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).
If you wish to study at one of the Vienna universities listed below, you can attend VWU German courses before starting your degree programme at university.
Prerequisites for participants in the VWU German courses
VWU German courses are only open to prospective students who have already been granted admission to one of the Vienna universities listed below and who yet have to prove proficiency in German to start their degree programme. We accept admission letter from the following universities:
- University of Vienna
- Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration
- TU Wien
- Medical University Vienna
- University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences, Vienna
- University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna
Registering for a VWU German course is a prerequisite for your personal admission to the university. The steps are as follows:
1. application for admission to one of the Vienna universities with your German A2 certificate
2. registration for a VWU German course by producing your valid admission letter within the registration deadline
3. completion of admission to studies at your university and payment of ÖH fee (Austrian Students' Union fee)
After successfully registering for the preparation programme at your university in person, you will be considered as a non-degree programme student.
Depending on your knowledge of German, you will take one or more VWU German classes. Your level of German will be determined by a compulsory VWU placement test.
Your university will allow you four semesters at most to take the VWU courses and pass the supplementary examination in German (“Ergänzungsprüfung Deutsch – EPD”). You successfully complete the VWU German courses and the Preparation Programme of your university by passing the EPD. Then you may start your degree programme.
General information on course registration
The Sprachenzentrum prepares students for the supplementary examination in German (Ergänzungsprüfung Deutsch – EPD).
Please note: Subject to change if the current precautions concerning COVID-19 have to be maintained.
Preparing your stay
Please clarify questions on entry to and residence in Austria in due time (i.e. application, registration process, entry to Austria). Final responsibilities rest with the Austrian Authorities. The OeAD website (see Entry and Residence) provides helpful information.
Registration for new students
For students without student ID number and without student ID card
The registration for the summer semester will be open in January 2022.
Registration for continuing students
For students with student ID number and with student ID card
The registration for the summer semester will be open on our website in January 2023.
Fees
Academic year 2022-2023
Course fee per semester: EUR 1,300 (including costs for additional material)
Text books: approx. EUR 100 each semester
Class reading material: approx. EUR 20 each semester
The purchase of an additional dictionary (book) is recommended.
If you are eligible for the reduced course fee (depending on nationality or asylum status) you need to register directly at VWU, Sechshauser Straße.
VWU placement
New students (admission to the university for the first time):
- If you have prior knowledge of German, you must take the VWU placement test. The result defines the VWU course level your will attend during the semester.
- You will get an appointment for a placement test when you register for the course; this appointment is binding.
- The placement test includes writing (60 minutes) and speaking (max. 10 minutes). Grammar, Reading Comprehension, Writing and Speaking will be tested.
- Your placement result and class assignment will be sent by e-mail shortly before the course starts.
Continuing students (students who have already taken VWU German classes):
- Your course result is the placement for the next semester. It is the result of your performance in the exams you take during the semester. Your teacher will tell you your placement result on the last course day of the semester.
- There will be no placement test for continuing students after the February break; the course result (placement) of the previous course is valid.
- If you have attended a German course during the summer break, you can take a new placement test (please note: your grade could change to the worse!). Please send us your new certificate by e-mail as soon as possible.
- Your placement result and class assignment will be sent by email shortly before the course starts.
Placement Test Schedule
The placement tests for new students in the winter semester will be taken online at the Sprachenzentrum (also for students with German and additional subjects).
24.01.2023
26.01.2023
02.02.2023
08.02.2023
10.02.2023 (not available for students with additional subjects, no change to VWU in Sechshauser Straße possible)
Course dates & holidays
Winter semester 2022-2023
Course starts: 03.10.2022
Course ends: 01.02.2023
Holidays:
26.10.2022
01.11.2022
08.12.2022
23.12. 2022 – 08.01.2023 (Christmas break)
10.01.2023 (levels AN, AV, EV)
18.01.2023 (levels FG, WF: day of written EPD)
Summer semester 2023
Course starts: 28.02.2023
Course ends: 23.06.2023
Holidays:
01.04.2023 – 10.04.2023 (Easter break)
01.05.2023
18.05.2023
29.05.2023
08.06.2023
12.06.2023 (day of written EPD)
Class time
Daily lessons (Monday – Friday) for 3 hours and 40 minutes (20 minutes break incl.)
You will receive an e-mail regarding your course schedule shortly before the course starts. Let us know your preferred class time when you register for a course. The class allocation is organized centrally and unfortunately not all preferences can be met. Changing the allocated class is not possible.
Morning (V): | class time between 8:00 and 13:00 |
Noon (M): | class time between 11:00 and 17:00 |
Afternoon (N): | class time between 14:00 and 20:00 |
VWU course levels
Basic levels
AN – Beginners with no prior knowledge of German
AV – Beginners with little knowledge of German
EV – Students with extended knowledge of German
Courses preparing for the EPD-exam
FG – Students with advanced knowledge of German
WF – Students with further advanced knowledge of German
The five VWU course levels are overlapping – in almost every course level you will repeat and enhance some parts of the preceding level. You do not need to attend each level. Most students need three semesters to successfully passing the EPD. Your university will allow you four semesters at most to complete the VWU German courses. The EPD exam, taken at VWU, Sechshauser Straße, must be passed to become a degree programme student. Correct and complex language proficiency is needed to pass this exam. The course levels FG or WF focus on these aspects.
VWU course levels do not refer to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). The result of the VWU-placement test determines your course level.
Figure: Overlapping course levels
Figure: Course system and the path to EPD
Books
We work with authentic materials as well as coursebooks. Different books are used in the winter and the summer semester. Additional learning materials and exercises will be supplied as handouts or accessible via the Moodle platform of the Language Center of the University of Vienna.
The purchase of a dictionary (book) is recommended. For further details, please ask your teacher.
VWU course levels do not refer to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), even if the books used show these CEFR-levels.
Books in winter semester 2022-23:
- AN: Schritte Plus Neu Österreich Teile 1 + 2 + 3 + 4
- AV: Schritte Plus Neu Österreich Teile 3 + 4 + 5
- EV: Schritte Plus Neu Österreich Teile 4 + 5 + 6
- FG: Sicher! B1+, Sicher! Aktuell B2 Teil 1 & Sicher! Aktuell B2 Teil 2
- WF: Sicher! Aktuell B2, Sicher! C1 (jeweils Teil 1 und 2)
Please search for your book with the respective ISBN number.
Books in summer semester 2023:
- AN: Motive A1, A2
- AV: Motive A2, B1
- EV: Motive A2, B1
- FG: Aspekte neu B1 plus Teil 1 & Teil 2, B2/1, B2/2
- WF: Aspekte neu B2/1, B2/2, C1/1, C1/2
The textbooks are available at bookstores such as our cooperation partner Facultas am Campus. The textbook costs are not included in the course price. Shortly before your course starts, you will receive further information regarding your course book by e-mail.
Class rules at the Language Center
Students of the VWU German courses must accept the class rules (English Version on Page 2) at the Sprachenzentrum.
Attendance, exams, course results
- Attendance:
Regular course attendance (active participation and dedication) is important and can be relevant for your course confirmation (MA 35). Attendance will be recorded by lesson (UE). Arriving late or leaving the classroom count as missed class. Independently keep track of your absences from the course!
- Exams:
All exam dates will be provided on the first day of your course, additionally, we will send them to you via e-mail. Your class time may vary on exam days.
There are three exams (mid-term tests) each semester. You will receive all relevant dates at the beginning of your course. If you pass the mid-term exams, you do not need to take the written placement exam at the end of the course. So even if you fail the mid-term exams, the result of the written placement exam will allow you to obtain a written result.
There will be a compulsory oral exam at the end of the semester in order to advance to a higher course level. Students in the levels FG and WF do not have to take the written or oral placement exam.
- Disability-friendly exams:
People with attested disabilities have the right to an accessible examination mode.
- (Future) students of the University of Vienna: Please contact the members of the Accessible Studying Team before the start of the course and then inform sprachenzentrumsymbolunivie.acpunktat.
- Course participants (except students at the University of Vienna): Please write to sprachenzentrumsymbolunivie.acpunktat within the first week of the course and ask for an appointment with the head of department.
We ask for your understanding that later announcements cannot be taken into account for organizational reasons. You can find support and more information HERE.
- Absence at the exam
If you do not take the exams as explained above, you will have to repeat the same course level in the following semester.
If you are absent on the day of a mid-term exam, your test will be marked as failed (5). It is not possible to repeat an exam nor will there be an alternative date set.
- Course result (placement for the next semester)
Your course result is the placement for the next semester. It is the result of your performance in the exams you take during the semester. Your teacher will tell you your placement result on the last course day of the semester.
Confirmations
A confirmation of attendance (needed for MA 35) will be sent by e-mail five days after your course ends. It certifies either a successful completion, an unsuccessful completion despite regular participation or an unsuccessful completion.
A certificate (with grades) for an attended VWU German course is not available. Upon passing the EPD you will receive your EPD-certificate at VWU, Sechshauser Straße. After having passed the EPD-exam, the Preparation Programme will be completed and you may start your degree programme.
Details on the EPD (supplementary examination in German)
Continuing students (Students who have already taken VWU-German classes)
After passing the EPD, you must register as a degree programme student at the university. Attending another VWU German course will not be possible anymore.
The EPD is held at VWU, Sechshauser Straße, where you will receive further details about registration, fees and certificates. If you attend the courses FG or WF, you will receive details about the exam date at the end of your course from the Language Center. Please note that it is your own responsibility to register for the EPD.
If you do not register for the EPD or do not pass the EPD, you will have to register for another VWU German course in order to keep your status as a student of the university. Please register immediately after you have received your negative EPD results. The cancellation terms keep valid (see 4.e), however, an extended registration period applies.
There are additional exam dates for the EPD. These, however, do not correlate with the course dates at the Language Center.
You have not registered for the Preparation Programme at your university yet? You can take regular German courses at the Language Center. Some of the Vienna universities accept the Language Center’s course certificates when registering at the university for the first time. For other German courses please click here: German courses |
