Economics

The aim of the Bachelor programme in Economics at the University of Vienna is to enable students to develop analytical skills supported by the capability of theoretical deduction.  It also serves to prepare students for a Master’s degree in Economics.

Additionally, Postgraduates should be well-qualified for a future career. Not only the basics of Theory, Methods and the Quantitative Evaluation in Economics, but also to become familiar with the development and usage of these skills.

Duration and dimension: A Bachelor study in Economics consists of 180 ECTS-Points. This is equivalent to a min. of six semesters.  

Graduates of a Bachelor study in Economics will be awarded a “Bachelor of Science,” abbreviated as a “B.Sc.”  If this title is used, it should follow after the name.

Guidelines for the Bachelor's Degree Programme in Economics

The bachelor degree programme Business Economics comprises 180 ECTS credits (6 semesters) and consists of three periods:

• Introductory and orientation period (STEOP);
• Mandatory courses;
• Elective courses.

Positive assessment of the STEOP is a prerequisite for attending all further  mandatory and elective courses. You are allowed two attempts to pass the end-of-module examinations or submodule examinations that are part of STEOP. You are allowed four attempts to pass the examinations of the mandatory and elective courses. Please note the requirements stated in the curriculum for completing a module of the mandatory and elective courses. 
 

(A) Introduction and Orientation Phase (15 ECTS) 

• Principles of Economics (5 ECTS)
• Principles of Business Administration (5 ECTS)
• Principles of Statistics (5 ECTS)

(B) Mandatory Courses (104 ECTS)

• Principles of Economic Policy and Institutions (4 ECTS)
• Mathematics 1 (10 ECTS)
• Microeconomics (12 ECTS)
• Statistics (14 ECTS)
    -Statistics 1 (8 ECTS)
    -Statistics 2 (6 ECTS)
• Mathematical Optimization (10 ECTS)
• Macroeconomics (12 ECTS)
• Econometrics (16 ECTS)
• Business Administration (6 ECTS)
• Decision and Game Theory (12 ECTS)
• Corporate Finance (8 ECTS)

(C) Elective courses (41 ECTS)

8 ECTS from two of the following modules  

• History of Economic Theory
• Political Science
• Sociology
• Economic History
• Economic Sociology

33 ECTS from business and economic sciences (minimum of 16 ECTS from economics modules)

(D) Additional courses for deepening individual knowledge (15 ECTS)

(E) Bachelor paper (5 ECTS)

The bachelor paper has to be written within the framework of a course in economics.

Economics is one of the study programmes offered at the University of Vienna which are affected by entrance examinations, taking place one time per acadamic year. In order to participate in the entrance examination you need to register online within the designated deadline. 

The registration to a study programme is possible via U:SPACE ("Administration > Admission to Degree Programmes"). If you are new to the University of Vienna, you have to activate your u:account first.

To participate in the entrance examinations you have to pay an exam fee of 50 Euro, which you can do during the online registration via eps or credit card payment.

The completion of the Online-Self-Assessment is required in order to be able to participate in the entrance test. The entrance test consists of a written exam (in German). 

To apply to the bachelor degree programme in University of Vienna you also need to provide proof of proficiency in German at B2 level.

The Faculty of Business, Economics and Statistics also requires a B2 certificate in English, or alternatively a TOEFL (minimum 80) or IELTS (minimum 6) exam for non-EU students in exchange program. 

Scholarships and grants related to the programme (provided by organizations other than the university):

Scholarship of the Scholarship Foundation of the Republic of Austria 

Eligible for application are: descendents of forced labourers (regardless of their country of origin) or people coming from countries that have suffered exceptionally from the Nazi regime, especially from the recruitment of forced labourers.

Students meeting the above mentioned criteria can apply to pursue research on their bachelor thesis, on their diploma or master thesis or their dissertation.

Federal Aid for Students - Study Grant 

The federal aid measures of Austrian study financing can be divided into two sections: transfer payments, which students receive directly in cash (direct study financing), and expenses which students benefit from either by transfer payments to the students’ parents or non-cash benefits (indirect study financing).

Direct Federal Aid for Students

As a rule, direct federal aid to students is only granted on the basis of differentiated social criteria and only in cases of concurrent academic advancement. There are only a few cases of direct federal aid awarded to students purely on the basis of performance criteria. 

If you are a non-Austrian citizen, you must fulfil some special conditions to be granted equal status with Austrian citizens regarding all kinds of direct federal aid for students. Due to the complexity of the legal parameters it is mandatory that non-Austrian citizens contact the responsible study grant department for further information! 

• Study grants
• Grant near completion of studies
• Study allowance for tuition fees
• Student financial aid
• Transport cost allowance
• Child care subsidy
• Insurance cost subsidy
• Performance-related grants
• Mobility grant
• Incentive grants
• Grants for study abroad (Travel cost allowance, Subsidies for language courses)
• Orphan’s pension for students
• Subsidized loans 

Indirect Federal Aid for Students 

Indirect federal aid for students, which represents an important component of social support during the course of studies, consists mainly of financial resources made available to students’ parents (and/or students via their parents). The legally determined obligation of the parents to care for their children until they developed a capacity for self-preservation constitutes the foundation of entitlement to this type of financial aid. Federal aid for students should provide support to parents in this effort. There are subsidies designed to be made available to students by subsidies for or reductions of certain expenses. The supportive character of these measures is indicated by the fact that indirect federal aid for children usually terminates at the end of a child’s 18th year of age. In case of students this period may be extended to the age limit of 24 or 25 years. 

ERASMUS

Students may be awarded an Erasmus+ EU grant to help cover the travel and subsistence costs incurred in connection with their study period abroad.

Erasmus+ students - whether or not they receive an Erasmus+ EU grant - are exempted from paying fees for tuition, registration, examinations and access to laboratory and library facilities at the host institution.

Non-EU Student Exchange Program - Incoming Students

Students from non-European partner universities are entitled to study at the University of Vienna for one or two semesters under the Non-EU Student Exchange Program, provided the University of Vienna has concluded an exchange agreement with the student's home university and that the student has been nominated by the partner university.

Please note that you will need to be able to understand, speak and write German at an adequate level if you want to study at the University of Vienna.
Most of the courses are held in German. The following departments usually also offer some courses in English: Business, Law, English and American Studies, History, Political Science, Anthropology, Philosophy etc. 

ERASMUS - Incoming

Students from ERASMUS partner universities may spend one or two semesters at the University of Vienna within the ERASMUS programme. 
Participation in the programme is based on a bilateral agreement in the relevant field of study with the partner university, and on the student's nomination for an ERASMUS stay by the partner university.

Students should contact their home university to be nominated as an ERASMUS student at the University of Vienna (ERASMUS Code: A WIEN01). The nomination has to be done via our online nomination system.

ERASMUS students who wish to study at the University of Vienna do not need to have an official language certificate. However, during the online nomination procedure your home university must confirm sufficiant language skills when taking up your studies at the University of Vienna.