Master applications - FAQ

Firstly, their international focus. Most of the Master degree programmes are taught exclusively in English and students of the full-time Master programmes have the chance to spend their Applied Research and Training Semester abroad. IMC University of Applied Sciences Krems Master programmes focus on helping students to develop a range of skills. Specialised courses are also offered in selected professional topics, allowing students to take various career paths. This strong practical element enables students to take on executive positions around the world.

A Master degree programme aims to give postgraduate students the ability to independently apply academic expertise and methods. As a result, Master programmes provide the basis for students to extend, intensify and deepen their skill sets.

To qualify for an IMC University of Applied Sciences Krems Master degree programme, you need a Bachelor degree in a related subject or previous education with a similar focus. The individual degree programmes will provide details of any specific entry requirements. If necessary, you might have to pass supplementary examination to achieve the required level of qualification.

After you have submitted your completed application, we will notify you of receipt of your application by e-mail. Only your complete application file (incl. translated and legalised documents) will be verified individually by the academic board according to the entry requirements. We will inform you by e-mail whether you comply with the entry requirements. If you fulfill the entry requirements, you will be invited to take part in the admissions procedure.

An assessment of the contents of your previous Bachelor degree might reveal that you need to sit supplementary examinations in order to participate effectively in a particular Master programme. Supplementary examinations are a way of ensuring that you have achieved the required level of knowledge. The degree programme director and the academic board decide whether any such examinations are required. Evidence that you have passed the necessary supplementary examinations (including any resits) must be provided by the end of the first semester of study, otherwise you will be excluded from the programme. 

Detailed information on Austrian visa and residence requirements can be found on the Austrian Academic Exchange Service (OeAD) website (http://www.oead.ac.at).

The letter of motivation is your opportunity to explain the personal reasons behind your decision to apply for a particular degree programme. You should write this in your selected programme’s language of instruction.

IMC University of Applied Sciences Krems Master degree programmes last for two years.

In principle, yes. If you wish to apply for direct entry, you should submit the required application documents as well as all transcripts of record of prior studies before the application deadline so that the academic board can determine your appropriate entry level. You then have to complete the standard admissions procedure. Your request for direct entry should be made in the field my comments with a your online application. Please note that direct entry is only possible if sufficient places are available on the degree programme.

Yes. The harmonisation of the European higher education system has enhanced transparency, and made it easier for students to switch between regular universities and universities of applied sciences.

• International comparability
  Two-tier Bachelor and Master degree programmes are firmly established and recognised in over 80% of countries worldwide. As part of the Bologna Process, 46 European countries agreed to adopt the three-tier system Bachelor–Master–Ph.D. system by 2010.
  By completing a Master programme at the IMC University of Applied Sciences Krems, you are gaining an internationally comparable university degree.
• Updating and extending professional knowledge
  In the course of developing the Master degree programmes, we updated and reorganised the curriculum used in previous graduate degrees, giving additional weight to training in management and leadership skills.
  Taking a Master degree in the same subject as a completed graduate degree also gives you the opportunity to extend your job-related knowledge and obtain interdisciplinary qualifications.
• New specialisation
  In addition, you can complete a Master degree in a different e.g. business subject to gain new professional qualifications in business.

The exact dates for the admission procedure are listed on the respective  degree programme pages. If you know that you will not be able to attend an interview on certain dates, you have the possibility to make a remark in the online application system.

Compulsory attendance is a requirement at all Austrian universities of applied sciences. Master students may be absent for up to three times the number of contact hours per week for a particular course. This rule also applies to full-day blocked courses and block weeks.

Existing qualifications are recognised using the principle of course-related accreditation. At the beginning of every semester, students can apply to have previous courses accredited. Applications should include evidence of previous qualifications. The degree programme administration then reviews each application and decides whether to approve or reject the request.  Accreditation does not reduce the programme duration, but it does shorten the compulsory attendance time. You will receive further information on this at the beginning of your studies.

The Master examination is held in accordance with the IMC University of Applied Sciences Krems examination regulations as amended. The Master examination currently is includes the following parts:

1) Presentation and defence of the Master thesis
2)An oral examination focusing on a programme-related issue, which should be discussed with reference to core programme subjects, or an oral examination covering the candidate’s specialisations and their links to both the subject of the Master thesis and related programme contents.

If the requirement for a Master thesis has been waived following the accreditation of a previous university thesis, then the first part of the exam will involve a presentation and defence of the accredited thesis, and a discussion of the changes that have taken place since the thesis was written.

The Applied Research and Training Semester takes place in the third semester of the full-time Master programmes. Students complete a 15-week internship at a company, research institute, university or university of applied sciences in Austria or abroad. The internship centres on participating in an in-house project and documenting project-related activities in line with standard academic practice. Depending on their preferences, interns can choose to focus on a research-oriented or more practical topic. During the internship, students work on their Master thesis and a coaching seminar during the third semester provides assistance with the placement and writing the thesis.

Yes. Completing a Master degree entitles you to study for a Ph.D. at another university.

The staff at the Krems Tourist Office will be glad to provide you with information on accommodation in the town. You can contact them on +43 (0)2732 82676 or at willkommen@krems-tourismus.at.

There are two halls of residence, as well as a wide range of private housing options. For information on private accommodation, visit www.stik.at. General information on student accommodation can be found in the Accommodation and leisure section of our website.

For further information, check the academic year.