Recognition of Foreign Academic Degrees
The Center for Academic Recognition at CU Carinthia University is responsible for the recognition of Foreign Academic Degrees from third countries.
Recognition is the determination that a Foreign Degree is equivalent to a Domestic Degree. This can only take place if a Degree program equivalent to the Foreign Degree is offered at the respective Austrian university and if recognition is mandatory for practicing a profession in Austria (e.g., a regulated profession). A recognized Academic Degree has the same legal effect as an Academic Degree earned in Austria.
The criteria for evaluation include the content, scope, and requirements of the Austrian Degree program for which equivalence is being sought. If certain prerequisites are not met, they may be fulfilled by enrolling as a non-degree-seeking student. All requirements are specified in a formal decision. Once the applicant has fulfilled all additional requirements – or if no requirements were specified – the competent authority grants recognition.
If recognition cannot be granted because the differences from the Austrian Degree program are too great, an application for admission to an Austrian Degree program may be submitted; once admitted, examinations from the Foreign Degree program may be recognized to the extent that they are equivalent to their Austrian counterparts. Afterward, the Austrian Degree program can be continued and completed.
Please note: It is not permitted to submit the same application for recognition simultaneously or, after withdrawal, to another institution of higher education.
Within the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA), and Switzerland, recognition of foreign qualifications is not required. In these cases, professional recognition is granted by the competent authority. For more information, please visit www.berufsanerkennung.at. If you hold a qualification that was not obtained through higher education (e.g., nursing assistant/registered nursing assistant), the provincial government office is responsible for recognition.
Information on Individual Course Equivalencies
In accordance with the provisions of § 6 (6) and (7) of the Higher Education Act (FHG), as amended, the College Administration decides on applications for the recognition of degrees earned abroad. To ensure that such decisions are made on the basis of thoroughly prepared information, the following procedure is established:
- Receipt of the Application: Applicants must submit an application for recognition of foreign academic qualifications to the Rector’s Office using Form RE-F03, “Application for Recognition of Foreign Academic Qualifications.” The form is available under “Application for Recognition of Foreign Academic Qualifications.”
- Applicants must request an invoice from the Rector’s Office. A fee of € 150 must be paid in advance to the bank account specified on the invoice, quoting the invoice number.
- The Rector’s Office can now accept the recognition application. A formal review of the application will be conducted – see Form RE-F03 for review criteria.
- Upon successful completion of the formal review: The head of the faculty (Rector) will commission the respective STGL to conduct the evaluation
- Any requests for additional documents from the Rector’s Office or the STGL
- Submission of the expert opinion by the STGL to the Rector’s Office
- Notification to the applicant of the outcome of the review (including the expert opinion) and the opportunity to comment (right to be heard)
- Possible request for a revision of the expert opinion (supplementary expert opinion)
- Issuance of a decision by the Chair of the University Council (rejection, approval, or approval with conditions)
- Delivery to the applicant
- In the case of conditional decisions: fulfillment of conditions by the applicant
- After full fulfillment of the conditions: a new decision (positive decision)
To apply for recognition of foreign academic qualifications, submit the completed "RE-F03 Application for Recognition of Foreign Academic Qualifications" form along with the following attachments:
- Proof that recognition is absolutely necessary for the applicant to practice their profession or to continue their education in Austria [1]
- Signed resume (with particular emphasis on previous education)
- Birth certificate and any documents regarding a name change (e.g., marriage certificate), if the attached academic transcripts are issued under a previous name
- Copy of proof of citizenship or passport
- High School diploma (Matura) and any other documents proving eligibility for admission to higher education in the foreign country
- Academic records (student record book / index / study plan / curriculum / module descriptions / syllabi), certificates of completed exams, including the titles and credit hours of the courses taken and exams passed (Transcript of Records)
- Degree or diploma certificate
- Evidence of any existing additional qualifications (e.g., completion of university-level courses)
- Any documentation of completed internships or relevant professional experience
- A copy of the thesis or a summary in German, if required by the foreign degree program
- Proof of sufficient German language proficiency (language certification – minimum language level B2; for the “Speech-Language Pathology” program, minimum C1)
- A copy of the payment confirmation for the recognition fee of € 150 (recognition fee), which must be paid in advance to CU Carinthia University. The invoice must be requested from the Rector’s Office at rektorat@cuas.at.
All documents must be submitted in their original form and translated into German by a court-certified interpreter (exception: proof of citizenship/passport, theses, and original documents in English).
The application, along with all the supporting documents listed above, must be submitted in person at the Rector’s Office of CU Carinthia University after scheduling an appointment.
Alexandra Kögler, B.Sc., M.Sc.
Coordinator for Recognition
of Foreign Qualifications+43 5 90500 7104
a.koegler(at)cuas.at
Information for Collective Recognition (Agencies)
Alexandra Kögler, B.Sc., M.Sc.
Coordinator for Recognition
of Foreign Qualifications+43 5 90500 7104
a.koegler(at)cuas.at