Admission to the bachelor programme

Detailed information on the admission procedure for applicants with

  • secondary-school leaving certificate from a non-EU/EEA country and
  • German language level C1 or higher

Apply for admission to a degree programme in u:space in due time, wait for your admission letter and complete the admission procedure personally.

 Deadlines

EU/EEA/CH citizenship

The following deadlines apply for EU/EEA/CH citizens and groups of persons according to the Decree on Groups of Persons.

Summer semester 2025:

  • Application period: from 11 November 2024 to 5 February 2025
  • Admission period: from 7 January to 31 March 2025
  • Semester start: 1 March

Winter semester 2025/26:

  • Application period: from 23 June to 5 September 2025
  • Admission period: from 14 July to 31 October 2025
  • Semester start: 1 October

Summer semester 2026:

  • Application period: from 13 November 2025 to 5 February 2026
  • Admission period: from 7 January to 31 March 2026
  • Semester start: 1 March

Schedule of the academic year

Non-EU/EEA citizenship

The following deadlines apply for citizens of non-EU/EEA countries.

Summer semester 2025:

  • Application period: from 11 November 2024 to 8 January 2025
  • Admission period: from 7 January to 31 March 2025
  • Semester start: 1 March

Winter semester 2025/26:

  • Application period: from 23 June to 1 August 2025
  • Admission period: from 14 July to 31 October 2025
  • Semester start: 1 October

Summer semester 2026:

  • Application period: from 13 November 2025 to 7 January 2026
  • Admission period: from 7 January to 31 March 2026
  • Semester start: 1 March

Schedule of the academic year

 Registration for the University Preparation Programme

Keep in mind the registration deadlines of the University Preparation Programme of the Vienna Universities (VWU).

 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 German language proficiency at level C1 or higher merged into one PDF file
  • if applicable proof of belonging to a group of persons according to the Decree on Groups of Persons

 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

In order to be able to apply for admission to the degree programme as soon as possible, prepare the required documents before the start of the application period.

  1. Scan all required documents and save them in proper format. Make sure that your files are easily readable and provided in high quality. 
  2. Merge several pages of the same document (e.g. front and back of the secondary-school leaving certificate plus legalisation and 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.
  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".

Now, the status of your application is “submitted”.

The Admission Office will process your application for admission to the degree programme. Due to the high number of applications, it may take several weeks until you receive an official notice to the e-mail address entered in u:space.

 Registration in u:space

Step 4: Admission

Together with your admission letter, you will receive information about your further steps in the admission procedure and any supplementary examination(s) you will have to pass at the University Preparation Programme of the Vienna Universities (VWU) before starting with your degree programme. Apart from German (in case you have not uploaded any C1 certificate), supplementary examinations in Mathematics, English or History/Geography may be prescribed. Further supplementary examinations may also be prescribed.

As your identity needs to be verified, you have to complete this step in person. Representation by third parties is not possible.

Option 1: 

Your admission letter requires you to pass supplementary examinations.

  1. Follow the indications you have received together with your admission letter by e-mail and register for the University Preparation Programme of the Vienna Universities (VWU).
  2. Once you are registered at the VWU, book an appointment for online first-time admission by using our appointment-booking before the end of the admission period. 
    Detailed information on how to book an appointment 
    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 supplementary examinations at the VWU. After the admission you will receive an e-mail.
  3. Pay the Student´s Union fee after your appointment. The admission is completed as soon as the prescribed fee is received in u:space > Financial Matters > Tuition fees/Students' Union fee. 

The admission to the degree programme is only possible after having successfully passed all supplementary examinations.

 

Option 2:

No supplementary examinations are prescribed in your admission letter.

  1. Book an appointment for online first-time admission by using our appointment-booking tool. 
    Detailed information on how to book an appointment
  2. Pay the tuition fee/Students' Union fee after your appointment. The admission is completed as soon as the prescribed fee is received in u:space > Financial Matters > Tuition fees/Students' Union fee.  

Step 5: Order the u:card and create your semester schedule

Once 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.

 FAQ

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  • My citizenship is from an EU/EEA country and my secondary-school leaving certificate is from a third country. Do I need a proof of belonging to a group of persons according to the Decree on Groups of Persons?

    No, you do not need a proof of belonging to a group of persons according to the Decree on Groups of Persons to submit your application for admission. 

  • What counts as proof of belonging to a group of persons according to the Decree on Groups of Persons?

    The required proof depends on which group of persons you belong to.

  • Do I have to upload a proof of belonging to a group of persons according to the Decree on Groups of Persons?

    You only have to upload the proof of belonging to a group of persons according to the Decree on Groups of Persons, if you submit your application for admission after the end of the application period for persons with citizenship from third countries.

  • Are there any bachelor programmes taught in English?

    No, even if several courses are taught entirely or partly in another language, one of the admission requirements for all bachelor/diploma programmes at the University of Vienna is German. 

    Because of this, a proof of language proficiency in German at level C1 is required for the admission to any bachelor/diploma programme.

    Here you can find all information on the required German language skills.

  • Shall I prepare for the OSA? How long does it take and will it be evaluated?

    You do not have to prepare for the OSA. It serves the purpose of evaluating yourself and your previous knowledge.

    Depending on which OSA you do, you will need between 30 and 70 minutes. There is no time limit, so you can take as much time as you need.

    The result of the OSA is only available to you.

  • How long is my admission letter valid?

    You admission letter is valid for two semesters

    • as long as the curriculum does not change and
    • as long as there are no other changes in study law within this time frame.

    This means: You can be admitted within the admission period of the semester which you have applied for or of the following semester. After this you have to submit a new application for admission. 

    Your admission letter for a degree programme without entrance exam procedure was issued from summer semester 2019 to winter semester 2024/25? In this case it is valid for an unlimited time, as long as it does not contain any other notes and the degree is still offered under the same admission requirements at the University of Vienna. 

  • I have interrupted the Online-Self-Assessment. Can I take it again?

    You may interrupt the OSA and continue with it later, however, this is not recommended. 

  • Can I already know before applying which supplementary exams I will have to pass?

    This is not possible as it will be determined individually during the processing of your documents.

  • Can I complete the Online-Self-Assessment anytime?

    Yes, you can complete the OSA anytime. The OSA code is valid for 18 months.

  • My documents are from a non-EU/EEA country. Is there anything else I should keep in mind?

    If your documents are from certain countries, you have to fulfil specific requirements. For example, you need a proof about the university entrance exam, if your secondary-school leaving certificate is from Türkiye. Detailed info about all additionally required documents is available on our website for students from third countries. 

    Please also keep in mind that your documents might also have to be legalised (depending on the issuing country). 

  • I have a GCE ("Britsh A-Levels"). What do I have to bear in mind?

    You can be admitted to a degree programme at the University of Vienna, if your GCE meets the following requirements:

    Four general subjects that are independent from one another have to be completed with grade A*, A, B or C (respectively grades 9 - 4). These subjects must include:

    1. a language
    2. Mathematics
    3. one of the subjects Biology, Physics or Chemistry
    4. a subject of the Humanities

    At least THREE of these subjects must be passed at GCE Advanced Level (A-Level).
    The fourth subject must be passed at the level GCE “Advanced Subsidary Level (=AS-Level) or at the GCSE/IGCSE level respectively.

    If one of the subjects passed at A-Level is German, it can be accepted as proof German language proficiency at level A2 in the admission procedure. This does not replace the proof of German language proficiency at level C1 that is required upon admission.

    Detailed information on the proof of German language proficiency

  • I have previously completed the OSA. Do I have to do it again?

    It can be used if your OSA code is not older than 18 months, and you have not applied for admission with this OSA code yet.

  • I already have a university degree. Can I apply with this certificate instead of my secondary-school leaving certificate?

    Yes, if your higher education degree certificate is from a degree programme with a duration of at least three years (full time or at least 180 ECTS, e.g. a three-year bachelor programme) at a recognised post-secondary educational institution.