Why studying in Austria is worthwhile - and why not

 ""We" with the German passports are considered refugees here. German students at Austrian universities are often called "contributory refugees". Unlike in Germany, the Abitur or Matura tests' result in Austria does not count towards university admission. Instead, we have secured a place for ourselves through subject-specific tests. 

 The semester fees, which can quickly amount to several hundred euros in Germany, also amount in Austria to a nice 22 euros. Austria lured many of us with the American dream, which was translated into education: “Education for everyone” or “If you want, you can study anything”. 

But just as a dishwasher without connections simply cannot always become a millionaire, not everyone can educate themselves freely in Austria. Universities should become economically more efficient - that much is certain if you read the resolutions of the Austrian People's Party. The nationwide university law has been amended again and again for decades, and studies are becoming more and more bureaucratized. We are already studying according to a more or less fixed curriculum. Because falling out of this structure is sanctioned: Those who cannot take the exams are not allowed to take the following modules; Those who did not finish their bachelor's degree in seven semesters have to pay tuition fees of almost 400 euros afterwards. 

Most students can not only and primarily study. In Austria, before the corona pandemic, 65 percent of students were gainfully employed, on average they worked 20 hours a week. In Germany, too, around two thirds of students finance themselves through a part-time or main job."