Below, you will find excel sheets of our available exchange places. The sheets will tell you how many places are available for each application period. Please note that the number of available places may vary from semester to semester.
Apart from exchange semesters, students enrolled in the master’s programs in Strategy, Innovation, and Management Control and Marketing can also complete a double degree program organized jointly by WU and selected partner universities.
Students enrolled in the master’s program Business Law have the opportunity to gain an additional qualification with the THEMIS program.
Consulting services at the International Office
The International Office (IO) is the main contact point for exchange programs at WU. Apart from the information provided on the website, we offer the following information sessions and consultation services which support you planning your semester abroad.
Each year at Go Global - Your Event to Internationalize Your Studies, former outgoings and current incoming students present WU's partner universities. Participate and get first-hand information about student life abroad. (Annually in October)
Which countries are of particular interest to me? Which countries do I want to get to know or to which countries do I have a special connection? Are there WU partner universities in these countries?
Which university suits me? Universities, like students, have very different profiles and subject specializations. The size, location and campus structure also play an important role for many students.
Which universities offer courses related to my major field of study?
Financial aspects Please don’t forget to consider financial aspects when choosing your partner universities (e.g. travel expenses and costs of living). Please note that some partner universities require an additional and possibly expensive health insurance. The exchange reports by former exchange students, as explained below, provide a good source of information on these issues.
For students with disabilities, chronic illnesses, care obligations and/or socio-economic need, there is the possibility to apply for additional funding. Depending on the destination, students can apply for special support under the WU mobility grant or apply for an Erasmus+ Top Up (depending on your status, the Erasmus+ inclusion support can be added).
Partner universities
On master’s level, WU offers an international network comprising about 130 partner universities worldwide. It is recommended to take your semester abroad in the third semester; in some exceptional cases, the fourth semester is also possible (Business Law and Business Education). Please note that applications must be submitted a year in advance. We therefore recommend that you apply for a semester abroad in your first semester in order to be able to study at the partner university of your choice during your third semester.
The following sources of information may help you choose a partner university:
Info sheets and fact sheets Info sheets are compiled by WU and provide you with information. They include, among other things, information on application requirements at the partner university, semester dates and more. Fact sheets are provided by the respective partner universities and contain general information for exchange students. Info sheets and fact sheets can both be found on our map of partner universities.
Websites of the partner universities On the websites of our partner universities, potential incomings can familiarize themselves with the course catalog or housing possibilities. Corresponding links can be found in the info and fact sheets. Note that the information provided is only meant as support during the initial process of choosing a university. Partner universities can still make changes until the start of the exchange semester.
Online credit transfer database The online credit transfer database provides you with a list of courses which were, in the past, completed abroad by WU students and transferred to their WU degree. This database is meant as a means for orientation, but does not guarantee that those courses are offered each semester by the partner university or that they are open to WU students (e.g. course is already full, academic requirements are not fulfilled).
Exchange reports by former exchange students All students who complete a semester abroad through the International Office fill in an exchange report, which can be accessed by future exchange students online. These reports are a useful source of information for answering questions concerning arrival, accommodation, costs, course registration, and local tips.
International experiences at WU and abroad Here you will find detailed reports and interviews by students about their experiences in exchange formats of WU.
Not every partner university offers a course portfolio that is suitable for all students and every WU degree program. Our interactive map is a useful tool that helps you to find out which partner university has a course portfolio that fits your WU degree program. Please use the filter option to select your WU degree program. To view detailed information on the respective universities, click on the pins.
Suitability of master’s programs for a semester abroad
Master's programs at WU are diverse. For most programs, it is possible to go abroad for an exchange semester without delaying your academic progress. However, some programs have to be completed entirely at WU.
Suitability of master's programs
Students of the master's programs:
Marketing
Strategy, Innovation, and Management Control
An exchange semester should be completed by all or at least a large percentage of all students. The flexible structure of the programs allows for easy credit transfer. The International Office can provide recommendations for a large number of suitable partner universities.
Students of the master's programs:
Export and Internationalization Management
Finance and Accounting
Management
Socioeconomics
Supply Chain Management
Economics
Business Law
Business Education
An exchange semester is optional. Due to the courses required in the various degree programs, some partner universities are better suited for an exchange semester than others. Recommendations are available for each master’s program.
Students of the master's programs:
Digital Economy
Quantitative Finance
Socio-Ecological Economics and Policy
Taxation and Accounting
Due to the specific structure of these programs, students are required to complete the entire program at WU. Credit transfer for courses completed during a semester abroad is only possible to a limited extent.
Which requirements do I have to meet in order to apply?
To be able to apply for a stay abroad, you have to be admitted to a master’s program at WU.
Most partner universities have additional requirements, you need to fulfill. This may include, for instance, professional experience or language certificates. Information on these requirements is provided on the info sheets for the individual partner universities, which you can find on our interactive map of WU partner universities. It is not necessary that you fulfill the additional criteria required by the partner universities within our application period. It is sufficient if you meet these requirements after the announcement of your nomination.
I plan to apply for universities that require proof of language proficiency. Until when do I need to provide such proof?
Most partner universities have additional requirements, you need to fulfill (TOEFL, IELTS, EBC). 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!
If you have successfully completed the course Business Communication English ("Wirtschaftskommunikation Englisch") at WU, you can download a corresponding certificate (= EBC certificate) in the Online Services for Students.
Suitable partner universities according to master’s programs
How many ECTS credits should I ideally complete abroad?
Students are expected to take a full workload at the partner university during their semester abroad. In Europe, the full workload equals courses worth 30 ECTS credits. For overseas, students have to complete the appropriate workload requirement of the partner university. Upon their return, students are required to transfer the credits earned abroad toward their respective WU degree program.
Why do exchange places have recommendations or reservations for individual master's programs?
The WU master’s programs have issued recommendations for partner universities which are well-suited for an exchange semester. Courses which have been cleared for credit transfer in advance are indicated in the credit transfer online database published by Study Regulations & Credit Transfer. Please use our interactive map to find out which universities are recommended for your master’s program.
These recommendations are not just for orientation purposes, but also take into account the process of allocation for the respective exchange place at the partner university. This ensures a compatible course program, pending possible changes. Due to possible changes in the course portfolio at the partner university, the recommendations are not a guarantee for credit transfer. Nevertheless, we explicitly encourage students to apply for partner universities that are recommended by their master’s program. In case you are interested in a partner university that is not recommended by your master’s program, you will have to carefully study the course portfolio and inform yourself through WU's International Office about courses that are accessible for WU exchange students.
If the partner university of your choice is recommended for your program, you will be given priority during the selection process over students of programs for which the university in question is not explicitly recommended.
Exchange places reserved for selected Master's programs are open only to those students who are also admitted to these programs.
Within the application periods and provided you meet the requirements, you can apply online via this link. You can apply for up to 7 universities per application period and rank them according to your preferences!
Application periods
You can apply for an exchange semester during the official application periods. Please note that applications must be submitted a year in advance.
During winter semester, there are three periods available:
Special programs
Application period Europe and overseas
Additional application period Europe and overseas
During summer semester, there is only one period.
Application period Europe and overseas
Application process
Documents must be uploaded in the course of the online application. The application documents consist of:
One motivational letter for all seven partner university preferences in English language (ca. 3200 characters, including spaces, max. 2 MB, PDF-file; addressed to the program director of your master’s program).
CV in English (for WU master’s programs in English) or German language (for WU programs in German). The CV should be a PDF-document, not larger than 2 MB and include information about: education, professional experience/internships, international experience, language skills and other skills. A photo is optional.
WU master’s and WU bachelor’s transcript (Sammelzeugnis, is automatically generated). Students with a bachelor’s degree from a different institution have to upload their transcript (Sammelzeugnis) as a PDF-file.
Interviews may be held by the master’s program director with the applicant for an exchange semester. If interviews are scheduled, you will be informed about the format in which they take place.
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.
Allocation for an exchange place
When ranking applicants, special selection criteria of the master's programs come into play. The allocation of an exchange place for an applicant is ensued by an algorithm particularly designed for this purpose. This algorithm calculates the overall score by taking into account the following criteria for every applicant:
Criterion
Explanation
Points
CriterionRanking by the program director
ExplanationThe ranking of the applicants is done by the respective master’s programs and is included with a value between 1 and 0 into the valuation (1 is the best, percental gradation).
Points1 – 0
CriterionTertile-points
ExplanationDue to the ranking placement the applicants receive points for the respective tertile (third) in which they are ranked. In case of doubt the applicant will be ranked in the better tertile.
Points3/2/1
CriterionCategorization of your master’s program
ExplanationThe curricula of some master’s programs are more compatible with an exchange semester than others. Each master’s program has been categorized according to its compatibility into one of three groups. 2 points mean an exchange semester is possible for a large number of students. 0 points mean that the possibilities for an exchange semester are very restricted.
Points2/1/0
CriterionRecommendations for partner universities
ExplanationIf you have applied for an exchange place at one of the recommended partner universities, you receive an additional 2 points. These points are added when two applicants are eligible for the same exchange place.
Points2/0
The allocation process consist of two steps:
In the first round, applicants in the first tertile from master’s programs which explicitly or optionally recommend a semester abroad are allocated. In this round, the relevant parameters are the ranking by the program, the tertile-points, and the potential recommendation of a partner university.
In the second round, applicants in the second and third tertile are allocated. In this round, all criteria from the table above are taken into account.
If two or more applicants are at draw level after the determination of the total scores, the student who will receive the exchange place is picked at random. After the determination of the total scores, the students’ preferences are reviewed one by one. As soon as a “match” occurs, the applicant will be allocated that exchange place.
The International Office will send out the notifications about the final selection results via email approximately one month after the application deadline. For the application period special programs one week after the application deadline. After you have received the nomination email, you have time to provide a language certificate, if this is requested by the partner university. Please contact your regional coordinator at the International Office if necessary. In case you cannot provide the necessary language certificate, you will lose your exchange place.
What happens after successful nomination for a stay abroad?
After completion of the 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 the documents required for this process. The process may differ from university to university. The application documents including additional required documents such as language certificates and an application form must be completed and submitted to the partner university in time.
When do I receive information from the partner university?
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.
Which data do I have to provide during the registration at the partner university?
The application forms often include the following questions:
Departmental coordinator: Program manager/ director of your study program
Major: Focus of your studies (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 (Library and Learning Center building (LC), level 2), or access it online using 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 a language test such as TOEFL or IELTS, an EBC certificate, or a confirmation about the language of instruction of your program. 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/
If you completed the EBC (Wirtschaftskommunikation Englisch) course at WU, you can download an EBC confirmation in the Online Services for Students. The IO can also issue a confirmation for the language of instruction of your study program.
What should I know about cancelling an exchange semester?
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 good cause, he or she is excluded from further participation in WU exchange programs in his or her current study cycle.
What points should I inform myself about in order to be best prepared?
Course selection at the partner university: When selecting your courses, note that credits need to be transferred towards your WU program after your return to Vienna, so you will receive a mobility grant. Exchange students are expected to take a full workload at the host university. In Europe, the full workload equals courses worth 30 ECTS credits; overseas, please take into account the requirements of a full workload at the partner university in question.
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 course of the mandatory grant and credit transfer session, which takes place in the semester before your exchange semester, you will receive all necessary information and documents. If you are looking for more detailed information before the session, please click here.
Pre-recognition notice and Learning Agreement: Before you go abroad, you must fill out the online application for the legally binding pre-recognition notice (Feststellungsbescheid). This has to be done to clarify which courses at the partner university are eligible for credit transfer after you return to WU. Detailed information regarding the pre-recognition process and the Learning Agreement for the Erasmus+ grant, which also has to be requested online, can be found here. In the semester before your exchange, you will also be invited to the mandatorygrant and credit transfer session, where you will be given all the necessary information.
Intercultural Competence: We recommend the completion of a seminar for intercultural competence to WU master’s students prior to their exchange stay. This step is optional.
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. As long as your dues have been paid, you remain enrolled as student at WU and you can register for courses and exams if they do not conflict with your exchange period.
Tuition fees: Participation in an official WU mobility program with a duration of over 8 weeks and which extends into the teaching period of at least one semester results in a waiver of tuition fees for one semester. Tuition fees are also waived at the partner university.
Housing: Many partner universities offer services to help nominated students to find appropriate accommodation. Information on housing opportunities and services is 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!
Visa
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 the US, Russia, Latin America, Australia, and Asia, Austrian students 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, and Russian universities an invitation letter), you can apply for a visa at the appropriate consular authority in Vienna. Be sure to contact the consulate in advance to find out what 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).
Travel/health insurance
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 of 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.
Share photos of your stay on Instagtam using #WUInternational Tag your Instagram posts during your semester abroad with #WUInternational or send us a photo directly. We will share the best pictures on our account @wuinternationaloffice.
Transcript
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.
Erasmus+
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.
Exchange fairs and WU Alumni Hubs
Represent WU at your host university’s exchange fair: Many partner universities organize so-called “exchange fairs”, similar to WU’s Go Global - Your Event to Internationalize Your Studies, at which incoming and outgoing students introduce their host and home universities. If a fair like this takes place while you are studying abroad, we would like you to represent WU to students who might be interested in spending their exchange semester in Vienna. Information material for this purpose will be sent to the International Office of your host university in advance. You can find a PowerPoint presentation with general 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 so-called Alumni Hubs offer a unique additional 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.
The International Office (IO) offers small group advisory meetings to students returning from their semester abroad. "Welcome Back" intends to make your return easier and provide you with information on important things you need to get done once you’re back in Vienna.
Participate in the Go Global - Your Event to Internationalize Your Studies
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").
Exchange report and grant formalities
All WU students who have completed an exchange semester organized by the International Office are required to write a report on their experiences, including an evaluation of the courses taken. The reports are reviewed by the International Office and, if complete, 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.
Diploma Supplement
Exchange stays organized via 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.
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 (see below)
Photocopy of the student's ID (photo ID/student ID)
Photo ID of the authorized person
Please note: Make sure to specify exactly the "type of task" for which you want to authorize your person of trust. If the type of task is not specified accurately or missing completely, your documents cannot be handed over.
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