17 - Austria - Private education

In addition to the 21 state universities and the University for Further Education and Training in Krems, there are also private universities in Austria which were established by the 1999 "Bundesgesetz über die Akkreditierung von Bildungseinrichtungen als Privatuniversitäten, UniAkkG (University Accreditation Act). Privately maintained educational institutions may be officially recognised as private universities by the state and acquire the right to confer academic degrees. So far, 10 private universities have been accredited: the Private University for Catholic Theology in Linz; Webster University, Vienna; Private University for the Health Occupations; University for Health and Technology Tyrol; PEF Private University for Management; Paracelsus Private Medical University in Salzburg; Anton Bruckner Private University, TCM Private University LI SHEN ZHEN, the New Design University, the Conservatory Vienna Private University, and the Sigmund Freud Private University Vienna. The body responsible for the accreditation of private universities is the Accreditation Council. The Council decides on the accreditation of private universities and monitors the accredited institutions. The Council reports to the Federal Minister for Science and Research. There are no legal provisions concerning the organisational set-up of private universities. Private university autonomously decide on tuition fees.

Besides private universities, courses at non-university institutions may be temporarily awarded the status of "university level courses". These courses will be phased out by the year 2010. The institutions maintaining Fachhochschule programmes are public or private-law entities.

Fachhochschule study programmes may be maintained both by public-law entities and by private-law entities.

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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