application opens in the autumn.
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