WU Vienna University of Economics and Business


Image of Vienna University
A study abroad exchange specifically designed for KU School of Business students.
Location: Vienna, Austria
Language of Instruction: English
Term: FallSpring
Academic Disciplines: BusinessEconomics
Program Type: Semester or Academic Year
Open to non-KU Students: No
Fulfills KU Core 4.2: No
Fulfills KU Core 5: No

  • Study on the modern campus of Europe’s largest business school.
  • Experience life in the cultural mecca of Vienna, one of Europe’s most livable and safe cities.
  • Choose from a wide variety of business classes in English.

The Vienna University of Economics and Business (WU) offers a wide variety of business and economics classes in English on its modern campus in the heart of Vienna.  This prestigious institution is Europe’s largest business school and consistently ranks as one of the best business schools in Europe.  This program is ideal for the KU student who wishes to live in a European capital city and take business courses in English.   

Vienna University of Economics and Business

Established in 1888 as the Imperial Export Academy, Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien (WU, or Vienna University of Economics and Business) has an established tradition of innovation and excellence in business and economics-related research and teaching.  The institution began with the aim of preparing students for employment in international trade and commerce and today maintains strong ties to the corporate world.  With 22,000 students it is Europe’s largest business school and one of only a handful of business universities in the world with triple accreditation.  It is an international university with more 200 partner universities worldwide.  The WU campus is located in the heart of Vienna and is notable for its unique, modern buildings.

Vienna, Austria

One of the best aspects of WU is the university’s location in Vienna. Vienna is the capital city of Austria and regarded as one of the safest and most beautiful cities in Europe.  This historic city of approximately 2 million is a cultural, economic, and political hub with excellent infrastructure, ample green space, and a vibrant social scene.  The city is known for its high quality of life and is easy to navigate by bus, tram, or subway system.  Its central location in Europe makes it an important hub for international organizations such as OPEC and the UN and multinational companies including CocaCola.  Whether enjoying an afternoon in a traditional Viennese café, visiting a grand imperial palace, or studying on the banks of the Danube River, there will never be a shortage of interesting things to discover in this remarkable city.

More than 200 courses in English are available in business-related fields including Accounting, Business Administration, Finance, International Business, Management, Marketing, and Supply Chain Management. Students with German language skills may choose from even more course options taught in German.  

Students take regular university courses with local and international students. Many courses are taught in block format, which offers additional scheduling flexibility but requires attention to detail when registering for courses. Students studying at WU during the Fall semester should only register for classes that end in December, unless staying later is not problematic.

The WU International Office provides a pre-semester orientation specially designed for its exchange students.  The orientation program includes helpful sessions designed to acquaint students with the university and city, plus a cultural program with sightseeing opportunities and field trips.

Course Information

Students typically earn 12 to 15 KU credit hours (24-36 ECTS) during one semester abroad. You are encouraged to use the following resources to research available courses and to determine if these courses will meet your academic requirements at KU:

WU Course Catalog: Search among course options taught in English at WU. Catalog can be filtered by department and term (Fall = Semester 1; Spring = Semester 2).

KU Course Equivalency Database: This is a list of courses currently pre-approved for KU credit (approved equivalency) and courses that students have had approved for KU credit in the past (possible equivalencies). Use 'WU Vienna' in the search field. Contact the KU program coordinator if you have questions about obtaining approval for a course that does not yet appear in the course database.

German Language Courses: Students have the option to take a Pre-Semester German Language Course prior to the semester or a German Business Communication Course during the regular semester. Courses are offered at all levels, from beginning to advanced, and credit is awarded for German language study.

Credit Approval Process

Visit the Credit Approval Process Webpage for detailed information on the procedure for obtaining KU course equivalency approval for courses you plan to take abroad. All courses taken and grades earned while abroad must be posted as KU equivalents on a student’s KU transcript and grades will figure into a student’s KU GPA. The relevant KU academic department will make the final decision regarding posting of credit, and their application toward graduation.

Students are housed in residence halls administered by the Austrian Exchange Service (OeAD) that serves all students in Vienna.  The residence halls are located in different locations around the city, but are within walking distance or a short bus or tram ride of the WU campus.

WU reserves a block of rooms specifically for its exchange students.  This housing option is available on a first-come first-serve basis, so students must request their housing as early as possible after acceptance to the program.  Several rooming options are available.  The most common arrangement is a single bedroom with a shared kitchen, dining area, and bathroom, but other arrangements are available.  Rooms are furnished with a bed, desk, and wardrobe and each residence hall offers basic amenities such as WiFi and laundry. 

Students also have the option of securing private accommodations on their own. See more about alternative housing options on the WU Accommodations Webpage.   

All students will have access to kitchen facilities in their apartment or suite. There are also several WU dining options on campus including budget-friendly meals at the cafeteria (“mensa”), plus restaurants, cafes, and a supermarket. Learn more at the dining options on the WU Restaurant Webpage.

WU offers ample opportunities to get involved and meet other students.  Students travel together through organized trips, they join sport teams together and study and work together in the WU cafeterias and local cafés.

The International Office (IO) organizes services to assist incoming exchange students with all aspects of their stay, including social and cultural programming meant to orient students and facilitate interaction with local students as well as other international students.  Learn more:

  • Orientation and Cultural Program – Three week program of activities and field trips prior to the start of classes.  STRONGLY recommended for all KU students.
  • Buddy Network – A student uniquely assigned to be your first point of contact during your semester abroad.
  • German Language Class – Study a little German before regular classes start. 

Students also have access to campus organizations and amenities such as the WU University library which is one of the largest economic and business libraries in German-speaking Europe, the WU Student Union, and numerous sports activities. 

The university is located next to Prater Park, named one of the ten best city parks in the world. It is ideal for walking, jogging, cycling, skating, and much more. Students will never run out of interesting things to do in Vienna!

SAGE is dedicated to creating international engagement opportunities that meet the needs of all our students and providing resources to support you through the process of studying abroad. Study abroad is achievable for students of all identities including our BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ students, students with disabilities, and students with religious/non-religious viewpoints. Before selecting a program, consider how your identities may impact your experience abroad in unique ways and talk with your Program Coordinator about any program-specific concerns. Students with documented disabilities should discuss any accommodation needs with their Program Coordinator early in the planning process.

Considerations for Austria

Austria has laws in place to protect ethnic and religious minorities, LGBTQIA+ individuals, the differently abled, and other groups. Same-sex marriage is available in Austria and the LGBTQIA+ community is well-developed in all larger cities. Racism and bigotry are not socially accepted although some extremist political parties have been accused of racist sentiments.

Austria mandates accessibility to public buildings and cities and public transportation are generally accessible to individuals with disabilities.  Older sections of the cities and smaller towns may be less accessible due to centuries-old architecture, cobblestone streets, and small indoor spaces.

Source: U.S. Department of State country information pages and Diversity Abroad.

Additional Resources

Check our Identity Abroad page and resources listed below for information specific to you and other students who may be on your program.

Open to KU students with sophomore standing by the beginning of the program who have a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA.  

 

There is no language requirement; the language of instruction is English. Students with sufficient German language skills (typically around five semesters of college-level German) may enroll in courses taught in German.

Scholarships may be available for study abroad programs. Consult the Center for Global Business Studies website for more information on study abroad scholarships for business students. For general study abroad scholarship information, consult the Study Abroad & Global Engagement website.