lnformation on the Austrian higher education system

Version: July 2006

Post-secondary Education in Austria

• The Austrian post-secondary university level sector (Hochschulsektor) consists of universities (Universitäten) maintained by the state, universities of philosophy and theology (Philosophisch-Theologische Hochschulen) maintained by the Roman Catholic Church, universities of applied sciences (Fachhochschulen) incorporated upon the basis of private or public law and subsidised by the state (some of which are entitled to use the designation Fachhochschule), and private universities (Privatuniversitäten) operated by private organisations with state accreditation.
• The non-university post-secondary sector (außeruniversitäre postsekundäre Sektor) consists of teacher training colleges (for teachers in compulsory schools; Akademien für Lehrerbildung), midwife academies (Hebammenakademien), colleges for medical technicians (Medizinisch-Technische Akademien), military academies (Militärische Akademien), the school of internalional studies, programmes for training psychotherapists (Psychotherapeutische Ausbildungseinrichtungen), conservatories (Konservatorien), and two business schools (Wirtschaftsschulen).

The following text exclusively addresses the university sector. Overall Structure of University Level Higher Education

• Under the auspices of the older regime of diploma curricula (Diplomstudien), the first degree awarded is the diploma (Diplomgrad). An Austrian higher secondary school leaving certificate or its equivalent is the general qualification necessary for enrolling in a program of study leading to the diploma; conclusion of a diploma degree program entitles degree holders to enrol in doctoral degree programmes. A diploma degree (Diplomgrad) is awarded by Austrian universities after a course of course of study e,onsisting of 240 to 360 ECTS credits. Full degree titles are gender specific designations: Magister for men; Magistra for women. Degree titles also include a general description of the field of study in which they were obtained, e.g. Magister philosophiae. ln the fields of engineering, the degree titles are Diplom-lngenieur/in. Degrees awarded in medicine and dentistry are exceptions to the above. The first degrees awarded after the completion of these degree programmes consisting of 360 ECTS credits are Doctor medicinae universae and Doctor medicinae dentalis, respectively.

Graduates of universities of applied sciences programmes that consist of 24O to 300 ECTS credits are awarded, analogous to university studies, a university of applied science diploma degree (Fachhochschul-Diplomgrad) contingent upon discipline: either a Diplom-lngenieur/in (FH) forfields of engineering or Magister/Magistra (FH) in other fields of study.