Information for asylum seekers

Asylum seekers, convention refugees, and people granted subsidiary protection who possess a secondary-school leaving certificate and/or a university degree from a non-EU/EEA country may apply for admission to a degree programme at the University of Vienna. The requirements are as follows: you must fulfil the admission requirements and adhere to the application and admission period.

What can I study?

The University of Vienna offers over 150 bachelor, master and doctoral programmes. You can get more detailed information about the programmes offered on the following pages:

• All degree programmes
• StudiesServiceCenters (SSC) and StudiesServiceUnits (SSS) of the degree programmes
• Students’ Union (ÖH) of the University of Vienna 
• Center for Doctoral Studies of the University of Vienna

How do I get admitted to a degree programme?

How do I get admitted to a degree programme?

In order to be admitted to a bachelor/diploma programme at the University of Vienna you are required to possess a secondary-school leaving certificate or to have completed a degree programme of at least three years. Admission to master programmes require the completion of a subject-related bachelor programme.

• You need to provide the required documents in their original or legalised form. If you no longer possess your secondary-school leaving certificate or your higher education degree certificate, you may request a substitute confirmation at the Federal Ministry for Education, Science and Research (BMBWF). Admission is not possible without a secondary-school leaving certificate or higher education degree certificate.
• Documents issued in a language other than German or English additionally require a legally attested translation. Your documents do not require full diplomatic certification, irrespective of the issuing country. However, you need to prove your status as a recognised refugee/asylum seeker (e.g. by means of a convention travel document).

You can submit your application for admission online on u:space. This is only possible during the application period. 

The University of Vienna conducts an entrance exam procedure for select bachelor/diploma programmes. An entrance exam procedure is also conducted for admission to the bachelor programme in Teacher Education. You can apply for admission to these programmes only once per academic year, in spring. The entrance exam procedure for bachelor and diploma programmes is only valid for the winter and summer semester following the procedure. The successfully completed entrance exam procedure for the bachelor programme in Teacher Education it is valid indefinitely.

The bachelor programme in Sport Science (as well as the teaching subject Sports and Physical Education) require the successful participation in the sporting aptitude admission test (only available in German). The test takes place twice per academic year (ahead of the respective winter and summer semester) and is valid for four semesters. Admission to the teaching subject Sports and Physical Education also requires the successful participation in the entrance exam test for the bachelor programme in Teacher Education.

Choose your desired degree programme and follow the step-by-step admission guide.

Is proof of German language proficiency required?

All bachelor/diploma programmes as well as master programmes instructed in German require proof of German language proficiency at level A2 at the time of application. Without such certification you cannot apply for admission.

To be admitted to the degree programme you need a proof of German language proficiency at level C1. If you do not possess such a proof, the supplementary examination in German will be prescribed in your admission letter.  

With this admission letter, you can be admitted as a non-degree student and attend a German course at the University Preparation Programme of the Vienna Universities (VWU) for up to four semesters. 

How much is the tuition fee?

Students who reside in Austria as asylum seekers, recognised refugees (persons entitled to asylum, not displaced persons), or people granted subsidiary protection may take a discounted German language course in the University Preparation Programme of the Vienna Universities (VWU) if they fulfil all admission requirements. You will be admitted as a non-degree student while you attend the VWU. During this time, you are only required to pay the Students’ Union fee.

Otherwise, the tuition fee for degree programmes depends on your citizenship. Asylum seekers, convention refugees, and people granted subsidiary protection may file for equal status with EU/EEA citizens and, if granted, are then exempt from paying the tuition fee for the standard duration of your study programme + two tolerance semesters for a bachelor/diploma or master programme. During this time, you are only required to pay the Students’ Union fee.

Before commencing your studies, please consider how starting a degree programme may impact your financial situation or benefits. Different regulations apply depending on your student or resident status.

• Allowance ("Grundversorgung") for asylum seekers (in German)
• Needs-based minimum benefit for recognised refugees and people granted subsidiary protection (in German)
• Study grant for recognised refugees by the Austrian Study Grant Authority (in German)
• Austrian Database for Scholarships and Research Grants

How can I get my academic diplomas/degrees recognised?

Through the process of nostrification, a foreign university degree can get recognised as equivalent to an Austrian university degree programme. This recognition also entails all rights and duties that follow, such as bearing an academic title and having permission to purse a certain profession, among others.

The official Austrian information centre for international nostrifications in the university field is ENIC NARIC AUSTRIA.

You may file for nostrification at the office of the Studienpräses.

In order to apply for admission to another degree programme, you do not have to have your higher education degree recognised through nostrification. 

How do I organise/plan my studies after the admission?

Once you have been admitted to a degree programme, you may plan your semester and schedule your classes.

If you are in need of assistance, you may reach out to the StudiesServiceCenters (SSC) or StudiesServiceUnit (SSS) of your degree programme. The Student representatives (STV) of your degree programme can also help you with questions related to organising your studies.

During your studies, the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) will offer valuable support. The STEOP-Mentoring programme will help you particularly at the beginning of your studies. Any questions or concerns that you may have can be addressed there, while mentors will also provide insights about organising your study programme and exams as well as useful advice on reading and studying techniques.