General Information

The course offer of the Language Center of the University of Vienna includes German and more than 30 foreign languages. This offer is permanently adapted to the interests and requirements of our target group.

Here are the language courses we currently offer:

German

Courses in all languages except German are defined at the Language Center as "foreign language courses".

Yes. Our courses are appropriate for both students and other individuals who wish to attend language courses, whether for private or professional purposes.

There are 3-week and 4-week intensive courses, 7-week semi-intensive courses, 9-week trimester courses and semester courses up to 13 weeks.

To the course calendar

One teaching unit (TU) is 45 minutes.

All courses in which the four language skills (listening and reading comprehension, writing and speaking) are trained are defined as general-language courses. You can find an overview in our course calendar.

They differ from specialized courses, e.g. conversation or grammar courses or exam preparation courses for English.

Specialized courses aim at enhancing participants' skills in a specific field, e.g. conversation, grammar, phonetics or writing.

These include courses for specific purposes, which address individuals with  solid general-language knowledge, e.g. "Legal English", or "Academic Writing".

Their duration varies between 3 and 6 weeks, they are held once or twice a week and are offered several times a year.

Overview: German-Specialized Courses and Foreign Languages for Specific Purposes

 

We offer courses in German and more than 30 other languages. See our course programm

In case your required language is currently not offered, we would be happy to receive a message from you. Maybe we will be able to offer courses in this language in the future.

Yes, please find an overview on our university-related courses at Language & University.

We would like to point out the Erasmus preparation courses in English, French, Spanish and Italian.

The Language Center is one of the cooperating partners of the University Preparation Programme of the Vienna Universities (VWU) and offers German Courses within the Preparation Programme preparing students for their supplementary examination in German (EPD). More information

Certain language studies require a minimum entry level in the relevant language; should a candidate not possess the required level (yet), she/he can advance to that level by attending courses at the Language Center.

Courses on all levels are offered within the framework of each course track (winter or summer semester course, trimester course, February, respectively summer intensive courses). Thus, every course level can be attended as many times as one wishes.

Our language trainers have native-speaker command of the languages they teach. They possess solid education and are well-grounded in the methodology and didactics of adult education, respectively have a linguistic academic background. They look back on extensive teaching experience and are sensitive to intercultural issues.

You can find more information regarding our teachers in our list of team-members.

You can contact your teacher directly by email. 

Should you not know your teacher's email address, you can send your message to the Office of the Language Center. We will forward it to your teacher.

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The Language Center cooperates very closely with the University of Vienna and with many of its Institutes and Departments.

Subject to passing grades in the end-of-course examination and 75% minimum attendance, our courses result in the granting of ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) points (credits).

The Language Center is one of the cooperating partners of the University Preparation Programme of the Vienna Universities (VWU) and offers German Courses within the Preparation Programme, preparing students for their supplementary examination in German (EPD).

Each course is attended by an average of 14-16 participants, maximum 18.
There may be more students in our VWU-German courses.

Anyone above the age of 16 can attend our courses, which makes our target group a heterogenous one: high-school and university students, University employees and other professionals, as well as individuals seeking employment and retirees.

Anyone above the age of 16 can attend courses at the Language Center, whether they are registered as University students, or not.

Certificates issued by the Language Center are recognized in numerous other fields, as well. You should inquire directly at the relevant institution whether they recognize Language Center certificates.

There is no simple answer to this question. The amount of time you would have to invest depends on various factors, like course level, how intensive your course is, previous learning experience, etc. We recommend that you spend (at least) as much time on revision, practice and homework as you spend in the course proper.

Yes, normally the teachers ask you to do additional exercises at home.
The amount of the given homework though, depends on your course language and level, as well as the course contents.

Yes, we can provide you with confirmation of a number of supplementary learning hours equivalent to the number of course hours you attend.

The vast majority of language courses are held during the week, while certain courses are scheduled on weekends. To find these courses, please go to our course overview.

ECTS stands for "European Credit Transfer System". Used all over Europe, this measuring unit is designed to facilitate the national and international recognition of study program achievements. ECTS points provide clarity and transparency with regard to the amount of work required to successfully complete a tertiary education course.

According to the University Act of 2002, 1 ECTS stands for the workload of 25 hours à 60 minutes.

1 semester credit hour generally corresponds to approximately 2 ECTS points. This is not, however, a very precise correspondence, since semester credit hours express the amount of time a student spends in the course/lecture, while ECTS points express the amount of work associated with successfully completing the course.

Depending on the course intensity, you can acquire between 2 ECTS points (39-teaching-unit, foreign language courses up to the A2 level) and 12 ECTS points (180-teaching-unit, German semester courses). Each course description ("Further Information") includes the exact number of ECTS points the course carries.

Your course at the Language Center shall not be listed automatically in your comprehensive certificate.

The ultimate decision regarding recognition (or non-recognition) of ECTS points lies with your university’s or institute's Study Program Administration [Studienprogrammleitung]. Please submit your course certificate to your Study Program Administration for ECTS-point recognition.

The ultimate decision regarding recognition (or non-recognition) of ECTS points lies with your university’s or institute's Study Program Administration [Studienprogrammleitung].

Please inquire there whether course certificates issued by the Language Center are recognized.

The ultimate decision regarding recognition (or non-recognition) of our course certificates (including ECTS credits) lies with your university’s or institute's Study Program Administration [Studienprogrammleitung].

Please inquire there whether course certificates issued by the Language Center are recognized.

Subject to regular attendance (75% of full course duration) and passing grades in all four language skills assessed in the final examination, you shall receive a course certificate from your teacher on the last day of your course.

The certificate includes your name and date of birth, as well as the course duration and - in case of passing grades in the final exam - the number of ECTS points to be awarded. The four language skills (listening comprehension, reading comprehension, written production and spoken production) are graded individually.

The ultimate decision regarding recognition (or non-recognition) our certificates lies with the receiving institution. Please inquire in advance whether Language Center certificates are recognized.

Subject to regular attendance (75% of the full course duration) and passing grades in all four language skills in the final examination, you shall receive a course certificate from your teacher on the last day of your course.

In case of absence on the last day of your course, you can pick up your certificate in our Office after the last course session. Please bring anidentity card along.

Please submit your course certificate to the Study Program Administration of your university.

Yes. Please come to our Office with an identity card and you will be issued a duplicate.

We are happy to issue certificates in English. Please come to our Office with an identity card and you will be issued one.

You can be issued a confirmation of attendance if you participate in at least 75% of the course duration. This paper can be issued additionally and/or instead of a course certificate. Please collect your confirmation of attendance from our Office.

Subject to regular attendance (75% of full course duration) and passing grades in all four language skills assessed in the final examination, you shall receive a course certificate from your teacher on the last day of your course.

The certificate includes your name and date of birth, as well as the course duration and - in case of passing grades in the final exam - the number of ECTS points to be awarded. The four language skills (listening comprehension, reading comprehension, written production and spoken production) are graded individually.

The ultimate decision regarding recognition (or non-recognition) our certificates lies with the receiving institution. Please inquire in advance whether Language Center certificates are recognized.

Subject to regular attendance (75% of the full course duration) and passing grades in all four language skills in the final examination, you shall receive a course certificate from your teacher on the last day of your course.

In case of absence on the last day of your course, you can pick up your certificate in our Office after the last course session. Please bring anidentity card along.

Please submit your course certificate to the Study Program Administration of your university.

Yes. Please come to our Office with an identity card and you will be issued a duplicate.

We are happy to issue certificates in English. Please come to our Office with an identity card and you will be issued one.

You can be issued a confirmation of attendance if you participate in at least 75% of the course duration. This paper can be issued additionally and/or instead of a course certificate. Please collect your confirmation of attendance from our Office.

It is not. Be advised, however, that 75% course attendance is a prerequisite for the issuance of a confirmation of attendance or a certificate.

Generally spoken, you can miss a maximum of 25% of the entire course time without losing your entitlement to a certificate or attendance confirmation.

The total amount of possible days of absence varies according to the duration and intensity of your course.

All Foreign Language Courses:

  • max. 3 course days

German-Semester Courses:

  • max. 15 course days; max. 5 days per course phase

German Trimester Courses:

  • 5x/week (Mon-Fri): max. 11 course days
  • 3x/week (Mon, Wed, Fri): max. 6 course days
  • 2x/week (Mon/Wed; Tue/Thu): max. 4 course days

German February Intensive Courses:

  • max. 3 course days

German July and August Intensive Courses:

  • max. 4 course days

German September Intensive Courses:

  • max. 3 course days

German Summer Evening Courses:

  • max. 4 course days

Don't worry, just come as soon as possible and catch up on the learning matter you have missed.

However, please consider that catching up can be especially difficult if you have missed several course days in a beginner course (A1/1).

Additionally, note that you can only be issued a course certificate and/or confirmation of attendance subject to a minimum requirement of 75% attendance.

Certainly. Please inquire at the Office after your course has ended. You will be issued a confirmation of attendance, provided you attended a minimum of 75% of the course duration.

It is not. Be advised, however, that 75% course attendance is a prerequisite for the issuance of a confirmation of attendance or a certificate.

Generally spoken, you can miss a maximum of 25% of the entire course time without losing your entitlement to a certificate or attendance confirmation.

The total amount of possible days of absence varies according to the duration and intensity of your course.

All Foreign Language Courses:

  • max. 3 course days

German-Semester Courses:

  • max. 15 course days; max. 5 days per course phase

German Trimester Courses:

  • 5x/week (Mon-Fri): max. 11 course days
  • 3x/week (Mon, Wed, Fri): max. 6 course days
  • 2x/week (Mon/Wed; Tue/Thu): max. 4 course days

German February Intensive Courses:

  • max. 3 course days

German July and August Intensive Courses:

  • max. 4 course days

German September Intensive Courses:

  • max. 3 course days

German Summer Evening Courses:

  • max. 4 course days

Don't worry, just come as soon as possible and catch up on the learning matter you have missed.

However, please consider that catching up can be especially difficult if you have missed several course days in a beginner course (A1/1).

Additionally, note that you can only be issued a course certificate and/or confirmation of attendance subject to a minimum requirement of 75% attendance.

Certainly. Please inquire at the Office after your course has ended. You will be issued a confirmation of attendance, provided you attended a minimum of 75% of the course duration.

The relevant textbooks are listed in the course details and on the confirmation of registration. All textbooks are available at the bookstore Facultas am Campus, Campus of the University of Vienna, Courtyard 1.2.1, 4 Alser Straße, 1090 Vienna

No, you need to purchase the textbooks.

The textbooks are available at the bookstore Facultas am Campus, Campus of the University of Vienna, Courtyard 1.2.1, 4 Alser Straße, 1090 Vienna

Please purchase your textbooks prior to the first course day. If no textbook is listed in your course registration, your teacher will notify you on the first day what textbook(s) to buy.

Yes, students need to purchase the textbooks themselves. They are not included in the course fees.

Should your confirmation of registration not yield any information regarding the relevant textbook, your teacher will notify you on the first course day what textbook you need to purchase. In some courses, it is your teacher who compiles the course materials.

If you purchased your textbook from the bookstore Facultas am Campus and if you have not made any annotations within it, you can exchange your textbook there if you produce the original bill.

While not compulsory, a dictionary is very useful. Please note that the use of electronic dictionaries is not allowed in examinations and tests.

Please send us an email with your requirements and contact information. We will get in touch with you as soon as possible.

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Please send us an email with the information you require and your contact information. We will get in touch with you as soon as possible.

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