Application

You can apply for an International Short Program if you meet the following requirements:

• You are enrolled as a regular degree-seeking student at WU the time of application as well as for the whole duration of the respective program. 

• 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.

In order to apply for International Short Programs, students are asked to complete an online application procedure, followed by asynchronous digital interviews. The process is described in detail below.

Step 1: Download the personal assessment form. 

• Before starting the application process, please make sure you have downloaded the personal assessment form. Once you have downloaded the form, make sure to reflect on all questions in the form, fill it out, and save the document on your computer as a pdf file. 

Step 2: Log in to the Online Student Services (OSS) 

• 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 3: Upload your application documents.

• Please make sure that you have filled out all the questions in the Personal Assessment Form and upload the form as a PDF document. Also upload your current CV in English. Read the data protection statement and submit your application.

Step 4: Complete the digital video interview

• After the application period, all applicants will be asked to complete a digital video interview. All applicants will receive a link to the dedicated platform for video interviews by October 8, 2026, including detailed instructions on how to complete the interviews. The interviews are digital and completed asynchronously by the applicants, and will be assessed by the ISP team. Please note the following general remarks regarding the video interviews:

  • Once you receive the link to the interviews, we kindly ask you to complete the interview as soon as possible, but no later than October 15, 2026.

  • Please make sure to provide authentic answers showing that you have reflected on your potential stay abroad. 

Step 5 (for ISP Ghana only): Invitation to an additional small group interview 

• Based on a pre-selection by the ISP team, students may be invited to an additional interview specifically related to the ISP in Ghana.

Step 6: Applicants will be notified about the outcome of their application presumably by the end of October.

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), available here

• CV in English

• 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

• What is the Personal Assessment Form? This form contains 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.

• Recommendation: Download the Personal Asssessment Form well before applying, so that you have enough time to add all your answers and can therefore submit the completed form during the application period.

• Program preferences: Depending on the application period, you can indicate up to 3 ISP preferences in the Personal Assessment Form, but you only need to submit one form, regardless of the number of your preferences.

• Information regarding the International Summer University WU (not applicable to 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.

• Further important information: Please note that you do not have to upload motivation letters for any ISP. Please note that only PDF files can be uploaded.

• How is your score calculated? 

  • Based on your application documents and interviews, you will receive a GPA score and a personal assessment score. The GPA score accounts for 50% of your total score and the personal assessment score accounts for the remaining 50%. Your total score serves as the basis for selection.

• GPA score: 

  • The GPA score corresponds to your grade point average (GPA), and it includes all finalized grades (no preliminary grades). If you have requested a retake, the original grade will still be included in your GPA.

  • To ensure that applicants from different degree programs can be compared fairly, GPAs are adjusted (normalized) using an upscaling model (click here to see an example calculation). The normalization adjustment is not fixed. It is recalculated each semester and depends on the GPAs of the students who apply for an exchange program in that given semester.

  • Please note that the GPA adjustment/normalization is based only on students who apply for an exchange program. The GPAs of students who do not apply for an exchange program are not included in the calculation.

• Personal assessment score:

  • All applicants undergo an interview that evaluates the categories motivation, engagement, social & intercultural skills, and personal impression. 

  • 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.

• Allocation of preferences: 

  • 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. 

  • We highly recommend applying for more than just one program. At the same time, however, please consider your preferences carefully and only apply for programs you are actually interested in attending. 

• Cancellation of an allocated place on International Short Programs is allowed solely in exceptional and unforeseen circumstances, including but not limited to serious illness or injury, the serious illness or loss of a close family member, pregnancy, unexpected caregiving duties, as well as emergencies in the host country, such as pandemics, political unrest, or natural disasters. Such cancellations must be approved by the International Office, which will evaluate each case individually and request supporting documentation if necessary. If you encounter such circumstances, please contact the WU International Short Programs Team (spwu@wu.ac.at) without delay.

• Please note that withdrawal without a valid reason will result in a ban from all International Office programs for the duration of your current study cycle, including the WU study abroad semester, WU International Short Programs, partner university short programs with WU nomination, ENGAGE EU Winter and Summer Schools, and internship funding.

• The ban does not apply to mobility programs organized independently by students, such as exchange semesters without WU nomination (freemover exchanges), short programs without WU nomination, and internships abroad. Also excluded from the ban are the online courses offered by ENGAGE EU.

• Cancellation fees for ISPs organized by WU(winter 2026/27) will be posted shortly.