Summer semester of 2017: Easing into the start of the semester

Administrative details

The summer semester of 2017 and the lectures start on Wednesday, 1 March 2017 (overview of important dates and deadlines). The general admission period for the summer semester ends on 5 February 2017. The extended admission period runs until 30 April 2017 (detailed information on the admission procedure is available here). Until 5 February currently enrolled students can register online via u:space for an additional bachelor's programme (if they have a secondary-school leaving certificate from EU/EWR-country) or for a consecutive master's programme until 30 April.

Do not forget: In order to continue your studies in the summer semester, you will need to pay your tuition fees/Students' Union fee. There are several ways to pay it. (If you have already paid your tuition fees/Students' Union fee at another university, you still have to re-enrol on your degree programme via u:space in order to continue your studies at the University of Vienna).

Please note: If you make a payment via online banking or payment form, it can take between two and ten working days for the payment to show as paid in the account information in u:space under "Financial matters > Tuition fees/Students’ Union fee". The semester sticker is sent to you by mail to the delivery address indicated in u:space under "Personal matters > Personal data". Moreover, the sticker can also be printed out from two of the five self-service terminals (please read the signs on the terminals) in the Main Building (located in the corridor between the Audimax and the cafeteria in the basement).

Important information for transfer students

Admission at the University of Vienna is also possible in the summer semester except for programmes with entrance examinations. If the number of applicants exceeds the number of available places, an entrance examination and aptitude procedure takes place once a year prior to the respective winter semester, and it applies to the entire academic year.

In addition, the University of Vienna provides an introductory and orientation period (STEOP) in almost all bachelor's, teacher education and diploma programmes (Law, Catholic Theology) in the first semester. The STEOP gives new entrants an insight into their degree programme, so that they can make up their minds whether the programme will meet their expectations and whether they can meet the programme requirements. Completing the STEOP is a prerequisite for continuing with their studies. The studies service centers (SSC) and studies service units (SSS) can tell you whether you can start your studies in the summer semester. Programmes that are currently exempt from the STEOP are Psychology, Mass Media and Communication Science, Sport Science and the teaching subject Sports and Physical Education (range of degree programmes from A to Z and basic information on starting your studies and contact details).

If I have questions about my degree programme, who can I ask?

Student Point can help with many issues regarding the degree programme, but there are also numerous other service points in the University of Vienna that are responsible for various matters, such as registration for courses and examinations, recognitions, problems with the u:account and many other issues.

Student Point primarily provides information on the topics of admission and tuition fees (MailCenter: studentpoint@univie.ac.at, CallCenter: +43-1-4277-10600). On the Student Point website you can find information on the opening hours of the CallCenter and on event dates.

If you have questions concerning ongoing studies (e.g. registering for courses and examinations, recognitions or entering grades, etc.), the best places to approach are the studies service centers (SSC) and studies service units (SSS).

Any questions left unanswered?

At the counselling centre of the Austrian National Union of Students at the University of Vienna you can find the answers and/or the right contact details to help you with unusual queries. And: This is where you get your popular cafeteria sticker (Mensen-Pickerl, giving you a EUR 0.80 discount off every menu in the Mensa) as well as the copying sticker (reduced copy card of the Austrian National Union of Students with 220 copies for EUR 10). The Student Point Forum provides answers to your individual queries. Student Point also offers a list of important service points.

At the beginning of each semester, the students’ representatives at the University of Vienna offer academic advising services for first-semester students, providing advice on the selection of courses, on the curriculum or the examinations that have to be taken, and much more.       
The Psychological Counseling Services provide psychological counselling and support. This service is available for free and can be used confidentially and – if you like – anonymously.

How do I plan my semester?

u:find serves not only as the online course directory but also as the staff and unit directory of the University of Vienna. The course directory outlines all courses including information on the lecturers, registration procedures, e-learning and much more. Additional information on the topic of semester planning is available on the Student Point website.

Digital learning

The website of the Vienna University Computer Center (ZID) provides information about the University's e-learning services. The range of online courses is continually expanding. There are currently 17 lecture halls that offer the necessary equipment: Lecturers can use these facilities to record courses and make the recordings available to students via the e-learning platform.

Getting to know my university

Every Thursday and Saturday there are tours of the Main Building of the University of Vienna (flyer). Tickets are available at the porter's desk in the Aula in the Main Building (discounts for students: EUR 3.50). Everyone who would rather find their way around their new place of study by themselves can borrow an audio guide from the porter.

The following tours are also interesting: tour of the University of Vienna's Campus and special tours of the Klimt faculty pictures in the Main Ceremonial Chamber of the University of Vienna as well as tours on the topics of women at the University of Vienna and rainbow tours on the history of homosexuality at the University of Vienna (available by prior arrangement).

Researching in the University Library

From the start of the semester, the University Library (UB) is once again providing library tours and training in the use of the various catalogues and databases (the dates and times will be available on the Library website under the Services tab in February). The reading rooms and the reference library in the Main Library in the Main Building are open on weekdays until 22:00 and until 18:00 on Saturdays, including during the semester holidays in February 2017 (see opening hours).

Recreation: Sport and Music

Anyone wanting to sign up for one of the many low-cost sport courses and dancing classes offered by the University Sport Institute (USI) should put 20 February 2017 in their diary, as this is the day that registration starts, from 7:00 onwards. You can also register for the courses online. But be quick: the courses are popular and places fill up very fast. The A to Z of courses is available here from the beginning of February, and the actual courses start on 1 March.

The Choir and Orchestra of the University of Vienna is also looking for new members. There are eight choirs organised according to levels and two symphony orchestras that make it the largest choral and orchestral community of Austria, if not of Europe. It is giving concerts in Vienna and also further afield on various tours. Vocal auditions and instrumental auditions start in early March. Further details are available on the Choir and Orchestra website under the "Join us" tab.

Up to speed in languages

The Language Centre offers courses for 30 different languages at different levels, ERASMUS outgoing courses and subject-specific language courses. You have until 21 February 2017 to register for standard courses (once a week, starting on 6 March 2017) or intensive courses (twice a week, starting on 6 March). In addition, counselling is provided for self-assessment in some languages. The Blog Lebendige Sprachen features monthly contributions on the topic of language learning.People who would like to offer lessons in their language in exchange for lessons in another language can sign up for the Language Swap Shop run by the Language Centre.

Up to speed in IT        
                                                                           
In order for you to stay up to date with the latest developments in picture editing, website design and word processing, the Vienna University Computer Center (ZID) offers IT courses every semester. The ZID Helpdesk on the ground floor of the Neues Institutsgebäude (NIG) provides individual advisory sessions for all IT problems.

Other services offered by the University of Vienna for students include: the purchase of low-cost laptops (u:book sales promotion in the summer semester: 20 February until 19 March 2017), u:account (e-mail address, web space, etc.) or using the computer rooms.

For those who work particularly hard

Students can apply for a merit scholarship and check previous applications in u:space under "Financial matters". There are also other grants and project sponsorships. A large number of other sponsorship opportunities are listed in the Austrian Database for Scholarships and Research Grants maintained by the Austrian Agency for International Cooperation in Education and Research (OeAD). 

Gaining work experience

Gaining work experience is a valuable complement to your studies. UNIPORT, the University of Vienna's careers service, provides information about a range of jobs and placements as well as advice on job applications.

The Erasmus+ programme makes stays abroad possible.

Students with children

Students who are also parents can access the services provided by the University of Vienna's Children's Office. These services include advice, child-minding or the Flying Nanny.

Studying with special needs

Information for students with physical or mental impairments can be found on the 'Accessible Studying' website. The Accessible Studying team is available to answer any queries about the accessibility of the university buildings or access arrangements for examinations (e-mail: barrierefrei@univie.ac.at). The Student Advisory Board 'Accessible Studying' is dedicated to supporting disabled and chronically ill students (please also see information clip for new students). The University of Vienna also offers a grant for the specific support of students with disabilities.

Studying further afield ...

Anyone who intends to study abroad as part of their programme will find the information they need at the University of Vienna's International Office. On this website you will find information on application deadlines for ERASMUS, Non-EU Student Exchange and many other mobility schemes.

Until 15 March 2017, you can apply for stays abroad with ERASMUS+ in the winter semester of 2017, the summer semester of 2018 or the entire academic year 2017/18 (detailed information on applications). Information about the places available can be found here.

Evaluating courses

The University of Vienna is very interested in feedback from our students and graduates. The results feed into teaching offers, curriculum development and services for students. Feedback is collected systematically via the Unit for Quality Assurance. Courses are methodically evaluated by students by means of degree programme-specific questionnaires. The analysed feedback is forwarded to our teaching staff, the directorates of studies and the Rectorate (information video).

Up-to-date information everywhere

The University of Vienna's events calendar provides an overview of university events. News from around the University of Vienna and information about current developments in academia can be found on the University of Vienna's website, in the online magazine uni:view, on the University of Vienna's Blog, on the University of Vienna's Facebook page as well as on YouTube, Twitter and Instagram. (red)

*Conditions of participation for online prize draws at the University of Vienna