Students at the limit: stress, work and worries in Austria's universities!

Students at the limit: stress, work and worries in Austria's universities!

In Austria, students have been faced with a variety of challenges since the pandemic. These include, in particular, financial worries, psychological stress and social hurdles. This problem was recently taken up by the Science Committee of the National Council, which took note of two reports on the social situation of students. According to the study, which is based on the 2023 student social survey and in which almost 43,000 students of all types of higher education institutions took part, an increase in financial and psychological problems can be seen. Science Minister Eva-Maria Holzleitner and IHS university researcher Martin Unger discussed the results, which are sobering.

Holzleitner emphasized that the survey, which has been published regularly since 1975, is crucial for the development of targeted measures to promote studying and combat social disadvantages. A concrete result that she presented is the high proportion of employed students in Austria compared to other European countries; Around one in three students have to work due to financial constraints instead of concentrating fully on their studies.

Financial and psychological stress

The study shows that many students perceive their employment as a necessary evil. What is particularly noteworthy is that 23 percent of those surveyed said they would rather invest more time in their studies instead of having to work. The discussion about the impact of this employment on student success was a central topic among MPs. ÖVP MP Thomas Elian asked questions about these effects, while FPÖ MP Manuel Litzke criticized university policy and Corona measures.

A report from the Techniker Krankenkasse underlines the psychological stress that many students feel. A Forsa survey from January 2023 found that 68% of students suffered from stress in the last 12 months, a dramatic increase compared to the 44% in 2015. In addition, 44% of respondents reported a feeling of loneliness, which is exacerbated by increasing digitalization.

Social challenges and family issues

The study survey also shows a social aspect: around 8 percent of students have at least one child under the age of 25, and 10 percent of them are single parents. Martin Unger found that a third of students come from parents without a high school diploma, which raises the issue of social selection at universities. At the same time, Holzleitner announced measures to combat inflation, which also include increasing student funding and a cafeteria bonus in order to meet these challenges.

The ombudsman's office for students registered a 6 percent increase in inquiries to a total of 822 concerns in the 2023/24 academic year. Many of these inquiries related to study conditions, admissions and financial aid, which further illustrates the current burdens on students. In the fall, the ombudsman's office plans to focus particularly on housing issues for foreign students who are also suffering from the current conditions.

In summary, the current reports and studies show that the situation for students in Austria is tense. The return to face-to-face events is perceived positively, as many found the isolation at home stressful, but the challenges in the financial and psychological areas remain present. Urgent solutions are needed to improve study conditions and counteract social challenges.