Bachelor's degree
Social Work
In the Bachelor's degree programme in Social Work, you will explore how to support and assist people in a wide range of life situations. You will combine the fundamentals of social work with topics such as psychology, law, anti-discrimination and diversity, and apply your knowledge directly through numerous practical placements.
Facts
 |
Degree: Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences (BA) |
 |
Format: Full-time | Part-time |
 |
Duration: 6 semesters | 180 ECTS (full-time), 7 semesters | 180 ECTS (part-time) |
 |
Language: German (B2) | English (B2) |
 |
Study abroad: Optional |
 |
Costs: Currently no tuition fee |
 |
Programme start: 1st September |
 |
Application start: 15th November |
Why Social Work at FHV?
Make a meaningful difference
Make a direct contribution to people's lives and society. Your studies will lay the foundations for a rewarding career with a future.
Strong practical focus
Put your knowledge into practice from the second semester onwards and gain valuable hands-on experience to prepare you for your future career.
Personal attitude
Develop your personal and professional approach through reflection, small-group work and direct exchange with experienced professionals.
International perspectives
Gain international experience through your studies or a placement abroad and explore Social Work from different perspectives.
The 180 ECTS credits are distributed across 6 semesters and include compulsory modules, elective specialisations, and the Bachelor's thesis.
Legend and further information
Elective specialisation (17 ECTS): you choose your elective specialisation from the following areas in the 3rd semester and thus determine the subjects of the 4th and 5th semesters.
Individual competences (flex subjects): at least 12 ETCS are acquired in the form of individual electives (e.g. electives, micro-credentials in an international context, further specialisation options, etc.), whereby it is not specified in which semester how many ETCS are to be completed.
ECTS: Credit points based on the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). Consistent with international standarts, 30 ECTS points ca be earned each semester.
Course content in detail
Courses and examinations take place:
- Usually Monday to Friday between 8:00 AM and 6:00 PM
- Student activities alongside studies are possible in accordance with the timetable.
Mobility window:
- Semester abroad in the 4th semester (recommended)
Internship:
- Orientation internship (100 hours) in the 2nd semester
- Professional internship (600 hours + supervision) in the 5th semester.
You can also complete the professional internship abroad. One example is the Global Social Dialogue internship programme in the field of international social work/development work. Preparatory, accompanying and follow-up seminars and supervision round off the practical units.
The Bachelor's thesis relates thematically to social work practice and/or the field of activity of the professional internship. It is advisable to draw on practical experience (professional internship, orientation internship, professional experience).
- Admission to the final oral examination:
- all courses in the curriculum must have been successfully completed (examination regulations and grading scale) and
- the Bachelor's thesis must have been graded positively.
- Degree awarded: Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences, BA
- Level of the degree according to the national and European qualifications framework: Bachelor (1st cycle)
- Field of study according to ISCED-F code: 0923 - Social work and counselling
Testimonials and practical examples from their studies
Your career opportunities
Career opportunities in the following areas:
-
Child and youth welfare, family support and school social work
-
Open youth work
-
Financial and social assistance
-
Addiction services
-
Criminal justice and offender rehabilitation
-
Labour market integration
-
Violence prevention and support services
-
Supporting people with mental health conditions
-
Social work in hospitals
-
Working with refugees
-
Homelessness services
-
Community development and social work
Admission, application and recognition
The Bachelor’s degree programme in Social Work requires the following qualifications or competencies:
-
General university entrance qualification (A-levels), or
-
Relevant vocational qualification with additional examinations
All Austrian apprenticeships, as well as qualifications from vocational middle schools, business schools and their special forms, and the completion of at least a three-year vocational middle school for social professions (or a comparable programme in the psychosocial field in terms of scope and requirements), are proposed as relevant vocational qualifications.
Further restriction of relevant vocational qualifications to specific apprenticeship professions is not considered appropriate, given the dynamic development of the professional field and the need for an innovative and interdisciplinary approach to the social work profession.
The relevance of qualifications is determined by the degree programme director. Applicants with a relevant vocational qualification must successfully complete the additional examinations at FHV.
For admission, proof of language proficiency at level B2 in both German and English (according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) is required.
The application deadlines at the FHV are divided as follows:
Application deadline I - 15th November - 1st March
By applying by March 1st, you will benefit from a faster confirmation of your study place
Application deadline II - until 31st May
You can apply for all degree programmes until 31st May.
Application deadline III - until 15st August
Some degree programmes still have a few places available until 15st August.
Note: The ultimate application deadline for all applications sent from third countries (non EU or non-EEA, with the exception of Switzerland) is 1st March.
Information on applying with work experience for the bachelor’s degree programme in Social Work
As part of the admissions process for the Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, your previous professional experience will be taken into account. The following activities are recognised as “work experience”. Please upload the relevant supporting documents, such as employment references, in your online application.
- Voluntary Social Year
- Civilian Service
- Relevant internship (within a social organization) lasting at least 6 months
- Professional experience of any kind
Important: Only upload supporting documents that fall into one or more of the categories listed above. Other activities and periods of study are explicitly excluded and will not be considered.
Two steps to your desired degree programme at FHV:
Step 1:
Evaluation of your letter of motivation, CV, eligibility requirements and previous experience.
Step 2:
In a personal admission interview, we will learn more about you, your goals and your motivation for studying.
Previous study achievements can be credited individually in individual courses during your studies. This also applies to coursework that you have already completed at a recognised college or university. The equivalence of the acquired knowledge with the requirement profile with regard to the content and scope of the courses to be waived will be checked upon your application. If equivalence is determined, positively completed examinations will be recognised. A knowledge check is not planned in these cases. You will receive details on this in a meeting with the programme director.
Why FHV?
Practice-oriented
Combining theory and practice from day one
Personal
Small study groups and individual support
Interdisciplinary
Developing solutions together across disciplines
International
100+ partner universities and membership of RUN-EU ▷ More
Future Skills
Combining subject knowledge with essential future skills ▷ More
Frequently asked questions
Student employment alongside your studies is possible, subject to your timetable.
Part-time study format (alongside employment):
- Generally, Wednesdays from 16:30 to 20:35 and Thursdays from 08:10 am to 06:05 pm.
- In addition, 3–4 intensive study weeks per semester, running from Wednesday to Saturday, 08:10 am to 06:05 pm.
Full-time study format:
- Generally, Monday to Friday between 08:00 am and 06:00 pm.
Study Abroad
-
A semester abroad is recommended in the 4th semester.
-
Short-term international stays are also possible, for example through RUN-EU.
-
An internship abroad is possible in the 5th semester.
Internships
-
Orientation internship: 100 hours in the 2nd semester.
-
Professional internship: 600 hours, including supervision, in the 5th semester.
The professional internship can also be completed abroad. One example is the Global Social Dialog internship programme, available to full-time students in the field of international social work and development cooperation.
Preparatory, accompanying and follow-up seminars, as well as supervision, complement the practical training.
The Bachelor's thesis focuses on social work practice and/or the field of work covered by the professional internship. Students are encouraged to draw on practical experience gained through their professional internship, orientation internship and/or previous work experience.
The Austrian Public Employment Service (AMS) offers financial support to help you further your education and training. Find out more at: www.ams.at
- Successfully complete all courses in the curriculum (Exam regulations and grading system).
- Receive a passing grade for the Bachelor's thesis.
Upon successful completion of the degree, you will be awarded the academic title Bachelor of Arts in Business, BA.
- Qualification level according to the national and European Qualifications Frameworks: Bachelor (first cycle)
- Field of study according to ISCED-F: Coded 0923 – Social work and counselling
Do you still have questions about the study programme?
For a personal consultation, please contact us directly:
| Tuesday & Thursday | 8:30 - 11:30 am |
or individual appointment
