oehboku.at International Guide Published by the Students’ Union at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences 2021/22 Plan your studies at BOKU Plan your life in Vienna Overview of all study programmes preface the Students’ Union welcomes you to the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna Impressum Owner and publisher: Österreichische HochschülerInnenschaft an der Universität für Bodenkultur Wien (ÖH BOKU) Gregor-Mendel-Straße 33 | 1180 Wien tel: +43 1 47654-19100 Executive Board: Stefanie Nikl, Nina Mathies, Michael Pinter Editor & Layout: Raphael Zwiauer, Timon Kalchmayr, Theresa Pichorner, BOKU-International Relations Responsible for the content: The persons and entities identified in the respective contact box. If not mentioned ÖH BOKU and BOKU-International Relations. Editorial reduction of contributions for reasons of space reserved. Photos unless otherwise indicated: Photo-Archiv of ÖH BOKU, BOKU4you, BOKU-IT & BMLFUW Cover photo: International Relations 2 preface Index 10 Study Programmes 1 60 Plan your studies @ BOKU prior to your arrival 2 77 Plan your life in Vienna prior to your arrival 3 87 Plan your studies @ BOKU upon arrival 4 103 Plan your life in Vienna upon arrival 5 122 General Information & Timetable 6 3 preface Welcome ... Dear BOKU students, With our eight fields of expertise, BOKU pro- vides answers within the following fields: Welcome to the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences. Studying at BOKU means • Soil and Terrestrial Ecosystems that you will be educated in the fields of natural • Water – Atmosphere – Environment sciences, engineering, as well as social and • Habitat and Landscape economic sciences, the so called “Three Pillars” • Renewable Resources and Resource of a typical BOKU study program. This concept • Efficient Technologies is implemented in all our study programs. It • Food – Nutrition – Health ensures a typical transdisciplinary approach in • Biotechnology teaching and research, a key element in tackling • Nanosciences and Nanotechnology the expected future challenges for sustainable • Resources and Social Dynamics development. As the University of Life, we see our responsibili- Our University was founded in 1872 with 70 stu- ties in facing the current societal and ecological dents to provide research and education in For- challenges. estry and Agriculture. Since that time we have become a leading Life Science University with currently 13,000 students, covering the broad field of natural resource management. BOKU has a strong international focus with almost 25 % foreign students and lots of inter- national activities together with our 300 partner institutions. We are concerned about our envi- ronment and see our role as one of the leading universities in educating the next generation of leaders in renewable resource management and sustainable development. We stand for coop- eration and we are interested in other opinions and cultures. This is the legendary “BOKU spirit” and we are pleased that you have chosen to become part of it. I wish you all the best for your future studies, and hope to get a chance to meet you in person. Univ. Prof. Dr. Hubert Hasenauer Rector Academic freedom is the freedom to learn as much as you want. Rudolf Virchow 4 preface ... to BOKU! As the chair of the Students’ Union at BOKU international affairs which supports people com- (ÖH BOKU) we’d like to offer you a warm wel- ing to BOKU via different mobility programmes come. The ÖH BOKU is the Austrian Student like ERASMUS+ or CEEPUS. Secondly, we have Union and is here to represent you towards an office for foreign students that specializes the university and support you in your daily in supporting students coming from non-EU or university life. At BOKU we offer great amount non-EEA countries. of different campus activities and advice in order BOKU deals with central, worldwide problems: to allow you to have the full BOKU experience. from the responsible use of natural resources There are many reasons why we regard the as a livelihood for humanity and the results of BOKU experience as so unique. Firstly, interdisci- climate change impacting our world‘s popula- plinarity is one of the main principles of teaching tion and ecosystems. and research at our university. This encourages We wish you a worthwile stay at BOKU and the various fields, subdivisions and students to hope you can acquire the knowledge to deal interact and communicate with each other. The with these issues and broaden your horizons ! second reason is the mostly flat hierarchy and good atmosphere between students and teach- ers, allowing discussions on the same level. If things are not going as smoothly as imagined, we are here to help. We offer advice in social, Michael, Stefanie, Nina (f.l.t.r.) legal or academic affairs or to help you in com- Executive Board ÖH BOKU munications with the university administration and staff. We‘re also part of the development of your study programme and therefore interested in your feedback. Don‘t hesitate to visit us, write us an e-mail or just come by for a chat – we can help solve a lot of problems (or tell you where you can get help)! For you as an international student, there are two main offices at ÖH BOKU dedicated to helping you in managing your studies at BOKU – first Photo: Stefan Neumeier of all the department for 5 preface BOKU professes to being an international performer in research and teaching, cooperating across national and international borders, and initiating openmindedness towards new developments. A clear definition of the learning objectives is as much a part of the mission statement as promoting critical thinking and a culture of mutual respect. 6 preface The people at BOKU meet the challenges of tomorrow. The combination of natural sciences, technology, environmental sciences, social sciences and economics makes BOKU graduates highly employable in research and business. 7 preface Studying at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna Studying at BOKU involves both a sound as early as 2004. This enables students to academic and practice-oriented education. It freely pursue their studies either in Austria or also brings with it a lifestyle: for it is in a nur- abroad. Currently, there are seven Bachelor turing, personable atmosphere that students programmes, 28 Master and ten Doctoral acquire a deep knowledge of their field and programmes. More than a third of the Master prepare for their future career. programmes are offered in collaboration with As a public university, BOKU has been international partner universities. All study implementing the internationally recognized programmes share a strong interdisciplinary three-tier university education system (Bach- character, with special emphasis placed on elor, Master and Doctoral programmes) since natural resource management, the design 8 preface of living environments, and applied life sci- national scientists, and its many language ences. With combinations of natural sciences, courses. The curricula are regularly updated engineering, environmental sciences, social and improved under the guidance of a robust sciences and economics, BOKU graduates quality management system that takes into are highly employable in both business and account course evaluations, pedagogic re- research. search and user feedback. BOKU has a long BOKU‘s internationalisation strategy is also tradition in hosting and supporting interna- reflected in its study programmes, numerous tional students. Thus, we hope to provide exchange programmes, its courses held in you with the best international experience foreign languages, its high number of inter- possible. 9 study programmes STUDY PRO GRAMMES 1 10 10 study programmes Programme Structures ...................................................................................... 12 European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System .................................... 14 Admission ............................................................................................................ 15 Bachelor Programmes ......................................................................................20 Master Programmes ......................................................................................... 26 11 study programmes Photo: Raphael Zwiauer Programme Structures The study programmes at BOKU are organ- Study cycles ised according to the Bologna process. This The Bologna system as followed by BOKU European process has helped to increase the distinguishes between three different study cy- compatibility between education systems and cles. The first cycle (Bachelor) is geared towards makes it easier for students and job seekers to the labour market and lasts at least three years. move within Europe. It also aims to make Euro- The second cycle (Master) is conditional on the pean universities and colleges more competitive completion of the first cycle. The doctorate can and attractive to the rest of the world. be seen as a third cycle in this system. A new system was introduced which made BOKU offers seven Bachelor programmes in an accumulation and transfer of credits (ECTS) German. Each of them covers a workload of 180 possible and is based essentially on study cycles. ECTS (course work and Bachelor’s thesis) and finishes with the academic degree ‘Bachelor of Science’ (BSc). 12 study programmes There are 28 Master programmes offered at Prior to completing the STEOP introduction BOKU which can be divided into three differ- phase a certain number of ECTS