Not one exam

2000 students failed to achieve the minimum performance

(Bild: APA/dpa/Fabian Stratenschulte)

After the summer semester 2024, almost 2,000 students were unable to meet the minimum study performance requirement for first-year students, which has been in force for two years, and therefore lost admission to their respective subject. 

The University of Vienna was particularly affected, with over 1100 students failing to meet the requirement. However, according to the Ministry of Education, there was not a single case at ten of the 21 universities affected. Overall, the regulation led to increased examination activity.

• In the 2022/23 academic year, a minimum study performance requirement was introduced for first-year students in bachelor's and diploma programs. Students who do not complete at least 16 ECTS credits in the first two years of study will lose their admission to this university in the relevant subject. It can be reapplied for after a period of two years.

• Completing a Bachelor's degree course with the usual 180 ECTS credits would take 22.5 years at this rate, whereas the minimum period of study is only three years. 

• In winter semester 2022, a total of almost 43,000 new courses were started, meaning that just under five percent did not meet the minimum study requirements. Theoretically, one person could have failed to achieve the minimum study performance in several studies.