The mdw’s Director of Studies is responsible for numerous matters that may be relevant to students once or several times during their time at the University.
Students come into contact with our office particularly often concerning:
- Recognition of exams taken at other universities or as part of other mdw programmes; the former also include exams taken while studying abroad such as via the Erasmus programme.
- Recognition of foreign degrees (Nostrification)
- Abbreviation of your period of study if you intend to skip semesters in your artistic major
- Academic leave of absence from your study programme should you be prevented from attending courses during a given semester
- Waivers of admission examinations in cases where curricula allow these to be applied for
Sometimes it’s necessary to look at problems relating to your studies from a legal standpoint. Therefore, the Director of Studies and her team also there to help you in the following cases:
- Annulment of improperly administered examinations and their results
- Ascertainment of whether an examination was halted for an important reason
- Determination of an alternative exam method in cases of disability if teaching staff do not approve one (please also see the information on barrier-free studies at the mdw: www.mdw.ac.at/barrierefrei)
- Advising on special issues pertaining to legal aspects of studies—such as on the cancellation of admission, repeating exams, other matters
At the end of a successfully completed programme of study, the Director of Studies is responsible for
- The issuance of final grade reports and degrees
- Conferral of academic degrees and graduation ceremonies
The Director of Studies is also in charge of the following:
- Offering and awarding merit- and need-based scholarships
- Approval of individual study programmes
- Appointment of entrance examination committees
- Chairing the commission that evaluates an examination’s final permissible repetition
- Revocation of academic degrees
The responsibilities of the Director of Studies are legally defined in § 19 para 2 subpara 2 of the Austrian Universities Act (UG) and in the section of the mdw’s University Statutes that concerns “Legal Aspects of Studies”.
Austrian Student Ombudsman
Do you have studies-related questions, problems, or complaints that can’t be clarified or resolved where they arise?
The Austrian Student Ombudsman at the Federal Ministry of Education, Science, and Research will stand by you with help and advice.
http://www.hochschulombudsmann.at/