WU Welcome Days give 3,700 new students a strong start

From September 1 to 3, 2026, WU Vienna hosted its Welcome Days, preparing new students for the start of university life. Over three days, WU’s new first-year students received essential information about their studies and campus services, explored the WU campus, and made their first connections with fellow students, helping to build a sense of community from day one.

Moving from the familiar environment of secondary school to a university with more than 23,000 students is a major transition for many newcomers. At the same time, demand for places at WU remains high. This year, nearly 13,000 applicants competed for admission to the university’s three bachelor’s programs.

Becoming part of a strong community

The Welcome Days are all about helping students get off to a successful start and thrive in their studies. Welcome tutors support new students in small groups, providing guidance and helping them navigate their first days at WU. Opportunities to get involved in campus life beyond the classroom are also showcased at the Student Club Fair. Rector Rupert Sausgruber and Vice-Rector for Academic Programs and Student Affairs Margarethe Rammerstorfer personally welcomed the new students. The event’s keynote speaker was tech entrepreneur Christopher Schläffer, WU Manager of the Year 2022, who spoke about innovation, change, and the opportunities they create. “Especially at a university of our size, it’s important to provide students with guidance and a sense of confidence from the very beginning,” says Rector Rupert Sausgruber. “At the same time, we want to showcase the many opportunities WU offers and encourage students to get involved, build connections, and become part of our strong community.”

Support from day one

Vice-Rector Margarethe Rammerstorfer encourages students to take advantage of WU’s wide range of support services from the outset. She says, “Starting university brings many new challenges. That’s why we offer targeted support, from individual advising and workshops to scholarship initiatives such as WU4You, which supports exceptionally talented students from less advantaged financial backgrounds. We encourage all students to make use of these opportunities from day one.” The Welcome Days show how WU combines its scale with well-coordinated structures and support services to create a great student experience. Given the continued high demand for study places, efficient organization is essential to ensuring excellent conditions for student success at a large university.

From Welcome Days to the Semester Kick-Off

The Welcome Days are just one building block of WU’s onboarding program for new students. The next step is WU’s Semester Kick-Off, which begins in mid-September. On September 16, WU’s law program will welcome its new students to campus, offering first insights into public law and civil law. The keynote address will be delivered by Peter Bosek, chief executive officer of Erste Group. The following week, new students of the Bachelor’s Program in Business, Economics and Social Sciences will gather at the Austria Center Vienna. As part of Business Administration and Digital Economy, the largest course in the program’s introductory and orientation phase, they will receive a shared introduction to core concepts in economics and business administration.

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