Whether you are already immersed in student life or just starting your studies, many students aren't even aware of the rights they have as students. Yet there are numerous regulations in Austria that apply to everyday student life and student's rights.
An important legal foundation is the University Act of 2002 (short: UG02). Among other things, it governs the organization and operation of academic programs at Austrian universities. In addition, the UG02 contains provisions that are directly relevant to students. We've compiled the most important student rights in Austria for you and summarized them in an easy-to-understand way.
Let's start with something positive: According to §59 UG02, students have the right to academic freedom. Among other things, this means that in addition to your studies at your own university, you can also pursue another degree program at a different university. Furthermore, you may take advantage of the entire course offerings at your university as well as those at other universities, provided you meet the respective registration requirements.
You also have certain freedoms when it comes to your diploma, master's or doctoral thesis: in principle, you can choose the topic and your advisor yourself. With your advisor's approval, you can also decide whether you'd like to write your academic thesis in a foreign language.
In short: Freedom of study gives you, as a student, a great deal of flexibility and allows you to help shape your academic journey in many areas.
As a student, you also have certain rights when it comes to exams. According to §59 UG02, exams must generally be offered at the beginning, in the middle, and at the end of the semester. Additional exam dates can be scheduled at other times as well. If you can provide proof of a disability, you must also be provided with an accessible exam format. This is intended to ensure that you can take the exam under appropriate conditions despite your disability.
You still have rights even after the exam: According to §74 UG02, exams and academic papers must generally be graded within four weeks. As soon as your grade is announced, you have the right to inspect your exam materials for at least six months. You may also make copies of these materials during the inspection, with the exception of multiple-choice questions.
Sometimes there are situations in which you are temporarily unable or unwilling to continue your studies. In certain cases, under §67 UG02, you have the option to take a leave of absence for one or more semesters. This applies, for example, if you are suffering from a serious illness, pregnant, caring for your child or a close family member, or still required to perform military or civilian service. It is important that you apply for the leave of absence in a timely manner. It generally applies to all degree programs you are pursuing at the same educational institution. So if you are enrolled in multiple degree programs at a university, the leave of absence applies to all of them.
In addition to the University Act of 2002, there are other regulations that may affect your daily life as a student. If you are enrolled as a full-time student at an Austrian university and pay the ÖH membership fee, you generally have the right to vote in the ÖH election. If you are studying at multiple public universities at the same time, you even have the option to vote at each of these universities.
Do you live in a Home4students residence or another student housing facility, or are you currently looking for a spot in a student dorm? If so, the Student Housing Act is also relevant to you. In general, students have priority when it comes to the allocation of housing spots. This means that a spot in a student dormitory may only be assigend to a non-student if no students are available for that spot and the residence is therefore not at full capacity. This is intended to ensure that the available housing spots are made available primarily to students.
Knowing your rights as a student can save you a lot of trouble in your day-to-day student life. No matter the situation, it's worth knowing what options you're legally entitled to. If you are unsure about a specific case, you can always contact the ÖH or the appropriate office at your university.
Would you like to read exactly what the law says? You can find the full text of the University Act of 2002 here.
Important: This blog post does not constitute legal advice and is intended for informational purposes only.