Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

May I chose where to register?

Yes, with the exception of courses at the VWU itself. Students qualifying for registrations at the VWU need to fulfil certain criteria (nationality, asylum status, supplementary exams stated in the university admission letter); students registering with one of our cooperations partners can chose whether they want to register with the Sprachenzentrum der Universität Wien or die Berater^®.

When may I register?

Registration for the winter semester 2024/2025 opens on August 12^th, 2024 and ends on August 26^th, 2024.

My visa D expires before August 12^th, 2024. What can I do?

If your visa D expires before or on August 15^th, 2024 you may register early. The earliest date for early registration is the beginning of the admission period for the winter semester 2024/2025 at your university. For further information please contact vwu-koordination@oead.at.

Because of my visa I cannot be in Vienna when the course starts. What can I do?

The University Preparation Programme cannot take responsibilty for visa and residence matters, please consult the competent residence authority (depends on where you live). We recommend planing your arrival in Vienna in correspondence with the registration deadlines so that most problems may be avoided. The OeAD offers information about entry and residence for students (https://oead.at/en/to-austria/entry-and-residence).

Which documents do I need for registration?

You need a valid admission letter and your passport (or other ID) or a confirmation of your asylum status.

May I register for a course within the University Preparation Programme without an admission letter?

No, registrations without an admission letter are not possible. Students with school leaving certificates from EU/EEA countries or Switzerland will receive a substitute confirmation from their universities.

Is ist possible to register from my home country?

In general first-time registrations are only possible on-site and in person.

Which kind of visa do I need?

For information about entry and residence in Austria please see the OeAD's website https://oead.at/en/to-austria/entry-and-residence.

When will I get a confirmation for the ÖGK (Österreichische Gesundheitskasse) for student health insurance?

The confirmation can be issued from August 12^th, 2024 by the course provider with which you have registered.

Does the registration period (August 12^th - August 26^th, 2024) for the winter semester 2024/2025 also apply to registration at the Sprachenzentrum der Universität Wien and die Berater®?

Yes, the registration period and its deadlines apply to all new students, no matter where they register.

What do I need to do after registration?

After registration with the VWU or one of our cooperation partners you need to enrol at your university by September 5^th / February 5^th at the latest and pay the student union fee ("ÖH-Beitrag"). Enrolment after September 5^th / February 5^th is not possible, resulting in not being able to complete your registration with the University Preparation Programme.

May I leave Austria after registration and return when the course starts?

No, leaving Austria after registration means you will not be here for your placement test. If you miss the placement test, there will be no guarantee for a course place. Courses within the University Preparation Programme are very intensive, therefore there cannot be special treatment for students arriving late. If you are not sure about being able to stay in Vienna for the duration of the course it is advisable to to register for the next semester.

Is there a placement test?

Yes, placement tests are mandatory. Upon registration you will be given the date of your placement test. The placement test is meant to determine which course level meets your German/English skills.

Is it possible to produce a language certificate instead of taking the placement test?

No, the placement test has to be taken even if you can produce a language certificate.

What does the placement test consist of?

The placement test consists of a written (90 minutes) and an oral part (approximately 10 minutes).

My admission letter states that I need to pass supplementary exams in German and other subjects. Which German level will I need to prove to take combined classes directly at the VWU?

To take combined classes in German and other subjects at the VWU you need to prove level FG or WF.

May I register at another instiute than the one where I attended a course the previous semester?

If you attended a course at one cooperation partner and prefer to continue courses at another, a change is possible after each semester. Changing to the VWU is only possible if your admission letter states that you need to pass supplementary exams in other subjects than German and are able to prove advanced German knowledge (at FG or WF level, according to the result of your exam at the end of the previous semester).

Is it possible to attend courses for longer than four semesters?

Courses within the University Preparation Programme may be attended for a maximum of four semesters. In case of important reasons keeping you from completing the programme within four semesters you can apply for a fifth semester with the VWU. Applications for a fifth semester can be submitted between June 24^th and June 26^th and August 12^th and August 26^th, 2024.

I am a continuing student, I registered for another course but cannot pay the student union fee ("ÖH-Beitrag") and/or print my confirmation of enrolment. What shall I do?

Please write an email to vwu-koordination@oead.at.

Why do the courses not follow the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (A1, A2, ...)?

Courses within the University Preparation Programme prepare students for their studies at a university and for the supplementary exam in German. The supplementary exam in German is meant to enable students to study at an Austrian university and therefore checks study-related linguistic skills (e.g. reading longer texts, verbalization of nouns, structured and argumentative writing). German skills necessary for studying in Austria cannot be described very well within the description of a competence level (e.g. B2) of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. This is why German courses within the University Preparation Programme do not follow the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

How long will it take me to complete the University Preparation Programme?

The University Preparation Programme is very intensive and comparable to full-time studies at a university. German courses for students who only need to pass the supplementary exam in German amount to 24 hours weekly. Students who need to pass the supplementary exam in German and other subjects will attend a German course (10 hours weekly) and the respective courses in other subjects (at least 5 hours weekly, e.g. in History, up to 10 hours weekly, like in Mathematics). Depending on the subject there are tests, compulsory attendances and weekly performance checks. How fast you can complete the University Preparation Programme depends to a large extent on prior knowledge, the attendance of classes and the students' commitment. Students with good knowledge of German may complete the programme within one semester. Students with hardly any knowledge of German have to expect to need about three semesters; in case of very good progress and a high degree of initiative completing the programme in two semesters is possible.

I passed the supplementary exam(s). May I still attend courses?

After you passed the supplementary exams stated in your admission letter attending a course is not allowed.

How do I deregister from the course?

You may deregister from the course according to the terms and conditions of the respective course providers. In order to deregister from your course you also need to deregister from the university and from student health insurance (if you are using student health insurance of the ÖGK). Within the cancellation period your course fee (minus a cancellation fee) will be refunded upon presentation of a confirmation of deregistration from the university and from student health insurance.

I passed the supplementary exam(s) after I registered for the course. The deadline for deregistration has ended. Will my course fee still be refunded?

If you pass the required supplementary exam(s) stated in your admission letter until October 31^st (for the winter semester) or March 31^st (for the summer semester) your course fee will be refunded at least partially even after the cancellation period has ended. However, this rule only applies for students at the VWU and not for students registered at the cooperation partners. In order to deregister after successfully passing the supplementary exam it is necessary to enroll in a degree programme at the university and produce a confirmation of enrolment upon deregistration from the VWU course.

The cancellation period has ended. Is it still possible to deregister from the course?

Deregistrations after the end of the cancellation period are not possible. Exception: you have registered at the VWU and passed all necessary supplementary exam(s) by October 31^st (for the winter semester) or March 31^st (for the summer semester) and enrolled in a degree programme at the university.

What is a supplementary examination?

Students with international university entrance certificates (school-leaving certificates) often (but not always) have to take additional exams in one or more subjects in order to be admitted to a certain degree programme. In the course of the admission procedure the respective university checks based on the submitted certificate whether the content alignment of the international graduation necessitates one or more supplementary exams. Supplementary exams prepare students for the desired degree programme and establish content-related equivalence to an Austrian graduation. If a student does not have enough German knowledge to study in German he/she will definitely need to pass a supplementary examination in German. Students have to pass the supplementary examination within a non-degree programme prior to admission to the degree programme.

How many attempts do I have at a supplementary examination?

You may retake both the written examination and the oral examination up to four times. Altogether you thus have up to five examination attempts for the written examination and up to five examination attempts for the oral examination.

When are the examination dates?

Supplementary examinations take place at least six times a year. The examination dates are in January/February, March, April, June, September and October/November.

Do I have to register for the supplementary examination in person?

No, the registration for the supplementary examination needs to be done online within the registration period.

May I take a supplementary examination without attending a course?

Yes, you may take a supplementary examination without previously being registered for or attending a course.

Are there any model examinations?

A model examination for the supplementary examination in German and one for the supplementary examination in English are available. You may get a copy of the model examination at the VWU office (Sechshauser Straße 33A, 2^nd floor) during office hours (costs about € 2). The model examination may also be sent to you via e-mail. There are no other official model examinations except for one model each for the supplementary examinations in German and in English.  For the subjects of Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Geography and History you can find information on the website http://www.vwu-info.at.

May I take the oral supplementary examination in German, English or Mathematics before the written supplementary examination?

No, you may only take the oral supplementary examination in German, English or Mathematics once you have passed the written supplementary examination.

Is there a written and oral supplementary examination in each subject?

No. In German, English and Mathematics you need to pass a written and an oral examination. In all other subjects (Physics, Chemistry, Biology, History, Geography) the supplementary examination only consists of an oral examination.

How do I prepare for a supplementary examination?

Courses within the University Preparation Programme focus on effficiently preparing you for taking supplementary examinations. Experienced teachers and examiners teach and prepare you. If you are planning to take the supplementary examination in German or English without attending a course you should at least become familiar with the examination format by getting a copy of the model examination at the VWU office (Sechshauser Straße 33A, 2^nd floor) or by e-mail (vwu@vwu.at). For supplementary examinations in other subjects it would be sensible to check out our page on courses.

How much is the examination fee?

The examination fee for a supplementary examination in German, English or Mathematics is € 50. The examination fee for a supplementary examination in other subjects is € 35.

I was unable to attend the exam. May I be refunded the examination fee?

If you deregister until at least one week before the written examination or produce a written confirmation of a doctor stating that you were ill on the examination date, the examination fee will be credited to a future examination date. The examination fee is generally only refunded if you have already passed all necessary supplementary examinations and the examination fee cannot be credited to a future examination date.

Until when can I deregister from the supplementary examination?

Deregistering from the supplementary examination in German, English or Mathematics is possible until 7 days before the day of the written examination. For supplementary examinations in other subjects consisting only of an oral examination you may deregister until 7 days before the first day of the oral examinations.

I did not pass the supplementary examination. May I see my examination?

Yes, dates for seeing your examination will be announced at the examination itself and via e-mail when you are informed about the result of your written examination.

How do I get my examination certificate?

Respective dates will be announced at the examination and on the VWU website.