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Welcome to the International Centre

Based on our values and the principle of equal treatment and appreciation in the "Equality, Gender & Diversity Management" section of our statutes, we are committed to a cosmopolitan, tolerant and anti-discriminatory attitude in our actions and decisions. We see the intercultural and international orientation of our degree programmes not only as an "additional offer" for our students, but also as part of our social responsibility. Internationalisation is not an end in itself but is always linked to the impact on the quality of the results of our teaching and research activities.

FERNFH can be seen as a "niche provider" within the Austrian higher education landscape. This will also be reflected in the Erasmus+ and mobility endeavours as well as international activities.

Around 10% of our students are "international students", with foreign nationality and/or have obtained a foreign degree before starting their current studies at our university.

Distance-Learning students spend most of their time studying from home. For around 3% of them, this means: from our neighbouring countries Germany, Italy, Switzerland, or Slovakia; but there are also students who come to us three times a semester from Poland or even from Russia.

Distance learning includes an international dimension

This is possible because we have orientated our learning and teaching methods towards the acquirement of a higher education qualification for people who still have to assume other family related, social, or professional responsibilities. All courses are offered exclusively as blended learning programs: We meet three times a semester for two days for on-campus sessions in Wiener Neustadt (Lower Austria). The rest of the time, students will be provided with learning materials and interactive learning and communication tools via a web-based learning management system (Online Campus) which can be used asynchronously at any time of the day and anywhere in the world. This can be somewhere in Austria, but also in Berlin or St. Petersburg, or during a work-related stay in South Korea, or an adventurous north-south crossing of Africa. And so do our lecturers: Some of them live and teach in Austria, but others from their home university in Tübingen, Bamberg, Munich or Riverside, California.

Distance learning is by definition a mode of study that includes an international dimension. In addition, the Distance-Learning University of Applied Sciences Wiener Neustadt (FERNFH) is expanding its international network right now.

We are pleased to welcome you at the "International Centre" and cordially invite you to participate in the future of international mobility programmes: Where non-traditional becomes the new normal.

Freemover@FERNFH - Study a semester at FERNFH

Freemover@FERNFH offers part-time students or students with caring responsibilities from abroad, who would like to/must spend a semester abroad, the opportunity to gain experience and complete their studies without having to change their place of residence for an entire semester/year. A co-operation agreement between the home university/college and the FERNFH is not necessary.

Everything you need to know for your Freemover@FERNFH study programme:

What is a freemover?

Freemovers are students who organise their studies abroad as guest students autonomously, i.e. in contrast to exchange students, independently of the exchange or cooperation agreements of their own university.

Who can apply and how does the application process work?

Anyone who wants/needs to spend a semester abroad and is enrolled at a university.

Application process

Please send enquiries directly to the FERNFH International Centre via email (ic(at)fernfh.ac.at).

In agreement with you, the administration and the study programme director(s), you will receive a learning agreement for credit mobility for freemovers as well as a letter of acceptance (enclosing the selected courses in which semester, from which study programme and ECTS).

You will provide us with proof from your home university, that the courses you have selected will be recognised and accredited.

The administration will enrol you as a freemover and send you the relevant information/mails.

Documents required:

Proof of active enrolment at a higher education institution
Valid passport
Birth certificate
Proof of your highest level of education
Photograph
Current address and mobile phone number

Until when can I apply?

The application deadline for the winter semester ends on June 30 and for the summer semester on November 30.

How much is the Freemover tuition fee?

The freemover tuition fee is € 400,- per semester (plus student union fee).

Do I have to be on site on attendance days?

Whether you have to travel to the FERNFH as a freemover for the on-campus-sessions is the responsibility of the respective programme director(s).

ECTS & Assessment

ECTS

All courses at FERNFH are allocated ECTS credits.
1 ECTS credit point corresponds to 25 real working hours.
The workload of an academic year is measured with 60 ECTS credits, that of a semester with 30 ECTS credits.

Assessment

Assessment is based on a grading system from 1-5, whereby

outstanding achievements are graded 1 (very good),
generally good performance with 2 (good),
balanced performance with a few significant errors is graded 3 (satisfactory),
performances that just meet the minimum requirements with 4 (sufficient),
and - unsatisfactory performance with 5 (not sufficient); they require a repetition of the performance.

Proof/Transcript of Records

The Transcript of Records will be sent to you immediately after completion of the "semester abroad" via download in FHelix.

In which language are the courses held?

All courses at FERNFH are held in German. If German is not your first language, you can only be admitted if you have an appropriate knowledge of the German language (level B2).

What do I have to consider when entering and staying in Austria?

Please check oead.at/en/to-austria/entry-and-residence to see whether you need a visa or other residence documents to enter and stay in Austria.

You have further questions?

If you have any further questions, you can contact the FERNFH International Centre at any time via ic(at)fernfh.ac.at.

Erasmus Charta for Higher Education (ECHE)

In 2019 FERNFH was awarded the Erasmus Charter for Higher Education (ECHE), which was valid until 2020.

In January 2024 FERNFH submitted a new application for the Erasmus Charter for Higher Education to be able to participate in various activities in the Erasmus+ programme period 2021-2027.