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Education Abroad Office

University of Vienna

Area: Exchange Program
Location: Vienna
Country: Austria
Term: Spring, Academic Year
Website: University of Vienna

The USC exchange program in Austria is designed to expose students to the life and culture of the Austrian people. Despite the fact the majority of the population (92%) is German-speaking, Austria is culturally and ethnically diverse, including six officially recognized ethnic groups: Croats, Czechs, Hungarians, Roma/Sinti, Slovaks and Slovenes. Students will attend the University of Vienna, located in the capital city of Vienna. The university was founded in 1365 by Duke Rudolf IV. It is the oldest and largest university in today's German-speaking world and one of the largest universities in Central Europe. Approximately 88,000 students are currently enrolled at the University of Vienna; the university offers more than 180 different fields of study in German and English. 

Cost: USC resident tuition rates + in-country costs

Requirements: 3.0 GPA, undergraduate students who have completed at least 2 full semesters at University of South Carolina before they intend to study abroad.  

On average, exchange students should expect to spend roughly €1200/month on living expenses. This cost includes accommodation, food, study materials, books, entertainment and public transportation. 

The University of Vienna is the largest teaching and research institution in Austria. Students attend classes with Austrian and other international students, though the course offerings in English can be limited depending on the field of study. Students with advanced level German (a minumum of two 300 level German classes) may also enroll in standard university courses with local and other international students which are taught exclusively in German. Students who wish to can enroll in intensive German language courses prior to the start of the semester or courses that take place during the full semester at the Innovationszentrum Universität Wien. Exchange students receive a 20% reduction for the intensive course. 

To see courses USC students have taken at this university, please reference the Registrar's Course Equivalency Table

While the university does not offer organized excursions, the city itself offers a broad range of cultural activities, including cinemas, theatres, concert halls, opera houses, museums, castles, and churches. Students often receive discounts for participating in cultural activities. Students are also welcome to join in any activities that the Erasmums Student Network (ESN) holds, such as as the Buddy System for students looking to be paired with a local Austrian student and a tandem language service. Students also have the opportunity for international, regional, and local travel. 

Per university policy, all USC students will be charged for  emergency medical, evacuation and repatriation insurance of  for their time abroad. Students will be enrolled in this insurance by the education abroad office prior to their departure. This charge will appear on the USC bill for the semester(s) in which the student is abroad. Contact the Education Abroad Office for more details. 

The University of Vienna does not have its own student halls of residence. Students are responsible for organizing their own accommodation in Vienna. It is strongly recommended that students begin the search early. The University of Vienna does partner with many third party residence halls. Students may also choose to find accomodation elsewhere in Vienna on their own. 

The academic calendar at the University of Vienna differs from that of USC. The fall semester (known as the winter semester in Vienna) runs from the beginning of October to the end of February while the spring semester (known as the summer semester in Vienna) runs from the beginning of March to the end of June. Students can attend the University of Vienna for the spring semester or academic year.

At the start of each semester, the university offers special orientation sessions intended to help students get settled in Vienna. Orientation sessions last 1-1.5 hours and are held between mid-February and the beginning of March. Students should reach out to the University of Vienna's international student services for additional oppotunities to get involved with the local student community.

U.S. citizens that plan to attend the University of Vienna for a semester are required to apply in person for a National Visa D student visa through the Austrian embassy within the region of their home residency prior to their arrival. Students must note that only the Los Angeles, New York, and Washington D.C. consulates can issue student visas; honorary consulates cannot issue visas, therefore students must travel to the consulate located within their state's juristidiction. Reversly, students studying abroad for the academic year will apply for a residence permit upon arrival in Austria. It is highly recommended that students have a native German speaker join them while obtaining the residence permit to cut down on any problems that may arise with communication/language barriers. Planning ahead is vital in this process as each consulate operates on their own timeline.  Please contact the education abroad office with any further questions. 

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