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Masters Degrees, Graduate Studies and Professional Programs in Austria

Academy of Fine Arts Vienna

Vienna, Austria
The Academy of Fine Arts Vienna is a public institution of higher education, based in Vienna, Austria. Established in 1692, the academy takes special pride in its history and the fact that it has been a leading European training center for artists. Being a university, the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna puts great emphasis on organizing a research-driven teaching program. The school receives about 900 students yearly, and is divided into the following institutes: the Institute for Fine Arts, which houses three departments for painting, drawing, visual arts, media, sculpture; the Institute for... See full description.

BBA program in Tourism and Hospitality Management, MODUL University Vienna

Vienna, Austria
MODUL University Vienna (MU Vienna) is a private university based in Vienna, Austria. The school was founded in 2007 to concentrate on Social and Economic Development, and more specifically in the areas of tourism, information technology and public governance. All study programs taught at the school fulfill the accreditation requirements laid out by the Austrian Accreditation Council. All study programs are conducted entirely in English. The BBA program in Tourism and Hospitality Management taught at the school is aimed at students, who wish to pursue a career in the tourism and... See full description.

Diplomatic Academy of Vienna (DA)

Vienna, Australia
Established in 1754, the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna at Germany is a centre for graduate studies in international affairs, political science, law, languages, history and economics. DA also offers a two year program in Master of Advanced International Studies or Master of Science in Environmental Technology & International Affairs. Also a one year Diploma program is available to students at DA. DA provides opportunities to its students to complete their second year of study at a partner university; institutions offered include John Hopkins University, Tufts University, University of... See full description.

Donau-Universität Krems

Krems, Austria
Danube University was founded in 1995 at Krems an der Donau, Austria. DU specializes in post-graduate academics. DU offers over 200 academic degree programs & courses which then proceed towards Master’s degrees in areas of Health & Medicine, Communication & Globalization, Business & Law, Education & Media and Arts & Architecture. The university is in alliance with global institutions such as the University of British Columbia & the City University of New York. The Austrian parliament formulated a Danube University Act which granted DU university status. Additionally, the business... See full description.

International Business School Vienna

Vienna, Austria
BSc in International Relations and Diplomacy: Equipped with their specialised international relations skills, the graduates of the BSc in International Relations and Diplomacy are likely to pursue diverse careers in different fields, both abroad and in their home country. The most obvious employers will be government organisations, embassies, foreign representations, ministries, specialised government agencies and international organizations. Thanks to the large range of skills acquired and the broad background knowledge gained during their studies, graduates of the programme will... See full description.

Masters Degrees, Graduate Studies and Professional Programs in Austria by City:

GrazHallInnsbruckKlagenfurtKremsLinzPuch bei SalzburgViennaWels

About Masters Degrees, Graduate Studies and Professional Programs in Austria

After four to five years of undergraduate education, typically culminating in a degree or diploma of some kind, many students are now opting to pursue international graduate study and professional programs as part of a study abroad program—a program which allows students to live and study in a foreign country for a semester or year while still earning credits towards their intended degree or certification.  One of the places quickly becoming popular among study abroad participants is the scenic country of Austria, a historic nation of immense natural beauty situated in the very heart of the European continent.

Austria, officially known as the Republic of Austria, is a federal republic in Central Europe.  The landlocked country is home to a population of roughly 8.5 million inhabitants, and is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north; Hungary and Slovakia to the east; Slovenia and Italy to the south; and Switzerland and Lichtenstein to the west.  Austria, which has both a temperate and alpine climate, encompasses an area of 32,377 square miles (83,855 sq. km).

The territory of Austria is very mountainous due to the presence of the world-renowned Alps.  In fact, only about 32 percent of the country is below 1,600 feet in elevation, and its highest point is a whopping 12,461 feet (3,798 meters).  The majority of the Austrian population speaks local Bavarian dialects of German as their first language, and German in its standard form is the country’s official or national language.  Other languages that are given official status in certain areas of Austria include Hungarian, Burgenland Croatian and Slovene.

The government of Austria is organized as a semi-presidential, parliamentary representative democracy, and the country consists of nine federal states.  The capital and largest city in Austria is Vienna, boasting a population of just over 1.7 million as of the last census.  Austria has a very high standard of living and is one of the riches countries in the world, with a nominal per capita Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of $46,330.  Much of the country’s success can be attributed to the excellence of its education system, including its system of higher education, which features several universities that are consistently ranked among the world’s best.

Higher Education and Graduate Studies in Austria
 
Higher education in Austria is overseen and funded by the federal Ministry of Science and Research.  In total there are 23 public and 13 private universities in the country, each enjoying a high degree of autonomy and offering a full spectrum of degree and professional programs.  Vienna University, established in 1365, is Austria’s oldest institution of higher learning.
 
Due to reforms passed in the 1960s, the university system in Austria has been transformed from one serving the elite to one serving the masses, including thousands of international students each year.  The growing number of students at Austrian universities reflects the liberalization of educational policy, as evidenced by the 35 percent jump in university enrollment over the last two decades.
 
The structure of higher education in Austria is quite unique, especially when compared to that of the United States. Students enroll in one (or more) field of studies, in which they are expected to graduate after four to six years. Since the 1970s, the first degree was the Magister (Latin for Master, abbr. Mag.), offered in the humanities, economic and social sciences, law and natural sciences. The first degree in engineering and agriculture is the Diplom-Ingenieur (abbr. Dipl.-Ing. or DI).  More recently, the universities in Austria have begun to introduce a Bachelor degree (which comes before the Magister) into their curriculum, in accordance with the Bologna process, an educational reform measure aimed at standardizing the credit and degree structure at European Union universities as a way to facilitate student transfer.

Medicine is the lone subject area in Austria where a doctorate is the only degree available (after at least six years).  In most of the other subject fields where a doctorate degree is offered, students are required to submit a Diplomarbeit, a research paper averaging roughly 100 pages, but sometimes considerably longer. As the requirements differ strongly and are not always clear, some students spend years working on this thesis, thus (usually not deliberately) delaying graduation.

Since the 1990s, postgraduate degrees such as the Master of Business Adminstration (MBA), Master of Laws (LL.M) and Master of Finance have also been introduced into the Austrian higher education system.

Why Study Abroad in Austria
 
Austria offers several benefits for students studying abroad—benefits that extend far beyond the excellence of its universities and the expertise of its faculty.  Austria has a long and storied history that has shaped its culture over the years, and the people here are some of the friendliest in the world.  From a natural standpoint, one would be hard-pressed to find a country that is more beautiful than Austria, especially for those who enjoy the splendor and majesty of mountain landscapes.  Its proximity to the Alps makes it the perfect place for pursuing a wide range of outdoor activities, from skiing during the winter months to camping and hiking the many trails that traverse the Alps during the summer. 
 
The major cities in Austria, while certainly very modern and cosmopolitan, have retained much of their old world charm, as evidenced by the bounty of local landmarks and historical monuments.  When students receive a break from their studies, they’ll find that there is an immeasurable number of interesting sites and attractions to explore, including, but certainly not limited to, the following:
 
Austrian Belvedere Gallery
 
Located t southeast of the city of Karlsplatz, the Belvedere Gallery is located on a slope just above Vienna. Following the designs of the renowned Johann Lukas von Hildebrandt, the Belvedere was erected as a summer residence for Prince Eugene of Savoy. The complex comprises two palatial structures, each of which was built using a series of interlocking cubes. The interiors are dominated by flowing staircases, and the most notable attractions are the Gold Salon and the regal French-style garden.  The lower part of the gallery, known locally as Unteres Belvedere, or Lower Belvedere, was built between 1714 and 1716, while Oberes Belvedere, or Upper Belvedere, was completed in 1721.
 
Austrian National Library

The Austrian National Library is an architectural masterpiece, built in the style known as Viennese baroque.  Its architects were Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach and his son Emanuel.  The largest baroque library in Europe, it was initially founded in the first half of the 18th century as an independent wing of the Imperial Palace. Today, while the Austrian National Library is still functioning in its initial purpose, it is widely considered one of Austria’s most precious national monuments.
 
Burgtheater
 
The Burgtheater, which is often referred to informally and lovingly as “the Burg” by the people of Vienna, is more than just a drama venue—it’s an institution.  First built in the 19th century, it is today one of the oldest continuously-operating theatres in Europe, surpassed only in that category by the French theater, Comedie Francaise. A sacred place for the German speaking world, Burgtheater represents an exhaustive scope of the Austrian dramatic arts; a theater that for years has produced and exalted the timeless classics of theatrical Europe.