02 - Austria - Ongoing debates and future developments

country: Austria

Following the judgement rendered by the European Court of Justice on 7 July 2005, the share of Austrian first-year students at Austria's universities of medicine went down to 45 per cent in 2005. As of 2006/07, seventy-five per cent of study places have been reserved for students who hold an Austrian Reifeprüfung matriculation certificate.

The "Safeguard Clause" provides as follows:

  • 95 per cent of all study places are reserved for EU citizens;
  • 75 per cent of all places for students holding a Reifeprüfung matriculation certificate issued in Austria;
  • 20 per cent of all places for students holding a matriculation certificate issued outside Austria;
  • 5 per cent are available to non-EU citizens.
This Safeguard Clause will expire at the end of 2007 and therefore needs to be amended by the winter semester.

The European Commission is currently checking on the conformity of Austria's safeguard clause with Community law.

The Ministry of Science is currently engaged in intense dialogue at the European level. It aims to come to a solution in a European spirit, on the basis of new arguments and consolidated data, which is expected to take account of Austria's specific situation.

Furthermore, the present government's coalition agreement provides for an analysis of the existing study allowance system, expansion of the existing loan model to finance tuition fees and exemption from payment of tuition fees in exchange for certain community services.

Federal Ministry of Science and Research
Minoritenplatz 5 1014 Wien
Tel.:+43/1/53120-0
Website:
http://www.bmwf.gv.at


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Date: 2009
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