FHWien der WKW

About FHWien der WKW

FHWien der WKW is an Austrian Fachhochschule, or university of applied sciences, focused on management and communication. Its first program, Tourism Management, began in 1994. All departments moved to the WKO campus Vienna in 2007, and the institution received official university-of-applied-sciences status in 2012. The registered operator is FHW Fachhochschul-Studiengänge Betriebs- und Forschungseinrichtungen der Wiener Wirtschaft GmbH. Its owners are Wiener Wirtschaft Holding GmbH and Fonds der Wiener Kaufmannschaft, while the institution identifies Austria’s Agency for Quality Assurance and Accreditation as its supervisory authority. For the 2026/27 winter semester, the university advertised 10 bachelor’s and 10 master’s programs and approximately 1,100 first-year places. The subject portfolio is deliberately concentrated rather than comprehensive: it spans communication management, digital economy, financial management, human resources and organization, journalism and media management, management and entrepreneurship, marketing and sales, real estate management, and tourism and hospitality management. This is a career-oriented institution suited to applicants seeking structured, professionally connected business education. Several bachelor’s programs have both full-time and part-time options, while other bachelor’s programs and all master’s programs were described as part-time for the 2026/27 intake. Some part-time study incorporates online learning. Applicants should not assume that every subject offers every attendance format; schedules and delivery arrangements are program-specific.

Admission is program-specific and competitive rather than automatic. For entry to a bachelor’s program, applicants normally need an Austrian Matura or another recognized general higher-education entrance qualification. Accepted routes include specified Austrian vocational or university-entrance examinations, an equivalent foreign school-leaving certificate, or completion of at least three years at a recognized post-secondary institution. Some applicants with relevant vocational preparation can become eligible by passing supplementary examinations in German, English, and mathematics. Master’s applicants need a relevant bachelor’s degree or an academically equivalent qualification from a recognized domestic or international post-secondary institution. The standard master’s entry basis is a completed academic program lasting at least six semesters, and individual programs may impose additional subject requirements. For programs beginning in autumn 2026, applications opened January 8, 2026. The general deadline was March 30, 2026, while applicants submitting final documents from a third country faced an earlier March 9 deadline. These dates have passed as of August 20, 2026 and must not be treated as deadlines for a later intake. Applicants register online, upload the required documents, and complete a computer-based admissions test. The bachelor’s test evaluates logical-deductive, verbal, and numerical reasoning plus English knowledge. Master’s testing covers business and program-related knowledge. Depending on the chosen program, shortlisted applicants may then face an interview, assessment center, presentation, or another program-specific stage. Foreign documents may require certified German or English translations and formal verification.

The academic portfolio is centered on business, management, media, and communication rather than the full range of disciplines found at a comprehensive university. The 2026/27 offering covered nine broad areas: communication management, digital economy, financial management, human resources and organization, journalism and media management, management and entrepreneurship, marketing and sales management, real estate management, and tourism and hospitality management. Bachelor’s programs provide foundational business training, while master’s programs are designed to develop management capability within their respective fields. Applied study is a defining feature. The university reported that two-thirds of its lecturers come from business and described curricula that use company projects, case-based work, excursions, guest input, and professional experience. Bachelor’s programs include mandatory internships, although the timing and form differ by program. Some subjects also offer dual or hybrid arrangements. Students therefore need to inspect the curriculum, weekly schedule, internship rules, and attendance expectations for the exact program they are considering. Most bachelor’s and master’s programs are taught primarily in German, with selected modules in English. For 2026/27, three programs were conducted entirely in English. The institution’s general guidance also states that a semester abroad is compulsory for full-time students and optional for part-time students, supported by a network of more than 160 partner universities. Program-specific rules can differ, so applicants should confirm whether the international element is a study semester, an overseas internship, or another approved format. The institution awards bachelor’s and master’s degrees but does not itself advertise doctoral programs.

Key Highlights

• Founded in 1994 and granted official university-of-applied-sciences status in 2012
• Operating as a registered private company supervised by Austria’s quality-assurance authority
• Offered 10 bachelor’s and 10 master’s programs for the 2026/27 intake
• Approximately 1,100 first-year places were advertised for winter semester 2026/27

Student Life & Environment

Student life is based at a single urban, professionally oriented campus rather than a residential university estate. On-campus support includes a Service Point for administrative questions, a specialist library for management and communication, IT facilities, and a Teaching and Learning Center with e-learning and writing support. Students also receive university email access and can use common areas and campus services. The elected Austrian Students’ Union representation at FHWien der WKW advocates for students and provides an institutional point of contact. Internationally minded students can engage with the Center for International Education and Mobility, the local Erasmus Student Network section, or the buddy network for incoming exchange students. Journalism and media students have access to Radio Radieschen 91.3 as part of their practical media training. Career activity is visible in campus life. Alumni and Career Services connects students and graduates with employers, while the online Career Center lists jobs and internships. The university also schedules a Career Day; the 2026 event was advertised for October 21 on campus. Housing is not supplied or arranged by FHWien der WKW. Students must secure a residence place, shared flat, or private rental themselves, and the university advises beginning the search early and being alert to advance-payment fraud.

Location & Surroundings

FHWien der WKW is located at Währinger Gürtel 97 in Vienna’s 18th district, within the WKO campus Vienna. The site has housed all of the institution’s departments since 2007 and provides more than 9,000 square metres of space. It shares the broader campus with other business and continuing-education organizations, reinforcing the institution’s professional setting. The campus is close to the Währinger Straße/Volksoper public-transport stop. Students can reach it via the U6 underground line, tram routes 40, 41, and 42, and bus routes 37A and 40A. This makes commuting practical for students living across Vienna, an important consideration because the university does not provide residential accommodation. Vienna offers a large public-transport network and extensive cultural, recreational, and employment opportunities. Its Central European location can also support regional travel and international mobility. Prospective students should nevertheless budget independently for housing and daily living costs. The institution lists external student residences and private-housing platforms but does not inspect properties, negotiate leases, or accept liability for accommodation arrangements.

Costs & Career Outcomes

The official cost page accessed in August 2026 listed tuition of €363.36 per semester for EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens, as well as qualifying third-country nationals. The listed tuition for other third-country nationals was €1,000 per semester. A compulsory Austrian Students’ Union studying and special fee of €26.20 brought the displayed semester totals to €389.56 and €1,026.20 respectively. Applicants should recheck these amounts before accepting an offer because statutory student fees and institutional charges can change. At the application stage, the institution listed no deposit for EU, EEA, or Swiss applicants and a €200 deposit for third-country applicants. That deposit is credited toward required fees and is refundable if an applicant does not take up a place or receives no offer, subject to the university’s stated process. After an offer, a student has four days to accept it and seven days to pay the mandatory fees; otherwise the reservation expires. Travel, accommodation, and living expenses are separate, and the university does not cover applicants’ travel or lodging costs. Career preparation is integrated through practical projects, lecturers from industry, and mandatory bachelor’s work experience. Alumni and Career Services runs networking activities, an online job and internship platform, and Career Day. These resources can help students make employer contacts, but the university does not publish a universal placement guarantee or salary outcome. Career prospects should therefore be evaluated by program, language ability, prior experience, and eligibility to work in Austria.