Students in Austria: Minimum performance ensures alarm mood!

Students in Austria: Minimum performance ensures alarm mood!

The introduction of the minimum study performance at Austrian universities has an effect: In the past two years, 2,000 students have not reached the required 16 ECTS points, which means that they are excluded from their chosen courses, as the orf reports. This regulation, which came into force two years ago, is intended to increase the examination activity and is part of a more comprehensive reform of the right to study, which has been gradually used since the study year 2021/22.

At the Johannes Kepler University of Linz, 128 students have not met the minimum requirements in the past two years. It should be noted that for students who do not reach the ECTS points, it takes a very long time to resume studying: a bachelor who normally takes three years would take the required 16 ECTS per semester more than 22 years. This rule has a significant impact on study planning and the study conditions, according to the concern of advice centers. According to bmbwf , social, family difficulties or the wrong choice of study have significant reasons for the unchecked minimum performance. The reform also stipulates that professional qualifications are more easily recognized and deadlines are adapted to the recognition of academic achievements.

changes in study law

The legal adjustments that affect the study include, among other things, the obligation that all appointments and formats of the courses must be announced before the semester. This was put into force with the reform on October 1, 2021. At the same time, regulations for better predictability in the course and the public of exams were introduced in order to offer students more transparency and legal certainty. The deadline for complaining of serious defects was also extended from two to four weeks, which strengthens the rights of the students.