Vienna University of Economics and Business

Overview:

Vienna University of Economics and Business (WU) was established in 1898. Ranked as a top 50 European business school, WU moved to a state-of-the-art campus in 2013 that boasts award-winning architecture throughout its campus. With a student body of 20,000, you will make plenty of Austrian and German friends while learning from 1600 distinguished professors. This exchange program is College of Business Administration (CBA) specific, meaning only Pitt Business undergraduate students may participate. For more information about the university, go to the WU's International Office website.

Want to learn more? Check out the Pitt Business To the World student blog

Fact sheet:

Click here to download. (568.21 KB)

Learning Objectives:

As an active and engaged participant on this program, you will have the opportunity to develop:

the ability to succeed independently in a foreign education environment.
non-US based perspectives on your field of study and/or future career path.
a global network of peers in similar fields of study and connections with faculty in Austria

Partner Information:

International Office
Library & Learning Center
Welthandelplatz 1
1020 Vienna
Tel: +43-1-31336-4310
Email: zas@wu.ac.at

Location Description:

Vienna is known as "The City of Music" because of its rich musical history, Vienna offers students everything that is expected of a European capital. Home of Freud, Mozart, and Beethoven, the city is as diverse and flourishing as it was during their times. More than 100 museums add to the city's cultural heritage, and you can stop in one of Vienna's hundreds of cafes for the caffeine needed to keep exploring.

NGOs and international organizations flourish in Vienna, including the United Nations and OPEC, creating a society keenly aware of the latest current events and international policy challenges. This modern city truly bridges the old and the modern, both in architecture and in conversation.

Housing Description:

WU offers options for university-affiliated housing. Pitt students are not guaranteed spots within university-affiliated housing. WU will provide instructions on when and how to apply for housing. See WU's Accommodation page for more information on housing.

Academic Description:

WU's courses are taught in German and in English with a large number taught in English. Specific courses will be offered in one of the two languages.

Credits taken at WU are evaluated on an ECTS scale and will transfer to Pitt according to a 2:1 ratio. For example, 10 ECTS credits will transfer as 5 Pitt credits. Additionally, for the purpose of full-time status at Pitt, students should be prepared to take what is equivalent to at least 12 Pitt credit hours. All credits taken at WU require approval by both your academic advisor(s) and study abroad program manager.

Courses taken at WU will be treated as transfer credits and will be marked as pass/fail (S/NC) on a Pitt student's transcript. In other words, transfer credits will not affect your Pitt GPA. Actual grades earned will appear on the transcript from the exchange university.

As a part of the cultural experience, WU offers pre-semester German courses and an orientation and cultural program specifically designed for visiting students for a fee. These may be considered for credit or not for credit. Verify with the study abroad program manager regarding their transferability.

Students who have attended this program in the past have taken classes in the areas of::

Marketing

Finance

Human Resources Management

German

Business Information Systems

University Course Catalog:

See Course Catalog

Grading:

Unlike Pitt, WU's grading scale follows the practice of assigning categories, such as Excellent/sehr gut, Good/gut, Satisfactory/befriedigend, Sufficient/genügend, Fail/nicht genügend. For more information about the grading scale see WU's Academics page.

For Pitt transfer credit, in order to earn a grade of “S,” (satisfactory) at Pitt, you must make an equivalent to a grade of “C” or higher. An equivalent to a “C-” or lower will result in a grade of “NC” (no credit) at Pitt.

WU will provide hardcopy (or electronic transcripts) to the University of Pittsburgh’s Study Abroad Office. Make sure that you follow their instructions on how to ensure that an official copy of your grades are receive. Hardcopies should be sent the following address: 3959 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA. Electronic copies should be sent to the designated exchange program manager under “Program Staff.”

Exchange university transcripts typically do not arrive from the exchange university until 3 to 4 months after the end of exchange period. Therefore, Pitt students should be mindful of how this may affect their ability to graduate, especially when exchanging during one's senior year. Another consideration is how this may affect your financial aid package, as the S/NC grades are not posted until transcripts are received.

Pitt students may utilize the following online resource to understand the grading scale within this host country.

Program Fees:

Pitt students participating on an exchange program will pay regular Pitt tuition and fees, according to their in-state or out-of-state residency status. In addition to the Study Abroad Administrative Fee, this also includes all Mandatory Fees, such as the Student Activity Fee, Wellness Fee, Computing and Network Services Fee, and the Security, Safety, and Transportation Fee.

Pitt Students on financial aid and/or tuition scholarships will need to consult the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid or respective entity providing the funds to confirm coverage for study abroad.

Items Billed by Pitt
	In-State	Out-of-State
Tuition*	$11,036	$20,280
Mandatory Fees	$660	$660
Study Abroad Fee	$400	$400
Total Billed by Pitt*	$12,096	$21,340

How Much To Budget:

Estimated Additional Out-of-Pocket Costs
Travel Expenses: Airfare, Passport, Visa		$2,000
Room & Board		$2,000 - 3,000
Personal Expenses		$2,000 - 4,000

The Estimated Costs reflect information provided by WU and are reported to OAFA to calculate financial aid packages. The listed costs are defaulted to one semester. Multiply the costs by two for two semesters.

Personal expenses vary with individual students. Review WU's estimated cost section on their exchange program website.

Students studying abroad through Pitt Global Experiences are automatically provided health insurance coverage during the official program dates. However, you may need to purchase additional insurance if the exchange university you will attend requires purchase of a specific health insurance coverage per their regulations. It is your responsibility to ensure you know the cost of that insurance prior to committing to the program.

Program Dates:

Pitt students enroll at WU for either a full semester (fall or spring) or a full academic year (two full semesters). WU’s calendar may differ from Pitt's normal fall (August through December) and spring (January through April) semesters, so Pitt students should check the academic calendar at the exchange university. Unlike Pitt, WU's academic calendar follows a Winter-Summer progression, meaning Winter is the first semester followed by the Summer semester as the second.

Steph Spirk

Hola, hallo, hi! I'm Steph Spirk, and I am an International Programs Manager for Pitt Business. I am a yinzer, very proud to call Pittsburgh my home, yet my love for cultural exchange has always led me to new places, even ones I never thought I'd go to before. I was a Pitt student myself, becoming an expert on study abroad by participating in three programs: Global Service Learning in Bolivia, the International Internship Program in Madrid, and an exchange program at Universitat Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona. I speak fluent Spanish and German at an advanced level. In my free time you'll find me practicing yoga in the square, hiking through the many parks, painting, and capturing the beauty of Pittsburgh and beyond through the lens of my camera.
Looking forward to chatting with yinz!

E-mail:

stephspirk@pitt.edu

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Application Instructions:

Pitt sends a limited number of students per semester to WU. In addition to applying to the Pitt Global Experiences application above, be sure to review WU's website regarding their application requirements for incoming exchange students. A formal nomination from Pitt Global Experiences is required for Pitt students to be recognized as an exchange student at WU. Therefore, Pitt students must complete all necessary Pitt Global Experiences steps in addition to WU's requirements. In other words, acceptance by Pitt Global Experiences does not guarantee acceptance by the exchange university.

Prior to being nominated you must meet with the Program Manager.

The exchange university may require the following to be submitted through an online application or by paper. Requirements may include but are not limited to the following:

Application Form
Copy of Valid Passport
Official Pitt Transcript

Official Pitt Verification of Enrollment
Statement of Intent or Purpose
Resume or CV
Official Language Evaluation
Up to 2 instructor letters of recommendations

Up to 2 passport photos

Additional Information:

Non-native English speakers may be required to show evidence of English proficiency either through the IELTS or the TOEFL.  

Agreement Meeting

All students are required to attend the mandatory Agreement Meeting. This event will cover important topics relevant to study abroad like health, safety, security, and more. Plus, it will give you the chance to meet other students studying abroad on your programs. Alumni and staff will also be present to help you start thinking about your goals for the program. Your program manager will follow up with more information once you begin your application.

Scholarship Information

For scholarship opportunities, be sure to check out the Pitt Global Experiences Office funding page.

Pitt Business students may also apply for additional scholarship through the Pitt Business International Scholarships, as well as crowdfund using the Pitt Business Fund My Travel page. Please note, that the application deadline for the Pitt Business International Scholarship is the same as the program application deadline.

Insurance Requirements:

Students studying abroad through Pitt Global Experiences are automatically provided health insurance coverage during the official program dates.

Visa Requirements:

In order to study as a student in specific countries, a visa is required. A visa is formal endorsement by the host country to grant permission for an individual to enter, live or stay in that country for a specific purpose and period. In addition to a visa, some host countries may require a residency permit upon arrival.

For those without an Austrian/EU nationality, students must obtain a student visa to study in Austria. For an overview regarding the visa process, please review WU's website. WU will provide general direction after formal admission on how to apply for a visa. Pitt students should also research the visa and/or permit process through the specified country consulate website.

In general visa application requirements include but are not limited to the following requirements:

Visa application
Valid Passport
Verification of acceptance from sponsoring university (exchange university)
Financial Documents, such as bank statements, tax documents or pay statements.
Passport photos
Application fee
Medical/physical examination (likely to require a doctor's appointment so plan accordingly)