The preparatory course at a glance
- Who must take it
- Holders of a non-EU/EEA school-leaving certificate, such as the Algerian baccalauréat, when the university requires supplementary exams
- Duration
- One semester per course; 2–3 semesters if you start without German
- German level to enter
- At least A2 at most universities, proven when you apply
- Fee, Vienna (VWU), winter 2026/27
- €612 per semester directly at VWU · €1,850 + €40 at partner institutions
- Fee, Innsbruck
- €1,200 per semester, plus the ÖH fee
- Vienna pre-registration (winter 2026/27)
- 31 July – 13 August 2026
What the preparatory course is
The preparatory course (Vorstudienlehrgang) is a programme for international students that prepares you for the supplementary exams (Ergänzungsprüfungen) a university requires before it admits you as a regular student. It is not a separate degree and it does not replace the application: you apply to the university first, and the university decides whether you must take it.
It exists to make sure a foreign school-leaving certificate matches the Austrian Reifeprüfung. Holders of a certificate issued outside the EU/EEA, which includes the Algerian baccalauréat, usually need it. Without passing the exams you cannot enrol as a regular student.
Who needs it, and which exams?
Your admission letter from the university states which supplementary exams you must pass. It depends on the subjects in your certificate and on the subjects your chosen programme requires. Typical examples are German, mathematics, English, geography and history.
There are two common situations for Algerian applicants:
- You need German exams as well as other subjects: you attend German courses and subject courses together. Most students in this group stay two to three semesters.
- You need only subject exams (for example mathematics): the course can be shorter, sometimes a single semester.
Exams are held every semester and are taken in front of an examination committee.
The German requirement before you start
You usually cannot start the course with no German. At the universities we checked, you need a recognised A2 certificate when you apply, and the certificate may be at most two years old at some universities. TU Wien states that applicants with no German or only A1 cannot be admitted, and that an A2 certificate from a provider not on the accepted list is not enough.
Accepted A2 certificates include ÖSD, Goethe-Institut, telc, ÖIF and DSD I. The Goethe-Institut in Algeria offers the Goethe-Zertifikat A1 to C2 exams, so you can take your A2 before leaving.
In the course, German is taught on five levels. Level 1 is for students with no German and level 5 for students with good German. Classes are in German only, in groups of up to 20.
Sources are the pages of TU Wien, WU, the University of Innsbruck and studieren.at listed below. Rules differ by university, so confirm with yours.
What it costs
The course fee is not the same everywhere. These are the figures published for the winter semester 2026/27:
| Provider | Fee per semester | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Vienna, VWU directly | €612 | For students in the main groups taken directly by VWU |
| Vienna, partner institutions | €1,850 + €40 materials | For students placed with partners |
| University of Innsbruck | €1,200 | Plus the ÖH membership fee |
Check the current fee with the provider before you plan your budget. Some groups of students can receive reduced fees or scholarships under VWU rules.
Add the university's own semester charges, the residence permit costs and your living costs. Our guide to the student budget covers these in detail.
Vienna: how registration works
For the winter semester 2026/27, the Vienna programme (VWU) works like this:
- Apply to a Viennese university first. Registration at VWU is not possible without an admission letter.
- Pre-register online between 31 July and 13 August 2026 in the VWU student portal, with your admission letter and your passport or residence permit.
- Take the German placement test if your admission letter lists a German supplementary exam. It is held in Vienna between 6 and 17 August 2026, the date cannot be chosen, and missing it means losing your place.
- Receive your course placement on 21 August 2026, either at a partner institution or directly at VWU.
- Complete university admission by 30 October 2026 at the latest.
Dates change every year, so use the current VWU page. If your visa D or admission letter arrives late, the programme has special late-registration rules, but do not count on them.
Plan your time
If you do not speak German, plan for two to three semesters, about one to one and a half years, before the bachelor's begins. On top of that, add the legalisation of your documents and the processing time of the residence permit. Learning German in Algeria before you travel can shorten the time you spend in the course.
Frequently asked questions
Can I skip the preparatory course?
Only if the university does not require supplementary exams for your certificate and your German is at the required level. For the Algerian baccalauréat, assume you need it until the university tells you otherwise in writing.
Can I start with no German at all?
Not at the universities we checked. You need at least an A2 certificate when you apply. Take the A2 exam in Algeria first.
Is the course available in every city?
No. The Vienna and Graz programmes are run by the OeAD, and other universities, such as Innsbruck, run their own. Ask the university where it sends students.
Do I pay the university tuition during the course?
You pay the course fee to the provider, plus the ÖH membership fee where it applies. Ask your university what applies to extraordinary students.
Sources
- OeAD: University Preparation Programme Vienna, first-semester registration 2026/27
- OeAD: University Preparation Programmes (Vienna, Graz)
- studieren.at: preparatory course for international students
- University of Innsbruck: preparatory course German
- TU Wien: German skills for bachelor admission
- WU Vienna: university preparation programmes
- Goethe-Institut Algeria: German exams