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STUDYING IN AUSTRIA

EXPLAINED: The language requirements for studying in Austria

Austria and neighbouring Germany are sought-after destinations for international students looking to pursue their education abroad.

Published: 12 October 2023 13:28 CEST
Updated: 30 January 2024 09:12 CET
EXPLAINED: The language requirements for studying in Austria
University in Austria - even specialised programs with difficult vocabulary - are possible for someone with German at a C1 level. Photo: Pixabay

Austria and Germany are highly sought-after destinations for international students looking to pursue their education abroad. 

The most recently published figures in Austria from the 2020-2021 academic year show a total of 106,000 international students, a 5.14 percent increase on the previous year. 

Universities in the German-speaking world are renowned worldwide, boasting strong connections with employers post-graduation and offering generous scholarships to eligible international students. 

What are the entry requirements for Bachelor degrees? 

To embark on a bachelor’s degree journey in Austria, you need to hold a higher education entrance qualification, known as ‘Hochschulzugangsberechtigung’. 

However, if you lack this qualification or your leaving certificate is not recognised, you have the option to enrol in a foundation course at a ‘Studienkolleg’. 

What are the language requirements?

Austria’s language requirements are aligned with the European Framework of Reference for Languages (see more here: https://www.efset.org/cefr/). Entrance requirements may vary depending on the program:

  • Studienkollegs: If you plan to attend a Studienkolleg, you typically need to possess a language proficiency level of B1 or B2 in German. 
  • Other Bachelor’s Degrees: For most bachelor’s programs, a higher proficiency level of C1 in the German language is usually required. Some universities in Austria though may accept a B2 level, depending on the program. 

How can I prove my language level? 

Several standardised tests can be taken to demonstrate your C1 level of proficiency. These tests are widely recognised by universities in Austria: 

  • Deutsch als Fremdsprache (TestDaF) 

To meet the C1 level requirement, you should aim for a TestDaF score of TDN 4. 

This test evaluates your proficiency in reading, writing, listening, and speaking. 

Achieving TDN 4 in all four areas is essential. 

TestDaF is available at over 500 centres in 100 countries and is accepted by all Austrian universities. 

You can expect to receive your TestDaF certificate approximately six to eight weeks after taking the exam. 

  • Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang (DSH) 

If you opt for the DSH exam, you will need to score at least Level 2 (DSH-2) or higher to prove C1 competence. 

This assessment consists of a written exam (administered first) followed by an oral exam for those who pass the written component. 

DSH exams are conducted at individual universities and preparatory colleges, and you are not necessarily required to take the exam at the university where you intend to study. 

An Austrian language (i.e. German) book. Photo: Wikicommons

An Austrian language (i.e. Austrian German) book. Photo: Von Agruwie – Eigenes Werk, CC
Wikicommons
  • Goethe-Zertifikat 

The Goethe-Zertifikat examination can be taken at any of the Goethe-Instituts worldwide – including in Vienna – or through their exam partners locally.

While the pass mark may vary depending on the administering institution, it typically falls around 60 percent to 65 percent.

It’s advisable to check with your university before beginning your course of study, as they may consider this certificate as an exemption from another language entrance exam. 

  • Österreichisches Sprachdiplom Deutsch 

This is Austria’s officially recognised examination system for German as a foreign language with licensed examination centres worldwide. 

The exam consists of two modules, the written exam (reading, listening and writing), and the oral exam.

You can take the individual modules at any time and will receive a certificate for each successfully completed module. 

I’m only going to Austria on exchange – are the requirements different?

Although you should still use the same tests to prove your level of language competence, the requirements for different courses vary at different universities. 

You should check each university’s admissions page to see their requirements for exchange/Erasmus students. 

Although studying to pass these language exams might seem like a Herculean task, starting your preparation early with online courses or with a tutor will put you in a great position.

Studying in Austria can be a rewarding experience for international students, so these tests are just a stepping stone into reaping the benefits of the respective university systems.

However, do be sure to verify the specific language requirements and admission criteria for your chosen university and program, as they can vary. 

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STUDYING IN AUSTRIA

Why Austria wants to overhaul its contentious ‘educational leave’ scheme

Austria's so-called "Bildungskarenz" allows workers to take paid time off from work to invest in their education, but the government claims there's an urgent need to reform the system. Why is that?

Published: 11 April 2024 13:26 CEST
Why Austria wants to overhaul its contentious 'educational leave' scheme

People in Austria looking to develop new skills or change careers can take advantage of a state program offering financial support during any time off work for educational reasons.

The program, called Bildungskarenz (educational leave), allows employees to take time off work to pursue studies or training relevant to their professions while receiving payments from the state.

This program isn’t just for university degrees – professional development courses like business German or technical training are also covered. The courses can be taken abroad, although domestic options are also available.  

The leave itself is flexible, ranging from a minimum of two months to a maximum of twelve months, depending on what you arrange with your employer.

There’s a catch, though: the total amount of leave cannot exceed one year within a four-year period. This allows employees to structure their Weiterbildung in a way that best suits them. One person might take a full year off at once, while another might prefer to spread their leave out over several two-month blocks.

READ ALSO: What to know about Austria’s paid leave for further education

What’s the controversy?

The federal government has been discussing an overhaul of the system. The criticism is that educational leave has not been used by the target groups: low-skilled workers and people looking to change careers. Instead, an industry of Bildungskarenz courses has boomed in Austria since the COVID-19 pandemic: mostly online, self-paced courses, and many very basic language courses that comply with the minimum requirements for Bildungskarenz.

In some, the online class takes a few hours a week, with the rest of the mandatory hours assumed as “study hours.”

Famously, in Austria, Bildungskarenz has been used by new parents as a way to “extend” their parental leave—and there are entire websites aimed at targeting new moms with easy-to-follow courses so they can continue at home with their kids.

According to a study by the economic think tank Agenda Austria, it’s not the poorly qualified who are predominantly learning new skills and increasing their market value with state support, instead it’s those who already have a good education.

“Quite a few apparently see it as an opportunity to take a sabbatical at the general public’s expense,” they wrote.

According to the study, educational leave is becoming increasingly popular, and the costs are rising rapidly. Between 2013 and 2023, expenditures—not to mention social security contributions—rose from €109 million to €337 million. Costs have almost doubled since 2020 alone.

According to the study, the proportion of people receiving continuing education allowance directly after parental leave was already more than 50 percent in 2021 (no more recent figures are available). 

READ ALSO: EXPLAINED: What you need to know about parental leave in Austria

Saving at the expense of the Bildungskarenz

There is another front on which educational leave is being used differently to what its creators originally intended, according to Agenda Austria. 

Companies can misuse educational leave as a cost-cutting measure in difficult economic times or during crises in individual sectors. This was evident, for example, during the economic and financial crisis from 2008 onwards, when many employers—particularly in the industrial sector—motivated their employees to take educational leave to save on wage costs and bridge crises without having to fire people. 

Another use for the educational leave is as a “golden handshake”, the writers explained. It “is s sometimes used as a nice transition to a subsequent termination by mutual agreement. The “golden handshake” means that employment remains in place for a few more months without an active employment relationship still existing. 

READ ALSO: Am I entitled to any severance pay from my job in Austria?

The employer does not incur any costs, and the departing employees have plenty of time to reorient themselves or take a short break at the general public’s expense.”

Reforms proposed

The think tank suggests several reforms to tighten access to the benefits. The recommendations include raising the requirements for type, duration, and tracking of education progress, but they also suggest that companies cover part of the costs of educational leave themselves. 

Austria’s Labour Minister Martin Kocher (ÖVP) has also proposed key points for a reform of the system. One of the main proposals is that the applicant must go through a consultation with the Labour Market Agency AMS before taking the leave so that it’s clear what are the goals of the person and which qualifications they already have – it aims to improve statistical recording of those getting the benefit.

Another significant proposal is that any “self-study” period be recognised only as supplementary in the future. In that way, a course would have to offer all 20 hours a week of classes instead of providing the minimum amount and then assuming “reading” and “studying” time for the rest of the hours. 

Of course, the debate is ongoing. Mothers, a group that could be particularly affected by reforms, have come forward in Austrian media to defend the use of educational leave following parental leave—in many cases, there simply aren’t enough childcare options in Austria.

READ ALSO: How does childcare work in Austria?

Some studies also show a slight increase in the employment rate of those who took educational leave after the parental leave twelve years later, with monthly income also a few percentage points higher for those with Bildungskarenz. However, Minister Kocher sees only a “moderate” benefit and still recommends reform.

Freelance mothers in Germany aren't entitled to as many benefits as employees.

Mothers looking to extend their parental leave have often resorted to the educational leave in Austria. Photo: Matilda Wormwood/Pexels

So, when will there be reforms?

That’s difficult to say. The junior coalition partner, the Greens, have not been too keen on controversial changes to the current rules, mainly because they affect their own student voters. 

The Greens also point out that around half of those receiving continuing education allowance earn more three years after parental leave than before. “Of course, we are available for improvements in the interests of those affected, but not for a tightening of access to educational leave,” said Markus Koza, the Greens’ labour market policy spokesman.

And this is an election year in Austria, with the ruling coalition not very popular among voters – this without the approval of laws that could make the lives of many people harder. 

Without the support of the coalition partners, it’s unlikely that anything will change soon.

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