Study Law
Part of the Statutes governing university studies

§ 1. (1) This part of the Statutes applies to all degree programmes and non-degree programmes at the University of Vienna.

(2) Those responsibilities assumed by the director of studies according to the stipulations of this part of the Statutes, are, for university continuing education and training programmes, assumed by the programmes’ academic heads appointed by the Rectorate.

Development of degree programmes and curricula

Degree programmes

§ 2. (1) The curricula for bachelor’s, master’s and diploma programmes as well as university continuing education and training programmes are divided into modules. A module is a compilation of taught content and learning outcomes relating to meaningful thematic and didactic units of study. The designations and learning outcomes of the individual modules as well as the amount of ECTS credits to be obtained within each module and the type of assessment are specified in the relevant curriculum. Each examination or course with continuous assessment must be assigned to a module. These provisions also apply to extension curricula which are a special form of a supplementary range of studies. Courses and examinations that students have completed in addition to the compulsory requirements for completing the degree programme are assigned to a module chosen according to interest.

(2) The curriculum may specify the language or languages in which the degree programme or individual parts of the degree programme are taught. The curriculum has to specify the required level of language proficiency for the relevant degree programme, extension curriculum or module.

(3) The curriculum has to specify whether the achievement of the learning outcomes and students’ competences in the modules are assessed either by passing all specified course exams and courses with continuous assessment or by passing a module examination. A module examination may be combined with one or more courses with continuous assessment in a module (combined module examination). The examinations within a module are, based on the provisions set out in this part of the Statutes, administered and assessed independently from each other.

(4) The curriculum may specify that taking a module examination is subject to the presentation of an independent written achievement which has to be assessed by the examiner within the framework of the module examination. A written achievement cannot be re-used when taking other examinations. Detailed provisions, especially the requirements for the written achievement and the workload, are specified in the curriculum and announced to the students prior to the examination in due time.

(6) The curriculum may only specify the following dependencies between courses, examinations and other appropriate proof of prior knowledge instead of examinations (section 58, para. 7 of the Universities Act):

 

1. within a module: courses, examinations and other appropriate proof as a prerequisite for completing the other components of the module;

 

2. between modules: the full completion of modules as a prerequisite for the completion of further modules;

 

3. in particularly justified cases: other appropriate proof as well as individual courses or examinations from a module as a prerequisite for the completion of other modules.

 

These provisions also apply to students who register to attend individual courses, for courses and examinations that are recognised in their degree programme as part of elective modules, as part of the module chosen according to interest or as part of an individual degree programme.

(7) In the curricula of the bachelor’s and diploma programmes, some modules have to be defined as ‘introductory and orientation period’ (Studieneingangs- und Orientierungsphase) in accordance with section 66 of the Universities Act. Students who have successfully completed the introductory and orientation period pursuant to section 66 of the Universities Act, are entitled to complete courses and take examinations from other degree programmes within the framework of elective modules and alternative extensions or as part of the module chosen according to interest, subject to the curriculum for the other degree programme (para. 6) and the available places. Even before completing the introductory and orientation period, students are entitled to attend courses supporting their studies and accompanying the introductory and orientation period, which are announced on u:find, subject to available places.

(8) In master’s, diploma and doctoral programmes, students have to write an academic thesis (master’s thesis, diploma thesis, doctoral thesis or equivalent proof in accordance with section 81, para. 1 of the Universities Act). The positive assessment of the master’s thesis, diploma thesis or doctoral thesis is the prerequisite for the registration for the final examination in accordance with section 9 of this part of the Statutes.

(8a) For combined master’s and doctoral programmes, a master’s thesis has to be completed to obtain a master’s degree according to the rules of this part of the Statutes and a doctoral thesis has to be completed to obtain a doctoral degree according to the rules of this part of the Statutes. Their positive assessment is the prerequisite for the registration for the final examination. The curriculum of the combined master’s and doctoral programme has to specify a final examination both for obtaining the master’s degree and for obtaining the doctoral degree pursuant to section 9 of this part of the Statutes.

(9) Extension curricula serve the study of subjects which are not a core part of the degree programme. Curricula may specify the completion of extension curricula comprising up to 60 ECTS credits. Extension curricula are initially established for six semesters and can be extended. If an extension curriculum is no longer offered, a period of one semester or two semesters has to be set to phase out the extension curriculum. Limiting the number of participants in extension curricula is permissible in justified cases subject to the condition that the duration of study is not prolonged due to the entire range of extension curricula. Extension curricula may specify the successful completion of another extension curriculum as a prerequisite. Students have the right to complete alternative extensions comprising 15 ECTS credits in lieu of an extension curriculum, without compromising other regulations in the curriculum. The Senate specifies the details by way of a regulation.

Courses

§ 5. (1) Courses support students in achieving learning outcomes. The extent of a course is measured in hours per week per semester, the study achievement is measured in ECTS credits. One hour per week per semester corresponds to the number of teaching units measured in weeks of teaching in a semester. One teaching unit lasts for 45 minutes.

(2) If the curriculum does not contain a provision on the use of foreign languages (section 2, para. 2), it is permissible to hold a course exclusively or predominantly in a foreign language, provided that this was announced on u:find before the start of the registration period and alternative non-foreign language courses are offered in the relevant semesters that serve the same examination purpose.

(3) Basically, the form in which a course is held is determined by the responsible lecturer. In agreement with the leadership team member of the faculty or centre responsible for teaching, the director of studies can decide whether a course has to be held in a digital or hybrid form or on site before it is assigned (to ensure study feasibility). If the specifications differ, agreement will be sought with the responsible lecturer of the respective course before the assignment, taking into account the respective content and didactic reasons.

(4) A course delivered in block-mode is deemed to be a course which is not held over the course of an entire semester but has a corresponding higher number of hours per week. Courses delivered in block-mode may also be held in periods when there are no classes. Holding a course in block-mode is permitted for important reasons if this is specified in the assignment of the course or if the director of studies approves it at the request of the responsible lecturer. An assignment or approval of a block-mode course held in the period when there are no classes should not replace existing courses during the semester, as a rule.

Examinations in the form of a single examination

General provisions

§ 6. (1) Module examinations and subject examinations, course exams and final examinations are examinations which are held in the form of a single examination.

(2) Courses which lead to these examinations according to para. 1 do not have an attendance requirement. The responsible lecturer has to take appropriate measures to ensure that students who are unable to attend their courses can still pass the associated examinations in accordance with the learning outcomes and within the framework of the ECTS workload. This includes in particular the provision of teaching materials and written learning documents or the recording of courses. In agreement with the examiners, examination literature for module or subject examinations is specified in a coordinated manner.

(3) To encourage students to study actively and continuously throughout the course, bonus achievements may be used in courses leading to examinations in accordance with para. 1. These bonus achievements must be related to the course’s learning outcomes, and should extend and consolidate them. Bonus achievements must be designed in such a way that students who do not participate in the courses or do not complete bonus achievements can also pass the corresponding examination with the best possible grade. By successfully completing all bonus achievements, students can improve their assessment by one grade. The completion of the bonus achievements alone may not result in a positive assessment. The rules governing the completion of bonus achievements and their period of validity are determined by the responsible lecturer in consultation with the examiner. Bonus achievements must be documented in a comprehensible manner.

(4) The examination dates or the examination periods are set by the director of studies. The director of studies is entitled to delegate this decision to the examiners.

(5) Setting examination dates at the beginning and at the end of a period when there are no classes is permissible. When setting the dates, it has to be considered, if applicable, that students do not suffer a disadvantage thereof. It is permissible to offer additional examination dates in the period when there are no classes.

(6) Students have to register for or deregister from examinations within the specified periods. The director of studies announces the regulations regarding the registration procedure, including the periods for registration and deregistration and decides whether a student can take an examination after examining the fulfilment of the requirements specified in the curriculum. Duly registered students are entitled to the administration of the examination on the examination date.

(7) Lecturers and examiners must provide students with the legally required information about the examinations (section 76 of the Universities Act), about the specifications based on this provision and about the permitted materials for the examination in due time before the start of the registration period via u:find.

(8) Students who have failed to appear at an examination and have neither deregistered from the examination in due time nor provided a legitimate reason for their failure to deregister are blocked for the next examination date by the director of studies. Students may thus not register for the next examination date. They are not assessed. The failure to appear is not documented in the transcript of records. The director of studies can remove the blockage for the next examination date if the student can credibly demonstrate a legitimate reason for their failure to deregister from the examination in due time.

(9) Students who take an examination and can credibly demonstrate a legitimate reason for discontinuing the examination are deregistered from the examination date. They are not assessed. The examination attempt is not documented in the transcript of records. If the examiner or the chair of the examination committee does not consider the reason given by the student a legitimate reason, the following applies:

 

1. Before entering the assessment into the electronic examination management system, the examiner or chair of the examination committee has to consult with the director of studies regarding whether or not a legitimate reason exists.

 

2. If they do not consider the reason given by the student a legitimate reason for discontinuing the examination and the examination has been assessed, students may submit an application for deregistration due to a legitimate reason to the Studienpräses within four weeks of the assessment.

 

Module examinations and subject examinations

§ 7. (1) A module examination is a written or oral examination on the learning outcomes of a module specified in the curriculum in the form of a single examination. A subject examination is an examination on the material of a clearly defined subject in the form of a single examination.

(1a) In principle, the examiners determine the form in which the examination is held. In agreement with the leadership team member of the faculty or centre responsible for teaching, the director of studies can decide, upon hearing the examiners, whether a module examination or subject examination has to be held in a digital or hybrid form or on site. If the specification of the examiners and the decision of the director of studies differ, the results of the hearing are documented by the responsible office-holders. The decision must be justified. The decision has to be published on u:find in good time before the start of the respective registration period. It may also apply to several examination dates. The director of studies in agreement with the leadership team member of the faculty or centre responsible for teaching may change this specification or decision for important reasons (e.g. force majeure) at a later point in time. Likewise, oral examinations may be scheduled instead of written examinations if this is justifiable in terms of examination didactics and if the examiners agree. The change must be announced in good time. In the event of changes during the semester, section 76, para. 4 of the Universities Act applies.

(2) The director of studies has to appoint persons having authorisation to teach and, if required, also other eligible persons to examiners. The collaboration of several examiners in the preparation and assessment is permitted. The director of studies appoints an examiner who is responsible for conducting the examination. The collaboration of examiners has to be documented corresponding to their effort.

(3) For subject examinations and module examinations, three examination dates (at the beginning, in the middle and the end of) every semester are set. As a rule, this also applies to module examinations in the introductory and orientation period, whereby an examination date can be in the period when there are no classes in accordance with section 66, para. 2 of the Universities Act.

(4) Examiners must provide students with the legally required information about the examinations (section 76 of the Universities Act), about the specifications based on this provision and about the permitted materials for the examination in good time before the start of the registration period via u:find.

Course exams

§ 8. (1) A course exam serves the purpose of examining the knowledge and skills acquired in a course without continuous assessment.

(2) Examination dates are set for the semester in which the course is held after its completion as well as at the beginning, in the middle and at the end of the next semester of the course.

(3) Lecturers and/or examiners must provide students with the legally required information about the examinations (section 76 of the Universities Act), about the specifications based on this provision and about the permitted materials for the examination in good time before the start of the semester via u:find.

Final examinations

§ 9. (1) The final examination is the last examination leading to the completion of a degree programme.

(2) In diploma programmes (including a diploma thesis), master’s programmes, doctoral programmes and combined master’s and doctoral programmes, the final examination is an oral examination in the form of a single examination before an examination committee. It takes the form of a public defence of the diploma thesis, master’s thesis or doctoral thesis and includes an oral defence of the academic thesis in terms of content and methodology, including the opportunity to review compliance with good academic practice (section 2a of the HS-QSG, Austrian act on quality assurance in higher education) and the oral examination before an examination committee in the form of a single examination. Any claimed economic or legal interests particularly worthy of protection relating to the academic thesis (section 86 of the Universities Act) have to be taken into account in the context of the public defence. In the master’s programme, the oral examination covers the academic disciplines related to the master’s thesis and other subjects specified in the curriculum. The scope of the subjects is to be determined in accordance with the ECTS credits obtained for the examination. In the doctoral programme, the oral examination includes the academic discipline of the doctoral thesis and related subject areas. The public defence is open to the public.

(3) A comprehensive examination is an examination completing a diploma programme or master’s programme in the form of a single examination before an examination committee. Detailed provisions are specified in the curriculum.

(4) Students who meet the requirements for graduation, with exception of the final examination, register with the director of studies. The director of studies appoints an examination committee consisting of at least three persons who are qualified in the respective field, in accordance with section 14 and section 15 after examining the requirements specified in the curriculum. The director of studies must either chair the examination committee themselves or appoint an examiner to chair the examination committee.

(5) If the final examination consists of several parts, the examiners must determine the scope of the examination content in accordance with the curriculum and inform the students in writing when they register for the examination.

(6) The consultation on the assessment is a non-public meeting of the examination committee. The examination committee assesses the public defence. When examination subjects are to be addressed as part of the final examination, the examination committee assesses each examination subject individually. The decisions of the examination committee are taken by a majority of votes. If the examination committee cannot reach a majority decision on the assessment, the arithmetic mean is calculated from the assessments proposed by the members. If the result is a value whose decimal place is less than or equal to 5, it has to be rounded down to the better grade.

(7) Immediately after the successful completion of the public defence or the comprehensive examination, the chair of the examination committee, at the student’s request, issues a confirmation that is intended to be submitted within the framework of an admission procedure for further studies at domestic and foreign educational institutions or at authorities. It certifies the successful completion of the last examination required for graduation. This confirmation is valid for a period of six weeks as of the issuing date.

Courses with continuous assessment

§ 10. (1) A course with continuous assessment constitutes an examination which covers the entire duration of the course and includes at least two oral or written partial achievements to be completed.

(2) If the lecturer specifies an attendance requirement in courses with continuous assessment, they must announce this on u:find. An attendance requirement may be specified in particular if the active participation or collaboration of the students is necessary to achieve the teaching objectives and learning outcomes or if students have to complete partial achievements. If students credibly show that they are not able to participate for a legitimate reason, the responsible lecturer may waive the attendance requirement. Compliance with the attendance requirement is a minimum requirement for a positive assessment.

(3) The individual partial achievements have to be considered for the assessment by the responsible lecturer in an appropriate, fair and comprehensible manner.

(4) Any written partial achievement that extends over a longer period of time, has the largest influence on the assessment of the course with continuous assessment and is not a prerequisite for further partial achievements is deferred to the student for improvement in the event of a negative assessment. This applies to bachelor’s papers in particular. The responsible lecturer clearly communicates the criteria for successful improvement. The student is given a reasonable amount of time to improve the partial achievement. The deadlines pursuant to para. 5 must be observed.

(5) The responsible lecturer of the course with continuous assessment is entitled to allow the submission of a written contribution or the improvement of a partial achievement according to para. 4 to courses held in the winter semester until the following 30 April, and to courses held in the summer semester until the following 30 September. For block-mode courses which are exclusively held in a period when there are no classes, this period may not exceed three months, starting with the last course unit.

(6) Lecturers and examiners must provide students with the legally required information (section 76 of the Universities Act), about the specifications based on this provision and about the permitted materials for each partial achievement before the start of the registration period via u:find.

(7) The binding registration for courses with continuous assessment is implemented as a procedure defined by the Rectorate, upon hearing the director of studies. This procedure ensures the appropriate distribution of places in courses and the control of the compliance with the requirements for the registration for the courses. This has to be announced in the University Gazette in due time. The director of studies announces the regulations for the registration procedure, including the registration and deregistration periods before the beginning of the semester on u:find and decides on the allocation of places in the course after examining the fulfilment of the conditions in the curriculum. The director of studies is entitled to appropriately increase the number of participants as specified in the curriculum for courses with continuous assessment, taking into account the teachers’ didactic concepts and the available rooms and safety provisions after hearing the teacher, if students might be delayed in their study time and if the available teaching budget is not sufficient to offer additional parallel courses.

(8) Registered students who did not appear at the first course unit without stating important reasons, are deregistered from the course by the responsible lecturer. The vacant places are allocated in accordance with the procedure pursuant to para. 7. All students who received a place in the course are assessed if they have not deregistered from the course in due time (para. 7) or if they have not credibly shown an important reason for their failure to deregister after the cause for this reason does no longer apply.

(9) Students who, after being admitted to the course with continuous assessment, demonstrate an important reason for discontinuing the course with continuous assessment as soon as possible are deregistered from the course with continuous assessment. They are not assessed. This is not documented in the transcript of records. If the responsible lecturer does not consider the reason given by the student an important reason, the following applies:

 

1. Before entering the assessment into the electronic examination management system, the responsible lecturer has to consult with the director of studies regarding whether or not a legitimate reason exists.

 

2. If they do not consider the reason given by the student an important reason for discontinuing the course with continuous assessment and the student has been assessed, students may submit an application for deregistration due to an important reason to the Studienpräses within four weeks of the assessment.

 

(10) A negatively assessed course with continuous assessment has to be retaken by completing a course with continuous assessment that serves the same examination purpose once again. An assessment by an examination committee is not permissible.

Alternative modes of assessment

§ 11. (1) Students have to submit applications for alternative modes of assessment in accordance with section 59 of the Universities Act to the director of studies. The director of studies announces the relevant deadlines to ensure that the applications and required proof of impairment can be checked formally and a decision can be made. Furthermore, it should allow for making necessary changes to the mode of assessment for future examination dates and courses with continuous assessment.

(2) Based on the learning outcomes, the stipulated examinations and course types in the curriculum, the director of studies decides on the type of disadvantage compensation for the alternative mode of assessment. The duration is derived from the impairment for which the student has provided proof. If the student does not agree with this immediate decision, the Studienpräses decides by means of official notice. The student may appeal against the decision (article 130, para. 1 of the Federal Constitutional Law).

(3) The director of studies arranges for the modified implementation of the examination or course with continuous assessment. The leadership team member of the faculty or centre responsible for teaching provides the necessary material resources and personnel.

(4) Students are obliged to cooperate even after a decision has been made or an official notice has been issued, by means of timely notification as to whether they wish to take an examination at a specified date or attend a course with an alternative mode of assessment. If students do not meet this obligation to cooperate, they cannot make use of the alternative mode of assessment. The director of studies sets the relevant deadlines.

Administration of examinations

§ 12. (1) The examiner has to ask for a proof of the student’s identity in an appropriate manner. Students are obliged to prove their identity with a photo identity card. Students who are not duly registered for an examination are not allowed to participate in an examination.

(2) For written examinations, students are assigned appropriate workplaces and rooms that ensure a proper, unimpaired and effective administration of the examination. The director of studies has to provide for a competent examination invigilator.

(3) Oral examinations are open to the public. The examiner or the chair of an examination committee is, if applicable, entitled to limit the access to the examination to a number of persons according to the spatial conditions. Students are entitled to take oral examinations in the presence of a person of trust.

(3a) For examinations held by electronic means of communication, the statutory provisions (in particular sections 76a and 79 of the Universities Act as amended) and the provisions of this part of the Statutes apply.

(4) During the examination, students are given the opportunity to demonstrate the level of knowledge and skills acquired and the status of the learning outcomes achieved. The examiner has to hold the examination in a fair manner and refrain from anything that may discredit students or destroy their personal dignity. The examiner or the chair of the examination committee is obliged to keep an examination record in accordance with section 79 of the Universities Act.

(5) The content, scope and number of questions and issues as well as the duration of the examination have to consider the content and scope of the examination content according to the provisions of the curriculum.

(6) Students who use unauthorised aids or violate good academic practice in examinations or in partial achievements in courses with continuous assessment are not assessed. The examination attempt is documented separately in the transcript of records and counts towards the admissible number of examination attempts. Prior to the entry of this information, the director of studies documents the facts (in particular in the form of a file note or seizure of evidence). Students may request the deletion of the examination attempt in the transcript of records from the Studienpräses within four weeks of entry. Appeals against the official notice rejecting the deletion request to the Federal Administrative Court are admissible (article 130, para. 1 of the Federal Constitutional Law).

(7) The director of studies is entitled, in agreement with the Rectorate and the Studienpräses, to specify the necessary rules for examinations in their area of competence, beyond the law or the provisions laid down in these Statutes. The studies conference is to be heard. The details have to be published on u:find.

Retaking examinations

§ 13. (1) The permitted number of examination attempts conforms with the statutory provisions (section 77 of the Universities Act as amended).

(2) The following applies to examination attempts that have to be held before an examination committee on the basis of the statutory provisions (section 77, para. 3 of the Universities Act): The director of studies appoints an examination committee consisting of at least three persons who are qualified in the respective field, in accordance with section 14 and section 15. The director of studies must either chair the examination committee themselves or assign an examiner to chair the examination committee.

(3) The consultation on the assessment of the examination before an examination committee is a non-public meeting of the examination committee. The decisions of the examination committee are taken by a majority of votes. If the examination committee cannot reach a majority decision on the assessment, the arithmetic mean is calculated from the assessments proposed by the members. If the result is a value whose decimal place is less than or equal to 5, it has to be rounded down to the better grade.

(4) In case the curriculum specifies a relevant provision, the replacement of a negatively assessed course exam or course with continuous assessment with another examination serving the same examination purpose is possible any time.

(5) For retaking positively assessed examinations, section 77, para. 1 of the Universities Act applies. The positively assessed examination becomes void when the examination is retaken. The completion of several course exams or courses with continuous assessment serving the same examination purpose is permissible given the consent of the director of studies in accordance with the available remaining places. Students may informally replace positively assessed course exams or courses with continuous assessment with course exams or courses with continuous assessment which are better assessed and serve the same examination purpose until the completion of the module, of the stage of the degree programme or of the degree programme to which the course exam or course with continuous assessment is allocated. The replaced course exams or courses with continuous assessment, as well as any additionally completed courses, are listed in the transcript of records (the former in the module chosen according to interest). However, the former do not influence the overall assessment.

(6) If a degree programme contains elective options, the student’s choice becomes binding when the last possible examination attempt is taken, and the relevant examination is deemed to be a prescribed examination in accordance with section 71 of the Universities Act with the associated legal consequences.

(7) If an examination which is part of an extension curriculum is assessed negatively following the last possible examination attempt, students are no longer permitted to complete the respective extension curriculum. Students can still select other extension curricula and take the required examinations.

Conducting digital exams

§ 13e. (1) In addition to the provisions mentioned above, the following regulations apply to digital oral exams:

 

1. Digital oral exams take place by means of a video conferencing tool of the University of Vienna.

 

2. If a student wishes to have a person of trust present, this person has to either connect to the examination or, if physically present in the same room, sit behind the candidate in the field of view of the camera.

 

3. As part of their obligation to cooperate, students have to prepare the room before the examination in such a way that their right to privacy is guaranteed and the examination can be conducted without disruption. In individual cases, especially in suspicious cases, the examiner can request students to pan their camera across the room subject to the best possible adherence to the right to privacy, to ensure that no further person outside of the camera’s view or unauthorised aids are present in the room.

 

4. Students must prove their identity with a photo identity card.

 

5. During an examination before an examination committee all examiners must be connected. The examiners decide on the assessment in a non-public, if needed digital, meeting without the student being connected.

 

6. If there are reasonable grounds for suspecting that the student uses unauthorised aids, the examiner discontinues the exam. The provisions on the use of unauthorised aids in the Statutes apply.

 

(2) An examination record must be kept, which is forwarded electronically to the student upon request.

(3) The regulations must also be observed for partial achievements that are completed orally by digital means as part of a course with continuous assessment. Instead of live presentations, the teachers can also permit students to present their recorded presentations and hold a subsequent live discussion.

§ 13f. (1) The digital written exam is held exclusively via the central electronic platform for conducting digital written exams as specified by the Rectorate. Students have to log in via their u:account, thereby confirming their identity.

(2) In case of digital written exams, at least one competent person is announced who is available for questions about the examination and in the event of (technical) problems immediately before, during and after the examination.

(3) If students experience any technical issues, they have to inform the examiners or invigilators immediately. If students interrupt the examination without stating a legitimate reason or if they do not submit it within the specified time period, they fail the examination (grade: “insufficient”).

(4) An examination record must be kept, which is forwarded electronically to the student upon request. Students have to be provided with the opportunity to view examination documents. In the case of multiple choice questions, there is no right to electronic transmission or copying of the examination questions including the respective answer options. In this case, students have to be provided with the opportunity to view examination documents on site (section 79 of the Universities Act).

(5) The regulations also apply to written partial achievements that are completed by digital means as part of courses with continuous assessment.

(6) If an examination before an examination committee takes place in written form, all committee members assess the performance.

Quality assurance of written examinations and partial achievements

§ 13g. (1) The University of Vienna uses the following instruments to prevent the use of unauthorised aids, to ensure the independence of student performance and to assure good academic practice (section 2a, para. 2 of the Austrian act on quality assurance in higher education) for written examinations and for written partial achievements in courses with continuous assessment:

 

1. programmes to detect plagiarism or text similarities

 

2. oral questions to check the plausibility of answers in written examinations and partial achievements

 

3. oral questions to check the plausibility of whether the student has prepared the written partial achievement independently and without the use of unauthorised aids and whether the student knows the academic sources and methods used and has included them in the written partial achievement.

 

(2) In case of written examinations and partial achievements that were not held or completed digitally, the instruments are used in the event of suspicion. In all other cases, the instruments can be used on a random basis and without concrete suspicion. Students have an obligation to cooperate in the application of these instruments. The examiner has to announce that they have oral follow-up questions and has to ask these questions within four weeks of the student taking the examination or submitting their written achievement at the latest.

(3) If instruments are used or if students impair the use of instruments, the examiner prepares a record and attaches it to the examination record. If a student impairs the use of the instruments, the examination or course with continuous assessment is not assessed. Section 12, para. 6 applies.

(4) No numerical assessment (grading) is made on the basis of this provision. Before initiating the necessary steps under study law in accordance with section 12, para. 6, the examiner discusses the result with the director of studies. They decide on the further course of action.

Validation of learning outcomes

§ 13h. (1) The following standards are the criteria used in the process of validating learning outcomes of qualifications according to section 78, para. 3 of the Universities Act:

 

1. the current state of research and its teaching;

 

2. the objectives of the relevant modules and/or courses as specified in the relevant curriculum.

 

(2) The applicant has to provide proof of the qualifications pursuant to section 78, para. 3 of the Universities Act by presenting suitable documentation (section 78, para. 4, sub-para. 3 of the Universities Act). If the learning outcomes and competences applied for cannot be determined based on the documents provided, the Studienpräses may arrange for an assessment (e.g. validation talk, random sampling test, work samples) by competent employees of the academic university staff.

Deviating digital modes for special groups of students

§ 13i. (1) In case of force majeure (such as natural disasters, pandemics) or in case of comparable severe restrictions in emergency situations (such as war or war-like situations), the Rectorate may enact deviating regulations for students who are directly affected by the relevant situation and who are able to complete a partial achievement as part of a course with continuous assessment online or take an examination in a digital format, but who are unable to participate on site. The regulations must specify the special circumstances and stipulate the members of the group of students affected. The Studienpräses, the chair of the Senate as well as the representative of the Union of Students at the University of Vienna must be consulted before the regulation is adopted. The regulation must be effective for no more than two years. Extensions of the regulation for no more than two further years at a time are permissible after consulting the relevant bodies again and provided that the prerequisites still apply.

(2) The students subject to the regulation immediately notify the examiners/responsible lecturers of the impossibility of taking a certain examination or completing a partial achievement on site, but no later than seven days before the examination date/date of the completion of the partial achievement. If the reason for non-attendance was unforeseeable, this notification can be made no later than three days before the examination date/date of the completion of the partial achievement. According to section 6, para. 8, students are allowed to credibly show a legitimate reason for their failure to deregister in due time if the reason for non-attendance was unforeseeable. Students have to credibly demonstrate that they meet the requirements according to para. 1 (member of the group specified in the regulation, impossibility to participate on site). If examiners/responsible lecturers or the director of studies have doubts, they can request students to provide proof.

(3) If possible, the examiners/responsible lecturers adapt the course of action of the examination/partial achievement to a deviating digital alternative mode or to a suitable substitute achievement in these individual cases. The achievement of the learning outcomes has to be assessed adequately to ensure that the quality can be maintained. Suitable adaptations are in particular partial achievements to be completed in writing, live connections to the course, or digital oral exams instead of written examinations on site. The adapted examination or partial achievement takes place closely to the original examination date or date of the completion of the partial achievement. Students who do not meet the requirements according to para. 1 are not entitled to take a course or complete a partial achievement in this adapted mode.

(4) If the responsible lecturer or the examiner in agreement with the director of studies finds that an adaptation to a deviating digital mode according to para. 3 is not possible and the examination or partial achievement thus must be held on site, the students are entitled to de-register from the examination or course with continuous assessment in accordance with para. 1.

Diploma and master’s theses

§ 14. (1) Students have to write an academic thesis in the course of their master’s programme or diploma programme (diploma thesis, master’s thesis) (section 81 of the Universities Act). The relevant curriculum specifies the provisions for the topic of the master’s thesis or diploma thesis. The definition and approval of the topic have to ensure that a student is able to work on this topic within the statutory period of six months of full-time study and that the student’s average workload in ECTS credits specified in the curriculum is not exceeded. Students enrolled in a diploma programme or master’s programme can either propose a provisional topic of their diploma thesis or master’s thesis pursuant to this part of the Statutes or can choose a topic from several proposals (section 59, para. 1, sub-para. 5 of the Universities Act). Students who intend to write their thesis in a foreign language (section 59, para. 1, sub-para. 7 of the Universities Act) have to obtain consent from their supervisor when selecting a topic and to adhere to the requirements specified in the relevant curriculum.

(2) University professors, habilitated staff members, associated professors as well as assistant professors according to the Collective Bargaining Agreement for University Staff of the University of Vienna are generally entitled to, and in accordance with their other university responsibilities are also obliged to supervise and assess diploma theses and master’s theses. Students are entitled to request the supervision of their diploma thesis or master’s thesis of these university employees. Students have to decide on the topic of their thesis in agreement with this supervisor.

(3) A student who has selected a supervisor pursuant to para. 2 has to inform the Studienpräses about the supervisor’s name, the proposed topic of the diploma thesis or master’s thesis and a brief description of the thesis project in writing as well as work and time schedule before starting to work on the thesis. The topic and the supervisor pursuant to para. 2 are considered accepted if the Studienpräses expressly approved them or did not reject them by way of official notice within one month of receipt. This period is extended by two months if the Studienpräses notifies the student within the initial period that the decision cannot yet be reached, because further investigation is necessary.

(4) As soon as the topic of the master’s thesis or diploma thesis and the supervisor pursuant to para. 2 have been approved or not rejected, the supervisor may propose an employee holding a doctoral degree who should support the supervision (co-supervision) to the leadership team member of the faculty or centre who is responsible for teaching. The approval of co-supervision by the leadership team member of the faculty or centre who is responsible for teaching is admissible if the employee agrees on the co-supervision, the topic of the master’s thesis or diploma thesis coincides with the employee’s academic work and there is no interference with the employee’s other research and teaching responsibilities. An academic employee holding a doctoral degree who has acquired third-party funding for the employment of the student to work on the topic, including an international review (Austrian Science Fund; European Commission), is entitled to become a co-supervisor and has to inform the leadership team member of the faculty or centre responsible for teaching about the co-supervision relationship. The employee, the student and the supervisor define the framework of their cooperation and revise the progress of the master’s thesis or diploma thesis periodically. The leadership team member of the faculty or centre who is responsible for teaching is entitled to gather information on the progress and revoke the decision on co-supervision for good reasons.

(5) For students who are demonstrably not able to find a supervisor pursuant to para. 2, the following procedure, by way of derogation from para. 3, applies:

 

1. These students have to approach the Studienpräses with a provisional topic proposal and a brief description of the intended thesis project. Thereby, they can propose a supervisor pursuant to para. 2 or para. 5, sub-para. 2. The Studienpräses has to clarify if a person pursuant to para. 2 is able to supervise the thesis. Internal persons having authorisation to teach for the relevant subject or related subjects have to be heard. If there are doubts about these internal persons, the Studienpräses has to decide who these persons are. If a person pursuant to para. 2 is available, they become the supervisor.

 

2. If there is still no person available pursuant to para. 2 after following the procedure pursuant to sub-para. 1, the Studienpräses may ex-officio decide on a case-by-case basis and after hearing internal persons having authorisation to teach for the relevant subject or related subjects that a. an eligible member of the academic university staff holding a doctoral degree or b. in particularly justified cases, a suitable external expert having authorisation to teach or equivalent qualification, provided that their immediate research units are closely affiliated with the University of Vienna, has to supervise and assess a diploma thesis or master’s thesis.

 

(6) After the appointment of a supervisor pursuant to para. 5, the supervisor, the student and the Studienpräses in agreement decide on a thesis topic. If an agreement cannot be reached, the supervisor in agreement with the Studienpräses has to propose two topics from which the student may select.

(7) In justified cases, the Studienpräses may request a joint statement from the supervisor and student on the existing work and time schedule for the completion of the academic thesis and request an update. If the supervisor and student fail to jointly create an updated work and time schedule, the Studienpräses has to mediate and reach an agreement on the updated work and time schedule. If an agreement cannot be reached, the Studienpräses can dissolve the supervision relationship.

(8) Several students can jointly address a topic, provided that they obtain consent from the Studienpräses and that the performance of individual students can be assessed separately (section 81, para. 3 of the Universities Act). To provide for individual assessment of the students, an individual part of the thesis has to be written by only one student whose name has to be mentioned expressly. A note indicating the joint work on the topic and a description of the type of collaboration have to be included. This also applies if the students submit their theses separately.

(9) A change of supervisor is to be made ex officio by the Studienpräses for important reasons. The change is possible until the submission of the diploma or master’s thesis based on the suggestion from the supervisor or the request of the student. The Studienpräses has to adhere to para. 2, 3 and 5 mutatis mutandis when changing the supervisor.

(10) Students have to submit their completed diploma thesis or master’s thesis to the Studienpräses for assessment. The Studienpräses has to assign the diploma thesis or master’s thesis to the assessor for assessment, whereas the assessor has to assess the diploma thesis or master’s thesis within two months of submission. For special reasons, especially if the diploma thesis or master’s thesis is not assessed within the stipulated period, the Studienpräses has to assign the diploma thesis or master’s thesis to another assessor pursuant to para. 2 for assessment.

(11) The Studienpräses can delegate their tasks, with the exception of para. 6, to the director of studies. The director of studies decides on behalf of the Studienpräses. This delegation may be revoked at any time without giving any reason.

(12) Students are entitled to view the assessment documents on their thesis.

Doctoral theses

§ 15. (1) Doctoral candidates have to write a doctoral thesis in the course of their doctoral programmes (section 83 of the Universities Act). The relevant curriculum specifies the provisions for the topic of the doctoral thesis. Students enrolled in a doctoral programme can either propose a provisional topic of their doctoral thesis in accordance with university regulations, in particular with this part of the present Statutes, or can choose a topic from several proposals (section 59, para. 1, sub-para. 5 of the Universities Act). Students who intend to write their thesis in a foreign language (section 59, para. 1, sub-para. 7 of the Universities Act) have to obtain consent from their supervisor when selecting a topic and to adhere to the requirements specified in the relevant curriculum.

(2) University professors, habilitated staff members, associated professors as well as assistant professors according to the Collective Bargaining Agreement for University Staff of the University of Vienna are entitled to, and in accordance with their other university responsibilities are also obliged to supervise and assess doctoral theses. Students are entitled to request the supervision of their doctoral thesis of these university employees. Doctoral candidates have to decide on the topic of their doctoral thesis in agreement with the supervisor. Supervision by more than one person authorised to supervise is admissible.

(3) (not applicable)

(4) Academic staff members holding a doctoral degree are entitled to supervise doctoral theses that are funded by third-party funds acquired in a competitive procedure with other academics while taking into account international reviews and whose purpose is the establishment of a group of early-stage researchers by academic staff members (promotion of excellence by the European Research Council, START and Wittgenstein prizes, “Junior Group Leader” by the Vienna Science and Technology Fund). The Studienpräses examines whether the prerequisites are met. Employees referred to in this paragraph can also supervise master’s theses and diploma theses in the course of such research projects.

(4a) Academic staff members of the

 

1. GMI – Gregor Mendel Institute of Molecular Plant Biology,

 

2. IMBA – Institute of Molecular Biotechnology,

 

3. CeMM – Research Center for Molecular Medicine or

 

4. IMP – Research Institute of Molecular Pathology

 

who are holding a doctoral degree and managing a research group at this institution are entitled to supervise doctoral theses that are fully funded by this institution, including third-party funds. Another prerequisite is that the doctoral thesis project is well embedded at the University of Vienna with regard to quality assurance. The Studienpräses examines whether the prerequisites are met.

(5) The Studienpräses is entitled, after hearing the subject experts pursuant to para. 2, to draw on persons authorised to teach at a recognised post-secondary educational institution in Austria or from abroad pursuant to section 51, para. 2, sub-para. 1 of the Universities Act or at a university-coordinate establishment for the supervision and assessment of a doctoral thesis if their authorisation to teach is equivalent to section 103 of the Universities Act.

(6) Doctoral candidates who are not able to find a supervisor who is entitled and willing to supervise a doctoral thesis have to approach the Studienpräses with a research proposal pursuant to para. 8. The doctoral candidates’ proposed topic and supervisor are not binding. The approval of the topic and the supervisor has to be expressly granted by the Studienpräses. Approval by means of expiry of the period pursuant to para. 10 is excluded. The Studienpräses has to clarify if the topic can be supervised with regards to content and has to collect and hear internal persons having authorisation to teach for the relevant subject or related subjects. Subsequently, the Studienpräses has to reject the topic by way of official notice or draw on a supervisor. The supervisor decides on the topic of the thesis in agreement with the doctoral candidate and the Studienpräses. If an agreement cannot be reached, the supervisor in agreement with the Studienpräses has to propose two topics from which the doctoral candidate may select.

(7) To advise the Studienpräses, the relevant directorates of studies, the doctoral candidates and the supervisors, doctoral advisory boards that consist of persons authorised to supervise pursuant to para. 2 are established. A doctoral advisory board is responsible for one or several field/s of doctoral research or a larger sub-field of a field of doctoral research in a curriculum. The number of doctoral advisory boards for each curriculum, the number of members of each doctoral advisory board and the field of their activities are determined by the director of studies in agreement with the head of the relevant academic organisational unit. The doctoral advisory board members are appointed by the heads of the relevant academic organisational units after the faculty conference has been heard for the period of a term pursuant to section 20, para. 3 of the Organisation Plan. The doctoral advisory board responsible for the subject field of the doctoral thesis may give a statement on the submitted doctoral thesis project.

(8) Doctoral candidates have to submit their doctoral thesis project to the Studienpräses after achieving agreement with the supervisor or after selecting the topic by the end of the first academic year within the doctoral programme by means of a written research proposal containing the objectives, methods, time and budget schedule and a declaration of consent to the doctoral thesis project by the supervisor, and to present their doctoral thesis project during a public presentation. For the research proposal, the Studienpräses can issue formal specifications that have to be met by the doctoral candidates. The supervisor may become a respondent for the public presentation. In addition, the provisions of section 14, para. 8 apply mutatis mutandis.

(9) The presentation of the doctoral thesis project can be omitted or the public can be excluded from the presentation if there are economic or legal interests (e.g. patent law) of the doctoral candidates or the supervisors of the doctoral thesis projects that are particularly worthy of protection and if the research proposal provides sufficient information for decisions to be made. In this case, it is also admissible that the competent bodies responsible for study matters and the doctoral advisory board responsible for the relevant subject field take part in the presentation. If the intended doctoral thesis project is part of a research project that has already been approved externally in accordance with international standards, the Studienpräses may approve the doctoral thesis project prior to the public presentation and without a statement released by the doctoral advisory board. The Studienpräses decides on the applicability of the exceptions on an individual basis or on relevant general provisions after the directorate of studies has been heard.

(10) Based on the research proposal, the presentation, the related discussion and a possible written statement that has to be submitted to the Studienpräses by the doctoral advisory board responsible for the relevant subject field within two weeks after the presentation or decision pursuant to para. 9, the Studienpräses decides on the approval of the doctoral thesis project. The approval is deemed to be granted if it was expressly given or if no rejection was issued within one month after the presentation or the decision pursuant to para. 9. If the doctoral advisory board releases a statement, the period for making a decision is extended by two weeks for the Studienpräses. The Studienpräses is only allowed to reject a doctoral thesis project based on duly justified statements by the competent director of studies and the doctoral advisory board responsible for the relevant subject field. The Studienpräses has to provide the possibility of viewing the statements and of making comments to the doctoral candidates and the designated supervisors prior to this decision. The requests for comments suspend the period for making a decision. An appeal against the rejection of the doctoral thesis project to the Federal Administrative Court is admissible (section 130, para. 1 of the Federal Constitutional Law).

(11) As soon as the topic of the doctoral thesis and the supervisor have been approved or not rejected, the supervisor may propose an academic employee holding a doctoral degree who should support the supervision (co-supervision) to the leadership team member of the faculty or centre who is responsible for teaching. This is subject to the condition that the employee has acquired third-party funds for the doctoral candidate’s employment for addressing the topic while taking into account international reviews (Austrian Science Fund, European Commission). The employee, the doctoral candidate and the supervisor define the framework of their cooperation and revise the progress of the doctoral thesis periodically. The leadership team member of the faculty or centre who is responsible for teaching is entitled to gather information on the progress and revoke the decision on co-supervision for good reasons.

(12) The approval of the intended doctoral thesis project is a necessary prerequisite for concluding a doctoral thesis agreement that specifies and documents the specific arrangement of the doctoral programme based on the legal framework, especially the part of the Statutes addressing study law and the curricula. The doctoral thesis agreement has to be concluded between the doctoral candidate and the supervisor and requires the approval of the competent body responsible for study matters. If claims are laid to material or monetary means of the organisational unit, the head of the organisational unit has to confirm the means’ availability. The compatibility between the doctoral thesis agreement and the contracts that have been concluded for the establishment of an employment relationship to the University must be observed. The compatibility between the doctoral thesis agreement and the studies within the framework of a structured doctoral programme (e.g. initiative group or doctoral groups of the Austrian Science Fund) must be observed.

(13) The doctoral thesis agreement consists of the following items:

 

1. The doctoral candidate’s name, student ID number, date of birth;

 

2. The supervisors’ names;

 

3. The topic of the doctoral thesis;

 

4. The curriculum under which the doctoral candidate is studying;

 

5. The field of doctoral research to which the doctoral thesis pertains;

 

6. The research proposal, on which the approval is based;

 

7. The time schedule for the intended doctoral thesis project;

 

8. The proof of the academic achievements required by the Curriculum;

 

9. The key dates regarding supervision, especially the frequency of feedback meetings between supervisors and the doctoral candidate;

 

10. Letter of commitment on compliance with good academic practice signed by the doctoral candidate.

 

(14) The doctoral thesis agreement must be supplemented with periodical, but at least annual, progress reports made by the doctoral candidate in agreement with the supervisor. The unilateral termination and substantial changes of the doctoral thesis agreement are admissible on objective grounds and are subject to approval from the competent body responsible for study matters.

(15) The completed doctoral thesis has to be submitted to the Studienpräses for assessment. The Studienpräses has to assign the doctoral thesis for assessment to at least two assessors pursuant to section 15, para. 2 and 5 of this part of the Statutes. If the Studienpräses did not delegate the appointment of the assessors in the meaning of section 4 of the “Studienpräses” part of the present Statutes to the directors of studies, they have to reach an agreement with the competent director of studies prior to the appointment. The doctoral candidate and the supervisor(s) have the right to propose an assessor. On request of the doctoral candidate, the competent doctoral advisory board can submit proposals. The appointment of a supervisor is admissible in justified cases and has to provide for the assessment by an external person qualified in the respective subject. In any case, every supervisor of a doctoral thesis is entitled to present a statement on the doctoral thesis of which the assessors have to be notified. The assessment has to be made within a maximum period of four months.

(16) If two assessors have been drawn on and one of them assesses the doctoral thesis with a fail, the Studienpräses has to draw on another assessor.

(17) If two or three assessors have been consulted and two of them decide to fail the doctoral thesis, the final result is fail.

(18) In all other cases, the assessment of the doctoral thesis is subject to the grades proposed. Section 13, para. 3, final sentence applies mutatis mutandis.

Submission and publication obligation

§ 16. (1) Academic theses have to be submitted electronically to the Studienpräses for assessment. Doctoral candidates have to make an electronic version of the doctoral thesis available to the competent bodies responsible for study matters, the members of the examination committee and the doctoral advisory board prior to the completion of the public defence pursuant to section 9 of this part of the Statutes.

(2) Academic theses must be supplemented with a summary (abstract) written in German.

(3) In order to promote the development of academic research including its quality assurance, students and graduates have to make an electronic version of the positively assessed academic thesis available to the public through the University, as the case may be, after the expiry of the embargo period pursuant to section 86, para. 4 of the Universities Act.

(4) After hearing the Rectorate, the Studienpräses has to determine further provisions on the submission of the electronic and, as the case may be, printed version pursuant to section 86 of the Universities Act as well as on the publication on a thesis server in the meaning of para. 3 by means of a separate regulation.

(5) The publication of academic theses and all associated steps required by study law may not affect the rights of third parties. This already applies to the topic proposal. The embargo pursuant to section 86, para. 4 of the Universities Act should, if possible, be requested when proposing the topic but at least early enough to ensure that the competent body can verify whether such an embargo protects all interests that may be threatened through the publication. Such requests have to be submitted in writing and plausibly demonstrate the relevant interests.

Assuring good academic practice

§ 17. (1) Students have to comply with the rules regarding good academic practice (section 2a, para. 2 of the Austrian act on quality assurance in higher education and the relevant guideline of the Rectorate as amended, currently as of 31 January 2006 published in the University Gazette of the University of Vienna, academic year of 2005/2006, 15th edition, number 112). Detailed provisions are made by the Studienpräses in agreement with the Rectorate and the Senate.

(2) If a student seriously violates the rules regarding good academic practice when writing an academic thesis prior to its submission, the Studienpräses makes the necessary dispositions to ensure that the student complies with the rules in the future, after consultation with the director of studies and the supervisor. The Studienpräses may arrange a change of topic or specify several proposals for a topic from which the student may select a proposal to continue writing the academic thesis. Where necessary, it is arranged that the student has to write a new thesis addressing another topic in another subject from the relevant degree programme. The supervisor may, at their request, be released from their duties.

(3) If, after submission, in the course of the assessment, it is revealed that an academic thesis seriously violates the rules of good academic practice, the academic thesis is not assessed. This is documented in the transcript of records. The provisions of para. 2 in relation to the topic are applied mutatis mutandis. Supervision by the same person again is excluded.

(4) If, after positive assessment, it is revealed that an academic thesis seriously violates the rules of good academic practice (in particular in case of plagiarism), a procedure for annulment of the assessment pursuant to section 73, para. 1, sub-para. 2 of the Universities Act is adopted. If the assessment of an academic thesis is annulled, the award of the academic degree in accordance with section 89 of the Universities Act is revoked subsequently. In the event that the student wants to resume or continue their studies, para. 2 applies accordingly.

Graduation and academic degrees

§ 18. (1) A degree programme is completed if all achievements specified in the curriculum have been completed.

(2) On the occasion of the graduation in a bachelor’s programme or master’s programme, each module requires the calculation of a module assessment. This is the arithmetic mean of the assessments within a module weighted according to ECTS credits. The examination results of the degree programme are used for the overall assessment of the examination results according to the same procedure. The module assessments and the overall assessment of all examination results, rounded to two decimal places, are specified in the diploma supplement. If the overall assessment is less than or equal to 1.50 and both the academic thesis and the examination completing a degree programme are assessed with “excellent” or “pass with distinction”, the final grade for the entire degree programme is “pass with distinction”. In the remaining cases, the final degree is “pass”. If the curriculum specifies subject specialisations, their completion is specified in the respective degree certificates.

(3) If, in doctoral programmes, both the academic thesis and the examination completing the degree programme are assessed with “excellent” or “pass with distinction” and if the unweighted arithmetic mean of the assessment of courses required for the degree programme is less than or equal to 1.50, the final grade for the entire degree programme is “pass with distinction”. In the remaining cases, the final degree is “pass”.

(3a) Para 2. applies mutatis mutandis to (interim) master’s degrees awarded in combined master’s and doctoral programmes. Para 3. applies mutatis mutandis to doctoral degrees awarded in combined master’s and doctoral programmes.

(4) The degree programmes offered at the University of Vienna are assigned to one of the groups pursuant to section 54, para. 1 of the Universities Act. Additions to the abbreviated academic degree that is awarded for a degree programme at the University are specified by the Senate in a guideline on the basis of Austrian-wide coordination.

The completion of all study achievements of a complementary degree programme according to section 54b of the Universities Act is certified by the University by way of a confirmation issued by the Studienpräses after the relevant bachelor’s programme or master’s programme for teacher education has been successfully completed.

Nostrification

Application for nostrification

§ 19. (1) The nostrification applicant has to submit the application for nostrification to the Studienpräses. The application designates the domestic degree programme comparable to the completed foreign degree programme and the desired domestic academic degree. Details are regulated by the Studienpräses by way of regulation.

(2) For documents in a foreign language, the nostrification applicant presents authorised translations. The original document, which should prove the conferment of the academic degree or prove the proper completion of the degree programme if no academic degree was awarded, has to be presented. Academic theses have to be presented in the original together with a ten-page German or English summary.

(3) The Studienpräses is entitled to waive the obligation to present individual documents if it is credibly shown that it is impossible or excessively difficult to provide them within a reasonable period, and that the documents presented are sufficient for a decision.

Investigation procedure

§ 20. (1) The Studienpräses examines the application, taking into account the curriculum at the University of Vienna that was in force at the time when the application was submitted with regard to whether the foreign degree programme was structured in a way that is equivalent to the domestic degree programme mentioned in the application in terms of the outcome of the overall education.

(2) If the qualification is basically equivalent and only certain supplementary qualifications are required for full equivalence, the Studienpräses assigns the applicant with completing supplementary examinations or supplementing or writing an academic thesis within a reasonable period of time. The applicant fulfils these supplements as a non-degree programme student at the University of Vienna.

Exclusion from a degree programme or non-degree programme

§ 20a. The Rectorate may, pursuant to section 68, para. 1, sub-para. 8 of the Universities Act, exclude a student from a degree programme or non-degree programme by way of official notice on grounds of an action or actions that are a permanent or serious threat to other university members or third parties within the framework of studies, taking into account the student’s statutory right to be heard and after hearing the competent director of studies.

Leave of absence

§ 21. (1) On request, the Rectorate has to grant students of the University of Vienna a leave of absence for one semester or two semesters due to the following reasons, by way of official notice:

 

1. Military service or civilian service, or military training service;

 

2. Disease that makes the student unable to pursue their studies for at least four weeks;

 

3. Pregnancy;

 

4. Childcare obligations or other comparable care obligations;

 

5. Voluntary year of social service;

 

6. Temporary impairment due to a disability.

 

(2) On request, the Rectorate may grant students of the University of Vienna a leave of absence for one semester or two semesters per incident due to important reasons, by way of official notice. Important reasons are in particular:

 

1. Voluntary year of environmental protection, Austrian Holocaust Memorial Service or peace and social service programmes abroad (sections 22 to 27a of the Austrian voluntary service act (Freiwilligengesetz));

 

2. A significant interference with a student’s studies due to professional activities or training and qualification measures related to this professional activity, lasting for at least four weeks;

 

3. A significant interference with a student’s studies due to the settlement of issues with authorities abroad, lasting for at least four weeks.

 

(3) The application for leave of absence can be withdrawn within the application period (section 67, para. 2, sub-para. 1 of the Universities Act as amended).

Agreement on credits to be obtained

§ 21a. The University may offer an agreement on credits to be obtained in the relevant degree programme to students who have completed at least 120 ECTS credits in a diploma or bachelor’s programme but who have not taken any examinations in the preceding academic year (section 59b of the Universities Act as amended). The Rectorate has to consult the director of studies before offering an agreement on credits to be obtained unless the Rectorate has already delegated the task of offering an agreement on credits to be obtained to the director of studies.

Programme fees

§ 22. (1) Students attending university continuing education and training programmes pay a programme fee.

(2) Admission to a university continuing education and training programme expires if the specified amount of the programme fee is not paid by the end of the payment period.

Remission and reimbursement of tuition fees

§ 23. (1) In addition to groups of persons mentioned in section 92, para. 1 of the Universities Act, the tuition fees remaining to the University of Vienna are remitted for:

1. Disabled persons with a degree of disability of at least 50 % to be proved with a disabled person card issued by the Federal Social Office;

2. Research grant holders (section 94, para. 1, sub-para. 2 of the Universities Act) as well as academic and general university staff (section 94, para. 2 and para. 3 of the Universities Act) of the University of Vienna, provided that they were employed with the University at least 90 days during the previous semester.

2a. Doctoral candidates in the first semester of their doctoral programme at the University of Vienna, if they are employed with the University of Vienna as a predoctoral university assistant or as a predoctoral project employee for at least 90 days during this semester or if the responsible service unit of the University of Vienna confirms that the University of Vienna will offer them an employment contract subject to the fulfilment of the requirements according to immigration law;

3. Students’ representatives according to the union of students act (Hochschülerinnen- und Hochschülerschaftsgesetz 2014 or HSG) (Federal Legal Gazette I No. 45/2014) are entitled to remission of tuition fees, on request, in accordance with lit. a-d for the duration of exercising their function in the federal representation or the National Union of Students at the University of Vienna, but no longer than for four semesters:

a. Full semesters, in which students held the post as chairperson of the federal representation, the university representation, the faculty’s, centre’s or students’ representatives, as well as deputy chairperson of the federal representation, the university representation, the faculty’s or centre’s representatives and as members of the Senate, the curriculum committee (section 25, para, 8, sub-para. 3 of the Universities Act) or the committee for the preparation of opinions pursuant to section 25, para. 1, sub-para. 12 of the Universities Act, are fully considered. Full semesters as deputy chairperson of students’ representatives are also fully considered if the students’ representatives consist of at least five mandataries pursuant to section 19, para. 3 of the 2014 union of students act.

b. Full semesters, in which students were active in the federal representation or the university representation as mandataries, officers, persons in charge or as mandataries of the faculty’s, centre’s or students’ representatives, are considered by a half.

c. Full semesters, in which students were members of the faculty, centre or studies conference, are considered by a quarter.

d. A student’s membership of an appointment committee or a habilitation committee or curricular working group are considered by a quarter in the semester of its constitution and independent of the duration of the activity for the relevant committee.

Activities for more than one body pursuant to lit. a-d in one semester are not considered. Remission is subject to full semesters considered. Periods of activities as students’ representative which were already used to extend the period for receiving the federal aid for students (section 31, para. 2 of the 2014 union of students act) are not considered. Before making use of the remission pursuant to sub-para. 3, the statutory reasons for remission of tuition fees or reasons pursuant to sub-para. 1 and sub-para. 2 have to be claimed.

(2) The application for remission may be submitted until the end of the deadline for re-enrolment (section 62, para. 1 of the Universities Act as amended). The function and duration of students’ representatives pursuant to para. 1, sub-para. 3, lit. a and b have to be confirmed by the relevant election committee according to the 2014 union of students act, activities pursuant to para. 1, sub-para. 3, lit. c and d have to be confirmed by the chairperson of the university representation. Members of the academic and general university staff (section 94, para. 2 and para. 3 of the Universities Act) are not required to submit an application.

(3) The tuition fees remaining to the University of Vienna are reimbursed if a student

 

1. paid, but a reason for remission becomes effective within the deadline for re-enrolment (section 62, para. 1 of the Universities Act as amended);

 

2. paid, but their admission to all degree programmes and relevant non-degree programmes at all Austrian universities expires before the beginning of the semester;

 

3. paid, but completes their degree programme before the end of the deadline for re-enrolment (section 62, para. 1 of the Universities Act as amended) and their admission to all degree programmes and relevant non-degree programmes at all Austrian universities expires;

 

4. paid, but terminates their degree programme before the end of the deadline for re-enrolment (section 62, para. 1 of the Universities Act as amended), their admission to all degree programmes and relevant non-degree programmes at all Austrian universities expires and the student was admitted to the University of Vienna in the previous semester;

 

5. paid, but before the end of the deadline for re-enrolment (section 62, para. 1 of the Universities Act as amended) terminates their degree programme, their admission to all degree programmes and relevant non-degree programmes at all Austrian universities expires and they did not take any examination in the current semester and did not submit an academic thesis for assessment;

 

6. dies before the end of the deadline for re-enrolment on a degree programme (section 62, para. 1 of the Universities Act as amended).

 

(4) The difference between the amount that was actually paid, and the requested tuition fees is reimbursed if too much has been paid.

(5) The amount that was actually paid is reimbursed if too little has been paid and, thus, no admission or no re-enrolment could be granted.

Entry into force of curricula

§ 24. (1) After approval of the curriculum committee’s resolution from the Senate, curricula (extension curricula) and changes to curricula (extension curricula) are announced in the University Gazette of the University of Vienna.

(2) Curricula enter into force on the subsequent 1 October of the same year following the announcement, provided that the announcement was made before 1 July of the same year. If the announcement was made after 1 July of the same year, it enters into force on 1 October of the next year.

Admission to master’s programmes beyond the general admission period

§ 25. Admission to master’s programmes may also be granted beyond the general admission period, if:

 

1. the admission is based on a bachelor’s programme which was completed at the University of Vienna in the current semester,

 

2. re-enrolment on a degree programme for this semester has already been completed effectively to continue studies,

 

3. the master’s programme is not subject to special admission procedures or entrance procedures and

 

4. the curriculum for the master’s programme explicitly states that graduates of the bachelor’s programme in accordance with sub-para. 1 may be admitted to this master’s programme without additional requirements.

 

Final and transitional provisions

§ 26. (1) The provisions of this regulation enter into force on 1 January 2015 unless otherwise specified in the following. With the entry into force of this regulation, the part of the Statutes governing university studies, published on 30 November 2007 in the University Gazette of the University of Vienna, 8th edition, number 40, amendment published on 5 November 2014 in the University Gazette of the University of Vienna, 4th edition, number 12, ceases to be effective.

(2) Section 14 and section 15 of this regulation enter into force on 1 March 2015. Section 15 and section 16 of the part of the Statutes governing university studies, published on 30 November 2007 in the University Gazette of the University of Vienna, 8th edition, number 40, amendment published on 5 November 2014 in the University Gazette of the University of Vienna, 4th edition, number 12, ceases to be effective upon the entry into force of section 14 and section 15.

(3) For doctoral programmes comprising 120 ECTS credits (section 124, para. 15 of the Universities Act), the provisions of section 16 as amended by the University Gazette, 2002 Universities Act, 8th edition, number 40 on 30 November 2007 are applied until their expiry.

(4) Curricula containing combined module examinations pursuant to section 6 of the part of the Statutes governing university studies before this part of the Statutes has been adopted, are adapted to the provisions of the applicable part of the Statutes by 30 June 2016.

(5) Curricula for master’s and doctoral programmes that specify an examination completing the degree programme in the form of a different type of examination than the public defence pursuant to section 9, are adapted to the provisions of the applicable part of the Statutes by 30 June 2016.

(6) Section 23, para. 1, sub-para. 3 enters into force for the first time for the summer semester of 2015. Students’ representatives who held the mentioned functions already before the entry into force of the provision, may claim remission according to these provisions for periods from the winter semester of 2011/2012 onwards.

(7) Sections 14 and 15 as amended in the University Gazette on 31 January 2019 enter into force on the day following its announcement in the University Gazette.

(8) Sections 13a to 13g including headings apply to all courses and examinations as of the winter semester of 2020/2021. The section heading “Special provisions for courses and exams with regard to the COVID-19 pandemic” as well as sections 13b to 13d including the relevant section headings cease to be effective after 30 April 2022. Section 13f in the version published in the University Gazette on 1 July 2021, 43rd edition, number 197 comes into force on 1 May 2022. Section 13a including the relevant section heading ceases to be effective after 28 February 2023.

(9) Sections 7, 8, 10, 12 and 13e in the version published in the University Gazette on 1 July 2021, 43rd edition, number 197 apply to courses and examinations from the winter semester of 2021/2022 onwards. Until then, the relevant provisions as amended on the day before the University Gazette on 1 July 2021, 43rd edition, number 197 entered into force are applied.

(10) Sections 2, 9, 13, 13h, 18, 21, 21a, 23 and 25 in the version published in the University Gazette on 31 January 2022, 12th edition, number 45, apply from the academic year of 2022/2023 and to the admission procedures for this purpose and the admission to degree programmes for the academic year of 2022/2023. Until then, the relevant provisions as amended on the day before the University Gazette on 31 January 2022, 12th edition, number 45 entered into force are applied.

(11) Section 13g and section 13i in the version published in the Official Gazette on 1 March 2022, 18th edition, number 76 enter into force on 1 May 2022.

(12) Sections as amended in the University Gazette on 28 August 2025 enter into force on the first day of the month following its announcement in the University Gazette.

(13) The applicability of study-supporting courses accompanying the introductory and orientation period (section 2, para. 7 last sentence), which are completed before the full completion of the introductory and orientation period within the framework of the alternative extensions (section 2, para. 9) initially only applies to bachelor’s programmes and diploma programmes to which the first admission at the University of Vienna took place in the academic year of 2025/2026, in the academic year of 2026/2027 or in the academic year of 2027/2028.

 

As of: 1 September 2025

The only legally binding version is the German version published in the University Gazette.