Austria

Structure of Higher Education System

Description

Higher education: Various educational paths are open to students after completion of their secondary education, that is, after passing the Reifeprüfung (upper secondary school leaving examination); or after passing the Studienberechtigungsprüfung (the university entrance examination); or the Berufsreifeprüfung (external upper secondary school leaving examination). Higher education is provided by public universities, universities of applied sciences (Fachhochschulen, introduced in 1994), private universities (introduced in 2000), university colleges of education (Pädagogische Hochschulen, introduced in 2005), and Schools of Theology under the auspices of the Catholic Church. Study programmes lead to the following degrees: Degree programmes: - Diploma (after 8-12 semesters), or, respectively Diploma (FH) (after 8-10 semesters); - Bachelor (6-8 semesters); - Master (2-4 semesters after the bachelor); - Doctor (6 semesters after the master...