FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

ACADEMIC PROGRAMMES

Application

Is there an entrance exam?

There is an entrance interview for the Diploma Programme.

MAIS and ETIA students are selected by respective Admissions Commissions on the basis of their application documents.

Do I have to provide recommendation letters in order to apply for an academic programme at the DA?

Depending on the programme you are applying for, two or three academic recommendation letters have to be submitted by your respective referees.

Please provide the names and e-mail addresses of your referees on our application platform at https://application.da-vienna.ac.at. Your referees will receive an individual upload link through which they will be able to submit their recommendation letters.

Do all my documents need to be uploaded at once or can I send some later?

With a few exceptions, all required documents have to be uploaded before your application can be submitted.

Your most recent academic degree certificate as well as your English language certificate may be provided after your application has been submitted. However, you will have to state the respective date at which your certificates will become available.

In addition, in case your final transcript of academic records is not available at the time of your application, please provide the most recent version of your temporary transcript.

For more information on required documents, please see https://www.da-vienna.ac.at/Admission.

Can I send my documents via e-mail?

No, your documents have to be uploaded at https://application.da-vienna.ac.at.

Only your academic degree certificate as well as your English language certificate may be provided via e-mail in case they have not been available at the time of your application.

When after the application deadline will I be informed if I am accepted?

Decisions on admissions can be expected by the end of February (early decision MAIS), otherwise by the end of March (regular decision MAIS, ETIA and DIA), mid-April (Diploma Programme) and by the end of June (PhD IIS).

Can I send the proof of English language (TOEFL, CPE, IELTS) after the application deadline?

Yes. If you don’t have the proof of English language ready by the application deadline, you may send or hand it in later.

Is there any case in which I do not have to provide proof of my English language skills?

Competence in English for non-native speakers of the language must be evidenced as follows:

  • A degree in English language/English translation studies
  • A bachelor's degree completed at an English-speaking university

An application for a waiver must be submitted for the two categories above. The DA will then make a final decision.

  • A score in Cambridge C2 Proficiency (formerly known as CPE) or C1 Advanced (CAE) of 185 points with a minimum of 176 in the writing component
  • IELTS Academic test with an overall grade of 7.0 and a minimum grade of 6.5 in the writing section of the test
  • TOEFL iBT: 102 points with a minimum of 23 points in the writing section of the test (all scores must be achieved in one examination cycle)

Please note:
All test results must have been obtained in the past three years.
IELTS Online and TOEFL iBT Home Edition will be accepted only in exceptional circumstances.
 

Can I send the university diploma later if I have not completed my studies by the application deadline?

Yes, you can hand it in by the end of July at the latest. On the online application form please indicate your expected graduation date.

In case there is an unforeseen delay in obtaining your diploma, even though you have finished your studies, it is required to inform the DA via application@da-vienna.ac.at immediately. In such a case, an extension can only be granted by the DA's Registrar.

What if my documents are not in English?

Official documents (e.g. proof of university degree, transcript of grades) which are not in English, German or French have to be sent together with a certified translation.

Financial Assistance

How much does the study programme cost?

The tuition fee in the academic year 2025-26 will be EUR 15,500. The costs of living are estimated to be approximately EUR 6,000-7,000 per academic year.

More detailed information is available at https://www.da-vienna.ac.at/Afford.

Who can receive financial assistance, i.e. a scholarship or tuition waiver?

Only applicants who fully completed the application form can be considered for a scholarship or tuition waiver. The scholarship application form has to be included in your application and uploaded through https://application.da-vienna.ac.at.

Scholarships and tuition waivers are awarded on the basis of academic excellence and financial need.

What types of financial assistance is available at the DA?

  • Tuition waivers
  • Scholarships

How much do the DA's scholarships amount to?

The amount granted through scholarships and tuition waivers varies, but most cover about 50 percent of the current tuition fee. Scholarships are awarded on an annual basis.

Who decides which students receive scholarships/financial assistance?

The board of the Scholarship Foundation of the DA decides on applications for financial assistance by the end of May.

Additional alumni-sponsored scholarships are awarded by ClubDA, the Alumni Association of the DA, as well as the members of the DA’s Alumni Hall of Fame.

DA Life

Is it possible to live on campus at the DA?

Yes. The DA provides accommodation for about fourty students in single rooms with an en-suite. The DA’s in-house caterers serve breakfast and lunch for all those who sign up for half board.

What extracurricular activities are offered?

The DA encourages its students to take the initiative and supports its student societies and committees as much as possible. We place great emphasis on supporting extracurricular activities such as student-organised conferences or charity events, visits to cultural centres etc. A tradition of many years standing has been the annual Charity Ball organised by our students.

Students also take an active role in the publication of Polemics, the student magazine of the DA, and in various sporting events (skiing weekends, football/soccer, basketball or volleyball tournaments etc.).

What study trips are available at the DA?

Study trips offered include those to European and international institutions (Brussels and Geneva) as well as Southeast Europe and beyond (Western Balkans, Ukraine, the Kurdistan region of Iraq).

Career Services

What type of career services are offered by the DA?

Through the da.link career services programme, we offer a broad range of opportunities for students and alumni to actively prepare themselves for their chosen international careers. This includes career counselling sessions, career talks and lunches, career skills seminars and workshops as well as a career day where department heads and high-ranking HR managers from highly renowned international organisations, NGOs and the private sector are invited.

Does the DA provide students with internships?

The DA helps its students find rewarding internship opportunities. To this end, several internship cooperations with major Vienna-based international organisations and diplomatic missions have been established.

However, the DA itself does not provide internships.

In which career fields do DA alumni end up working?

Many DA graduates have become diplomats, but even more have chosen different careers, in particular in the public administration of their countries, in EU institutions, international organisations, NGOs and in the private sector.

In fact, the largest group of DA alumni – about 40 percent – has chosen careers in corporate business, first and foremost in international finance and banking, consulting and the energy sector.

Alumni Services

Does the DA support its former students after graduation?

Yes. Actually, the DA’s alumni association, ClubDA, which was founded in 1969, is one of the oldest alumni clubs in Austria. More than 50 percent of our alumni are currently members of the Club.

In addition to alumni meetings, which are organised by ClubDA's local chapters around the world, the DA and ClubDA also offer their own online networking and career platform, DA Wien Connect.

What services does the DA’s alumni association provide?

Please refer to https://club.da-vienna.ac.at for more information on ClubDA’s services.

Is the DA’s alumni network solely based in Vienna?

No. In fact, we are proud that the DA’s network consists of alumni from more than 120 countries.

Currently, ClubDA local chapters serve alumni in North America, Europe and Asia.

Executive Training Programmes

What kinds of Executive Training Programmes does the DA offer?

The full portfolio of the DA's Executive Training Programmes is listed at https://www.da-vienna.ac.at/Training.

The programmes organised by the Executive Training Programmes department comprise language courses and exams as well as a broad variety of training programmes and seminars.

How do I apply for Executive Training Programmes?

Please refer to the respective programme page (see https://www.da-vienna.ac.at/Training) for more information on the application process.