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BOKU University
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BOKU University

Universität für Bodenkultur Wien
Vienna's life sciences university: six departments and more than 40 programmes, from agriculture and forestry to food biotechnology and water management.
Data from the university's official pages

Facts about the university

Ownership Public, Vienna
City Vienna
Founded 1872
Students ≈ 10,257
Preparatory course University Preparation Programme of the Vienna Universities (VWU)

About the university

Universität für Bodenkultur Wien (BOKU University) was founded in 1872. In the winter semester 2025/26 it had 10,257 students, about a third of them foreign nationals. Teaching and research sit in six departments: agricultural sciences; biotechnology and food science; economics and social sciences; ecosystem management, climate and biodiversity; landscape, water and infrastructure; natural sciences and sustainable resources. The university has three sites — Türkenschanze (Vienna's 18th district), Muthgasse (19th district) and Tulln in Lower Austria — and its own research farms and forests. Bachelor's programmes (6 semesters, 180 ECTS) are taught in German; about 20 of its 35 master's programmes are in English.

Preparatory course

If your school certificate does not give direct admission, the university admits you on condition of supplementary exams (Ergänzungsprüfungen), and the preparatory course below gets you ready for them. The exams count for the university that prescribed them.

How to apply

The general procedure is the same for all programmes of the university; the required grade, language and additional requirements are on the page of each programme.

Applicants from outside the EU apply within the bachelor's deadline, even for a master's: for the summer semester 2027 — by 31 December 2026 (for the winter semester 2026/27 it was 31 July). Documents are accepted in person or by post, not by e-mail. Bachelor's programmes require German at C1. There is a selection procedure (Aufnahmeverfahren) in two bachelor's programmes: Food Science and Biotechnology, and Environment and Bio-Resources Management.

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If your certificate or your German is not enough, the university admits you on condition of supplementary exams (Ergänzungsprüfungen); the VWU — the preparation programme of the Vienna universities — gets you ready for them.

What it costs to study

Costs of studying

International students pay €726.72 per semester at Austria's public universities, plus the students' union (ÖH) fee of €26.20 (2026/27) — €752.92 per semester in total. Citizens of the countries on the ministry's list and some groups (refugees, for example) are exempt from tuition; everyone pays the ÖH fee.

Some programmes charge their own fee — see the programme page.

If you don't meet the requirements yet

Two typical stops: a school certificate without direct admission and German below the required level. Both can be solved within a year, but plan them before you apply, not after a rejection.

Questions about BOKU University

Do I need a Studienkolleg?
There are no Studienkollegs in Austria. If your certificate is not enough, BOKU University admits you on condition of supplementary exams; University Preparation Programme of the Vienna Universities (VWU) prepares you for them.

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