You can apply for an International Short Program as soon as you have completed courses worth at least 36 ECTS credits (excl. free electives). You can check online if you fulfill the application requirements. The credits must appear on your transcript of records by the date you apply for the program.

Before starting the application process, please make sure you have downloaded the Personal Assessment Form.  

Step 1: Log in to the Online Student Services (OSS) with your WU student ID number. Enter all the relevant information on your preferences, contact details, and degree program in the application form and submit it. If multiple programs are offered, please make sure to consider your choice of preferences carefully (only apply for the programs you would actually attend).

Step 2: Upload your application documents. Please make sure that you have filled out all the questions in the Personal Assessment Form and please upload the form as a PDF document. Read the data protection statement and submit your application.

Step 3: Pre-selection for the respective International Short Program by the WU selection team based on your application documents.

Step 4: Invitation to small group interviews based on the pre-selection by the WU selection team (if applicable).

Step 5: The International Office will notify applicants whether their application was successful or not.

The following documents have to be submitted during the online application process.

• One (1) completed Personal Assessment Form with all the questions filled out (in English, 3-4 sentences per question)

• CV in English

• in some cases: transcript of records (German Sammelzeugnis)

• Application form and proof of special need for a mobility grant (if applicable)

• Application form for the role of student representative (if applicable)

Personal Assessment Form

This form contains different questions regarding your motivation, engagement, and social and intercultural skills. It serves as a guideline for you to reflect upon aspects associated with participating in an ISP. Please make sure that you answer each question. Special attention will be paid to the extent to which you have personally dealt with the questions and expressed a certain degree of self-reflection.

We recommend that you download the Personal Asssessment Form as soon as you decide you want to participate in an ISP, so that you have enough time to add all your answers and can therefore submit the completed form during the application period. Depending on the application period, you can indicate up to 3 ISP preferences in the Personal Assessment Form, but do not have to submit separate forms for each preference.

Information regarding the International Summer University WU (not applicable for ISPs abroad):

Please note that if one of your indicated preferences is the International Summer University at WU (ISU^WU), some questions might have to be answered a bit differently as compared to when you only apply for ISPs abroad. If you are applying for the ISU^WU, please let us know in your Personal Assessment Form which courses you would prefer to take. We will do our best to assign the preferred course to each student, but cannot guarantee that this will be possible in every case. Please find the overview of the offered courses here.

Please note that you do not have to upload motivation letters for any ISP.

Please note that only PDF files can be uploaded.

• Based on your application documents (and interviews, if applicable), you will receive a GPA score and a personal assessment score. GPA score consitutes 60 %, and personal assessment score 40 % of your total score, which will serve as the basis for selection.

• GPA score: The GPA score corresponds to your grade point average (GPA), and it includes all finalized grades. To ensure all applicants have comparable chances, the GPA is weighted and adjusted using an upscaling model (click here to see example calculation). Grades for which a retake has been requested will still be included in the calculation using the GPA. Preliminary grades cannot be considered for the GPA score. 

• Personal assessment score: This comprises the categories motivation, engagement, social & intercultural skills, as well as personal impression (if applicable) and overall quality of the application. Each category is assessed individually using a four-level scale: Outstanding - Good - Fair - Did Not Meet Expectations. Special consideration is given to your ability to demonstrate self-reflection and potential for self-development.

• Based on your total score, you might be invited for a second round of the application process, consisting of group interviews. In these interviews, the categories mentioned above will be assessed. Special attention will be paid to the authenticity of your answers in the personal assessment form. Based on your performance in the group interviews, your total score might be adjusted.

• Depending on the application period, students are asked to rank the available program offers and courses according to their preferences during the application process. The program preferences are assigned by an algorithm based on the overall ranking of all applicants. The algorithm automatically matches rankings with selected preferences. It starts with the top-ranked applicant and ends with the lowest-ranked. Please note that applicants can be assigned to only one program per application period. 

Individual bachelor's program students (e.g. IBW Chinese):

Students enrolled in individual bachelor’s programs generally do not have access to the online application tool for International Short Programs. To gain access to the application tool, interested students have to send a request to spwu@wu.ac.at.

• For ISPs organized by WU and ISPs with nomination, cancellation of an allocated spot is only possible in exceptional cases (e.g., illness, pregnancy, crucial family commitments, or unforeseen serious events). Proof will be required. If you are facing such circumstances, please immediately contact the ISP team at spwu@wu.ac.at.

• Note that canceling without a valid cause (see above) excludes you from participating in any further WU exchange programs during your current study cycle.

Please note the following cancellation fees for ISPs organized by WU (winter 2025/26):

• If students cancel their participation until November 30, 2025, the International Office reserves the right to withhold a processing fee of €200.

• If students cancel their participation after November 30, 2025 the International Office will not refund any portion of the program fee.

Current enrollment in a WU Master's program

Step 1: Complete the application form (will be available on the ISP website) during the application period: March 5, 2026 (2 p.m.) - March 12, 2026 (2 p.m.).

Step 2: Indicate your program preferences You may choose multiple partner university programs (with nomination), as well as the International Summer University WU. However, you can also select just one program preference. Please keep in mind that if you are selected, you will only be offered a spot in one program.

Step 3: Upload your application documents (CV, current WU transcript, supporting documents).

Step 4: Submit your application before the deadline.

The following documents have to be submitted during the online application process:

• CV in English

• Current transcript of records (Sammelzeugnis) from your Master’s program

• Supporting documents if deemed necessary

For Master's students, there will be no interviews. Selection will be based solely on the written application. Students will be selected based on the following criteria: 

• Overall quality and completeness of the application

• Motivation and interest in gaining academic experience abroad

• Alignment of program preferences with academic and career goals

• Relevance of the exchange experience to the student’s current master’s program

• Realistic expectations about the exchange experience

• Please note: During the selection process, priority will be given to students who have not completed an exchange semester during their master studies and who are not nominated to participate in an exchnage semester. 

• For ISPs with nomination, cancellation of an allocated spot is only possible in exceptional cases (e.g., illness, pregnancy, crucial family commitments, or unforeseen serious events). Proof will be required. If you are facing such circumstances, please immediately contact the ISP team at spwu@wu.ac.at.

• Note that canceling without a valid cause (see above) excludes you from participating in any further WU exchange programs during your current study cycle.