Research and Innovation in Higher Education (MARIHE)

The University for Continuing Education Krems is one out of 22 Austrian public universities – organized according to the University Act and the Federal Law on the University for Continuing Education Krems.

The University for Continuing Education Krems is the leading public university for continuing education in Europe and the only public university for continuing education within the German-speaking countries. Consequently, it specializes in the higher qualification of working professionals and dedicates its teaching and research to current and future societal challenges. Our study model is oriented toward the specific requirements of adult learners in all phases of life and especially to the needs of working professionals. At the beginning of their studies more than half of the students have over ten years of work experience. Combining this expertise with the experience of our teaching staff a high-level knowledge and competence transfer is provided equally important to the studies, ahead of the curve, and developed by the University for Continuing Education Krems as one of its key strengths. The university holds the quality seal of the Agency for Quality Assurance and Accreditation Austria (AQ Austria) throughout combining ongoing innovation in research and teaching following highest quality standards.

In Austria, a university course is defined as an extraordinary course of studies pursuing the function of continuing education (University Act 2002 §51 20]). The University for Continuing Education offers a wide range of university courses, either completing as Master, “Academic Expert“ or “Certified Program“. Additionally, PhD programs can be taken as regular studies.

The University for Continuing Education Krems offers university courses in the following areas:

• Building and Environment
• Education
• Health and Medicine
• Art and Culture
• Media and Communication
• Migration and International Affairs
• Psychotherapy and Social Services
• Law and Administration
• Sensors & Digitalization
• Economics and Business Management

In addition to the master's programs and short programs completing with the degrees "Academic Expert" or "Certified Programs", the University for Continuing Education Krems is currently conducting PhD studies in the following areas:

• Regenerative Medicine
• Migration Studies
• Technology, Innovation, and Cohesive Societies

For a specific search for courses, please use the online course search.

With the reform package of academic continuing education, which is to be implemented as of October 2023, academic continuing education in Austria is being reorganized. The framework conditions for continuing education studies in Austria will be standardized and adapted to the Bologna structure (Bachelor – Master – PhD). The equivalence of academic degrees enables permeability between regular and continuing education studies. In future, the completion of a bachelor‘s degree in academic continuing education will thus entitle the holder to admission to a (regular) master‘s degree program at another university. The reverse is also true: the completion of a bachelor‘s degree entitles the holder to admission to a master‘s degree program in continuing education. In addition, persons who have completed a master‘s degree in continuing education will in the future be entitled to enroll for a PhD program. 
At the University for Continuing Education Krems, studies in accordance with the new legal framework will be carried out starting with the winter semester 2023/2024.

A Bachelor Professional (abbreviated BPr) is the academic degree awarded for a practice-oriented continuing education study program. The program is conducted in cooperation with extra-university educational institutions, with a focus on applied theory and transfer into practice based on academic quality standards. Admission to the program requires a relevant professional qualification or several years of relevant professional experience. Thus, the continuing education study program leading to the degree "Bachelor Professional" enables professionally experienced persons without a general university entrance qualification (Matura) to access academic further education. Information on admission requirements can be found on the respective study pages. Further information is available from the study directors and the Service Center for Students.

Comprising 180 ECTS credits, the Bachelor Professional is equivalent to other bachelor's degree programs and qualifies students for a continuing education master's degree program as well as for a regular master's degree program.  

The continuing education study program leading to the degree "Bachelor Professional" (BPr) is anchored in the Austrian University Act 2002 since the reform of academic continuing education 2021. The degree must be distinguished from the German title of the same wording: The German "BPr" is not an academic degree, but a professional title awarded by the Chambers of Crafts, Industry and Commerce of Germany. 

The present requirements for students to enroll in a part-time master's program remain in effect until 30 September 2023. Students of the previous master's programs have to complete the university program within three times the duration of study specified in the curriculum or within the maximum duration of study specified in the curriculum, if applicable.

However, this only applies to master's programs; the admission requirements for study programs completing with the degree "Academic Expert" or "Certified Program" do not change. 

Please visit our info page for more information on the continuing education reform. In addition, the respective course directors will provide more detailed information. 

Due to the University Act 2002 Austrian master’s degrees in continuing education are bestowed after completion of university courses (in addition to other types of courses). These courses are comparable with foreign master‘s courses in terms of entrance requirements, scope, and prerequisites. The master‘s degrees of continuing education are to be cited as fully-fledged academic degrees without restriction, yet are not identical with the master‘s degrees of regular studies, although some of them share the same wording.

The University for Continuing Education Krems requires a completed degree at least ranking a Bachelor. However, with an equivalent professional qualification the option to enroll studies is given in many cases. If students are to be admitted to master‘s courses on the basis of “qualifications to be maintained at the same level“, i. e. without a formal Bachelor degree, but on the basis of competences acquired non-formally or informally in master‘s courses, the examination of entrance competences is carried out in accordance with the EQF/NQF descriptors for the bachelor‘s level (Federal Act on the National Qualifications Framework 2016, NQF Act). For this purpose, individual course-specific equivalence testing procedures are applied (e. g. pre-tests, competence maps, admission interviews, portfolios). Please search for the admission requirements in the respective course description.

Find general information on admission here.

In accordance with the University Act 2002 (§ 88) holders of a master‘s degree in continuing education are entitled to use the full title or abbreviated version (e. g. MA, MSc) after their names as well as the right to register the abbreviated form in official documents.

The Austrian master‘s degrees in university continuing education are conferred, i.a. after completion of university courses which are comparable in terms of access conditions, scope and requirements to corresponding foreign master‘s studies. Master‘s degrees from specialization studies analogous to university continuing education are established in some countries parallel with doctoral studies such as “Master Universitario“ in Italy; “Licentiat“ in Sweden; “Diplôme d‘ études approfondies“ in France [approximately equivalent], “Maestro“ in Spain. Concluded bilateral agreements regarding the entitlement to lead a master‘s degree abroad regulate the management of the acquired master‘s degree in the respective contract country; for instance between Austria and Germany. Due to these agreements graduates of the University for Continuing Education Krems are able to state the master‘s degree in other countries.

Further information is available from the Service Center for Students: www.donau-uni.ac.at/en/scs

Credits from university courses can be recognized for regular studies (cf. University Act 2002). However, the decision-making authority in individual cases always lies with the recognizing university.

Starting in the winter semester 2023/2024, the University for Continuing Education Krems will conduct part-time continuing education bachelor's studies for the first time. The new continuing education bachelor's program, made possible by the reform of higher education in Austria, provides a bridge to a master's degree and opens up new opportunities for professionally experienced adults with and without a general university entrance qualification (Matura). The completion of a continuing education bachelor's degree entitles the holder to a master's degree in continuing education as well as to a (regular) master's degree at other universities.

To increase the visibility of continuing education, the degrees will in future be given the suffix "(CE)" for "Continuing Education" by university law, which will be added after the bachelor's and master's degrees. In the future, professionally experienced persons without a general university entrance qualification (Matura) will have the opportunity to pursue a continuing education study program leading to the degree of "BPr" (Bachelor Professional). This study program is carried out in cooperation with extra-university educational institutions.

Overview of currently available bachelor studies (in German)

The University for Continuing Education Krems has been conducting PhD studies as regular studies pursuant to the University Act 2002 since the accreditation by the Agency for Quality Assurance and Accreditation Austria (AQ Austria) in May 2015. The current PhD studies support the research priorities of the University for Continuing Education Krems in the fields of "Regenerative Medicine", "Migration Studies" and "Technology, Innovation, and Cohesive Societies".

PhD students are integrated into an active research team at the University for Continuing Education Krems. The PhD program lasts a minimum of three years; no tuition fees are charged. Admission to a PhD program at the University for Continuing Education Krems is subject to a selection process.

Find more information about the PhD programs here

The University Act 2002 provides that all public universities levy course fees for university courses for continuing education.

Please check the amount of fees in the course descriptions; fees are separately charged for each university course and additionally include the ÖH fee, the costs for course documentation and the StudentServiceCard. Training costs are deductible from tax as income related costs or as business expenses.

An overview of all funding agencies, information on tax breaks for continuing education and links to funding databases are available under Study Grants. The course manager will gladly provide necessary information on the possibilities of any financial support.

Descriptions of all study and continuing education programs can be found in the Studies section. Our course catalogue allows you to select by subject, type of degree, duration, language or learning format, for example, in order to find the right course. You can obtain detailed information on a specific course of study or continuing education program from the contact persons listed in the course descriptions.

Application and admission

Information on the application procedure and application forms are available online at the respective study or continuing education program and can be printed out, filled in and sent to the above contact address. After confirmation that the admission requirements have been met, future students can register online for the course: Online pre-registration

People who continuously improve their knowledge, skills, and competences in a dynamic world of work are able to realize their individual life plans and to follow their own career paths. At the University for Continuing Education Krems, working professionals acquire new competencies, update their knowledge, further develop their personal skills, and thus are prepared to take the next step in their career and to shape their lives. While studying, students encounter not only lecturers, but benefit from exchanging ideas with other working students while expanding their network.

85% of the graduates rate their studies as contributing to their professional competence; 87% value them as contributing to their personal development. 85% of graduates would recommend their studies at the University for Continuing Education Krems to others (source: Graduates Survey 2020).

Date of beginning depends on the program. Please look up referred information in the respective course description.

Depending on the program’s opening registration periods vary. The listed contact person will gladly forward any requested information on the course or program.

Students enrolled at the University for Continuing Education Krems are entitled to participate in international student mobility programs (e.g. Erasmus+).

Service Center for International Relations

The University for Continuing Education Krems offers master‘s degree courses (for example MA, MSc, MBA, LL. M.), compact study programs completing with “Academic Expert“ or “Certified Program“ as well as PhD programs with a doctoral degree. Please find the respective degrees in the individual course description.

A master's degree from a continuing education program at a university does not necessarily mean that you will be admitted to a doctoral program/PhD program, as each university has its own criteria for admission to a PhD program.

The University for Continuing Education Krems has been running PhD programs as regular studies since the accreditation by AQ Austria in May 2015. These programs contribute to the fields of research „Regenerative Medicine", "Migration Studies", and "Technology, Innovation, and Cohesive Societies" at the University for Continuing Education Krems. PhD students are part of a team carrying out research activities at the University for Continuing Education Krems. The PhD program lasts at least three years, and no tuition fees are charged. Admission to a PhD program at the University for Continuing Education Krems is subject to a selection process.

ECTS stands for European Credit Transfer System and was introduced as part of the Bologna process. Students are urged to accomplish a certain workload, which illustrates the bases for crediting, charging and accumulate achievements of studies (ECTS-Points) in order to complete a learning program. The European Credit Transfer System enables students to compare study programs and assess their workload. The system facilitates mobility and recognition of study achievements already made. The workload of a fulltime student covering one academic year amounts to 60 ECTS credits; an agreement the European Credit Transfer System is based on. Hence, in Austria the following credit was established: a 25 hour workload adds up to one ECTS credit point. A full-time study program results in a workload of 30 ECTS credits per semester whereby preparation and follow-up for courses, course attendance (= contact time or attendance time expressed in class units), examination and exam preparation, independent work and e-learning activities are further included in the workload.

The quality management system has been certified by an external auditor, AQ Austria, in compliance with the Austrian Higher Education Quality Assurance Act (HS-QSG 2011). Although according to Austrian law, in which public universities are not obliged to have any individual courses accredited, the University for Continuing Education Krems certifies individual university courses in conformity of international standards.

Please find more information here: www.donau-uni.ac.at/qualitymanagement

Scientific criteria and research as reference points is a characteristic feature of academic continuing education. Up-to-date knowledge and scientific methods derived from research are applied to teaching in academic continuing education, combined with the correspondingly high quality standards. As only public university for continuing education in the German-speaking world the University for Continuing Education Krems specializes in academic continuing education. Due to its structural characteristics as a public university, the University for Continuing Education Krems pursues high academic quality standards in research and teaching, continuously combines these with innovation and holds the quality seal of the Agency for Quality Assurance and Accreditation Austria (AQ Austria).

In 1995, the University for Continuing Education Krems opened its doors to students. Since its foundation more than 25 years ago, the University for Continuing Education Krems has carried the idea of innovation within itself.
For example, it is the first and to date the only public University for Continuing Education throughout the German-speaking world. It was the first public university with its own legal personality, long before the other public universities acquired this status. Some of its principles were incorporated into the Universities Act of 2002 with the intention to make the Austrian higher education area more competitive.
The courses offered at the University for Continuing Education Krems also follow the mission to innovate and address current and future societal, technological, and organizational issues. Designing study courses that keep up with the times is the strength of the University for Continuing Education Krems.

Currently, about 8,000 people from about 83 countries study at the University for Continuing Education Krems.

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Since its foundation in 1995, almost 28,000 graduates from more than 90 countries have completed their studies at the University for Continuing Education Krems.

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The University for Continuing Education Krems focuses its research in transferring basic knowledge to application and practice. Our research is distinguished by its societal results and impact on society as we rely on strong cooperation partners working in business and science as well as those in public national and international institutions. Research at the University for Continuing Education Krems is focused on four institution-wide research fields:

• Digital Transformation, Health and Innovation in Cohesive and Sustainable European Societies
• Evidence-Based Health Research
• Cultural Heritage
• Preventive and Regenerative Medicine
• Continuing Education Research

www.donau-uni.ac.at/research

In 2020, the amount of third-party research funds raised was 8.3 million euros.

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