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

Danube University 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 enrolled students take with 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 studies, which are ahead of their time, developed by Danube University 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 mixing ongoing innovation in research and teaching following highest quality standards.

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 Danube University Krems specializes in academic continuing education. Due to its structural characteristics as a public university, Danube University 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).

A university course is defined as an extraordinary course of studies pursuing the function of continuing education (University Law 2002 §51 (20)). Danube University Krems offers a wide range of university courses, either completing as Master, "Academic Expert" or "Certified Programs". Additionally two PhD programs can be enrolled for as regular studies.

Danube University Krems provides a wide range of university-based courses set in the beneath-mentioned fields:

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

Next to the Master's and short programs completing as "Academic Expert" or "Certified Programs" Danube University Krems furthermore offers two PhD programs within the areas:

• Regenerative Medicine
• Migration Studies

In order to find a specific program please browse our wide range of courses

Due to the University Law 2002 Austrian Master's degrees in continuing education are issued after completion of university courses (in addition to other types of courses). These courses are comparable with foreign Master's courses in respect 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.

Since being a university for continuing education Danube University 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 that are to be maintained at the same level", i. e. without a formal Bachelor's 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 descriptions.

Find general information on admission here

In accordance with the University Law 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, inter alia, 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 in some countries established in parallel with doctoral studies such as "Master Universitario" in Italy; "Licentiat" in Sweden; "Diplôme d' études approfondies" in France [approximately equivalent], "Maestro" in Spain.

Bilateral agreements have been concluded regarding the entitlement to lead a Master's degree abroad, which 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 Danube University Krems are able to state the master's degree in other countries.

Further information is available from the AcademicServiceCenter

Completed university courses are recognized for regular studies (University Law 2002 § 78) whereas the decision-making authority rests case-by-case with the university recognizing.

Being institutionalized as a university for continuing education Danube University Krems does not offer any basic studies. The university offers courses that can either be taken as a master's degree or "Academic Expert" or "Certified Programs"; besides two PhD-studies being optioned for attendance. Graduates of a basic course of studies or people having similar professional experiences available specialize, deepen or update their knowledge by enrolling the mentioned university programs.

Danube University Krems offers two regular PhD programs after having been accredited by the Agency for Quality Assurance and Accreditation Austria (AQ Austria) in May 2015. The studies support the research priorities of the Danube University Krems in the fields of "Regenerative Medicine" and "Migration Studies" and integrate their students into an active University research team. The PhD program lasts minimum three years, no tuition fees are taken, yet the attendance to one of the PhD programs is subject to a selection process.

The University Law 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 StudienServiceCard. 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.

Online you will find all descriptions of the university courses here as well in the current study guide, which can be either requested here or downloaded as PDF file. Both print-outs are free of charge.

Initial information and material request:

Please request general information material on Danube University Krems and/or its different courses of study by filling in the request form on the university’s website or by contacting Stefanie Kamleitner or Lisa Kamleitner.  Email: info@donau-uni.ac.at, Tel. +43 (0)2732 893-2250.

Detailed information on courses and programs:

In order to select the study program that suits you best, please search Danube University Krems website; the contact persons listed in the course description will gladly provide detailed information.

Application and admission:

Information concerning the university course, attendance procedure and application forms is available online and can be printed out, completed and subsequently sent to the mentioned contact address. Once the admission requirements have been confirmed, future students may register online for their studies under: online reservation

Continuously evolving knowledge, skills and competences, all embedded in a dynamic working environment, enables the realization of individual career plans and the pursuit of distinctive career paths.

At Danube University Krems working professionals acquire new skills, update their knowledge, develop their personal skills and thus are prepared to take the next step in increasing their life and career. Students expand their network by getting in contact with lecturers as by exchanging ideas with other working students.

84 percent of graduates rate their studies as a contribution to increase their professional competence, 88 percent as a contribution to their personal development. 85% of graduates might recommend a program at Danube University Krems (Source: Alumni Study 2018).

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 Danube University Krems are entitled to participate in international student mobility programs such as Erasmus.

Danube University Krems offers master degree courses (for example MA, MSc, MBA, LL. M.), compact study programs completing with "Academic Expert" or "Certified Programs" as well as doctoral degrees after passing PhD studies. Please find the respective degrees in the individual course descriptions.

Since each higher education institution validates its own admission criteria a master's degree within the field continuing education is not necessarily eligible for PhD programs or studies.

Danube University Krems carries out two PhD programs as regular studies on the bases of its accreditation by AQ Austria in May 2015, which prioritize their research efforts in the fields of "Regenerative Medicine" and "Migration Studies". PhD students are integrated in an active research team, the studies last at the least three years and there are no tuition fees taken.

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 full-time 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 examination 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, Danube University Krems certifies individual university courses in conformity of international standards.

Please find more information about Quality Management here

In 1995 Danube University Krems’ studies started and since its foundation the institution dedicates its key strengths to innovation for more than 20 years. Accordingly it is the first and to date only public university for continuing education in the entire German-speaking area with its own legal personality long before other public universities attained this status.

Intending to increase the competitiveness of Austrian’s higher education some of its principles were incorporated into the University Law 2002. The study programs offered at Danube University Krems are true to its mission to innovate and to confront current and future societal, technological and organizational issues. Therefore it is Danube University Krems’ key strength to develop study programs ahead of their time.

Close to 8,240 people from 85 countries are currently studying at Danube University Krems.

Please find more information about Facts & Figures here

Since its foundation in 1995, about 25,000 graduates from more than 90 countries have completed their studies.
(Status: January 2019)

Danube University Krems focused 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 Danube University Krems is divided into the following four fields of competence:

• Cohesive and Innovative Societies
• Cultural Heritage
• Regenerative Medicine
• Continuing Education Research

Please find more information about Research here

The third party funds raised for research amounted to 7.3 million euros in 2018.