10 - Austria - Branches of study, specialisation

Colleges and other training institutions for health occupations

Higher-level paramedical professions

The higher-level paramedical professions are:

• Physiotherapists
• Medical/biomedical laboratory technicians
• Radiographers
• Dietician and medical nutrition advisers
• Occupational therapists
• Speech therapists, phoniatricians, audiologists
• Orthoptists.

After completion of the basic training students can further specialise in their discipline; however, there are no specific legal provisions governing such specific training.

Midwives

Further specialised training is also possible in midwifery training after the completion of basic training, but not laid down by law.

Universities

Universities accomplish their principal task in teaching which is to prepare students for their future professional careers through diploma, bachelor's and master's degree programmes. Students may then continue on for a doctoral degree programme.

Under the provisions of the 2002 "Universitätsgesetz", degree programmes (i.e. diploma, bachelor's, masters and doctoral degree programmes) are designed to give a professional academic and artistic grounding and to convey the qualifications for professional activities which require the application of scientific and artistic findings. Curricula are expected to take any relevant legal requirements for the professions into account.

According to the 2002 'Universitätsgesetz', the senates of the individual universities decide on the development of studies and the specific study programmes they are able to offer within the teaching and research means available. Universities may offer bachelor's, master's and doctoral degree programmes or continue to offer diploma programmes following the old system. The provision of study programmes in the future is subject to the performance agreements concluded by a university with the federal government (first performance agreement period 2007-2009).

The 'Universitätsgesetz' merely outlines categories of studies:

• Humanities and Cultural Studies
• Engineering Sciences
• Music and Arts
• Secondary School Teacher Accreditation Programmes
• Medicine
• Natural Sciences
• Law
• Social Sciences and Economics
• Theology
• 
  

It should be noted that programmes conferring secondary school teacher accreditation and studies in human and dental medicine may only be offered as diploma programmes. Each programme always has to clearly fall into one of the above-mentioned categories of studies as these also determine the academic degrees which are conferred in the end. Upon formal request, however, universities may allow students to engage in "individual" studies, i.e. to combine subjects of different diploma, bachelor's or master's degree programmes.

For the two-cycle study programmes, university studies end with a diploma degree ("Magister" and "DI" or Diplomingenieur") or a doctorate, the three-tier studies end with a bachelor’s, master’s or doctor’s degree.

Continuing education in the university sector is mainly provided through "Universitätslehrgänge" (usually non-degree university programmes) whose graduates may be awarded internationally recognised master’s degrees (if individual course standards can be compared to international standards).

The range of courses on offer has been extended to comprise several entirely new study programmes since the universities gained full autonomy: University of Medicine Graz offers a bachelor’s degree programme in Nursing Science; Vienna University of Agriculture, Forestry and Renewable Natural Resources offers a bachelor’s degree programme in Viniculture, Oenology and Wine Marketing; Klagenfurt University offers a bachelor’s degree programme in Applied Humanities, and University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna in cooperation with Vienna University of Agriculture, Forestry and Renewable Natural Resources offers a bachelor’s degree programme in Equine Sciences.

At 27 per cent, music and arts programmes account for the largest share of all study courses (because of the large number of degree courses in instrumental music), followed by Engineering Sciences at 22 per cent and the Humanities at 21 per cent. Measured according to the ISCED (International Standard Classification of Education), Humanities and Arts account for 44 per cent and Natural Science for 20 per cent.

In the winter semester 2006, Austrian universities offered 211 bachelor’s degree programmes, 278 master’s degree programmes, 179 diploma study programmes, and 61 doctoral and 8 PhD study programmes, as well as 375 non-degree programmes.

Moreover, 60 external educational institutions offer university-type courses, which however, will be phased out by 2010 at the latest.

Fachhochschulen

Fachhochschulestudy programmes are university-level programmes which are designed to provide well-based scientific professional training geared to specific professional fields. Practical training courses are a relevant part of the study courses for bachelor's and diploma degree programmes..

The 2002 amendment to the "Fachhochschul-Studiengesetz – FHStG" introduced bachelor and master's programmes at Fachhochschulen. The duration of bachelor's programmes is six semesters (including practical training), the duration of the following master's programmes two to four semesters. Fachhochschule diploma programmes last between eight and ten semesters. The completion of a diploma or master's study programme is an entitlement to take up doctoral studies at a university. For Fachhochschule graduates, such doctoral study courses take two semesters longer than for university graduates under the 2002 amendment of Fachhochschule legislation, if the minimum duration of the university study course which leads to the doctoral studies is longer than the corresponding Fachhochschule study course.

The areas in which Fachhochschule programmes may be offered are not formally regulated.

Currently, the majority of study offers is to be found in the following fields:

• information systems and technologies
• engineering sciences
• media and design
• social and health occupations
• tourism
• economics

Since the academic year of 1996/1997, there have been special Fachhochschule programmes which cater to the needs of working adults. Classes take place in the evenings and on the weekend. In addition, distance learning elements are incorporated. If students can prove that they have relevant work experience, they do not have to complete a traineeship within the framework of their Fachhochschule studies. Doctoral programmes are not offered in the Fachhochschule sector.

In the 2006/07 winter semester, a total of 194 Fachhochschule programmes were offered, 116 of which as bachelor's programmes and 34 as master's programmes. The focus of studies offered lies in the technical, commercial and touristic areas. 40 per cent of all Fachhochschule programmes are specifically tailored to the needs of working adults.

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