FAQs

Which study programs are offered at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna?
Do I have to pass an admission exam?
What else should I pay attention to regarding admission?
Is it possible to study without school leaving examination?
Do I have to pay tuition fees?
How is the study program structured?
What is a curriculum?
How do I prove the required level of German Language Skills?
Where can I find the course catalogue and how do I register for lectures?
How do I receive current information that is relevant for me as a student?
Which scholarships exist?
Do I need health insurance as a student?

Which study programs are offered at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna?

Study programs at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna:
Bachelor/Master in Architecture
Diploma program in Fine Arts
Diploma program in Scenography
Diploma program in Conservation and Restoration
Bachelor/Master in Education in the Arts in Art and Education and Design in Context
Doctor of Philosophy/PhD
Doctor of Technical Sciences
Doctor of Science
PhD in Practice
Master in Critical Studies

Do I have to pass an admission exam?

For the following study programs at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna you have to pass the admission exam: Architecture, Fine Arts, Scenography, Conservation and Restoration, Education in the Arts, Master in Critical Studies and PhD in Practice.

For Education in the Arts a demonstration of pedagogic aptitude is required additionally.

For all study programs except Scenography an online-registration is necessary. For more information about portfolio, dates etc. please click on the relevant study program.  

The dates for the admission exam for the relevant study program can be found on our homepage.

Please note that for Doctor of Philosophy, Doctor of Technical Sciences and Doctor of Science no online-registration and no admission exam are required. The admission for these study programs has to take place at the Registrar’s Office during the general admission period.

What else should I pay attention to regarding admission?

The required documents for initial registration (= enrolment, inscription) as a regular student at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna are described here.

Please note that the registration can only take place during the general admission period.

Is it possible to study without school leaving examination?

An Austrian school leaving examination (Matura), an equivalent qualification e.g. a German university entrance qualification (Abitur) or test of access to university education for the respective study program are necessary for the admission to the Bachelor study programs Architecture and Education in the Arts.  

For all other study programs no school leaving examination is required, however, a demonstration of artistic aptitude in the course of the admission exam is necessary.

Do I have to pay tuition fees?

Since the summer semester 2013 all Austrian universities charge tuition fees. This is based on a number of statutory special arrangements and exemptions.

Note: The student‘s union fee is not part of the tuition fee and has to be paid each semester regardless. If the student’s union fee is not paid or not paid completely until the end of the extended admission period (= Nachfrist, 30.11. in the winter semester and 30.04. in the summer semester) at the latest this means that the student will get deregistered from her_his studies.

How is the study program structured?

Fine Arts, Scenography and Conservation and Restoration are diploma programs and structured in two study sections. You finish with the degree Mag.art. (Magistra/Magister artium). Architecture and Education in the Arts are offered as Bachelor- and Master programs. Master in Critical Studies is only offered as a Master program. In Austria the completion of a diploma program is equivalent to a Master’s degree. 

What is a curriculum?

The curriculum describes content and structure of a study program. You can find all mandatory lectures /modules /study areas in it which have to be passed in order to finish the respective study program. All lectures /modules /study areas are assigned with a certain amount of contact hours per week (= Semesterwochenstunden) or rather ECTS-points. Contact hours describe the contact time per week at a lecture; ECTS describe the amount of work which is necessary to pass the lecture positively. One contact hours equals 45 minutes, one ECTS equals 25 hours of work.

You can find the latest curriculum as well as older versions on our website at the relevant study program. You can also find the curriculum which is valid in your case in your visiting card at AcademyOnline. For first-year students the latest version of the curriculum is always valid.

In the context of the introduction of new curricula it is important to know which curriculum is valid for you and which transitional periods and transfer rules (to know how long the curriculum is valid and from which date on you have to transfer to the new curriculum) have been set.

How do I prove the required level of German Language Skills?

The required level as well as the time of verification for the relevant study program can be found on our website. There you can also find a list of documents which are accepted as a proof of your German Language skills beside our in-house German language courses.

Where can I find the course catalogue and how do I register for lectures?

Beside your visiting card you also find the course catalogue at AcademyOnline, which is also available to the public. The registration can be done online or in person with the course lecturer. The intended registration mode is described at AcademyOnline at the section “Registration”. The registration is open in the winter semester from mid of September until the end of November, for the summer semester from mid of February until the end of April.

How do I receive current information that is relevant for me as a student?

The Academy of Fine Arts Vienna informs students about calls, scholarships, competitions, newsletters and other official news in regular intervals on your official student mail account.

As a student of the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna you have access to your official student mail account after your successful registration at AcademyOnline. The service is accessed at Webmail.

If you have questions regarding your mail account, please contact IT Services  (called ZID in German) via support@akbild.ac.at or 01/588161717.

For your first registration at AcademyOnline you need a PIN code which you will receive at the Registrar’s Office upon your registration. Only if you activate your AcademyOnline account, your mail account will be available.

Please note: As a student you are obliged to check your official student mail account regularly. You can also redirect your Academy mail to your private mail account.

Which scholarships exist?

Academy Scholarships

Scholarships and financial aid for student mobility

Scholarships for PhD candidates

Research Scholarships: Please find information about actual scholarships and calls in the research area in our research newsletter.

Fundings of the student union

External Scholarships

Do I need health insurance as a student?

For more details, please read carefully through the information on our homepage or on the website of OeAD.