Austrian Students' Union demands equality for international students

The Austrian Students' Union (ÖH) is calling for an end to what it describes as a ‘two-class policy’ affecting international students at Austrian universities. Students from third countries face significant structural hurdles, including higher tuition fees based on nationality and restrictive employment permissions.

Bureaucratic inefficiencies are a major concern, as misaligned deadlines and a lack of coordination between universities, residence authorities, embassies, and consulates often cause students to miss entire semesters. Students frequently report being forced to submit identical documentation to multiple agencies. To resolve these issues, the ÖH proposes modernized administrative infrastructure, such as electronic application portals, digital status tracking, and centralized guidance provided in English.

Additionally, there is a demand for better funding and expansion of preparatory language programs, such as the Vorstudienlehrgang der Wiener Universitäten (VWU), to ensure language acquisition remains affordable and accessible.