24% Increase in Academically Active Degree Program Enrollments at WU

In the last academic year, WU recorded the second-highest number of first-year students of any Austrian university. Demand for degree programs at WU has continued to rise in the current academic year, with all available places filled across the university’s entire program portfolio. Around 5,000 new students began their studies in the winter semester alone. At the same time, the number of academically active degree program enrollments increased by 24% compared with the previous Performance Agreement period, reaching a total of 16,000.

An additional wave of first-year students will start their studies in the summer semester. However, because the number of available places is capped, the total student population will remain largely stable. The increase in academic activity seen at WU is therefore not the result of growth in student numbers. Instead, there has clearly been an increase in the number of students who are actively pursuing their studies, which is reflected in higher credit accumulation rates.

More academic activity increases the need for student support

In the last academic year, WU recorded the largest increase in academic activity levels of any Austrian university. A degree program enrollment is considered academically active if the student earns at least 16 ECTS credits or completes eight credit hours within an academic year. To account for the fact that one person may be enrolled in several degree programs at the same time, these figures count degree program enrollments rather than individual students. More academically active enrollments mean more exams and greater demand for courses, exam administration, and individual student support.

Supporting academic progress

For young people beginning their studies at WU, the transition from school to a self-directed university routine can be a major challenge. This transition is particularly significant for students who are the first in their families to attend university. These first-generation students account for around 41% WU’s student body. To help ease the transition, WU supports students from the very beginning. Its services range from welcome events, advising, and workshops on topics such as effective studying and dealing with exam stress to WU4You, a scholarship program for particularly talented high school students from low-income families. These initiatives help prevent students from becoming overwhelmed and support them in pursuing their studies actively and successfully. “Our goal is to enable all our students to pursue their studies actively and successfully. The rise in academic activity levels shows that we’re making great progress,” says WU Rector Rupert Sausgruber.

Rising academic activity levels require appropriate resources

With a global budget of approximately €235 million, WU served more than 23,000 students last year. According to an analysis published in the ‘Statistisches Taschenbuch – Hochschulen und Forschung 2025 (Statistical Pocketbook: Higher Education and Research 2025)’, average federal government spending per student amounted to approximately €9,000 between 2022 and 2024, a low figure compared with other Austrian public universities. With 83 academically active degree program enrollments per professorship, WU demonstrates an exceptionally high level of productivity. At the same time, this figure shows that the volume of teaching and student support delivered by WU’s professors is much higher than the Austrian average of 34 academically active enrollments per professorship. This means that the existing capacity is used very intensively at WU.

Press contact:
Cornelia Moll
Press Relations Officer
Tel: + 43-1-31336-4977
Email: cornelia.moll@wu.ac.at