Planning your semester
At the University of Vienna, you do not get a ready-made schedule, telling you what courses to complete each semester. Rather, you have to plan your semester yourself.
The most important tools for doing so are the student platform u:space and the course directory u:find.
This is how it works:
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Step 1: Pay your tuition fee/Students’ Union fee
At the beginning of the semester, you have to pay your tuition fee/Students’ Union fee. You can check whether your payment was successful in the study overview on u:space. Once you have paid your tuition fee/Students’ Union fee, you are admitted for the current semester and can register for courses.
Information about tuition fee/Students' Union fee
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Step 2: Validate your u:card
As soon as you have paid your tuition fee/Students’ Union fee, you can validate your u:card – the University of Vienna’s student ID card – at one of the u:card terminals. Your u:card is then valid for the duration of the current semester.
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Step 3: Plan your schedule
The website on the University of Vienna's range of degree programmes is a good starting point for planning your schedule. In addition to information about your degree programme, you can also find a link to the curriculum there. The curriculum outlines what achievements you have to complete during your degree programme.
With the help of the semester planner in u:space, you can plan your courses and exams for the current semester and create your personal schedule. In the semester planner, you will find a calendar that shows all planned courses and exams for your degree programmes. This allows you to quickly find and resolve overlapping dates.
Alternatively, you can also use the record of examinations in u:space which outlines the structure of your curriculum. This way, you can see at a glance which achievements you have already completed and which ones you have to complete next.
In the course directory u:find, you can select the specific courses for the current semester. Factors, such as content, time, venue, lecturer, etc., may help you in your decision.
The workload required to complete a course is indicated in the form of ECTS credits. On average, completing a degree programme within its standard duration takes 30 ECTS credits per semester.
Please note that you have to complete an introductory and orientation period (STEOP) at the beginning of every bachelor’s programme before you are allowed to register for any other courses.
In addition to compulsory and elective modules, you will have to complete extension curricula (EC) in almost all bachelor’s programmes. You can register for EC in u:space.
Tips for semester planning in u:find
The course directory u:find offers three help tools for semester planning, which are still known to only a few students:- In the overview of all courses in your degree programme, you can view the details of the course by clicking on the green list icon "More Details".
- If you log in with your u:account, you can compile your personal "watchlist" by clicking on the star next to the course title.
- For each course with existing dates, you can export the dates to your own calendar via an iCal link in the detailed view of the course or subscribe to an Internet calendar via the link.
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Step 4: Register for courses and examinations
As a general rule: You have to register for courses and examinations. Registration is possible via the course directory u:find.
You can only register for courses and examinations within certain registration periods (for courses with continuous assessment, these are usually in September and February). Places for courses/examinations are allocated after this period has ended. Certain courses may have a limited number of study places.
Information about the registration system and the registration deadlines
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Step 5: Complete courses
The first examination date for a course with non-continuous assessment will take place after the last unit of the semester. Subsequently, the university will offer three additional examination dates. The fourth examination attempt has to take place before an examination committee.
Courses with continuous assessment (e.g. seminars, practical courses) do not end with a final examination, but rather require you to complete two or more oral or written partial achievements. These partial achievements are the basis for determining your final grade.
You can find your grade in the record of examinations in u:space.
Further information on ...
- ... the STEOP and planning your studies is provided by the directorate of studies during the orientation course at the beginning of your studies.
- ... the curriculum, registration periods, etc. is available at your studies service center (CCS) or studies service unit (SSS).
- ... the start of your studies and planning your studies is provided by the students’ representatives at the Austrian National Union of Students.
- ... the procedure and modes of assessment of specific courses is provided by the relevant lecturers at the beginning of each semester.
- ... the beginning of your studies is provided at the information events organised by Teaching Affairs and Student Services.