Karl Franzens University Graz - AUSTRIA
Part of the MAUI-Utrecht Network Exchange Program
(all photos provided by the University of Graz)
The Partnership
This
program is part of the MAUI-Utrecht Network Exchange and is open to students
from member institutions only. Interested students should contact
their local study abroad coordinator regarding the application/placement
process and for additional information. Application deadlines
for all MAUI-Utrecht Network programs, including fall semester, winter
semester, or academic year abroad, is in late February/early March. Spring semester
placements may be available after the deadline: contact your Study
Abroad Coordinator.
The University-Karl-Franzens
University Graz
The
University was founded in 1585 by Archduke Karl II and re-established
as a university institution in 1827 by Emperor Franz I, thus the
name KarI-FranzensUniversität'.
One of the oldest universities in Central Europe, Graz combines five centuries of scholarly tradition with a forward looking commitment to teaching and research. The university houses ninety-five academic departments and fifteen university clinics -vital intellectual centers that enjoy an international reputation and which in turn are generally subdivided into departments and working groups. Furthermore, there are eight university facilities for special tasks. Currently the university has around 30,000 students and 3,000 employees.
The City
Graz
is the second largest city in Austria (pop. 250,000) and has a student
population of about 50.000 (the majority of which - over 30,000
- study at Karl-Franzens-University). Graz offers the atmosphere
and first class facilities of a vibrant modern city (opera, theatres,
cultural festivals, lively pub-scene ...) with the charm and architectural
beauty of a historic town. The city center is one of the best-preserved
in Central Europe and only a 10 minutes walk away from the university.
Graz is a clean, safe and beautiful city, which is small enough
to feel at home, but large enough to provide students with plenty
of entertainment during study breaks.
Location
Graz
is the capital of the province of Styria which lies in the south-east
of Austria and is often referred to as the 'green heart of Austria'
due to its abundance of forests. The city of Graz itself is surrounded
by green, rolling hills, so walking, climbing and cycling/mountainbiking
are popular outdoor activities. And, of course, we also have 'real'
mountains with excellent mounaineering and skiing facilities quite
close. Besides, due to the special geological conditions in the
south of Styria there are a number of thermal spas near Graz - for
those who prefer steam baths, jacuzzis, saunas and 30°C warm
water to the skiing slopes.
And for those who want to venture out further - Graz is ideally located for trips all over Europe: Vienna, Austria's capital, is only a 2,5 hour's train ride away, Slovenia only 1 hour. Other popular destinations include Italy, Czech Republic, Hungary, Croatia, Germany, Switzerland etc.
What
the students say about Graz...
... the city was a beautiful surprise, I didn't expect it to be
so nice
... I was so enchanted by Graz & KFUG, I couldn't stop smiling
for the entire first week I was here
... nice, pretty, smaller than I thought
... I could really get to like this!
Details & Information:
| Full name of the University | University of Graz |
| Number of students you can accept during 2012/13 (total number of semesters) | 4 semesters or more |
| Areas of study open for exchange students | A unique cooperation with the Technical University of Graz (TUG) allows students to co-enroll at TUG at no extra cost (TUG transcripts available). http://www.uni-graz.at/en/verawww/verawww_informieren/verawww_informieren-4/verawww_studien.htm?= Joint Degree programs are not open for the exchange. |
| Areas of study restricted to prior bilateral agreements between the exchanging departments or faculties | None. However, placement of students in labs is generally difficult |
| Areas of study not available to MAUI students | Joint Degree programs are not open for the exchange. |
| Utrecht Network contact person | Sabine Pendl Office of International Relations Universitätsplatz 3 A-8010 Graz Phone: 0043 316 380 2211 Fax: 0043 316 380 9156 sabine.pendl@uni-graz.at |
| Contact person incoming students | Christa Grassauer Office of International Relations Universitätsplatz 3 A-8010 Graz Phone: 0043 316 380 1254 Fax: 0043 316 380 9156 christa.grassauer@uni-graz.at |
| General website of the university | http://www.uni-graz.at/ |
| Website of the international office/website for incoming students | http://www.uni-graz.at/en/bibwww_stud-incoming.htm |
| Academic calendar | Semester 2 2012: beginning of October - end of January |
| Examination period | During and at the end of each semester. |
| Orientation session(s) for incoming students | 2 Registration Sessions at the beginning of each semester. |
| ECTS available | Yes |
| Application deadline(s) for admission | June 1: European academic year of semester 2, 2012 |
| Application materials on the website or paper copies only? | Students have to apply online. After their nomination has been confirmed by Uni Graz, students receive an email from the incoming student contact person providing them with a code and the guidelines for the online application (step 1). Once completed, application form and study confirmation need to be printed off from online system, signed and together with all necessary documents sent to the Uni Graz via surface mail (step 2) before the deadline. |
| Course registration deadline(s) | There is no course registration before arrival; it takes places just after the registration sessions in Graz. |
| Language requirements | The equivalent of two years of college German is desirable, if students want to follow courses in German. One year is OK as well but the student then should stay for a whole year and concentrate on improving her/his German during the first semester in Graz. Students with no German proficiency can be accepted, if they find enough courses taught in English to meet their home university’s credit requirements (see information under ‘courses taught in English). Participation in our pre-semester German intensive course is mandatory for these students. |
| Language test certificate required? If so, which and when | No |
| Preparatory language course for incoming students | 3-week course starting Sept. 3 2012 and Feb. 4 2013, respectively. 20 teaching hours per week, i.e. 60 hours altogether, at all levels. The course will show on students’ transcripts as 6 ECTS credits. Exchange students pay a reduced participation fee of 155 Euro. For more information: |
| Courses taught in English | Most courses are taught in German. A selection of courses at various departments is also taught in English. The courses for 2012/13 will be available online in July 2012. In the meantime, students can go to http://www.uni-graz.at/bibwww_s_in_en_course.htm and check what was/is on offer in 2011/12 (for the course description, please click on a course title). That provides a good overview of which courses will be available in English in 2012/13 |
| Internships available? | Not generally. If a student is interested in an internship it has to be negotiated on an individual basis |
| Student jobs available/allowed? | Visa regulations make finding a job very difficult (unless students also hold an EU passport). The University of Graz has no facilities to help students secure a job. Students should NOT rely on getting a job in Graz when budgeting their exchange. |
| Housing assistance & how to apply | Yes. Application via Office of International Relations which will send you information about the housing options |
| Housing options | Shared flats (self-contained) in student dormitory with cooking facilities. Single and double occupancy available. |
| Housing application deadline(s) | June 1: European academic year of semester 2, 2012 November 1: semester 1 2013 |
| Cost estimates per month (in Euro) | Between €600-700 |
| Housing | Between € 220 and € 300 (based on a double-occupancy room, excluding deposits) |
| Meals | €300 |
| Books | |
| Local Transportation | €38 |
| Health Insurance | €50 |
| Other | |
| Additional fees to pay | appr. Euro 20 per semester (Student Union fee + student ID) |
| Comparable health insurance coverage from abroad allowed/not allowed? | Students staying for one semester are allowed to bring health insurance coverage from abroad. |
| Health facilities at the university | None on campus |
| Other relevant information | Stay of less than 6 months (=1 semester): International students from outside the European Union must apply for a Visa D through the Austrian Embassy/Consulate in their country of residence. Costs: appr. € 100 |
| Summer courses available? | No |
| Last update of this information | January 11, 2012 |
How to Apply/Application Process
You must be nominated by your Study Abroad Coordinator. Please check with your home university coordinator for deadlines, availability, & application procedures for this program.
*If you are a UMSL student who would like to apply, please visit the Study Abroad Application Deadlines & Procedures page.