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Arts Schools and Programs in Austria

Arts Studies in Austria

Subway Station in Vienna, AustriaDo you have a desire to study and maybe even pursue a degree in the Arts?  Have you thought about participating in a study abroad program in a foreign country such as Austria—a country known for its artistic traditions and contributions?  Austria has been home to some of the world’s greatest artists, musicians and composers, so it only stands to reason that their artistic educational programs, offered by its many world-class universities, are some of the most renowned in the world, drawing hundreds of foreign students each year who are interested in enhancing their educational experience.
About Austria
 
The Republic of Austria, as it is officially called, is a landlocked and very mountainous country with forests as far as the eye can see.  The federal republic is home to roughly 8.4 million permanent residents, sharing a total land area of approximately 32,400 square miles.  The country is bordered by a number of other European nations, including Germany and the Czech Republic to its north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the west and Liechtenstein and Switzerland to the south.  Austria is very homogenous from a linguistic standpoint, with most of the residents speaking the various Bavarian dialects of Germany, and its unique culture has been shaped, at least in part, by the customs and traditions of its many European neighbors.

Art Education in Austria

The Arts are a very important part of the curriculum in many of Austria’s fine universities, including the famous Vienna University (VU), located in the country’s capital, where these programs are offered at both the undergraduate and graduate level.
 
At universities such as VU students receive a comprehensive arts education, also known as a discipline-based arts education, which is basically a conceptual approach, rather than a prescribed curriculum.  The goal of these programs is to develop students’ abilities to comprehend and appreciate the arts by:
 
  • Exploring the nature and meaning of the arts (aesthetics)
  • Responding intelligently with regard to the arts, also known as art criticism
  • Discovering the various contexts of historical artistic works
  • Creating original works of art through production and performance
 
The curriculum is developed around enduring ideas and the works of art from both western and non-western cultures, from ancient to contemporary times.  It is structured to create interest and inquiry with regard to the aesthetics, criticism, history and performance of art—art forms that can range from painting and sculpture to music and dramatic performance.

Why Study Abroad in Austria

The artistic history of Austria dates back more than a thousand years; and those same traditions are still alive today in the Art programs offered by the country’s many excellent universities.  Students who elect to study in Austria receive one of the finest Arts educations in the world.  Moreover, they are granted the opportunity of a lifetime to see firsthand what makes this country so special and unique.
 
In Austria, there is a magical combination of nature and culture.  As an Alpine country, it offers some of the most amazing scenery in the world—scenery that makes the perfect backdrop for a wide range of outdoor activities, including hiking, biking or skiing down the slopes of the Austrian Alps, where many of the best downhill skiers in history received their training.  The cities in Austria are equally as beautiful as its natural settings and are home to eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the renowned Viennese National Opera House, where visitors can take in a dramatic performance in true aristocrat style.  For a day trip, nothing is better than relaxing in Vienna’s beautiful Museum Quarter, where you can study the history, architecture and traditions of the country or even just sit back with a cold drink and watch the people as they walk by.
 
Students who study abroad in Austria have the incredible opportunity to shake up the same-old mundane days of college life by earning a portion of their degree in a country that is quite unlike their own.  This experience allows them to pick up valuable language skills that may later benefit them professionally.  It also provides them a chance to learn about and appreciate a new culture, to forge lasting friendships and to be exposed to a world of adventure and new ideas.