Contextual Studies

Master's degree programmes at Vorarlberg University of Applied Sciences (FHV) build on the following three essential elements:

1. Core studies:

The compulsory fundamental subjects in core studies establish the specialist academic skills and support your professional competences.

2. Specialisation studies:

In the chosen field of specialisation, you will enhance and specialise – depending on the degree programme – your professional access based on your interests and career goals.

3. Contextual Studies:

In a selection of more than 40 modules, you cross the boundaries between:

disciplines and schools of thought (interdisciplinarity)
cultures, languages and countries (internationality)
current knowledge and the future (research and development)

Your degree programme takes you through all three basic elements. This process allows you to deepen and broaden your skills while letting you incorporate your personal interests in your programme of study.

We can't be defined by a sole concept, everybody has several faces and inner motivations that seem to pull us to opposite sides. A part of me is an engineer using reason, structure, order. Another part is an anarchist looking for joy, beauty and freedom. ... That's why I decided to enrol "Performative Interventions - Self Expression, Observation, Staging", to get a different view and break the routine.

Joaquim Font, Master International Management and Leadership

Contextual Studies are a module offer, from which the master's students and the alumni of FHV can choose.

The Contextual Studies at FHV is a flexible part of your master’s degree programme and a special feature among Austria's universities of applied sciences. It allows you to pursue personal areas of interest, to work independently and explore new territory: in research, in other cultures or disciplines.

Your decision: Which opportunity will you take?

Challenges and opportunities in the Contextual Studies

You are active and incorporate your own questions and thoughts into your learning and understanding.

In the Contextual Studies you can adopt new points of view and unusual perspectives, discover and reconfigure relationships.

You cross boundaries and tread new ground.

In the Contextual Studies, you work on current cross-cutting issues, e.g.: work and production, sustainability, social coexistence, cultural change, values, security and more.

You contribute to sustainable global development on an economic, environmental and social level.

By choosing a module from the Contextual Studies, you are contributing to the fulfilment of at least one of the 17 global sustainability goals adopted by the United Nations in accordance with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Facts

Element of degree programme	"Contextual Studies"
ECTS points	12 (6 per semester)
Module offer 2023	Download [27.12.] - Please download the latest version! Overview: pp. 5,10, 29 and 62
New	Innovation Class: BYOS
FAQs	Frequently asked questions in Contextual Studies
Video tutorial	What is Contextual Studies? [Running time: 09:23] What to consider when selecting modules from the Contextual Studies? [Running time: 08:58]
Info	Presentation for master's students of the class of 2022
Set-up	In the 1^st semester, you will find out what is on module offer and choose your individual path through the Contextual Studies. Modules are offered in the 2^nd and 3^rd semester (6 ECTS per semester). Each module is completed in the same semester. For an Innovation Class or a Research Project, you also complete 6 ECTS per semester and graduate after one year. You will also find English-language modules and Study Trips in our internationally oriented offer. Modules in Contextual Studies take place in the time windows kept free for the 11 master's degree programmes: weekly (Thursday: 6:20 to 9:35 p.m.) and/or in an intensive training week (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday: 8:50 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Thursday: 8:50 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.). Slight time deviations are possible.

Registration for master's students

If your are a master's students of year 22 or earlier and have not yet booked your 12 ECTS in the Contextual Studies, please contact the administration of Contextual Studies.

How to apply as an alumni*

As an alumnus* / alumna*, you will usually be informed by a newsletter containing all the relevant details.
If you are interested, you can also contact kontextstudium@fhv.at directly.

Applications can only be made for free places in the current module offer and exclusively via the administration of Contextual Studies.