Study in Europe Destination Guide #1: Austria
By: Nathan Owen
A Brief History of Austria
Austria is a beautiful landlocked country located in Central Europe and shares it's borders with eigth countries: Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Hungary and Slovakia to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the west. The official language of Austria is German.
Beautiful Things About Austria
1. Safety and Tidyness: Austria is one of the safest placest on earth with a very low percentage of crime each year. It is also very clean and tidy with the exception of a few urban areas - Well it's not possible for cities to be 100% clean but cities in Austria do a good job.
2. Diverse approach on education: Austria has a diverse approach towards education; Science, fine arts, music, literature, philosophy and the humanities make up education in Austria. Austria has produced many notable pioneers including Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart a prodigy in classical music.
3.Beautiful Scenery: As you can see from the image on the left, Austria is endowed with beautiful landscape and scenery.The Austrian Alps tear the country into dramatic pieces, add lakes, swamps, hills and glaciers among other dramatic features. Almost 50 percent of Austria is forest and Europe′s biggest National Park (Hohe Tauern) is only one of several in the country.
4. Cultural offerings: Cheap access to opera, massive student discounts for World class concerts at the Salzburg Festival or the Wiener Festwochen, exquisite art museums like the Kunsthistorisches Museum, the Albertina, or the Palais Liechtenstein in Vienna, or the ballet of the Staatsoper means that there's always something exciting to do or see in Austria.
Education in Austria
Austria is a top study destination for international students. Why? This is because of the many advantages that comes with studying in Austria. As a relatively small country, Austria provides the convenience of a close knit learning environment. Education is also cheaper when compare to other European countries like The UK and France. Majority of the courses are taught in English language along with German.
Higher Education System
The university system in Austria falls under the Bologna Process within the European Higher Education Area. This cooperation represents a movement which fosters ease of mobility and employability within its 47 member countries. The Austrian curriculum fosters professional-oriented teaching providing the following:
3 year program to obtain Bachelor’s degree
1-2 year programs to obtain a Master’s degree
Mandatory units for career-training
Mandatory work based internships
A Bachelor degree in conjunction with a teaching qualification
Although there are programs that offer courses in English, some may require proof of German proficiency.
Living & Studying in Austria
The academic year in Austria is split into two semesters: winter and summer. The academic year begins around October 1st and ends around September 30th of the following year.
For Universities and Universities of Arts there is a €363.36 (2010) fee per semester. This fee is waived for those who are EU/EEA & Swiss nationals. For Universities of Applies Sciences the fee is also placed at €363.36 per semester and is required to be paid by all students. Private universities have higher tuition rates which can differ from one to another.
The Austrian Exchange Service (OeAD) is the main resource for students who are looking for housing. They provide assistance in finding student housing in flats and residence halls. The International office at each university is another resource for those interested in finding private accommodations. It is recommended that for monthly living costs students be prepared to pay between €710 to €800 a month for accommodation, food, studies, and personal expenses.
Austria’s low tuition costs, focus on promoting Germany proficiency, diverse university programs, and rich landscape and culture clearly answer the question of, “Why study in Austria?”
Apply to Study in Austria: The following article will outline the needed requirements for admission into Austrian universities.
