Study in Austria: university preparation programmes
How to improve your language skills and prepare for admissions tests
Want to study in Austria? Don’t have the language skills? Need to take a supplementary exam? Read on to find out about the programmes that will help you to prepare...
Universities around Austria offer different options for preparation programmes and you may need to travel to a different university than the one you intend to do your degree with. One option is University Preparation Programmes through the OeAD. These programmes prepare international students who have been admitted to study at an Austrian university for supplementary examinations. Programmes are offered in:
- German as a foreign language
- English, Maths, physics, chemistry, biology, history and geography
Example programme - Vienna
Around 900 students who have been offered a place on a degree programme at one of the
6 participating universities in Vienna attend a University Preparation Programme each year. They are enrolled as non-degree programme students at their university and must pass the preparation course to take up their offered place at their university.
Programmes last one semester - the winter semester is October to February and the summer semester is March to June. Each university has strict enrolment deadlines so make sure you check with your institution.
German programmes have 22 to 24 lessons per week. Fees are 1,180 EUR per programme (reduced fees of 480 EUR for students from certain countries) plus 30 EUR for materials.
Note: You can only apply to one of these programmes after you have been accepted by a participating university.
Alternative programmes
Another option is a German Preparation or International Foundation Programmes. Each programme is different and you can find details and application forms on their websites.
Examples are:
University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria - German Preparation Programme. Students require some basic German language skills to apply to this programme and will be interviewed in German and English. The programme lasts 1.5 years and costs 3,600 EUR.
University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria - International Foundation Programme in Maths, Physics, English and German (options are available for students with no existing German language skills). The programme takes 1-2 years and costs 3,600 EUR per year.
Universitat Salzburg - German Preparation Programme. No prior German language skills are required. The programme is 3 - 4 semesters long at a cost of 630 EUR per semester.
For further information, visit the OeAD website here.