Below please find information regarding admission requirements, language policy and registration procedures.

The admission requirement for a bachelor's degree programmes at Vorarlberg University of Applied Sciences (FH Vorarlberg) is a general university entrance qualification or a subject-relevant professional qualification with additional examinations.

One of the following documents is required:

  • An Austrian secondary-school leaving certificate ("Reifeprüfungszeugnis") or

  • An Austrian TVE Diploma Examination certificate for graduates of vocational training and VET schools (“Berufsreifeprüfungszeugnis”) or

  • A university entrance qualification certificate for the respective university of applied sciences degree programme (“Studienberechtigungsprüfungszeugnis”) or 

  • An equivalent certificate from another country (general university entrance qualification) or

  • A graduation document certifying the completion of studies of at least a three-years degree and 180 ECTS credits at a recognised domestic or foreign post-secondary educational institution.

Relevant professional qualifications with auxiliary examinations (study without 'Matura' (general university entrance qualification)):

  • Completion of  vocational secondary school (min. 3 years) or training in the dual system (relevant part-time vocational school and apprenticeship). The relevance of qualifications shall be determined on a case-by-case basis by the respective programme director. Applicants with relevant professional qualifications must successfully complete supplementary examinations in German, mathematics, English and one elective subject. The proficiency level for these additional examinations and the choice of elective depend on the chosen degree programme.

  • German subject-specific university of applied sciences entrance qualification with additional examinations. Supplementary examinations in English, mathematics and physics may be required, depending on the degree programme.

Additional country-specific information for applicants:

  • Applicants with previous education/work experience in Germany: general university entrance qualification (Abitur) or subject-specific university of applied sciences entrance qualification with additional examinations; relevant professional qualification with additional examinations
     
  • Applicants with previous education/work experience in Liechtenstein: general university entrance qualification or Liechtenstein 'Berufsmaturität' (vocational diploma plus university entrance qualification); subject-specific professional qualification with successful completion of additional examinations
     
  • Applicants with previous education/work experience in Switzerland: general university entrance qualification; subject-specific professional qualification with additional examinations

Applicants with foreign certificates

Certificates from other countries are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. If a foreign secondary-school leaving certificate is not equivalent to an Austrian one as regards content and requirements the programme director shall prescribe supplementary examinations to determine equivalency with the domestic secondary-school leaving examination. These exams must be passed prior to admission (cf. § 4 paragraph 6 FHG).

All documents and certificates submitted by the applicant that are not in German or English must be translated into German or English and certified if necessary. Detailed information about the requirements can be found under Legalisation and Translation of Documents.

Additional information for International Degree Seeking Students

Specific admission qualifications for master's degree programmes at FH Vorarlberg include:

  • successful completion of a subject-specific bachelor's degree programme at a university of applied sciences
  • successful completion of an equivalent degree programme

attended for at least six semesters and 180 ECTS at a recognised domestic or foreign post-secondary educational institution at which the general university entrance qualification is an admission requirement and which is recognised as an educational institution by the laws of the country in which they it is located.

In case equivalency has been basically established and only certain supplementary qualifications are required for full equivalence, the programme director shall be entitled to tie the determination of equivalence to examinations to be taken during the master's degree programme. If the curriculum a university of applied sciences degree programme is based on students' professional work experience, admission to such a university of applied sciences degree programme may be limited to a specific target group.

The educational levels required for a specific master's degree programme at FH Vorarlberg can be found under "Admission requirements" for the respective degree programme. Alternatively, applicants can contact the  administrative office of the respective degree programme. Minimum ECTS requirements in specific fields might be required (see the specific degree programme).

Applicants with foreign certificates

All documents and certificates submitted by the applicant that are not in German or English must be translated into German or English and certified if necessary. Detailed information about the requirements can be found under Translation Legalisation and Translation of Documents.

Additional information for International Degree Seeking Students

Proof of language competence - German

The language of instruction for degree programmes at FH Vorarlberg is German, although certain courses are offered in English. Applicants whose native language is not German must provide proof of language competence (at least B2)

The following certificates are generally recognised as proof of adequate competence in German at the B2 level according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (see Admission on the basis of foreign secondary school leaving certificates, recommendation, knowledge of German language):

  • German as an examination subject for the university entrance qualification
  • A university entrance qualification based on instruction in German
  • Additional examination in German in the university preparation programme
  • Certificate of a German university language course (on the basis of § 28 of the General University Studies Act (Allgemeinen Hochschul-Studiengesetzes – AHStG, BGBl. No. 177/1966) as amended
  • "Zertifikat B2" (B2 Intermediate German Exam) or "Wirtschaftssprache Deutsch" (Business German) of the Austrian language diploma for German (www.osd.at)
  • "TestDaF" (test for German as a foreign language, www.testdaf.de) with a minimum of TDN 4 in all sections of the test
  • Certificate attesting to level "Fortgeschrittene 3" (Advanced 3) or "Perfektion" (Perfection) or course level "B2/2" or "Mittelstufe 3" (Intermediate 3) from the Wiener Internationalen Hochschulkurse (Vienna International Academic Courses) (https://sprachenzentrum.univie.ac.at/en/)
  • Certificates on the levels Fortgeschrittene 3 (“Advanced 3“) or "Perfektion" ("Perfection“) of the Vienna International University Courses (https://sprachenzentrum.univie.ac.at/en/german-courses/)
  • "Zentrale Mittelstufenprüfung" ("Central Intermediate Examination") or "Kleines Deutsches Sprachdiplom" ("Minor German Language Diploma") or "Goethe-Zertifikat B2" or higher at the Goethe Institute (www.goethe.de) or
  • "Level 2" of the German Language course at the Conference of Education Ministers of German States (Deutsches Sprachdiplom)
  • ECL Examination in German (Minimum B2) of the European Consortium for the Certificate of Attainment in Modern Languages (The Foreign Language Centre, University of Pécs), Certificates after December 2020 (https://eclexam.eu - accredited until 12/2025)
  • Degree (min. 3 years) from an institution in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein (this applies only to degrees acquired at universities or universities of applied sciences in these countries; it does not apply to offshore universities or branches in other countries, or to distance education programmes).

In other cases, individual candidates may, for example, fulfill the German language requirement, even if they did not take German as part of their examinations for the university entrance qualification if German is part of the school curriculum, the language of instruction and the candidate's native language. The decision will be made by the programme director after the candidate's language skills habe been tested or in he course of the admissions procedure.

You can visit the "Gemeinsamer Europäischer Referenzrahmen für Sprachen" (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages - CEFR) to assess your language competences using either of the links below:
 
German
English

Proof of language competence - English

In various semester, some courses are held in part in English and require good English language competence (i.e. the ability to express oneself as well as vocabulary, pronunciation and comprehension should be at least at Level B2 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages).The English language requirement can be met in a number of ways:

  • English as an examination subject for the university entrance qualification (first modern foreign language);
     
  • Corresponding certificates such as the Cambridge Certificate, TOEFL, etc.;
     
  • Degree (min. 3 years) taught in English at an institution in Australia, Ireland, Canada, New Zealand, the UK or the US – countries in which English is a national language (does not apply to countries in which English is the official language). This applies only to degrees acquired at universities or universities of applied sciences in these countries; it does not apply to offshore universities or branches in other countries, ot to distance education programmes)
     
  • Pass in the English examination as part of the additional examinations.

If proof cannot be provided, language competence can be tested on an individual basis in the Language Laboratory at FH Vorarlberg.
 
Knowledge of the language (German, English) must be demonstrated for admission. In isolated cases, recognition of language certificates is the responsibility of the programme director (individual candidates may, for example, fulfill the English language requirement, even if they did not take English as part of their examinations for the university entrance qualification if English is part of the school curriculum).
 
You can visit the "Gemeinsamer Europäischer Referenzrahmen für Sprachen" (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages - CEFR) to undertake a self-assessment of your language competences using either of the links below:
 
German
English
 
Depending on the degree programme, you can find the relevant admission requirements under the Special Admission Requirements tab on the pages for each of the degree programmes.

Each student is required to conclude a private-law education contract with Vorarlberg University of Applied Sciences prior to the start of his/her studies.

This contract sets out the principal rights and obligations of students, for example:

  • Attendance
  • Academic performance
  • Use of the learning platform
  • Payment of the Austrian National Union of Students fee
  • Withdrawal from / completion of degree programme
  • Rights of use and exploitation
  • Provisions of the Curriculum, Study- and Examination Regulations, House Rules, Fire Safety Regulations, IT Policy, Campus Card User Regulations, University Library User Regulations, Laboratory Regulations
  • etc.

Examples of Education Contracts (subject to modification)

In return, Vorarlberg University of Applied Sciences agrees to run its degree programmes in accordance with the appropriate laws and regulations, ensuring that students are able to complete their studies within the standard period of time. In return, Vorarlberg University of Applied Sciences agrees to run its degree programmes in accordance with the appropriate laws and regulations, ensuring that students are able to complete their studies within the standard period of time.

Admission to the University and enrolment are conditional upon payment of the Austrian National Union of Students fee by the respective deadline.

The following regulations are important for study purposes and good working relationships.

Further information on data protection in accordance with Art. 13 of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is available at: Privacy notice for FH Vorarlberg students