How to Study Nursing in Austria for International Students

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Being able to travel the world and experience all the different types of cultures an international scene can provide is a valuable experience when taking up professions in the health care sector. By having exposure to problems that citizens of another country experience, professionals with international graduate degrees have the advantage of finding solutions to problems on a global scale. Despite the differences that each country may have, health care professionals are always held to the highest standard. With countless lives on the line, a professional in the fields of medicine and nursing are of utmost importance to the smooth management and coordination of any society.

Taking up nursing as an international degree can be a daunting task, especially considering the numerous other factors that might come into play. Countries may have their own educational requirements, such as language proficiency tests and other cultural standards, which is why reading up on information is necessary for considering which country best suits one’s needs.

Should one opt to take up nursing in the heart of Europe, Austria is one of the countries best situated to provide the education that they may seek. Austria recognizes nurses that are taught in a general field of expertise, which takes 3 years of training to complete. They also have courses where aspiring nurses earn a bachelor’s degree in universities of applied sciences. Austria also has programs for nurses who want to specialize in certain areas, such as psychiatric or pediatric care. So, let’s take a look at how to study nursing in Austria.

What Degrees are there for Nursing in Austria?

Back in 1997, an Austrian law was passed regulating the admission and education of nurses in Austria. The law recognizes that there are different types of nurses, such as general care nurses and qualified nurses. Those who are educated under nursing schools in Austria only require 3 years of training, and the completion of a thesis towards the end of the said 3 years. Once you finish studying nursing in Austria, nurses are awarded with a diploma, and are considered to be practicing the profession of a Qualified General Nurse.

On other hand, a student may opt to take a bachelor’s degree in nursing offered by universities of applied sciences, and can choose to specialize in further areas of expertise. In Austria, there are seven post basic specialties, namely: infant care and pediatric care, psychiatric care, intensive care, anesthesia, renal nursing, operation department, and hospital hygiene. The areas in which a nurse may practice their professional expertise varies greatly depending on the activities and specializations they choose to take. Special training will also be undertaken in order to gain experience and knowledge in areas which require certain specializations.

Even with an option to become a Qualified General Nurse, should one want to specialize in certain areas, universities of applied sciences offer a more in-depth approach through their graduate programs, such as the University of Vienna. According to their site, they offer a master’s degree in Nursing Science, which can be completed in a span of 4 semesters, upon the completion of 120 credits.

Other nursing schools in Austria like the FH Campus Wein offers a Master’s Degree in Advance Nursing Practice, which lasts for a duration of 4 semesters, as stated on their website.

The Paracelsus Medical University offers a doctorate study program entitled Nursing and Allied Health Sciences (Ph.D.), and includes a 3-year study module with activities that include conferences and visits to research institutions.

Cost of Studying Nursing

To determine the possible costs of studying nursing in Austria, considerations such as the living costs, tuition fees, and other accommodations need to be considered. On average, the monthly expenditures for the costs of living in Austria is at around 950 Euros, though said amount may vary depending on the place and services available. Tuition fees can also differ as to one’s citizenship and nationality. According to the University of Vienna’s website, the tuition fees for EU/EEA/CH/UK citizens are at the total amount of 363.36 Euros. Said classes of students are not required to pay the tuition fee during the standard duration of the degree program with an added leeway of 2 semesters. The amount of cost for non-EU/EEA students is for a total of 746.92 Euros, as stated on their website.

Requirements to Study Nursing in Austria

Before admission into any university, certain documents and processes must be complied with. For the Paracelsus Medical University, their bachelor’s degree in nursing science may be obtained either online, or offline. To be admitted into the online program, the applicant must be from a German-speaking area, and must apply online on their website. To study nursing in Austria, completion of a general high school education with the corresponding documents are also required, while an admission course is also offered to others under certain conditions. For their Nursing Science 2 in 1 model, their website states that those who want to be admitted into the program must have passed the university entrance examination which consists of 5 separate exams.

Other requirements that are required by other nursing schools in Austria include a learning agreement, transcripts of previous academic years, and a copy of the student’s passport, as stated on FH Campus Wein’s website. International students may enter the university’s bachelor degree programs through scholarships or grants, such as the Swiss European Mobility Program, or ERASMUS + internship.

Additionally, the University of Vienna states in their Master Access Guide that they require the completion of a bachelor’s degree in a related discipline before a student may be admitted into their master’s degree program for nursing. After having gone through the appointment and meeting, the applicant will then receive information through his or her email address regarding details such as the tuitions fees, semester schedules and curriculum details.

In What Languages Do You Study at Nursing Schools in Austria?

Austrian nursing schools offer nursing courses in the German language, as exhibited by the details of the bachelor’s degree in nursing in FH Campus Wien’s website. The IMC FH Krems University of Applied Sciences also offers a general nursing bachelor’s degree programme. According to their website, their fulltime degree course may be completed within 6 semesters and 52 weeks of internship, all taught in the German language. Thus, for those wanting to take up nursing in Austria, learning the German language is a must.

Best Nursing Schools in Austria

1. Paracelsus Medical University

  • Nursing Program Link
  • Degrees offered:
    • Nursing Science Online
    • Nursing Science 2in1-Model
    • Nursing Science 2in1-Model Bavaria
    • Master’s degree program in nursing science
    • Nursing and Allied Health Sciences (Ph.D.)

Paracelsus Medical University was established in 2002, and is located in Salzburg, Austria. It boasts a number of university institutes and research centers, and specializes in the study of health and medical science. It is an institution organized as a private foundation and conducts non-profit work and activities. Paracelsus Medical University is considered the best nursing school in Austria.

2. IMC FH Krems University of Applied Sciences

  • Nursing Program Link
  • Degrees offered:
    • General Nursing bachelor degree programme
    • Masters degree, advanced nursing practice

The IMC FH Krems is located in Krems an der Donau, Austria, and offers degrees that major in health, sciences, and engineering. This nursing school in Austria was founded on 1994, and is considered to be one of the leading universities in international higher education. It emphasizes the importance of leadership and extensive training in the fields of health care and medical training.

3. University of Vienna

The final candidate in our list of top nursing schools in Austria is the University of Vienna. This university was founded in 1365, and is located in Vienna, Austria. As one of the oldest universities in existence, the University of Vienna prides itself in producing thousands of quality graduates in the field of medicine and research.

 

I hope that this article was helpful. If you are interested, visit the Europe Scholarships Page.