Admission requirements

Compared to the university sector, the FH sector admits people with all different kinds of educational background. In addition to the general matriculation standard (Reifeprüfung, Studienberechtigungsprüfung, Berufsreifeprüfung, etc.), the FH sector offers further options which enable graduates of the dual education system (Lehrabschlüsse) and of vocational secondary schools as well as working people to meet the admission requirements.

» Latest news on admission requirements
» Professional admission requirements
» General matriculation standard
» University entrance exam
» Relevant vocational qualification
» German Fachhochschule matriculation standard
» Relevant Bachelor's degree and equivalent post-secondary diploma

Professional admission requirements

The professional admission requirements for FH degree programmes in Austria are laid down in section 4 of the Fachhochschule Studies Act (Fachhochschul-Studiengesetz, FHStG) as amended.

Depending on the type of degree programme, the following admission requirements apply:

FH Bachelor's degree programme or FH diploma degree programme

• general matriculation standard or
• relevant vocational qualification

FH Master's degree programme

• completed Bachelor's degree programme in the same field or
• completed equivalent degree programme at a recognised national or foreign post-secondary educational institution
  

General matriculation standard

• Austrian school-leaving certificate;
• Another type of Austrian certificate documenting the candidate's right to attend the relevant FH degree programme. This includes a university entrance certificate and a certificate documenting a completed vocational education;
• A foreign certificate that is equivalent to one of these Austrian certificates due to an agreement under international law, a nostrification or a decision made by the head of the domestic FH degree programme on a case-by-case basis;
• A certificate documenting the successful completion of at least three years of studies at a recognised domestic or foreign post-secondary educational institution. This has to be an educational institution that offers programmes which last at least six semesters and require the general matriculation standard pursuant to this federal statute for admission, and that is known as a post-secondary educational institution pursuant to the legislation of the country where it is located.
  

University entrance exam

• The university entrance exam can only be taken for a specific regular university programme;
• The section "Admission requirements" of the application for accreditation as FH degree programme that has been approved by administrative decision specifies for each FH degree programme which qualification for university studies is recognised for the relevant FH degree programme;
• The application form for the university entrance exam is available at the central administrative office of the relevant university. The university programme for which the university entrance exam is required and not the FH degree programme has to be indicated in the application. Candidates have to prove that they meet the admission requirements going beyond general compulsory education for the desired university study programme indicated in the application, and not for the FH degree programme.
  

Relevant vocational qualification

• a completed apprenticeship;
• a completed vocational secondary school;
• other qualifications. 
  

• What passes for relevant vocational qualification or what type of completed apprenticeship, type of vocational secondary school or what "other qualifications" are accepted as admission requirements varies, depending on the technical focus of an FH degree programme. The detailed regulations are laid down in the applications accredited by the FH Council and are available directly from the administrators of the relevant degree programmes or from the heads of the degree programmes. In addition to these structured educational careers, there are always individual educational careers which cannot be defined in general terms but which may also qualify as relevant vocational qualification. Qualifications for which no regulations have been laid down in the administrative decision granting approval will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis by the head of the degree programme or the FH teaching board.
• First-year students with a relevant vocational qualification (completed apprenticeship, completed vocational secondary school, other qualification) usually have to submit certificates of additional examinations. These additional examinations may vary depending on the FH degree programme; usually they have to cover the general subjects of the university entrance exam. Some of the required additional examinations can also be taken directly at the institution offering the FH degree programme (cf. Accreditation Guidelines of the FH Council).
  

German Fachhochschule matriculation standard

Relevant Bachelor's degree and equivalent post-secondary diploma

The technical requirement to be admitted to an FH Master's degree programme (cf. section 4 sub-section 2 FHStG as amended) is a completed FH Bachelor's degree programme in the same field or a completed equivalent programme at a recognised domestic or foreign post-secondary educational institution.

This has to be an educational institution that offers programmes which last at least six semesters and require the general matriculation standard pursuant to this federal statute for admission, and that is known as a post-secondary educational institution pursuant to the legislation of the country where it is located.

Generally, the accredited applications specify which Bachelor's degree programmes and which post-secondary programmes qualify as relevant admission requirements for certain FH Master's degree programmes. In the case of Bachelor's programmes not regulated in the administrative decision on accreditation, the head of the degree programme or the FH teaching board will decide whether it fulfils the relevant admission requirement.

Information about which Bachelor's or post-secondary programmes qualify as relevant admission requirement for certain FH Master's degree programmes is available from the administrators or the heads of the degree programmes.

Latest news on admission requirements

In its 95th Plenary Session on 3 and 4 March 2006, the FH Council discussed admission requirements to FH Master's degree programmes for graduate formerly two year, post secundary educational programmes (such as teachers' academies and academies for social work), who completed additional courses at recognised post-secondary educational institutions. In this context, in accordance with section 4 sub-section 2 of the Fachhochschul Studies Act as amened and in coordination with the Federal Ministery of Education, Science and Culture, the following resolution was adopted:

• As in addition to traditional and structured educational careers people may have individual educational careers which cannot be defined in general terms but which may also qualify as relevant vocational qualification, the heads of the study programme or, in the case of Fachhochschulen, the FH teaching board, shall decide on such individual cases.
• The FHK will try to harmonise the procedures regarding the above-mentioned admission requirements between the course-providing bodies of FH degree programmes.
• It is recommended to support applicants with non-traditional educational careers already at the beginning of their studies and/or to inform them about possibilities of how to improve their qualifications. Furthermore, an increased focus should be placed on the support of students from this group of applicants in, for example, technical and organisational matters during the first few semesters of their studies.    

Further information:
» Accreditation Guidelines
» Naric: Institutions of Post-secondary Education