• As soon as you have completed courses worth 38 ECTS credits (excluding free elective courses), you can apply for an exchange semester at one of our partner universities. You can always check online to see if you fulfill the application requirements.

• If you have already completed an exchange semester or have already been nominated for an exchange semester during your bachelor’s degree, you cannot apply for another exchange semester.

• An application for an International Short Program is still open to you.

• Moreover, it is also possible to apply for an Erasmus+ grant for a self-organized internship abroad.

• Most partner universities have additional requirements, you need to fulfill (TOEFL, IELTS, EBC 1, EBC 2). Information on these requirements is provided in the info sheets, which you can find on our interactive map of partner universities.

• It is not necessary that you fulfill additional criteria required by the partner universities within the application period at WU. It is sufficient if you meet these requirements after you have been nominated for an exchange.

• Usually, proof of language proficiency must be submitted to the partner university when registering or applying. Note: If you do not submit the proof of language proficiency by the given deadline, your exchange place may be revoked under circumstances!

• You can download language certificates through the Online Services for Students. Certificates are available for EBC as well as for an English-taught degree program. In the Online Services for Students, click on "Mobility" and search under "Outgoing - My exchange program".

• You can apply for an exchange semester during the official application periods. Please note that applications must be submitted a year in advance. This means if you apply during a winter semester application period and then get nominated for a stay abroad, you will start your exchange semester in the following winter semester.

• Three application periods are available per semester. One application period is for partner universities in overseas, another one for partner universities in Europe. During the third period (additional application period), students can normally reapply for overseas and European exchange places that have not been awarded to any applicant yet.

• The entire application process takes place online. According to your personal preferences, you may apply for up to three universities.

• IBW Chinesisch (International Business Administration and Chinese) and other individual study programs: You need to ask our general consultation team to unlock the online application for you.

• After the application period is over, the application documents will be forwarded to your academic advisor. These academic advisors are WU faculty members who support the cooperation between WU and a specific partner university. They select students based on their written applications and invite shortlisted candidates to interviews.

• Note that invitations to an interview are sent out by the academic advisors. The academic advisors are also asked to inform students who are not invited to an interview about their exclusion from the application process. Students will also be notified if no interviews are being held at all.

• Students can be selected for exchange places based on the following criteria:

  • Academic performance and progress

  • Your grade point average (GPA)

  • Grade criterion (the best 27 ECTS excluding free electives)

  • Language proficiency (especially in the local language and the language of instruction)

  • Motivation for an exchange semester and the student’s choice of partner university

  • The possibility of credit transfer towards the applicant’s WU degree program

  • Additional qualifications (internships, work experience, international experience)

  • Personal impression during the interview

  • General impression

• Based on the interviews, academic advisors will rank students for places at universities that fall within their area of responsibility. In exceptional cases, students are ranked based on their written documents only. The main reasons for a ranking position/rejection are stated in the online application tool. After the application process has ended, students can view the reasons in the application tool.

• The rankings will automatically be compared with the applicants’ preferences. On this basis, applicants will then be assigned to their preferred partner universities.

• Please note: Academic advisors only assess applications for partner universities that fall within their individual area of responsibility. Depending on the number of applications with a preference for a specific university, a selection interview may take place or not.

• The International Office will send out notifications about the final selection results via email approximately one month after the application deadline. All applicants will receive an answer, either positive or negative.

• If you were not assigned an exchange place during the application period, you can re-apply in the following application periods.

• The online application tool (Online Services for Students) is linked above in the gray info box.

• Application periods begin at 2:00pm on the first day of the application period and end at 12:00 noon on the last day of the application period.

• Your application must be submitted by clicking the “Agree and submit application” button before the application deadline.

• You can save your application and return to edit it at any time during the application period. Applications can no longer be edited after the application period has expired.

• Make sure that you submit your application in time and check that your submitted documents are complete. Late submissions will not be accepted.

• During the application process, your personal data will be processed, which is why we would like to kindly ask you to read our disclaimer on data privacy.

As part of the online application process, the following application documents must be uploaded:

Letter of motivation for each preference (max. up to three letters of motivation)

• Should be addressed to the academic advisor

• Language: see info sheet on our partner universities map - 'language for motivation letter'.

• Approx. 3200 characters including spaces

• PDF format max. 2 MB file size

Curriculum vitae

• Language: English (unless the application is exclusively for universities in German-speaking countries)

• Information on education, work experience, internships, international experience, language skills and other competencies

• PDF format max. 2 MB file size

• Photo is optional

The following documents and information will automatically be added to your application from the WU database:

• WU Transcript

• Grade criterion (the best 27 ECTS excluding free electives)

• Your grade point average (GPA) (updated for the day you send your application)

• After a successful application process, your data will be forwarded to the respective partner university (“nomination”). Subsequently, you will also have to register with the partner university. The partner university or the International Office (IO) will provide you with further details and documents required for this process. The process may differ from university to university.

• Application documents including additional required documents such as language certificates and an application form must be submitted to the partner university in time.

• Depending on the partner university, you will receive an email or postal mail just before or during the registration process. The mail contains detailed information regarding visa, housing, orientation programs, and course registration. If you have not been contacted by your partner university six months before the start of your stay abroad, please consult your IO regional coordinator.

The application forms often include the following questions:

• Are you a full-time student? Yes

• Program: Business Administration / International Business Administration / Economics and Socio-Economics / Business Law / Information Systems

• Institutional/Exchange coordinator: IO regional coordinator

• Departmental coordinator: academic advisor

• Major: courses of study that match your specialization (e.g. Marketing, Finance, Management, etc.)

• Semester dates: Please note that other countries often use different semester descriptions (e.g. "spring term" for our summer semester or "autumn/fall term" for our winter semester).

• Erasmus code: WU's Erasmus code is: A WIEN05

Frequently requested documents:

• Transcript: Partner universities sometimes request an English version of your WU transcript. You can print your WU transcript at one of the self-service terminals in front of the Study Service Center (LC building, level 2), or access it online via WU’s Online Services for Students.

• Bank confirmation (financial statement): All US partner schools and some other overseas partners require proof of sufficient financial means to fund your exchange semester. The required amount varies depending on the university. Click here for an example of a financial statement/bank letter.

• Medical report and vaccination pass: Many overseas universities require an English health certificate issued by your physician.

• Language certificate: Some partner universities require language certificates. This may be a TOEFL, an IELTS, or an EBC certificate (see below). A confirmation about the language of instruction of your degree program may also be accepted. To find out which universities require such tests and how many points are needed, please see the info sheets on our website or ask your IO regional coordinator.
  OeAD International Testing Services: http://testing.oead.at/
  British Council: https://www.ielts.org/
  
  You can download language certificates through the Online Services for Students. Certificates are available for EBC as well as for an English-taught degree program. In the Online Services for Students, click on "Mobility" and search under "Outgoing - My exchange program".

• Once you have been nominated for an exchange semester, cancellation is only possible in exceptional cases (illness, pregnancy, important family commitments, or unavoidable, unforeseen serious events). Appropriate proof will be required. In such cases, please contact your regional coordinator at the International Office immediately.

• If a student cancels his or her exchange without valid cause (see above), he or she is excluded from further participation in WU exchange programs in his or her current study cycle.

• Course selection at the partner university: When choosing courses, keep in mind that they have to be recognized for receiving a grant at WU. It is strongly recommended to complete a "full workload" (equivalent to 30 ECTS credits). If there are any requirements from the partner university regarding the courses or credits to be completed, these must be adhered to.

• Financial aid: Every exchange stay at a WU partner university is subsidized by a mobility grant – which mobility grant you are eligible for depends on the country you choose for your exchange semester. In the mandatory grant and credit transfer session, which takes place in the semester before your exchange semester, you will receive all necessary information. For more information before the session, please click here.

• Pre-recognition notice and Learning Agreement: Before going abroad, you must fill out the online pre-recognition notice (Feststellungsbescheid). This has to be done to clarify which courses are eligible for credit transfer. If you have any questions regarding the pre-recognition notice, contact Study Regulations & Credit Transfer (Study Service Center). In the semester before your exchange, you will be invited to the mandatory grant and credit transfer session, during which you will be given all information for the pre-recognition notice and the Erasmus+ Learning Agreement (if applicable).

• International Business Administration (IBW): As part of the International Business Administration major, an experience abroad is mandatory. Information about the IBW international experience can be found on this page.

• Intercultural skills: In the semester before the exchange, nominated students must complete a mandatory intercultural skills training seminar. This seminar provides students with cultural preparation necessary for the exchange. Attention: BBE students must take the class in English ("Cross-Cultural Competence"). If no English class is offered for the chosen region, students must choose a class which does not have a focus on a specific region.

• ÖH dues: It is important that you pay your Students’ Union (ÖH) dues during your exchange semester. Otherwise, you will be disenrolled from your academic program.

• Tuition fees: Participation in an exchange semester results in a tuition waiver for one semester at both WU and the partner university.

• Housing: Many partner universities offer services to help nominated students to find appropriate accommodation. Information on housing opportunities and services is usually provided by the partner universities. We also recommend that you read the info sheets and the exchange reports by former WU outgoing students.
  
  The International Office (IO) cooperates with Housing Anywhere, a platform with housing offers by students for students. Housing Anywhere allows you to search for housing opportunities in your host country. At the same time, it helps you to sublet your room or apartment during a stay abroad. The services offered are free of charge for WU students and the IO also recommends Housing Anywhere to incoming students.
  
  Please be cautious when looking for accomodation through inofficial channels!

• If you need special support during your stay abroad, you can contact the partner university directly or WU Services, such as BeAble and Student Counselling. In addition, you can always contact the person responsible for you from the WU Outgoing team.

• On this website, you can find advice on how to make a stay abroad more sustainable. Tips and tricks for traveling as well as on-site behavior are highlighted.

Travelling to non-EU countries

• If you complete your semester abroad in a non-EU country or if you are not an EU citizen, please familiarize yourself with your host country’s entry requirements in due time.

• To travel to overseas countries, Austrian students usually need a student visa. Non-Austrian students may need additional documents.

• As soon as you have received the registration forms and the Letter of Acceptance from the partner university (US universities also require the DS-2019 form), you can apply for a visa at the appropriate consular authority in Vienna. Be sure to contact the consulate in advance to find out which documents will be needed!

• USA/Canada: The US consulate charges a so-called SEVIS fee when issuing a visa. In the plane, you will need to fill out the white immigration form. To travel to Canada for a stay of up to six months, students with Austrian citizenship do not need a student visa. However, upon your arrival, you have to present the Letter of Acceptance to immigration authorities on your own initiative, and you have to state to the authorities that you enter the country as a student and not as a tourist.

• Some countries require special travel and/or health insurance. Please inquire about the applicable insurance requirements with the appropriate consulate.

Travelling to EU countries

• If you are not an EU citizen, please be sure to inform yourself about any visa or entry requirements made by the host country (early enough to make the necessary arrangements).

Overseas/non-EU countries

• Additional travel and/or health insurance is recommended. For insurance policies issued in Austria, it’s a good idea to take an English translation with you to demonstrate what is covered by your policy. Some universities require students to purchase separate student insurance in the host country.

EU countries

• If you are a citizen of an EU member state, the health insurance provided by your home country is usually sufficient. Don’t forget to take your European insurance card (e-card) with you when you go abroad! If you are not an EU citizen, be sure to arrange for the necessary insurance coverage well in advance.

• Before your departure, please ask your coordinator at the partner university whether your transcript will be issued automatically or whether you’ll have to specifically request it.

• For recipients of an Erasmus+ grant: Please make sure to take the Learning Agreement and the Confirmation of Stay home with you. Both documents have to be signed by the partner university.

• Represent WU at your host university’s exchange fair: Many partner universities organize “exchange fairs”. If a fair takes place while you are studying abroad, we would like you to represent WU. For this purpose, information material will be sent to the International Office of your host university in advance. You can find a PowerPoint presentation with information on WU here.

• WU Alumni Hubs: WU graduates are found all over the world, also in cities with WU partner universities. For nominated outgoings, the Alumni Hubs offer a unique networking opportunity for exchange students. Find out if there is an Alumni Hub close to your partner university and attend Alumni events. The local WU graduates are looking forward to hearing from you.

• Transcripts of Records are usually sent directly to the International Office and your coordinator. You will be informed by email once the document is ready to be picked up at the IO Front Office. That is usually 1-2 months after the end of the semester. Some partner universities send their Transcripts of Records directly to the students via email or postal mail.

• Credit transfer: Please note that credits of courses taken abroad are not automatically transferred to your WU degree. You have to apply for credit transfer via the Study Service Center (Study Regulations & Credit Transfer). You can apply for credit transfer via e-mail and find out on this website which documents have to be sent along (point "examinations taken abroad").

• Confirmation of your IBW international experience: If you major in International Business Administration and completed your semester abroad until the summer semester 2021 or are studying in the curriculum BaWiSo 2012, you can request confirmation of the IBW international experience during the process of credit transfer. Click here for more information on recognition and credit transfer. For students in the curriculum BaWiSo 2019, the confirmation of the successfully completed IBW international experience will be entered by the International Office automatically.

• If you are not able to pick up documents at the International Office in person, you can authorize a person of your trust to do it for you.

• The authorized person has to bring the following documents: completed authorization form, photocopy of the student's ID as well as a photo ID of the authorized person.

• WU students who have completed an exchange semester are required to write a report on their experiences, including an evaluation of the courses taken. Completed reports are reviewed by the International Office and made available online.

• Please fill out the report template and upload it here.

• After your return to Vienna, you have to complete several formalities related to your grant. Please click here for further information on grants.

• Exchange stays organized through the International Office will show up on your Diploma Supplement at the end of your studies. In case you receive more than one degree from WU, your exchange stay will be noted only on the program’s Diploma Supplement which your exchange stay was part of.

• Share your experiences from your stay abroad with other students at the annual Go Global - Your Event to Internationalize Your Studies. Spread the word about your host university!