About the VWU

The VWU is an institution providing university preparation courses for international students. Its role is to prepare students for supplementary examinations. The VWU offers intensive courses for foreign applicants for a place at university to prepare them for supplementary examinations prescribed by the universities. The VWU's statute forms the basis of the VWU. Our mission statement contains basic values of the VWU. The VWU also has two cooperation partners that offer German courses for the Preparation Programme.

It is a university course that is run by the OeAD-GmbH – Austria's Agency for Education and Internationalisation – together with the following six Viennese universities:

• University of Vienna (Uni Wien)
• Vienna University of Economics and Business (WU)
• Vienna University of Technology (TU)
• Medical University of Vienna (MedUni)
• University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU)
• University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna (VETMED).

These six universities are represented in the VWU board. The VWU Board is the supervisory board of the VWU.

According to the VWU statute, § 7, the VWU Board is in charge of

• issues relating to studies and organisation of the University Preparation Programme
• orientation of the University Preparation Programme as far as contents are concerned, in compliance with the curriculum
• organisational and economic running of the University Preparation Programme in co-operation with Austria's Agency for Education and Internationalisation (OeAD-GmbH)
• decision about the course fee
• decision about the examination fees.

The VWU Board consists of one representative with voting powers each of the following universities:

• University of Vienna
• Vienna University of Economics and Business
• Vienna University of Technology
• Medical University of Vienna
• University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna
• University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna

The representatives of the universities in the VWU Board are delegated for 4 years by the rectors of the universities. The VWU Board meets at least once a semester. The General Secretariat of the OeAD-GmbH acts as secretariat of the VWU Board.

Who works/teaches at the VWU?

Teaching staff: approx. 50 academically qualified lecturers. Head of the programme: director / administrator (deputy director). Three to four people work in the secretaries’ office.

Who studies at the VWU?

Each semester approximately 900 students who have been admitted by one of the six universities attend courses at the VWU. They come from 60 to 80 countries from all over the world. The students are enrolled as non-degree programme students (außerordentliche Studierende) at their universities.

How is the VWU financed?

• Course fees
• The Austrian Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research (BMBWF) provides the teachers.

Our strengths

• Help with integration
  The VWU supports the international students with their integration into the Austrian (academic) environment by special projects such as the tutor project “Mother tongue contact persons (Muttersprachliche AnsprechpartnerInnen (MAP)“, the intercultural practical training (IKP), excursions and information events.
• Expertise and internationality
  The VWU has more than 50 years of experience in the field of German as a foreign language and in preparing students for university studies.
  The VWU participates in European projects (CHAGAL) and is networking with preparatory institutions all over Europe.
• Commitment and bridge-building
  The VWU acts as an intermediary and bridge between the different educational systems, lifestyles, traditions, languages and cultures.
  The VWU actively supports the interests of the international students, especially of those from economically weak countries.