You will receive information on when and how to sign up for classes by email. For an exchange in the winter semester, you will receive course info emails at the beginning of July; for the summer semester, at the end of December. You can head over to our academics section to read all about the course offers, requirements, how and when to sign up for classes.

Academics

Learning Agreement

Most students will have to complete a Learning Agreement. Your home university will inform you about the process. We accept Online Learning Agreements (OLA) or Learning Agreements as an editable PDF. If your home university uses an OLA (relevant for Erasmus+ students), they will let you know which platform you need to use.

For the contact at your host institution please indicate: Incoming Team, incoming@wu.ac.at, +43-1-31336-4330. The coordinator at your home university as well as your incoming coordinator at WU will check and sign the Learning Agreement. If you use an OLA (relevant for Erasmus+ students), you will receive an email notification that the document is ready.

The best moment to send us your Online (or digital) Learning Agreement is after you have registered for all WU courses – in case your home university requires the Learning Agreement earlier on, please let us know and we will sign a provisional Learning Agreement. A signed Learning Agreement is no guarantee for getting into a course.

Opening hoursOur Team

Confirmation of Arrival

The Confirmation of Arrival will be automatically generated after the WU Incoming Kickoff. You can then download it from OSS. We do not sign forms from your home universities.

Please note the following things:

• The confirmation will be signed for the exact period of your studies at WU.

• Date of arrival: We confirm either the first kickoff day as your date of arrival or the first day of your pre-semester German course, depending on your participation.

• End date: The last day you need to be physically present at WU (i.e., the last course or exam day at WU). This does not include seminar papers to be handed in online.

• Erasmus+ scholarship minimum requirement: You need to make sure that you are registered for courses at WU over a period of at least 2 months. For questions concerning the requirements, please contact your home university coordinator.

In order to be able to study successfully at WU, you will need to activate your WU email address. You can find your login data on your nomination letter (student ID number + password) and you can activate your WU email address after July 1 for the winter semester, and after December 23 for the summer semester.

Please check your WU email inbox on a regular basis or have your emails forwarded to your personal account. As soon as you have access to it, all important information concerning your courses and other matters will be sent only to your WU email address.

If you want to change your account password or Wi-Fi password, you can set a new password in the Controlpanel.

As soon as you have a WU email address, you are automatically subscribed to WU’s four mailing lists for students. To unsubscribe from the optional lists, click on the ‘unsubscribe’ link at the bottom of one of the emails.

If you need a visa or residence permit, make sure to allow plenty of time for processing when you apply. Depending on the Austrian embassy responsible for your application, it might take some time to get an appointment. Please read our page on entry regulations to find out whether you might need a visa or a residence permit.

Visa and entry regulations

For more information on your options and our recommendations, visit our health care and emergencies section.

Health care and emergencies

Climate change and the associated global challenges highlight the urgent need for sustainable mobility. As your host university, we want to provide you with information on how to make sustainable and environmental-friendly choices when travelling to Vienna. For more details, please click the link below.

your Green Travel to Vienna

Vienna International Airport (VIE) is approximately 16 km east of Vienna in Schwechat. From the airport, the quickest and easiest way to get to the center of Vienna is by public transport or by taxi. If you have signed up for the Buddy Program, you can arrange for your buddy to pick you up from the airport.

Rail Jet, REX, S-Bahn (Austrian Federal Railways - ÖBB) -  €5.20

Bus (Vienna Airport Lines) - €11

CAT (City Airport Train) - €14,90

Airport Taxi - €25 to €50  (to book in advance)

Taxi - around €45

Uber - around €30 to €35 

Vienna main station is located in the south of the city and is well connected via subway, tram and bus. For example, from the main station to Stephansplatz, it only takes 6 minutes by the red U1 subway line. If you have signed up for the Buddy Program, you can arrange for your buddy to pick you up from the main train station.

Public Transport

Vienna has an outstanding public transportation network, which includes night buses during the week and 24-hour subway service on weekends. It is operated by the Wiener Linien and we recommend that you get the WienMobil App for your smartphone. You can also check out their website at wienerlinien.at/web/wl-en. You can buy tickets at the online ticket shop and print them out on your own or via WienMobil app. Alternatively, you can buy tickets at the machines at train stations or at one of the many ticket offices.

With regards to public transport, exchange students have two options:

• Purchase the monthly ticket at the standard rate of €65,20.

• Purchase an annual ticket at the reduced student rate. You will need a valid confirmation of enrollment for the respective semester, your valid student ID card and a confirmation of residence registration (Meldezettel). If you want to buy your student ticket before the enrollment on campus, you can take your Letter of Acceptance to Praterstern station and get your student ticket there. Find all information at wienerlinien.at/web/wl-en/tickets-for-students. The price will vary depending on the payment option:

  • Full price upfront for a digital annual pass: €294,00

  • Monthly payment: €25,75 (annual rate: €309).

IMPORTANT: If you opt for the annual ticket but will not be staying in Vienna for the whole year, you have the option to cancel your ticket and get a partial refund.

There are two options for cancellation:

• Cancellation after seven months without a reason

• Special cancellation before the seventh month with a valid reason. A valid reason for cancelling your semester ticket is moving away from Vienna. To apply for this option, you will need to provide Wiener Linien with residence registration in your home country after your exchange. 

If you bought the ticket online, please write an e-mail to kundendialog@wienerlinien.at to cancel your ticket. Please cancel the ticket before the end of the month. For example, if you want to use your ticket until the end of June, please cancel it at the end of June to only pay for the current month.

If you opted for the monthly payment, the payment will not be deducted in the upcoming months. If you opted to pay the full price upfront, you will be reimbursed on the 4th working day of the next month.

This map shows the location of our campus in Vienna. The university is located in Vienna’s second district at Welthandelsplatz 1, 1020 Vienna, between the subway station Messe-Prater and Krieau of the purple subway line U2. It is right next to Vienna’s well-known “Prater” park, which is easy to reach using the city’s excellent public transport system.

Aside from our three different library branches (see below) and study spaces in all our buildings, you also have a number of opportunities to grab a bite:

• Lia Coffee (cafe and bistro)

• Mensa (university cafeteria)

• Das Campus (restaurant, pub)

• Anker (bakery, coffee shop)

• Spar (supermarket)

• L'Osteria (restaurant)

• Finn (restaurant)

• Baschly (restaurant)

Prior to the start of your semester, you are invited to attend the WU Incoming Kickoff, which gives you a first glimpse of life at WU and in Vienna. Two WU Incoming Kickoff events are offered every semester. It is mandatory to attend ONE of them. We recommend that students enrolled in any pre-semester program(s) attend the first WU Incoming Kickoff and all other students the second WU Incoming Kickoff.

Schedule WU Incoming Kickoff 1

If you arrive to Vienna after February 6, please attend our WU Incoming Kickoff 2:

Schedule WU Incoming Kickoff 2

Please be punctual!

Program

The WU Incoming Kickoff consists of various activities. Below, you will get a glimpse of what to expect:

• During an interactive quiz, you'll test your knowledge and see what you remember from reading our website. The winner gets a prize!

• You will learn more about academic life at WU and life in Vienna.

• We will host a campus tour, which will help you to get to know Campus WU and your fellow classmates better.

• You will have the chance to get connected with incoming as well as WU degree seeking students.

• Another part of our WU Incoming Kickoff is the enrollment on campus. You will receive your student ID card and become an official WU student.

• A guest speaker will introduce you to Austrian life and culture. Afterwards we will discover the Austrian in you during an interactive workshop.

• Of course, we have also scheduled a break in the morning, where you may have some refreshments, and a lunch break around noon.

• At WU Vienna, there are several units that can be helpful for you as an incoming exchange student. During our market place, you will have the chance to get in touch with these service units and learn more about their offers.

Want to meet new people, try out something new, and help shape campus life? Check out our Student Clubs! Whether you're looking for something related to your studies or you're into sports, arts or culture, you'll find like-minded people, make new friends and grow your network. Or why not start your own club?

Within three days upon arrival in Vienna, students must register at one of the registration offices (Meldeamt) which are located in the municipal district offices (Magistratische Bezirksamt). Please find your closest registration office online. Here you can find more information about residence registration.

To register, students need to bring their passport and a registration form (Meldezettel), which can be downloaded from the internet. The form must be signed by the landlord. If you stay in one of the student residence halls, you will receive the signed form at the reception desk of your dorm or housing office. Click here to see how to correctly complete the form.

Do not forget to deregister at the Austrian authorities (Magistratisches Bezirksamt) before you leave Vienna. This has to be done in person not more than three days before your departure. In case you are staying in one of OeAD's student residence halls, it is necessary to give proof of your deregistration to OeAD in order to receive the refund of your deposit.

Once you have completed the enrollment process and have registered your residence in Vienna, you will be able to open an Austrian bank account. Student bank accounts, also available for exchange students, can be opened at almost any bank and are generally free of charge. Usually, you'll need the following documents:

• Passport

• WU student ID card

• Confirmation of residence registration ("Meldezettel")

• Separate passport photo

The process and required documents may vary depending on which bank you choose.

Take a look at this article that compares different options.

• Location: Josefsplatz 1, 1010 Vienna, entrance at Heldenplatz

• Visitors need to purchase a ticket (day ticket €4,00; annual ticket €35) to use the reading area

• More information is available at https://www.onb.ac.at/en/

• Location: Stubenring 5, 1010 Vienna

• Visits are free of charge

• More information is available at https://www.mak.at/en/visit/library_and_reading_room

• Location: Vienna General Hospital (AKH), Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090 Vienna

• Visits are free of charge

• More information is available at ub.meduniwien.ac.at/en

• Location: az W, at the MQ, Museumsplatz 1, 1070 Vienna

• You need to purchase a library day ticket for €5

• More information is available at azw.at/en/articles/visit/library

Make sure that you have all signatures you need on your Learning Agreement. The Confirmation of Stay will be automatically generated after the last day of your classes. You can then download it on OSS. The Incoming Team does not sign any alternative documents from your home university. The Confirmation of Stay is signed for the exact period of studies and is in alignment to Erasmus+ regulations.

Deregister with the authorities (Magistratisches Bezirksamt - "Meldezettel"). This has to be done in person and within three days before your departure.

Please note: You have to deregister your residence in Vienna with the registration offices (‘Magistratisches Bezirksamt’), but you do not have to deregister with Municipal Department 35 (MA35).

If applicable to you: Give written notice that you wish to terminate your Austrian health insurance agreement and/or close your bank account.

Your transcript of records including all grades and ECTS credits will be available approximately two months after your last course unit. You can download your transcript of records yourself at the Online Services for Students. However, some partner universities do not accept transcripts downloaded from students. If your home university does not accept a downloaded transcript, your WU transcript will be sent automatically to your home university.