Admission requirements International

What you need to know when applying to a degree program

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If you have completed your school education or studies abroad, certain criteria must be met in order for you to begin your studies at FH OOE. Some international qualifications are recognized as equivalent to an Austrian secondary school diploma and provide access to Austrian universities. There are bilateral agreements with certain countries, as well as official conversion tables for others.

The academic requirement for admission to a Master's degree program at a university of applied sciences is the completion of a relevant Bachelor's degree or an equivalent or higher qualification from a recognized national or international university.

Bachelor

Master

Bachelor's degree programs

It can be challenging to determine whether your school-leaving certificate qualifies you for admission to a university of applied sciences in Austria, especially if it was obtained outside Austria.  
If your school qualification is not considered equivalent, additional requirements may apply, such as completing an additional preparatory year or obtaining a comparable qualification. If you are unsure whether you meet the admission requirements, we encourage you to apply. Each application is reviewed individually, and you will receive a qualified response quickly!

We have listed the minimum admission requirements for certain countries:

Europe

Asia

Africa

Australia / New Zealand

GCSE/IGCSE A-levels

Some specific requirements regarding GCSE have to be considered:
- 3 A-level subjects, graded not less than C(c), Mathematics obligatory
- at least 5 O-level subjects, graded not less than c(c) 

Bangladesh

Minimum formal requirements for admission to a bachelor's degree program:

  • Higher Secondary Certificate Examination:
    Science Group only
    G.P.A. 4.00 at least AND
  • TWO additional years of study at University with G.P.A 3.50 at least

or

  • Successfully finished Bachelor study program
    Study duration 4 years
    G.P.A. 3.50 at least 

Please note: 
ALL courses (school and university) must be graded at least with 50% of the maximum mark.

Secondary education and a college diploma (3 or 4 years) is not sufficient.

India

Minimum formal requirements for admission to a bachelor's degree program:

  • Senior School Certificate Examination:
    at least 90%

or

  • Senior School Certificate Examination:
    at least 70% AND one year of university studies with G.P.A 3.00

or

  • Successfully finished Bachelor study program
    Study duration 4 years
    G.P.A. 3.50 at least 

Please note: 
ALL courses (school and university) must be graded at least with 50% of the maximum mark.

Secondary education and a college diploma (3 or 4 years) is not sufficient. 

Pakistan

Minimum formal requirements for admission to a bachelor's degree program:

  • Higher Secondary School Certificate Examination/Intermediate
    Science Group, Pre-Engineering, Medical only
    80% or higher AND
  • TWO additional years of study at University with G.P.A 3.00 at least

or

  • Successfully finished Bachelor study program
    Study duration 4 years
    G.P.A. 3.50 at least 

Please note
ALL courses (school and university) must be graded at least with 50% of the maximum mark.

Secondary education and a college diploma (3 or 4 years) is not sufficient.

Nigeria

Minimum formal requirements for admission to a bachelor's degree program:

  • West African Senior School Certificate WASSC
    Five subjects graded C6 or higher 
    NECO cannot be accepted AND
  • one additional year of study at an university with G.P.A 4.50 at least

or

  • Successfully finished Bachelor study program
    Study duration 4 years
    G.P.A. 4.50 at least 

Please note
ALL courses (school and university) must be graded at least with 50% of the maximum mark.

National Diploma is not sufficient. 
Higher National Diploma can be accepted with at least 70% score and scientific relation to intended study program

Iran

Minimum formal requirements for admission to a bachelor's degree program:

  • Certificate of completion of upper secondary school studies with G.P.A 15/20 or higher
  • one additional year of study at an university with G.P.A 14/20 at least OR Kardani with G.P.A 13/20

or

  • Successfully finished Bachelor study program
    Study duration 4 years
    G.P.A. 14/20 at least 

Please note
ALL courses (school and university) must be graded at least with 50% of the maximum mark.

Which documents do I need? 

Please make sure that you have all the necessary documents ready in digital form when you apply. Also, make sure that all documents are legible. You have the option of uploading all your educational documents when you apply. We recommend to document your education completely. This increases your chances of being accepted!

In case you have not finished your school or your studies at the point of applying, please provide the most recent proof of education (transcript of the current semester of schooling, e.g.). You can hand in final certificates later!

School-leaving certificate

Please upload all pages of your school-leaving certificate (front and back). If the grades of your school performance are listed in a separate document, please upload it as well. Provide all documents in the original language, not only translations!

University entrance exam

In some countries, a state university entrance examination is required after graduation (e.g. in Turkey or Greece). Please upload the result of this university entrance examination with your application.

Academic documents

If you have already started a study program or further training after finishing school or university, you can also upload the corresponding transcripts and certificates when applying. We advise you to have all certificates ready, as these will be taken into account when assessing your qualifications and increase your chances of being accepted.

Motivational letter

We think it's great that you want to study at FH OÖ! In your letter of motivation, tell us what makes you special and why you are a perfect fit for our study program.

Curriculum vitae CV

Please give an overview of your education, your professional positions and your skills.

Passport

Please upload the page with your photo and signature.

Additional documents

Some degree programs require additional documents as language certificates, portfolios, etc. Please upload all documents suitable to enhance your application.

Application Assessment

When filling the application form, you will have to pass a short assessment before you can submit your application in case your previous education is not from the European Union.
This examination is part of the admission process and helps us to get a better idea of your competencies on several topics.  
The assessment will be conducted in English language and consists of 4 categories:

  • Mathematics
  • Logical reasoning
  • Natural sciences
  • General knowledge on Austria

The test will take 15 minutes. The results of the test will be taken into account when reviewing your application. The results are for internal use only. The test cannot be re-taken.

Don't worry if you cannot answer all questions in all categories. Try to answer as many questions as possible! 
To get a true sense of your skills, we’re not providing study materials or sample tests. Just give it a go, and show us what you know!

Master's degree programs

When applying for a Master's program at FH Upper Austria, your previous academic background will be assessed to determine whether it formally and substantively qualifies you for admission. Please note that some Master's programs may require additional qualifications (e.g., a sufficient number of credits in specific subjects). Detailed information on these requirements can be found on the respective program's website.

We have listed some of the criteria you need to meet in order to get accepted to a Master's degree:

Duration of study

European Union bachelor degrees are obtained usually after three years, gaining 180 ECTS points. Some degree programs take longer, resulting in 210 ECTS or 240 ECTS.

International undergraduate degrees are usually obtained after three to four years, sometimes after five years (e.g., engineering studies). Depending on the country's national regulations, the educational institution and the degree program must be accredited and recognized by the corresponding national authorities.

Post-secondary education must be gained at academic level, which means universities or similar institutions. Polytechnics or other non-university educational institutions cannot be taken into account.

Grading/GPA

Your university might have a grading scheme, allowing students to pass a course below 50% of the reachable grade, gaining credit points. 
According to Austrian law, all courses must be graded at least at 50% of the possible marks. Degrees with one ore more subjects passed below 50% cannot be considered equal and the application will be rejected.

Your GPA must be at least above 50% of the maximum score. In certain cases, a higher GPA is required:

Pakistan: GPA 3.50

India: GPA 75%

Bangladesh: GPA 3.50

Nigeria: GPA 4.5

Iran: GPA 15/20

Scientific relation

Your previous studies should be within the same or a familiar scientific field as the study program you are applying for. Please be aware that some master programs require you to give details on specific subjects (pre-requisite sheet).

Which documents do I need? 

Please make sure that you have all the necessary documents ready in digital form when you apply. Also, make sure that all documents are legible. You have the option of uploading all your educational documents when you apply. We recommend to document your education completely. This increases your chances of being accepted!

In case you have not finished your school or your studies at the point of applying, please provide the most recent proof of education (transcript of the current semester of schooling, e.g.). You can hand in final certificates later!

Secondary school-leaving certificate

Please upload all pages of your school-leaving certificate (front and back). If the grades of your school performance are listed in a separate document, please upload it as well.  Provide all documents in the original language, not only translations!

Proof of additional education

If you have already started a study program or further training after finishing school or university, you can also upload the corresponding transcripts and certificates when applying. We advise you to have all certificates ready, as these will be taken into account when assessing your qualifications and increase your chances of being accepted.

Proof of successfully finished degree program

Please upload your graduation certificate (diploma) and the complete transcript of records. Please make sure to upload all pages (front and back). 

Syllabus, Internships, Diploma Thesis

Some degree programs require the upload of your internship reports or the final thesis of your bachelor's degree. For a better overview of the subject focus of your degree, you can send a detailed study plan with descriptions of the content - if you have one.

Passport

Please upload the page with your photo and signature.

Additional documents

Depending on the study program, you must provide additional documents such as language certificates, portfolios, etc. Some master programs require a filled pre-requistes sheet. You will find that form whithin the application form.

Confirmation of a Study Place

If you meet the admission requirements and have already been invited to an interview with the program management, there are two ways to receive your official confirmation:

Acceptance Letter

An acceptance letter is issued once all formal admission criteria have been fulfilled.
The acceptance letter will be sent to you by email from the degree program. You will need this letter in order to apply for an entry visa and the residence permit “Student” at the responsible Austrian embassy.
Note: You can find out whether you need a visa on the website of the Austrian Ministry for Interior (German only)

Conditional Acceptance

A conditional acceptance is issued if the required documents are not yet complete or authenticated. You will receive a notification from the degree program informing you that a study place is reserved for you. The Admissions Office will then send you a separate message with precise information on which documents still need to be submitted in legalized form.
Please submit all requested documents within the given deadline. Only when all documents have been submitted fully and correctly can an acceptance letter be issued.

Please note that the authentication of documents can sometimes take a long time. Therefore, apply in good time and make sure you have all the required documents ready!