Studying abroad
Are you interested in studying abroad? You can find out more about the different opportunities here .
On this website you will find all the information on the ERASMUS programmes offered in our field of study. Please read the information carefully. If you have further questions, please turn to the mobility
coordinators of our field of study.
Please make sure you also read the International Office's checklist and information sheet carefully as they provide important general information. You can find these lists on the right ("Quick Info").
2. Requirements
The ERASMUS programme aims at regular students of the University of Vienna who have completed at least three semesters in the relevant field of study or completed at least 25-30 ECTS of the relevant study program by the start of their ERASMUS stay.
We generally recommend to take advantage of the ERASMUS exchange program during the Master studies.
Language certificate
For all non-German-speaking partner universities a language certificate which is not older than four years is required for the application.The required language proficiency is prescribed by the host university (at least B1). The specific requirements can be found here for each place. Please contact your favored university in order to find out the specific language requirements and whether additional language certificates such as TOEFL, IELTS etc are required.
Take into account that a language certificate in the respective national language is required for francophone universities in Belgium and Switzerland and all partner universities in France, Italy, Spain and Portugal.
Universities outside anglophone or Romance-speaking countries (e.g. Scandinavian or Eastern European countries) usually demand English language certificates. Please also make sure that the host university offers a sufficient amount of suitable courses in English.
The proof of an adequate language level has to be provided by the time of application. If applying for several countries with different language requirements, several certificates may be required.
3. Application deadlines
Places for the winter semester, for the summer semester and for the whole academic year are assigned during the main application phase. Any remaining available places for the summer semester are assigned during a second phase in autumn.
At our department application deadlines are as follows:
Main phase: Applications will be accepted until 25th February of each year. Please bring the required documents to the mobility coordinator. The available places will be announced here (in German) mid/end of January.
Application for remaining places:
The application dates can be found on the website of the International Office. Available places will be announced mid/end of January, the remaining places mid-September here.
There are no earlier deadlines for the application at our department.
4. Application Procedure
There are several steps to be completed during the application. The International Office provides detailed information on their website and during information sessions.
Application to the mobility coordinator
You need to submit your application to the mobility coordinator. The following documents are required:
- Transcript of records
- CV
- Letter of motivation
- Language certificate
Please submit the application documents to the mobility coordinator via email. We recommend to visit the coordinator personally.
Selection criteria:
1. Formal qualifications are fulfilled
2. Academic achievements and progress
3. Contents and argumentation in your letter of motivation
When discussing with your coordinator please bring along the following
- Print out of the nomination form. After finishing the registration please print the corresponding data (http://erasmus.univie.ac.at/)
- Letter of motivation: please provide good reasoning for your stay abroad and do not exceed half a page. Add name, matr.nr and date. Please consider that your stay can also be used for research work in a laboratory. If you plan to do so you have to participate in a research project for 40 hrs per week. In this case your application will only be successful if you provide a letter of acceptance from a group leader of the host University
Language Certificate
- Short CV
- Copy of a recent Transcript of records
Nomination
If your application has been accepted by the mobility coordinator, they will nominate you for an ERASMUS stay. The students who have been nominated will be contacted by the International Office via email informing them about the documents and forms that they will have to submit.
5. Course Choice and Learning Agreement
Learning Agreement
The Learning Agreement informs your host university about the courses and the amount of ECTS credits you are going to take during your stay. Detailed information on the Learning Agreement can be found here.
Please gather information on the course offer at your host university, compare their study plan to ours and talk to the departmental coordinator about the courses you will be taking. Have the Learning Agreement signed by the study programme director ("Studienprogrammleitung").
You'll have to find out when the Learning Agreement has to be submitted to your host university. It lies within your responsibility that the host university receives the Learning Agreement in time (most universities require the document as part of the application procedure). Should the host university not require the learning agreement for your application/registration, please take it with you and discuss the courses with the local International Office upon your arrival.
ETCS and courses
In general, students should obtain 30 ECTS credits during an ERASMUS semester. Details are part of the agreement between the student and the OeAD Gmbh, more information can be found here.
Should you do research for your Master Thesis or PhD Thesis during your ERASMUS stay, this is stated in the Learning Agreement by the title of the thesis and the signature of your supervisor. You shouldn't have to take any classes in this case, however, many host universities will want you to take one or two classes anyway.
If you want to only carry out research lab work at the host University you should participate in a research project for 40 hrs per week. In this case your application will only be successful if you provide a letter of acceptance from a group leader of the host University already with your application.
Please find out which courses incoming students are allowed to take at your host university. In order to make the course choice easier, it is recommended saving optional courses (freie Wahlfächer/Wahlfächer) for the ERASMUS stay. In our field of study there are no particular requirements regarding your choice of courses.
Changes to the Learning Agreement
In most cases, the course catalogue for your ERASMUS semester will not be published before a few weeks before the semester start. Since you have to submit your ERASMUS application a lot earlier than that, it is understandable if you need to make some changes to your course programme later on. Please inform the study programme director about any changes to your Learning Agreement as soon as possible. This is the only way to make sure that your choices will be recognised after your return.
How you make changes to your Learning Agreement is explained here. Please also find out how the matter is addressed at your host university. Once the Learning Agreement is signed by all parties, please send a copy to the International Office via email.
6. Course recognition
After your ERASMUS stay you'll have to complete the form "Antrag auf Anerkennung" with your study programme director, so that the credits can be transferred to your study programme in Vienna. You will also need a transcript of records from the host university to do this. Please hand in a copy of the signed form, the signed Learning Agreement and the transcript of records at the International Office.
Further advice on course recognition:
- Please ALWAYS discuss the courses that you are doing abroad with your study programme director (including changes to the course programme).
- Credit transfer/course recognition is usually easier for optional courses ("Wahlfächer" - diploma study programme or "Alternative Erweiterungen" - BA/MA), than for compulsory courses. It is therefore advisable to spare at least some of these courses for your ERASMUS stay.
- If you have been nominated for an ERASMUS stay via a complementary study program ("Erweiterungscurriculum"), you need to contact the respective study programme director regarding credit transfer.