Health care and emergencies
Health Insurance
All students must have insurance coverage for their entire stay at WU and in Austria. WU does not have its own insurance plan, and students are responsible for obtaining health insurance from a third party provider. We have collected some useful information on how to obtain insurance coverage in Austria for both EU/EEA students and Non-EU/Non-EEA students. Make sure to read the information carefully.
Non-EU/Non-EEA citizens
You are required to have insurance coverage for your stay prior to your arrival in Vienna as a condition for your student residence permit.
We have listed below the two best options for health insurance coverage for students in Austria. Of course, you can also look for another provider, but you have to make sure that the insurance policy is compatible with the student residence permit.
We recommend the following two options for your health insurance coverage:
ÖGK: Public insurance plan for students from the Österreichische Gesundheitskasse (ÖGK)
This plan covers medical care in cases of illness or accident, as well as any treatments deemed medically necessary at the cost of €78,84 per month. In order to apply for this insurance plan, you have to submit the following documents:
Application form (in German)
Enrollment information sheet ("Studienblatt")
Passport or ID
Confirmation of residence registration (“Meldezettel”)
You must submit the application to the headquarters or one of the district offices in Vienna in person
Private health insurance
Alternatively, you may purchase private health insurance coverage through one of the following recommended providers: UNIQA, Generali, Wiener Städtische, Allianz, Care Concept AG, and DONAU-Versicherung. The residence permit authorities generally accept these insurance companies. Here you can find the official list of accepted insurance policies for the purpose of your residence permit (in German).
It is crucial that your insurance does not include waiting periods, cost caps or an exclusion of certain risks. Furthermore, the insurance company must pay for any kind of treatment in Austria if deemed medically necessary. To be recognized by the residence authorities as a “health insurance covering all risks”, the respective insurance company must provide a written statement confirming that the insurance fulfils the above stated requirements. Note that this statement has to be signed in addition to the insurance policy. On this webpage, you can find a list of template statements (available in German only) sorted by accepted insurance providers.
For international students who do not speak German, we recommend the webpage of Care Concept since it offers information in English. The policy we recommend is Care Austria Education. If you plan to close a contract with another provider, please note that insurance contracts and information may only be available in German. In this case, you should only sign the contract if you are advised by English-speaking staff.
EU citizens and EEA citizens (Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway or Switzerland)
If you have the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), you must bring the card in order to prove that you have health insurance coverage in your home country. A valid European Health Insurance Card means that all treatments deemed medically necessary by medical professionals during your stay in Austria are covered. However, please note that routine medical check-ups and/or screenings are not covered. Please check with your insurance provider in your home country which treatments are covered and how to proceed in case you need to see a doctor abroad. In case your Austrian doctor does not recognize your European Health Insurance Card, point out that you have a valid European insurance and are therefore eligible for free treatment as long as it is deemed medically necessary.
If you are an EEA citizen but do NOT have a European health insurance card, please read our recommendations for non-EEA citizens below carefully, even if you do not need a visa.
Although not strictly related to health insurance policies, we have collected some useful information you might need in case of emergencies below.
Accident and liability insurance
During the admission process at WU, you will have to pay the mandatory students’ union dues of €26,20. This fee is compulsory for all students studying at Austrian universities and by paying it, you become a member of the Austrian students’ union. As a member, you are automatically covered by the union’s collective accident and liability insurance. Please note, however, that you need to cover any gaps in insurance between your arrival in Vienna and your final admission to WU yourself. Detailed information about your insurance coverage is currently only available in German. Please contact WU’s ÖH branch directly if you would like more information about what is covered.
What to do in case you are sick
Class absence due to sickness
If you are too sick to attend a class, it's recommended to see a general practitioner. They will provide a sicknote, which you need to give to your lecturer.
For non-emergency medical issues, it is customary in Austria to see a general practitioner before seeking a specialist or hospital care.
To search for a doctor in your area, use the official website of the Austrian Doctors Association. You can search for doctors based on field of expertise, language skills, location, and the types of insurance they accept.
Minor health problems and common conditions
Staff at Austrian pharmacies are professionally trained and can provide helpful information for minor health problems and common conditions (e.g., colds, minor rashes).
Medicines available without a prescription can be purchased at pharmacies.
Austrian pharmacies are generally open from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm on weekdays and from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm on Saturdays.
Emergency and night pharmacies can be found here, but they may charge an additional fee.
Emergency medical problems
If you would like to speak to a doctor about an urgent medical problem outside of consultation hours, you have the opportunity to call the “Ärztefunkdienst” by dialing 141. Please be prepared to answer the following questions:
Who is sick? If possible, the patient should speak to the doctor.
Where are you calling from?
Where can you be reached?
Who is your general practitioner?
Where does the ill person live?
How long has the person been ill/having symptoms?
Does the ill person regularly take medication(s)?
Which medication(s) has the ill person taken within the past few hours?
The “Ärztefunkdienst” is available from 7:00 pm until 7:00 am during the week. During the weekend, they are available from Friday 7:00 pm continuously until Monday 7:00am. On public holidays, they are available all day. They also have regular consultation hours (Pillergasse 20, 1150 Vienna): Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 8:00 am until 8:00 pm.
However, in the event of a serious emergency, please go to the closest public hospital or call an ambulance. A list of hospitals is available here.
Dentists
Dentists are not listed on praxisplan.at. On the websites below, you can find a list of dentists in Vienna and a city map displaying the exact locations of dentists in your area. Usually, you have to arrange an appointment in advance to see a dentist. In case of severe pain or an emergency, you can see any available dentist without prior appointment.
Dentists in Vienna (in German, you can search for dentists with foreign language skills using the drop-down menu, by selecting "Fremdsprachen")
After-hours and weekend dental services (see above, menu item Notdienste)
City map displaying all dentists
Insurance
Keep in mind the following useful information when contacting a doctor or when asked by an healthcare professional about your insurance coverage plan:
Holders of a European Health Insurance Card need to choose "all health funds" (alle Kassen).
Students with the voluntary self-insurance plan should select public health funds as their insurance option.
People with private insurance coverage should consult their insurance company.
Student counselling and psychological services
WU's Student Support
WU's Student Support offers a student counselling program as well as support for students with disabilities, chronic illnesses, mental disorders, and learning difficulties (see BeAble program). The offers are free of charge, confidential, and anonymous.
If you feel like you need support during your studies at WU, feel free to contact staff of the student support directly. You can find further information on the counselling program on the website of Student Engagement & Counselling.
Psychological Outpatient Clinic
This service is located next to Campus WU. Prices are based on your income and very reasonable. Psychological Outpatient Clinic.
Sigmund Freud University
Welthandelsplatz 3, ground floor, 1020 Vienna
Phone: +43 (01) 798 40 98 / 370
Email: psyambulanz@sfu.ac.at
https://ambulanz.sfu.ac.at/en/psychological-outpatient-clinic/
Please contact them beforehand to find out if you can get counseling in your first language.
Additional public services, free of charge:
Psychological counseling for students
If you would like to speak to a professional about challenges you are facing during your studies, you can contact the Counseling Center for Students. Their offer is free of charge, confidential, and anonymous.
In addition, this institution offers an interesting and useful online guide called "Coming to a new country", which addresses exchange students specifically.
Lederergasse 35, 4th Floor, 1080 Vienna
Phone: +43 (0)1-402 30 91
Email: psychologische.studentenberatung@univie.ac.at
Web: http://www.studierendenberatung.at/en
Opening Hours: Monday through Friday 9:00am – 12:00noon, 1:00pm – 3:30pm
(On Tuesdays, only available in the afternoon)
Social services hotline for Vienna (FSW-KundInnentelefon der Stadt Wien)
If you would like to speak to a social worker about issues you might be facing, contact the social services hotline for Vienna.
Phone: +43 1 24 5 24
Email: post@fsw.at
Opening Hours: daily from 8:00am – 8:00pm
Social Psychiatric Emergency Service (Sozialpsychiatrischer Notdienst)
In cases of serious mental health emergencies, contact the social psychiatric emergency service. You will be able to speak with trained psychiatrists.
Gumpendorfer Straße 157, 1060 Vienna
Phone: +43 1 31330
Email: sndpost@psd-wien.at
Web: psd-wien.at
Opening Hours: daily from 0:00am – 12:00pm
What to do if you lose your residence permit card/your passport
In case of theft or loss of your passport, please make sure to get a police confirmation and contact the embassy of your home country as soon as possible.
In case of theft or loss of your residence permit card, please contact the respective Austrian authority (MA35) as soon as possible to apply for a new card.
To avoid troubles associated with the loss of residence permit, and/or passport, we recommend to copy or scan all relevant documents. Please save them digitally on your phone or laptop, so that the files are accessible anytime.
Copy or scan of all submitted documents
Copy or scan of your passport and/or residence permit
Copy or scan of train, bus or plane tickets to proof your date of entry and departure (relevant for students who make use of a visa-free stay of 90 days or less).