STUDYING IN CARINTHIA - ABUNDANT OPPORTUNITIES
Austria’s most southern province is characterized by amazing possibilities for outdoor adventures, beautiful landscapes, the diverse cultural offerings of the Austria-Slovenia-Italy tri-border region, and is also a prosperous economic hub with innovative research centers. Not only that, but the province’s institutes of higher education also offer a wide variety of study programs and continuing education opportunities. Its universities, including Alpen-Adria University of Klagenfurt (AAU), Carinthia University of Applied Sciences (CUAS), and the Carinthia College of Teacher Education (PH), offer a combined total of more than 100 interesting and diverse programs of study in the fields of business, healthcare, social work, technology, culture, language, and teacher training. Various international programs and classes with English as a language of instruction, combined with all the other benefits of living in Carinthia, make the province a popular destination for international students. Around 20% of the students at the University of Klagenfurt and 10% at the University of Applied Sciences come from other countries, enjoying the exceptional educational offerings, internship opportunities, work experiences, and unique quality of life in the south of Austria.
CARINTHIA UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCE
The Carinthia University of Applied Science (CUAS or FH Kärnten) is a dynamic and dialogue-oriented university for applied sciences, with four campuses around the province: in Villach, Spittal, Feldkirchen, and Klagenfurt. At this university, Austrian and international students enjoy a future-oriented education in the study areas of management, health sciences and social work, engineering and IT, and civic engineering and architecture. Full- and part-time employees, as well as guest lecturers from business and industry, teach in 37 degree programs and many other post-graduate and continuing education courses, which are aimed at both full- and part-time students. The university is rooted in the local region but is also characterized by an international outlook, offering several master’s-level programs in English, including in the areas of engineering & IT and management. Moreover, the Carinthia University of Applied Sciences frequently cooperates with companies in innovative research projects, such as with the digital.lab, an organization that supports both public authorities and private enterprises to master digital transformation processes. The university also cooperates directly with regional industry, for instance with Silicon Austria Labs, which helps students get important insights into their possible future careers and see practical applications of their theoretical knowledge.
UNIVERSITY OF KLAGENFURT
In the Carinthian capital and near Lake Wörthersee, the University of Klagenfurt (AAU) offers a diverse array of nearly 60 degree programs and a large number of continuing education programs to approximately 12,000 students on its young and vibrant campus. The study areas, which are available at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral level, cover the fields of business administration and economics, technical science, languages, cultural studies, and humanities, as well as teacher training in various subjects. The internationally-oriented university provides its students with diverse degree programs and courses in English and international joint degree programs, as well as encouraging students to spend some time studying abroad and gaining experience in an international environment.
CARINTHIA COLLEGE OF EDUCATION (PH KÄRNTEN)
The Carinthia College of Education in Klagenfurt, also known as the PH (Carinthia) or Viktor Frankl Hochschule, is THE local provider for elementary school teacher education in the province. In addition to bachelor’s and master’s degrees in elementary education, a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education, as well as a broad spectrum of continuing and further education opportunities, the institution, in conjunction with the University of Klagenfurt, offers bachelor’s and master’s degrees in secondary school education. Through a cooperation with the University of Music and Performing Arts in Graz and the Gustav Mahler Private University for Music, it’s also possible to study musical and instrumental pedagogy at the College of Education. Other special features include its natural sciences orientation with the Regional Center for Natural Sciences Teaching Methodologies Carinthia (Regionales Fachdidaktikzentrum für Naturwissenschaften Kärnten) and its educational opportunities for international students. The programs at the Carinthia College of Education support students on their paths to a fulfilling career in teaching, and help teachers meet the challenges of everyday life in schools.
GUSTAV MAHLER PRIVATE UNIVERSITY FOR MUSIC
The Gustav Mahler Private University for Music (GMPU), also located in Carinthia’s capital, grew out of the musical tradition of the Carinthian State Conservatory and is Austria’s youngest private music university. Their bachelor’s and master’s degree programs are focused on instrumental and vocal pedagogy and musical performance art, and are distinguished by practice-oriented training and an excellent quality of care. The university is very popular among foreign students and in this way is shaped by a broad diversity of cultures.
EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTHS
Education is an important priority for the government of Carinthia, and there are lifelong learning opportunities for people of all ages. It is not only high-quality tertiary education that can be found here, but there is also a broad assortment of educational offers for the younger generation, including schools with a multilingual focus, Montessori schools and classrooms, and inclusive education. In the greater Villach region, more than 240 preschools and close to 100 primary schools give our youngest citizens a great start on their educational paths. In addition, the International School Carinthia (ISC) in Velden, with its outstanding International Baccalaureate program, offers high-quality education to children of both Austrian and international families in the region. At age 10 and again at age 14, all young people attending Austrian schools can choose from an interesting assortment of different and specialized lower and upper secondary schools: from schools that focus on sports, music, academics, various kinds of vocational skills, or a combination thereof, there are choices for all interests and abilities. Some schools culminate in the Matura school-leaving examinations, which enables graduates to enroll at university in the future. Interestingly, Austria is the only country in Europe that offers young people a unique combination of vocational and academic training, which is an ideal preparation for a future career.
WANT TO KNOW MORE?
If you are interested in studying in Austria make sure to check out the additional information linked above about the various providers of higher education in Carinthia. And whether you plan to come here as an exchange student for one or two semesters or want to do your whole degree here in Austria, make sure to check out the scholarship database of the Austrian Agency for Education and Internationalisation (OeAD) for information about funding programs and financial help.