General Admission Requirements Bachelor / Master

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Bachelor Degree Programmes

The admission requirements for a bachelor degree programme are

  1. the general university entrance qualification; or
  2. a relevant professional qualification


1. The general university entrance qualification

has to be proved by submitting one of the following documents:

  • an Austrian school-leaving exam (general secondary school (AHS), vocational secondary school (BHS), Berufsreifeprüfung (certificate of secondary vocational education), nostrified certificate; or
  • a university entrance qualification examination for the desired study programme; or
  • an equivalent foreign certificate (school-leaving examination, university entrance qualification examination, Berufsreifeprüfung); or
  • an International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma or a European Baccalaureate; or
  • a certificate of completion of at least 3 years of study at a recognised domestic or international post-secondary educational institution.


Austrian School-Leaving Examination (Reifeprüfung) (AHS, BHS)

The school-leaving examination is based on a three-column model: a written "pre-scientific thesis" (AHS) or diploma thesis (BHS), and standardised written and oral exams.


Berufsreifeprüfung

The qualifications obtained through the completion of the Berufsreifeprüfung (BPR) are equivalent to those of the school-leaving examination (AHS or BHS school-leaving certificate). The successful completion of the BRP is a requirement for unrestricted access to universities of applied sciences. The BRP is made up of three main subjects (German, a foreign language, mathematics) and one exam in the relevant professional field.

University Entrance Qualification Examination

The general university entrance qualification can also be proved by submitting a valid university entrance qualification certificate for the corresponding UAS degree program of a university, a university of applied sciences or a teacher training college. If you plan to complete the university entrance qualification examination for a certain group of study programmes, please consult with the responsible study programme administration beforehand.

Equivalent Foreign Certificate

The general university entrance qualification can also be proved by submitting a foreign certificate which is equivalent to one of the aforementioned Austrian certificates by virtue of an international agreement, a nostrification, or the decision of the respective Academic Director in individual cases.

International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma or European Baccalaureate 

a) International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma

An IB Diploma obtained according to the provisions of the „International Baccalaureate Organization“ (http://www.ibo.org) is to be recognised as a foreign school-leaving certificate for the purpose of admission to a bachelor degree programme at a university of applied sciences and serves as evidence of the general university entrance qualification (for more detailed information see IB Recommendations by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Education (BMBWF) 2006).

b) European Baccalaureate

A European Baccalaureate pursuant to Art 5 para 2 of the Convention Defining the Statute of the European Schools (Federal Law Gazette III No. 173/2005) is to be recognised as a foreign school-leaving certificate and serves as evidence of the general university entrance qualification.

Completion of at least 3 years of study at a recognised domestic or international post-secondary educational institution

This is an educational institution offering degree programmes lasting for at least six semesters which requires the general university entrance qualification under the University of Applied Sciences Studies Act (FHStG) for admission, and which is recognised as a post-secondary educational institution according to the legal regulations of the country in which it is domiciled.

2. Relevant Professional Qualifications (Apprenticeship, BMS) and Additional Examinations

The admission requirements for a relevant professional qualification are the completion of a relevant apprenticeship or a relevant secondary technical and vocational school (BMS), or evidence of other relevant professional experience and the completion of additional examinations. The assessment of the relevance and the determination of the required additional examinations is in the responsibility of the respective Academic Director.

Master Degree Programmes

The requirements for a master degree programme at a university of applied sciences are:

  1. completion of a relevant bachelor degree programme at a university of applied sciences; or
  2. completion of an equivalent study programme at an accredited Austrian or foreign post-secondary educational institution with least 180 ECTS credits and a duration of at least six semesters.

An accredited Austrian or foreign post-secondary educational institution is an institution offering degree programmes covering at least six semesters which requires the general university entrance qualification under the University of Applied Sciences Studies Act (FHStG) for admission, and which is recognised as a post-secondary educational institution according to the legal regulations of the country in which it is domiciled.

In case that equivalence has been established basically and only certain additional qualifications are required for full equivalence, the Academic Director is entitled to tie the determination of equivalence to examinations to be taken during the respective master degree programme.

Admission Requirements – Language of Study:

All applicants whose native language is not German are required to provide evidence of their German language skills (at least B2 level).

Exemptions:

  • In addition to German level B2, English level B2 at least (recommended: C1) is required for: Digital Healthcare (MA)
  • Only English level B2 is required for (the English-taught programmes): Creative Computing (BSc), Cyber Security and Resilience (MSc), Digital Innovation and Research (MSc), Interactive Technologies (master class Mobile), Digital Media Production (master class 3D Audio & Sound Design)

Preparatory Bridging Courses

In bridging courses, first-year students from Bachelor's or Master's degree programmes can acquire missing basic knowledge, e.g. in programming.

To the bridge courses on offer