International Office

Non-EU Student Exchange Program

Students of the University of Vienna are offered the possibility of participating in the Non-EU Student Exchange Programme by spending one or two semesters at a partner university in North or Latin America, Australia, Asia or Africa.

This is possible provided the desired host university has concluded an exchange agreement with the University of Vienna.

Quick guide

Any questions?

Experience reports

Useful information about studying at the partner universities and about life in the host countries can be found in the experience reports (most of them in German) of former outgoing students. These are available in the Mobility Online portal under the respective host university and can be accessed via the information (i) icon. 

Go to experience reports - Africa, Asia

Go to experience reports - Australia, Canada, USA

Go to experience reports - Latin America

Additional experience reports will be added gradually.

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Target Group

Degree students at the University of Vienna who meet the following criteria:

  • Bachelor and diploma students who have successfully completed at least 2 semesters and the introductory and orientation period (STEOP)
  • Master's students from the 1st semester
  • The minimum study period may only be exceeded by at most 4 semesters

Only one stay per study cycle is permitted within the Non-EU Student Exchange Program.
Applications for a study-abroad period as part of a Master's degree can already be submitted towards the end of a Bachelor's degree program.

Proof of language proficiency

A valid language test is required for the application. There are different requirements depending on the country/university (see below). The Matura-/Abiturzeugis cannot be accepted as proof of the language competence. The proof of language proficiency must be handed in at the time of applying!

In the case of applications in English-speaking countries, only two following certificates are accepted as proof of proficiency:

  • IELTS Academic: min. 6.5 out of 9 points (6.5 overall band, 6.0 writing)
  • Pearson Academic (only for Australia): min. 65 out of 90 Points
  • TOEFL iBT (currently only for North America): min. 4.5 out of 6 points
    (For Tests taken before January 21,2026: min. 90 out of 120 Points)

The language requirements of all universities you applied for must be achieved in order to be invited to an interview with the selection panel

Please note

  • Some universities may require higher scores or have minimum requirements for each section (reading, listening, writing, speaking)
  • Please consult
    • our partner universities' websites or
    • have a look at the Portal of Mobility Online (with specific information for each university)

Important information

  • TOEFL iBT Home Edition or IELTS online are not accepted from all universities
  • The scoring scale in the TOEFL iBT has changed (1-6 instead of 0-120)
  • Australian universities do not currently accept tests using the new scoring system

Test providers: 

  • TOEFL (iBT) and Pearson Academic: OeAD (Austrias Agency for Educational and Internationalisation)
  • IELTS Academic The British Council 

Level of proficiency

  • Study language (English or national language): min. level B2, exception: Portuguese and Russian min. level B1

Please check the websites of the host universities to see whether enough courses relevant to your degree programme are offered in English.

Please note: Some host universities require a higher language level. You can find more detailed information in the Mobility Online portal and on the websites of the host universities.
 

Language certificate

  • Philology/Translation Studies The transcript of records is usually accepted as proof of language proficiency (some host universities may require additional confirmation)
  • Other degree programmes Confirmation of the required language level (e.g. confirmation from the Language Centre of the University of Vienna)

Please contact the host university in question to find out which English certificates are required/accepted (e.g. TOEFL, IELTS, Cambridge Certificate, confirmation from the Language Centre of the University of Vienna).
 

Knowledge of the national language if studying in English

Additional basic knowledge in the respective national language is not mandatory, but may be an advantage for a nomination in cases where applicants have the same qualifications. A corresponding language certificate can be submitted together with the English certificate in Mobility Online.

Nominated students can receive a refund of up to 50 % of the costs for a language test if they are awarded a grant.

Application

Unless stated otherwise, all applications documents are to be completed in English.

The following documents must be uploaded with the online application:

  • Curriculum Vitae
  • Statement of purpose (one document for all preferences): Please write a 1-2 page essay stating the reasons why you want to study abroad. Be specific in relating the reasons to your past and present academic and extra-curricular experiences and your goals in the future. As text structure, please provide a general section and a section for each university/preference with a clear heading containing the name of the university.
  • Study plan (one document for all preferences): list 4 to 5 courses (per semester/term) for each university you apply for (the number and the title of the courses is sufficient). Please provide a clear heading for each university with the name of the university before listing the corresponding courses.
  • Academic transcript (“Sammelzeugnis”)
  • 1st diploma certificate (for diploma programmes)
  • Bachelor’s degree certificate (official notification and certificate, if available)
  • Language certificate (TOEFL or IELTS score report or similar)
  • Proof of identity (preferably your passport)

Please note that you don't need a letter of recommendation for the application at the University of Vienna. But your partner university might demand letters of recommendation after you have been nominated for an exchange.

  • The International Office recommends to ask either a person who has qualified as a professor or a person with a PhD/doctor's degree for the letter of recommendation. Letters of recommendation from other lecturers (Mag.) and visiting lecturers (=Lehrbeauftragte; the course has to be held in the semester of the application) are also accepted.
  • Please note: As the time between the nomination and the application deadline at the partner university might be quite short, please make sure, that you obtain the letters of recommendation in due time. Please also consider that during holidays (February) some Professors might not be available.
  • The recommendation letter can be written in English or in the language of the host country. Please use the form of your partner university, if there is any. It can also be written free.

Choice of university

Because of the limited number of places, it is advisable to list alternatives in your application (you can list up to 3 preferences per application deadline)

  • The choice of university should be based on the courses available and the relevance to your studies
  • Certain subjects are not available to exchange students at American and Australian universities, e.g. Law in the USA, Medicine/Pharmacy in Australia and the USA.
  • We recommend that you study the partner university’s website carefully before submitting an application!

The International Office reserves the right to suspend placements in regions with a high security risk (from level 3 upwards) at short notice if necessary. This may also occur after the application deadline or following the selection process.

Questions during the application process

We cannot recommend universities for specific degree programmes. Please visit the websites of the host universities to find out about the degree programmes and courses offered there. Please also be aware of any restrictions listed in the Mobility Online portal.

For recommendations, it is best to contact your department.

No. As you cannot yet know which courses will be offered at the host universities next year, the submitted Study Plan is not binding. Its main purpose is to give the committee an impression of your main areas of interest.

Any remaining places for the summer semester of the following year are published in May. Remaining places are generally allocated without a grant from the University of Vienna.

You do not need a specific grade point average for the application, but your academic success (grades, how long you have been studying) will of course be taken into account in the selection process. Our host universities also look at the grades and some of them require a certain grade point average (GPA). For more details please visit the Mobility Online portal.

GPA stands for grade point average. This is a kind of international grade average to make the different grading systems around the world easier to compare. 

Some of our host universities require a certain GPA. See the Mobility Online portal.

To calculate your GPA, you can use the scholaro calculation tool . 

Yes, you can apply during your bachelor's programme if you are planning a semester abroad for your master's programme.

Please note, however, that the host universities normally require the bachelor's certificate at the time of application in order to process your application as a graduate/master's student.

If you do not yet have your bachelor's certificate at the time of applying to the host university (it usually takes some time after completing your bachelor’s programme for the bachelor's certificate to be issued) we recommend that you ask the SSC at your department whether it can issue you with a confirmation that you have completed all the courses relevant to the bachelor's programme.

Being able to present your bachelor's certificate or a corresponding confirmation is therefore not so much relevant for the application to the University of Vienna, but only if you have already been nominated by the University of Vienna for a host university and have to apply to the respective host university (depending on the university this will be sometime between February and April).

If you are planning to have courses from the host university recognised in your master's programme, it is possible that the directorate of studies will only be able to confirm the relevant notice of advance recognition once you have already been admitted to the master's programme at the University of Vienna.

Yes, it is possible to apply for the Non-EU Student Exchange Programme. The fact that you have completed an Erasmus+ stay has no disadvantages for your application for the Non-EU Student Exchange Programme.

Whether or not you are nominated for a place depends primarily on the quality of your application. For an overview of the most important selection criteria please see the information on the selection procedure.The number of applications per host university varies from year to year and also plays a role in the selection process, as does the choice of universities.

The choice of universities is up to you. It should be based primarily on academic motives. You can specify up to three universities in your application, which increases your chances of being nominated. Universities in capital cities are generally more popular.

How to apply

All applications must be submitted online via the registration tool Mobility Online. Applications open approx. one month before the applications deadline. 

Selection process

  • Assessment and interviews by the members of the selection panel

    1. Formal check of your application documents
    2. After the formal check of your application documents they will be forwarded to the members of the selection panel for assessment.
    3. Invitation to the selection interview
      Applicants will be informed approximately one week before the interview whether they have been selected to participate.

  • Criteria for selection

    • Language and academic qualifications of the candidates for studying abroad. Written proof required (transcripts, language certificates)
    • Type and aims of the proposed study period abroad (structured statement of purpose)
    • Academic record to date (duration and grades)
    • Quality of the personal interview with the selection panel (if an interview is planned)

  • Results

    • You receive the result of selection 3-4 weeks after the selection panel via e-mail. 
      Due to reasons of data protection it is not possible to give information about the result via telephone.
    • For remaining places the selection of the candidates is based on the submitted application documents only, there will be no interview.

Questions regarding the selection committee

No. A panel of experts will first pre-select the applications based on the documents submitted. 

Shortlisted students will then be invited to the interview with the selection committee. You will be notified by e-mail shortly before your interview with the selection committee.

No interviews are held for the allocation of the remaining places; remaining places are allocated based on the application documents submitted.

The questions asked during an interview depend on the individual selection committee. The main topics of the interview will be your motivation and expectations as well as the documents you have submitted.
There is no dress code.

The selection interview will be largely held in the language in which you will be studying. Part of the interview can also take place in the language of the host country if this is different from the language in which you will be studying.

The selection committee consists of teachers from various departments at the University of Vienna. It is possible that a representative from your degree programme will be present, but this does not have to be the case.

The selection interview takes place in groups (3-5 students) and lasts around 30 minutes in total. The students answer various questions; the examination committee then assesses their responses. You will be selected/allocated a place on the basis of your performance in the interview and the application documents you have submitted.

Before the stay

Application at the partner university

As a next step, nominated students have to apply at their partner university (feb-may for WS, aug.-oct. for SS). Information about the deadlines and the application procedure will be sent to you via e-mail.

Attention: Bachelor students who applied for an exchange in their master studies have to submit their transcript of records of their Bachelor degree by the time of application at the partner university. 

Upon acceptance by the partner university your exchange spot is guaranteed and you can proceed with the next necessary steps (visa application, organisation of travel, etc.).

Recognition of planned courses

The recognition of your planned courses has to be confirmed by your study program director and uploaded in Mobility Online already before starting your exchange semester.

  • Minimum amount of credits: 12 ECTS/semester, Exception: University of Chicago 18 ECTS/ Semester (recognised!). Please consider before you apply that you still have enough ECTS.
  • Responsible for the recognition is your directorate of studies
  • The signed pre-recognition form is a prerequisite for the start of the exchange as well as for the payment of the scholarship.
  • Deadlines: End of June for WS or academic year; early December for summer term

Intercultural training

Students who are nominated for an exchange in Asia, Latin America, Russia, Ukraine or Israel are recommended to take part in an intercultural training session. 

No intercultural training is currently planned for other nominated students.

Questions before your stay

After you have been nominated for an exchange place by the University of Vienna, the next step is to apply to the host university. Your nomination at the host university will be handled by the International Office. Only in cases where a departmental agreement exists will this be carried out by the contact person at the respective department.

Moreover, you must also apply personally to the host university. This application procedure varies depending on the university. Some universities offer online registration, while others still require you to complete the application form on paper and send it by post. The application deadlines also vary depending on the university. You will receive detailed information on how to apply to the host university with your nomination. Please read this information carefully.

As soon as the host university has received your application, you then have to wait until the university sends you confirmation of admission (see also: I have not heard back from my host university yet – is that normal?)

You can only apply for a visa and take care of the next steps (booking flights, organising accommodation, etc.) once you have received confirmation from the host university.

The International Office coordinates the application process at the University of Vienna, nominates the students, sends the application documents to the host university and instructs the Accounting and Finance service unit to pay the grant.

Things you may have to organise yourself include (online) registration/application at the host university, travelling to and from the university, visa, accommodation, insurance and daily life abroad.

The Non-EU Student Exchange Programme does not include insurance coverage. The University of Vienna does not pay for any costs incurred due to illness, accident, theft or other disadvantages during your stay abroad.

Please enquire about possible travel health insurance in good time.

Most of our host universities require you to obtain compulsory insurance. However, depending on the respective host university, this can sometimes be waived if you have another insurance policy that offers comparable benefits. For more details please contact your host university.

Information on insurance through payment of the Students’ Union (ÖH) fee can be found on the ÖH website (accident and liability insurance).

Yes. This is very important. Although you are exempt from paying tuition fees during your semester abroad, you must pay the Students’ Union (ÖH) fee in order to remain enrolled at the University of Vienna. You can find information about your account balance in your u:space account.

Please note: You are still enrolled at the University of Vienna during your semester abroad and are therefore entitled to take examinations during this period.

Unfortunately, this is not possible. If you were to take a leave of absence, you would be de facto ‘un-enrolled’ from your degree programme, meaning you would not be able have the courses you complete abroad recognised for your degree programme at the University of Vienna.

The Teaching Affairs and Student Services unit has detailed information on this.

To apply for a visa, you must present, among other things, confirmation that you have been admitted to your host university. Therefore, you can only apply for a visa after you have received the official confirmation of admission.

PLEASE NOTE! Some countries require you to prove that you have a certain amount of money in your bank account (or your parents' bank account) in order to be granted a visa. Please contact the respective embassy for more information. We can provide you with a confirmation in English that you have received your grant, which you can use to cover part of the required amount of money.

You can apply for a place in a student hall of residence or look for private accommodation. You are responsible for organising your own accommodation; the International Office of the University of Vienna does not arrange accommodation. You can usually get information on accommodation options from the host university; sometimes there are also tips on this from former students in the reports they have written on their own experiences at the university.

It is possible that a stay abroad may lead to an extended entitlement to family allowance (Familienbeihilfe) or federal aid for students (Studienbeihilfe). However, you can only clarify this on an individual basis and in consultation with the relevant authorities (tax office, Austrian Study Grant Authority).

Depending on the university/degree programme, it takes different lengths of time for the universities to get back to you. You will generally hear back from them sometime between April and June. In some cases there are information sheets or pages on the website of the respective university that will tell you when you can expect to receive a response. If in doubt, we will ask the university.

If you have only been nominated for the summer semester (from February/March), the host university may process your application later and not get back to you until the summer/autumn.

The University of Vienna has joined HousingAnywhere.com, an online platform which offers students the opportunity to rent out their room on a temporary basis or find accommodation when studying abroad. HousingAnywhere is first and foremost aimed at students who want to rent out their room on a short-term basis. However, in order to increase the supply of temporary accommodation, trustworthy ‘external’ property owners can also offer flats or rooms via the platform.

Please clarify with your property owner beforehand whether you are allowed to rent out your room/flat in order to avoid misunderstandings and disappointments. Please note: We do not mediate between you and the property owner and does not accept any liability in this regard.  

Questions during your stay abroad

In the event of a change to your degree programme, we recommend that you inform your directorate of studies about this change in order to avoid difficulties with recognition of courses after your return. It is best to send an e-mail to your directorate of studies stating your new course programme (possibly adding explanations) and the section of the curriculum for which you would like to have the course recognised.
 
Please note! Clarify which courses you are planning to take at the BEGINNING of your stay abroad. If you are almost at the end of your semester and are studying for the respective exams, an e-mail from Vienna telling you that your courses cannot be recognised will not make you happy.

Please contact the directorate of studies regarding any questions about recognition of courses.

Unfortunately, extending your stay abroad as part of the Non-EU Student Exchange Programme is not possible. If you would like to stay longer at the host university, this is only possible outside the exchange programme. In this case, please speak directly with the host university in question to clarify whether an extension is possible.

If you have to terminate your stay abroad prematurely, please let us know immediately. You may have to pay back part of your grant. In this case you will receive a letter from us with information on how to do this. You must also inform your host university that you plan on terminating your stay prematurely.

The University of Vienna does not impose any restrictions on working abroad as long as you complete enough courses/obtain enough ECTS credits during your stay. Whether or not you are allowed to work during your semester or year abroad depends primarily on the regulations regarding entry and residence of the respective country. For details on this we recommend contacting the relevant consulate/embassy.

After your stay

Recognition of examinations/academic achievement

Students are required to obtain at least 12 ECTS credits per semester (exception: University of Chicago 18 ECTS per semester). The pertinent directorate of studies  is responsible for the recognition of courses. 

For any questions concerning recognition of examinations/academic achievement (recognition of courses, transfer of credits, grades), please contact your directorate of studies (“Studienprogrammleitung”).

What matters is the number of credits recognised by the University of Vienna, not by the total number of credits obtained at the host university.

In order for marks to be recognised by the University of Vienna, you will need a certificate from your host university.

Submission of documents

In order to confirm your stay at the host university and to document the proper use of the scholarship, the following steps must be completed in Mobility Online within three months after the end of your study period abroad:

  • Stating the costs and the use of the scholarship
  • Upload of the following documents
    • Personal report providing information about your stay abroad
    • transcript of records of your host university
    • official notice of recognition (Anerkennungsbescheid)

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Fragen nach dem Auslandsaufenthalt

Please check with your host university in good time to find out how to obtain your transcript. Host universities often send transcripts to the International Office, but sometimes students have to request them separately.

If the transcript is sent to us, we will notify you by email as soon as we receive it, and you can collect it during opening hours.

The exact timing of when the university sends the transcripts varies greatly. Sometimes it can take longer for them to actually reach us. If in doubt, we can enquire with the university.

No, there are no templates. You can find the personal reports of former students on our website.

No, if you have already submitted an application for recognition. In this case, please send us an e-mail so we know the recognition process is still ongoing.