University of Vienna

The University of Vienna was founded by Duke Rudolph IV in 1365. It is the oldest university in the German-speaking world and one of the largest in Central Europe.

The University of Vienna celebrates its 650th anniversary in 2015.

Currently, about 92,000 students are enrolled at the University of Vienna. They can select from 187 degree programmes: 55 bachelor's programmes, 116 master's programmes, 4 diploma programmes and 12 doctoral programmes. With 9,500 employees, 6,700 of who are academics, the University of Vienna is the largest teaching and research institution in Austria.

The main task and goal of the University lies in generating and sustaining top-quality research and teaching, which are regarded as an inseparable entity (research-led teaching). A strong focus on research, combining basic with application-oriented research, renders this University highly attractive for the sharpest minds.

Research and teaching at the University of Vienna comprise a wide range of disciplines: from Catholic and Protestant theology, law, business and economics, computer science, historical and cultural studies, philological and cultural studies, philosophy and education, psychology, social sciences, mathematics, physics, chemistry to earth sciences, geography, astronomy, life sciences, translation studies, sport science, molecular biology and teacher education.

The academic institutions of the University of Vienna are spread over more than 60 locations, its centre being the historic Main Building on Wiener Ringstrasse. It houses the university management, library, administrative institutions, various departments and some of the dean's offices, as well as many lecture rooms and the Audimax, the largest lecture hall of the entire University.

Another important centre is the University Campus nearby, housing most of the departments of cultural studies as well as the new Hörsaalzentrum (lecture hall centre). Further principal university sites are the Sports Centre Auf der Schmelz, the Universitätszentrum (university centre) in Althanstrasse, the Juridicum (Faculty of Law) in Schottenbastei, the building in Schenkenstrasse behind the Burgtheater, the Business Administration Centre in Brünner Strasse, and the Campus Vienna Biocenter in Dr.-Bohr-Gasse.

The University of Vienna has always been strongly orientated towards international research and teaching and therefore is continuing its efforts to maintain its relationships with other countries. It is part of the ERASMUS/SOCRATES Programme and member of several international networks such as ASEA-UNINET, the Network of Universities from the Capitals of Europe (UNICA), and the European University Association (EUA). From 363 European partner universities, the University of Vienna has entered into an ERASMUS partnership with 350 universities. Students from approximately 130 countries attend more than 10,000 lectures at the University of Vienna every year.