More than 10,000 prospective students take WU entrance exams

This year’s WU entrance exams once again demonstrated the strong interest in studying at Austria’s only university focusing on business and economics. Nearly 10,500 prospective students took the entrance exams for the Bachelor’s Program in Business, Economics and Social Sciences (WISO), the Bachelor’s Program in Business and Economics (BBE), and the Bachelor’s Program in Business Law (WIRE) on June 30 and July 1, 2026. Earlier in the admissions process, WU had already recorded a new all-time high of almost 13,000 applicants.

Interest in studying at WU has been growing steadily for years. Since 2019, the number of applicants for the Bachelor’s Program in Business, Economics and Social Sciences (2,703 program places) has increased by around 80%, applications for the Bachelor’s Program in Business Law (870 program places) have risen by around 130%, while applications for the English-taught Bachelor’s Program in Business and Economics (240 program places) have grown by approximately 260%.

Record demand requires adequate funding

“We are delighted by this development. It shows that our degree programs are highly attractive and that young people see WU as a place where they can receive an excellent education and build strong career prospects,” says WU Rector Rupert Sausgruber. At the same time, Sausgruber points to the planned budget cuts for Austria’s public universities and stresses that growing demand must be matched by sufficient resources. “The entrance exams provide a striking illustration of the tremendous interest in studying at WU. At the same time, WU already has one of the most challenging student-to-faculty ratios among Austria’s public universities. If the number of prospective students continues to rise while funding declines, the quality of teaching and student support will inevitably come under pressure. If Austria wants to educate enough highly qualified professionals, universities must also be provided with the resources they need.”

Three halls for thousands of prospective students

To provide sufficient capacity for all eligible applicants, WU rented three halls at the neighboring Vienna Congress & Convention Center (VIECON Messe Wien). A total of 105 student assistants supported the entrance exams and ensured that the examinations ran smoothly. In addition, WU joined forces with the Medical University of Vienna and the University of Vienna in a joint procurement initiative to purchase furniture, helping to organize the entrance exams as cost effectively and efficiently as possible. A total of 5,356 applicants took the entrance exam for the Bachelor’s Program in Business, Economics and Social Sciences, 2,872 sat the exam for the Bachelor’s Program in Business and Economics, and 2,260 applicants took the entrance exam for the Bachelor’s Program in Business Law.

The results of the entrance exams will be announced in the coming weeks. Program places will then be allocated based on applicants’ ranking in the admissions process.