FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions regarding

Studying without a School-leaving Exam

I. Admission

1. Under which conditions can I study without a school-leaving exam?

2. I have completed my education abroad. What do I need in order to be admitted?

3. How does the admission procedure work?

4. Which deadlines do I have to meet for an application without a school-leaving

exam?

5. Can I complete my apprenticeship and the admission procedure in the same year?

II. Additional Exam(s)

6. Which additional exams must be produced?

7. Can I apply if my mother tongue is not German?

8. How can I prepare best for the additional exams?

9. What is tested in the additional exam?

10. How is the additional exam carried out?

11. How many exam dates are there?

12. Which costs are incurred by taking the additional exam?

13. How long does an additional exam once passed remain valid?

14. Can I obtain credits for exams previously taken?

15. How well must one be able to communicate in English?

III. Studying in general

16. Can I apply for two or several courses of studies?

17. Is a change froma university to an FH possible also without an approved school-

leaving exam?

18. Is a change from one FH to another possible without a school-leaving exam?

I. Admission:

1. Under which conditions can I study without a school-leaving exam?

An appropriate professional qualification must be demonstrated by one of the following proofs:

  • Completedsecondary vocational college (e.g., secondary commercial college, at least three years) or
  • Completed apprenticeship (three years minimum) which is oriented towards the job profile of the requested course of studies or
  • Completed German or Swiss advanced technical college with the focus onbusiness or economics studies (German “Fachhochschulreife” or Swiss “Berufsmaturität”)

2. I have completed my education abroad. What do I need for the admission?

For the admission procedure you need either the proof of having completed the German or Swiss advanced technical college with the focus on business or economics studies (see no. 1), or the university entrance examination for the subject group “Social Sciences and Economics”,or proof of an equivalent appropriate professional qualification.

3. How does the admission procedure work?

You submit your application for your desired course of studies, and will be informed which additional exam(s) you must take for the admission procedure. If you have passed the additional exam(s), you continuewith the admission procedure of the course(s) of studies chosen by you. You can find details to the admission procedure on our application path.

4. Which deadlines are to be met for an application without school-leaving exam?

Applications can be submitted until15th June via our application portal. The deadline forinternational non EU/EEA applicants ends already on 15th March.

5. Can I complete my apprenticeship and the admission procedure in the same year?

Yes, in principle this is possible. In our experience, however, it is advisable to start preparing for the exams only when you have successfully completed your apprenticeship.

II. Additional Exam(s)

6. Which additional exams must be produced?

Basically, additional examsin mathematics and English are to be taken. People who would like to apply for the course of studies “Logistics and Transport Management” must also take an additional exam in German.

7. Can I apply if my mother tongue is not German?

Yes. In order to be admitted to German-medium courses of studies, however, you must be a competent speaker of German. Your language competence will be assessed during the admission interview, which may result in taking a supplementary exam in German.

No German is required for an admission to the English-medium courses of studies.

8. How can I prepare best for the additional exam(s)?

There are no regulations on how you have to prepare for the additional exam(s), i.e. you do not have to attend any compulsory courses. FH BFI Vienna offers, for example, preparatory courses for the exams. Of course you can also prepare in any other manner that you find suitable.

9. What is tested in the additional exam(s)?

The requirements are those of the university entrance exams Mathematics 1 and English 2. The exam contents are notspecified any further.

10. How is the additional exam carried out?

The additional exam consists of a written part and an oral one. The written partlasts one hour each, afterwards the oral exam takes place. During this part of the exam, the written performance and results will also be communicated.

11. How many exam dates are there?

The FH BFI Vienna offers only one opportunity for taking the additional exam. This exam takes place every year at the end of June / beginning of July. If you miss or fail an exam, you can take it again the following year. Additional exam dates may be offered if required, but they cannot be claimed.

12. Which costs are incurred by taking the additional exam?

The exam is free of charge.

13. How long does an additional exam once passed remain valid?

Exams in Mathematics 1 and English 2 (passed after 2009/01/01) are valid for an indefinite period of time at the FH BFI Vienna.

14. Can I obtain credits for exams previously taken?

Granting credits for the additional exam(s) is not the standard procedure.Additional qualifications previously acquired at Vienna FH of Management and Communication are also recognised by us.

Once you are admitted to a course of studies, however and would like to obtain credits for previously taken exams, you can submit a petition to the respective programme director.

15. How well must one be able to communicate in English?

Since more and more lectures are being given in English a good knowledge of English is required from the start in order to be able to follow the lectures and courses. A comprehensive knowledge of the English grammar is taken for granted.

III. Studying in general

16. Can I apply for two or several courses of studies?

Yes. You can also undergo the admission procedure for several courses of studies and decide only afterwards for a particular course of studies. To ensure the best organisational preparation we ask you to decide as quickly as possible which course of studies you really want to visit then.

17. Is a change of a university to an FH possible without an approved school-leaving exam?

Basically, yes, but the admission requirements will be checked every time by each instituion, and decided on for each particular case.

18. Is a change from one FH to another possible without am approved school-leaving exam?

As not all Universities of Applied Sciences have the same admission requirements, you may have to take further exams when changing from one FH to another.

University of Applied Sciences BFI Vienna, Wohlmutstraße 22, 1020 Vienna

Phone: ++43/1/720 12 86, Fax: ++43/1/720 12 86-19, ,