Austria: Vienna University of Economics and Business

Vienna University of Economics and Business (WU) is one of Europe’s leading institutions of higher education in the fields of economics, business, business law, and social sciences.

WU has made its international orientation a number one priority. About 22,000 students are currently enrolled at WU, over a quarter of which come from outside of Austria. WU welcomes about 1,000 exchange students from its partner universities every year.

The university’s active membership in renowned international networks like CEMS (The Global Alliance in Management Education), PIM (Partnership in International Management), and GBSN (Global Business School Network), gives faculty and students excellent opportunities to interact with international academic and business partners.

Additionally, the inspiring architecture of WU’s modern campus provides faculty and students with a state-of-the-art infrastructure creating the best possible environment for teaching, studying, and developing new ideas in one of the most livable cities in the world.

Vienna is Austria’s capital and its political and economic center. 2.6 million people live in the Vienna metropolitan area, one of the EU’s top regions. Its central location also makes Vienna an ideal starting point for trips to other European cities.

Quick Facts & Links

GPA Requirement: 3.00
Program Options: Exchange
- On an Exchange program, students “trade” places with a student from another institution and pay UNC tuition and fees. Please thoroughly review the “program cost” section below for specific information. For additional information about program types, click here.
Language of Instruction: English
Program Dates:
- Fall: September 24, 2024 (latest arrival date) to January 31, 2025
  - Mandatory orientation: September 25 – 26, 2024
  - Teaching period: October 1, 2024 – January 31, 2025
    - NOTE: Several courses end before the holiday break (December 24, 2024 – January 6, 2025); students who cannot stay at WU in January should choose their courses accordingly.
- Spring: February 24, 2025 (latest arrival date) to June 30, 2025
  - Mandatory orientation: February 25 – 26, 2025
  - Teaching period: March 1, 2025 – June 30, 2025
Visit the WU webpage for incoming exchange students for more information.
Meet program alumni
Accessibility Resources

Application Information

	This Program’s Level of Competitiveness = 2 Level of Competitiveness (1 = least, 3 = most)
1	Chance of acceptance is probable if students meet the minimum requirements.
2	Most students are typically accepted.
3	This is one of the most competitive programs. We recommend having a back-up option in mind.

Apply for a Kenan-Flagler Global Program and Global Programs scholarship through the same application system using your Kenan-Flagler credentials. Click the Apply Now button below to learn more about application deadlines, requirements, and to start your application!

Apply Now

Program Logistics

Academics

Please visit Global Academic Procedures for detailed credit and other academic information.

More than 250 English-taught courses are offered at WU each term, covering all core fields of business as well as related areas. Some courses are offered in block format to make scheduling easier.

Although WU has seven different examination types, approx. 90% of courses available to incoming exchange students are continuous assessment (“PI”) courses. These courses are highly interactive courses including lectures, case studies, papers, presentations, and group projects. Exams and tests are held during the regular course sessions, and there is no special exam week at the end of the semester.

Attendance is mandatory in all continuous assessment courses (“PI”), which account for 90% of all courses at WU.

Students must take a minimum of 24 ECTS credits. View the ‘Credit Hour Conversions’ accordion on the ‘Academics Procedures‘ page for more information on credit hour conversion from WU to UNC.

Courses must be taken for a grade at your host university- you cannot take courses as pass/fail- you must receive a letter or number grade for each course. Courses in which you receive the equivalent of a UNC ‘C’ or higher will transfer back as ‘SA’- study abroad pass to UNC, and do not impact your GPA. Courses in which you receive the equivalent of a UNC ‘C-‘ or lower will transfer back as ‘SF’ study abroad fail, and does impact your GPA.

Though transfer credit for this program is Pass/Fail, future employers and graduate schools will also look at the WU transcript, so grades are important.

This program also fulfills the Experiential Education requirement or the High Impact Experience requirement (if you are under the new IDEAs curriculum). Full-time enrollment in this program is defined as a minimum of 12 credit hours.

Housing

Program Cost

We suggest you create your global program budget using our budget worksheet (xlsx) to help you think about your costs on this program:

Populate the figures from the tables below into the left side costs of attendance
Input your financial resources on the right

Your customized budget sheet can help determine your current financial status, and help you understand what additional funding you may need to help make this an affordable program option.

Cashier Billed Expenses*
Expense	Estimated Amount
UNC Tuition and Fees	Use the amount on the Tuition and Fees line and divide by 2 to get your cost
Fee UG Business Major/Minor	Based on major/minor enrollment
Global Programs Administrative Fee	$700
GeoBlue International Medical Insurance	$180

*Cashier Billed Expenses are those charges billed directly to your UNC ConnectCarolina account.

Out of Pocket Estimates**
Expense	Estimated Amount
International Airfare	$1,500
Housing	$2,800
Meals	$1,500
Immigration Visa/Residence Permit	$100
Passport Application Fee	$165
Course Materials and Students’ Union dues	$165
International Cell Phone Plan	$350
Personal Expenses
Travel Insurance	$400
Local Transportation	$165
Miscellaneous	$655


Other Personal Expenses***

Total Estimated Expenses (In-State):	$14,493
Total Estimated Expenses (Out-of-State):	$30,597

Withdrawal Policy: Once a student accepts their offer/enrolls on a study abroad program, the spot will be considered filled and will not be offered to another student. Students who withdraw from UBP Global are responsible for non-recoverable costs including the Global Programs Administrative Fee. Your student account will be assessed charges to cover any/all amounts that Kenan-Flagler UBP Global programs has committed or paid on your behalf and are non-recoverable at the time of withdrawal. Such costs include, housing, meals, transportation and any expenses that may be associated with faculty and support participation on your program (if applicable).

**Out of Pocket Estimates are based on the cost of the program, which is determined by combining the average costs our previous students have spent in each of these categories, along with the costs our partner provides to us as their averages. These estimates are subject to change based on exchange rate fluctuations, bank fees, and individual variances in costs of living.

***Other Expenses: our budget worksheet (xlsx) also has a place for you to input other expenses outside of the out-of-pocket estimates that you may incur, such as attending concerts or sporting events.

Funding your global program

Scholarships & Financial Aid

Travel Documents

Do you have a valid passport? If yes, check your passport’s expiration date to ensure that your passport is valid at least 6 months after your program’s scheduled end date. If not, you’ll need to submit a passport renewal application.

Do you need to apply for a passport (first time or renew)? If yes, we recommend that you get started on your passport application right away as you’ll need time to collect documents like your birth certificate to include as part of your application. For complete instructions click here.

Will I need immigration documents? Nationals of non-EU/EEA countries and Switzerland (so-called “third country nationals”) need an entry visa or residence permit for entry into and residence in Austria. The type of permit depends on the length and purpose of the stay. If you are accepted into this program you will need to travel to an Austrian consulate/embassy in the United States to obtain a visa permitting you to study in Austria. For this appointment, you will need your passport in hand along with other documentation from our office and the host university office. Please set up an appointment with your Global Programs Advisor to discuss.

Meet with an Advisor

UBP students can schedule a meeting to learn more about this and other programs by clicking on the “Schedule Appointment” link below.

Schedule Appointment

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