Universities Austria wants tougher language entry requirement for German-taught degrees, changes in the Vienna housing market and more news from Austria this Monday.
Universities Austria wants tougher language entry requirement for German-taught degrees
Universities Austria (Uniko) wants to raise the required language level for entry into German-taught degree programmes in Austria, Der Standard reported.
However, the Austrian National Union of Students (ÖH) sees this as an additional barrier for prospective international students,
Uniko, the body which supports Austrian universities, wants to raise the required language level from A2 currently to B1 because of the increased number of students from third countries and the resulting higher administrative load.
“Instead of simplifying administrative processes, prospective international students are confronted with additional barriers,” said chair of the Socialists Students of Austria organisation, Selina Wienerroither.
Studying abroad is already blockociated with numerous hurdles, and the current global political situation is further exacerbating the situation, Wienerroither was quoted as saying in a press release on Saturday.
Further, there is already a shortage of German course offerings, and existing courses are blockociated with high costs. “Raising the required language level without a parallel expansion of language courses is not only unfair, but completely misguided from an educational policy perspective,” said Viktoria Kudrna from the ÖH chair team.
A few days earlier, Uniko told the APA press agency that universities do not want fewer students from non-EU countries, but they want those who are admitted to a degree to be able to start more quickly.
A learner with language level A2, as per the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), has mastered the basics, while B2 is more advanced, indicating that the learner can cope with more complex language and situations.
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Pandemic changes Vienna housing market
The Covid-19 pandemic has had a wide-ranging impact on the way people live and work, also extending to Vienna’s housing market. This has led to higher rents for certain apartments, broadcaster Orf reported, citing a study involving the Complexity Science Hub.
Working from home and spending more time there has led to greater demand for certain housing features, such as terraces, balconies, gardens, or more rooms. Rents in the outer districts of the city have therefore increased more sharply in the city centre than in the outer districts. Rents in districts one to nine increased by an average of just under ten percent, but by over 15 percent in the outer districts.
The largest price increase was seen in districts 10, 11, 15, 20, 21, and 23. In the already more expensive districts 13, 18, and 19, the increase was smaller. But overall, the survey found that a city centre location and public transport connections were not as important as before the pandemic.
Vienna’s mobility app expands bike fleet with e-bikes
Vienna public transit firm Wiener Linien is adding 300 e-bikes to its existing rental bike fleet from Monday as part of a pilot project, broadcaster Orf said on Sunday.
The bikes can be tested until October when the response to the service will be evaluated.
The e-bikes – which can be identified by a ‘lightning bolt’ symbol and a silver-grey frame – will be available for viewing and booking in the nextbike app from Monday, July 7. They can be rented and returned as usual at WienMobil (Vienna’s mobility app) stations.
Heat takes a short break
Midsummer is taking a brief pause as a cold front sweeps across Austria on Monday, bringing welcome cooling after days of extreme heat, as reported by ORF. Maximum daily temperatures will remain between 15C and 25C this week. Thunderstorms on Sunday ended the heatwave, with large hail in some areas. Tuesday is expected to be the coolest day, with snow possible down to 1,900 metres in the west. Meteorologists say hotter temperatures are likely to return by early next week.
Over 300,000 Austrians without ATMs in their municipality
More than 330,000 Austrians currently have no ATM in their municipality, according to ORF. This accounts for around four percent of the population, with the largest shortages in Lower Austria and Burgenland. To address this, the Austrian National Bank plans to install up to 120 ATMs nationwide over the next two years, prioritising areas with no banking facilities and a population of at least 500. The first of these ATMs was opened in Lower Austria this week.
Municipal housing criticised over air conditioning ban
Vienna ombudswoman Gabriela Schwarz has criticised Wiener Wohnen’s strict ban on air conditioning in council flats, stating it turns homes into “heat traps”, according to ORF. Currently, installation is only approved for tenants with care level 6, meaning those who are bedridden and require intensive care. Schwarz is calling for a case-by-case blockessment, arguing that many residents with cardiovascular problems, seniors, and children also struggle in extreme heat.
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Early school leaving among migrants remains high, especially in rural areas
A new study by the Institute for Advanced Studies (IHS) has revealed that early school leaving rates among migrants aged 15 to 24 are three and a half times higher than among non-migrant youth, as reported by ORF. The urban-rural divide is particularly stark: in regions like Mühlviertel, the dropout rate is 7.7 times higher for migrants. Sociologists warn that the figures highlight an urgent need for educational interventions, especially in light of Austria’s skilled labour shortages.
Five injured in A10 motorway accident
Five people were injured after two buses and two cars collided on the Tauern motorway near Krems in Liesertal on Sunday night, ORF reported. The crash occurred when a Serbian driver lost control of his car due to aquaplaning, hitting the guardrail and stopping in the overtaking lane, where it was struck by a bus. The car was then pushed into another vehicle, which was subsequently hit by a second bus. All drivers pblocked alcohol tests, and the injured were taken to Spittal an der Drau Hospital.
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