Gruppe von Studierenden steht auf einer Brücke

Exchange semesters at IMC Krems

We have a network of partner universities all over the world. Is yours one of them? If the answer is yes, you can apply to your university for an exchange placement in Krems.

An exchange semester is definitely a rewarding experience, and you’re bound to feel at home here in Krems – a town in the picturesque Wachau region, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site. You can choose to spend one or two semesters studying at our university.

Studying in the heart of Europe

Young people from all over the world study at IMC Krems. There’s also a thriving exchange community – every year, numerous students from our partner universities come to Krems for an exchange semester.

And if you can’t speak German, don’t worry – we offer a wide range of English-language courses. In fact, almost half of our degree programmes are taught in English.

There's also lots to discover in your free time. Surrounded by hillside vineyards, Krems is in an ideal location on the banks of the Danube. Vienna, the nation’s capital, is just an hour away by train. But that’s not all: spectacular mountain scenery, major European cities and beautiful lakes – all this and more are only a short train ride away from Krems.

With this in mind: Servus – and welcome to Krems!

Application process

Depending on the agreement we have with your university, you can spend either one or two semesters as an exchange student at IMC Krems.

  1. 1

    1. Good to know

    At our university, the academic year is split into two semesters.

    • Winter semester: mid-September until the end of January
    • Summer semester: from the middle of February until the end of June

    You can find detailed information about the start of your studies in the download centre.

  2. 2

    2. Nomination

    Your home university sends us details of the nominated exchange students before the application deadline.

    Application deadlines:

    • For the next winter semester: 1 May
    • For the next summer semester: 1 November
  3. 3

    3. Online application

    After you have been nominated by your home university, you will receive an e-mail with a link to our online application system, so you can apply for an exchange semester here in Krems.

  4. 4

    4. Helpful information before arrival

    Once your application has been accepted, we will send you useful information about travelling to Krems, accommodation, insurance and much more besides. You can also find the answers to many of your questions before you travel in our International Student Guide. If you need any further information, feel free to get in touch with our International Welcome Center.

  5. 5

    5. Course selection

    Next, we will send you a login for our internal student platform, where you can put together your timetable before you begin your studies. Details of the available courses can be found in our course selection overview.

  6. 6. Note: What can you do if your university doesn’t have a partnership agreement with us?

    Students from higher education institutions that are not IMC Krems partners are known as free movers. We may be able to find a solution specifically for you, so please send us your application. You can contact our International Welcome Center Team for more information.

Financial support for your exchange semester: scholarships and grants

A stay abroad is a great way to collect valuable experience for the future. But you also need to bear in mind the additional costs.

We expect that your home university will provide you with information about financial support programmes. Just to make sure you have all the details you need, we have put together a brief introduction to the scholarships and grants which might be available for your exchange semester at IMC Krems.

Erasmus+

If you study at one of our European partner universities and are planning an exchange semester at IMC Krems, you can apply for an Erasmus+ grant. For more information, please contact the international office at your home university, as the sending institution is responsible for handling the application.

The Erasmus+ programme is funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are, however, those of IMC Krems only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or OeAD-GmbH. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

Logo Erasmus+

CEEPUS

The Central European Exchange Programme for University Studies (CEEPUS) is an EU funding initiative that enables you to live and study in a particular location for a certain period of time, so you can unlock your full potential without having to worry about the costs.

CEEPUS promotes mobility within networks of faculties or networks. You can contact the national CEEPUS office in Vienna for further information.

Ernst Mach Grant

This programme is aimed at bachelor and master students from partner universities outside Europe who would like to study at an Austrian university of applied sciences. Visit the Austrian Agency for Education and Internationalisation (OeAD) website for details of the funding period and closing dates for applications.

Scholarship and grant database

The Austrian scholarships and research grants database provides a comprehensive overview of the various funding options for international students.

Selecting courses: putting together your timetable

Overview

If you want to spend an exchange semester at our university, you can choose to attend any courses you like the look of and put together your own timetable. This means you can adapt your learning goals in line with your degree programme, in order to meet the requirements of your home university as effectively as possible.

We offer bachelor and master degree programmes taught in German and English.

Language proficiency

You need level B1-B2 English skills if you want to attend courses on a degree programme taught in English. For courses on German-language degree programmes, you must have achieved at least level C1 proficiency in German. You can upload language certificates or other proof of language proficiency during the online application process.

Available courses

Please note that if you are studying in Krems during the winter semester, you can choose courses from semesters 1, 3 and 5; during the summer semester you can attend courses from semesters 2, 4 and 6. Exchange students can also take additional courses such as German for beginners, or courses on the subject of cross-cultural skills.

Below you can find an overview of the English-language courses offered at IMC Krems, including course descriptions and details of ECTS credits.

Remember that this is just an overview of our degree programmes. The final version of the course prospectus for incoming students at IMC Krems will be available in mid-August for the winter semester and in mid-January for the summer semester. Available places are allocated on a first come, first served basis. We will send you further information by e-mail in good time before the start of your semester abroad.

Important information

If you would like to attend courses on Applied Chemistry (bachelor)Medical and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology (bachelor and master) and Informatics (bachelor), please contact us directly right at the start of the application process. If you select courses from these degree programmes, you must provide an up-to-date results transcript and consult the programme director concerned.

Click here to access the curriculum of the Applied Chemistry bachelor degree programme: curriculum of Applied Chemistry

Click here to access the curriculum of the Business Administration bachelor degree programme: curriculum of Business Administration

Click here to access the curriculum of the Digital Business Innovation and Transformation master degree programme: curriculum of  Digital Business Innovation and Transformation (part-time)

Click here to access the curriculum of the Informatics  bachelor degree programme: curriculum of Informatics

Click here to access the curriculum of theInternational Business Management bachelor degree programme: curriculum of International Business Management

Click here to access the curriculum of the International Wine Business bachelor degree programme: curriculum of International Wine Business

Click here to access the curriculum of the Medical and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology bachelor degree programme: curriculum of Medical and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology

Click here to access the curriculum of the Tourism and Leisure Management full-time bachelor degree programme: curriculum of Tourism and Leisure Management (full-time)

Click here to access the curriculum of the Tourism and Leisure Management part-time bachelor degree programme: curriculum of Tourism and Leisure Management (part-time)

Click here to access the curriculum of the International Business and Economic Diplomacy part-time master degree programme: curriculum of International Business and Economic Diplomacy (part-time)

Click here to access the curriculum of the Marketing master degree programme: curriculum of Marketing

Click here to access the curriculum of the Medical and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology master degree programme: curriculum of Medical and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology

Additional Courses for Exchange Students

We offer additional courses for our exchange students. German courses or courses on intercultural competence broaden the knowledge transfer and experience during the exchange semester.

The semester course content will be broken down into two main segments:

  • Theory: “The Big Picture” (history, economy, political and cultural parameters)
  • Practice: How to successfully communicate / do business in the colorful & diverse European environment

Upon completion of the course the students will be able to:

  • describe the major stages of historical, political and geo-political development of Austria and Europe
  • identify the major “European players” (states, inter-governmental organizations, etc.) in a global context 
  • define current economic challenges, opportunities and threats in Austria and Europe
  • reflect on Austria’s and Europe’s role in the world
  • identify opportunities the European Union offers individuals and businesses 
  • define fundamental elements and players of the Austrian political and business world 
  • describe particularities of the Austrian and European business sector and identify basic features of the business etiquette in Austria and Europe (“Do’s & Don’ts”) 
  • recognize fundamental features of Austria’s general culture and identity
  • consider and evaluate criteria for starting a business in Europe

The semester course content will be broken down into two main segments:

  • Interactive working methods (e.g. Design Thinking, Storytelling)
  • Best practice cases in tourism with a focus on the introduction of new products in tourism, digitization, regional development and niche tourism

Upon completion of the course, the students will be able to:

  • define fundamental elements for the introduction of a new product on the tourism market
  • reflect on the challenges and opportunities of digitisation in tourism
  • recognise the constant need for tourism regions to adopt to external changes in the environment and develop their offers
  • identify sectors of niche tourism and recognise the necessity for clear target groups
  • apply different creative working methods like design thinking and storytelling
  • consider learnings from best practice cases in tourism and use them for personal work experiences

This class presents contemporary and important terms and concepts of sustainable development, both in society and business, and to what extent such development drives innovation – or whether innovation drives sustainability? We will look into the idea of social as well as technological innovation and ask, which of these two approaches might be more important in contributing to the ongoing global transformation. International examples of applied sustainable business models, such as circular economy, address the question of how organizations can strategically and efficiently accommodate sustainability and innovation. Next to learning about theoretical concepts students will also learn about guidelines, methods and tools for practical application of the theoretical knowledge in a business context.

After completing this class students are capable of

  • explaining basic concepts, objectives, and important terminology of sustainable development
  • understanding and distinguishing technological from social innovation
  • illustrating the significance and application of sustainable development in a business context

This course takes place during the Welcome Week and is compulsory for all exchange students.

The course is designed to combine various teaching approaches: A lecture-style introduction will be followed by team-building activities (workshops, first acquaintance of incoming students and their local buddies) which sharpens intercultural awareness among the participants. An excursion will allow students to experience the physical, cultural and social environment of their host region.

This course teaches the basics of the German language.

This course deepens existing knowledge of German.

2 women sit side by side

Always here for you: the International Welcome Center

Got a ton of questions? There’s only one place to go. The International Welcome Center is here to help you throughout your time in Krems.

Find out more

Getting off to a good start in Krems

If you've just arrived here in Krems, then our Buddy System and Welcome Days have been specially designed for you.

Your personal buddy in Krems

By the way: Every exchange student is allocated a buddy, a student who will be your contact during your time in Krems. This system is designed to help you settle in more easily, and buddies often go on to become lifelong friends.

You'll find useful tips to help you get up and running in the student union’s Survival Guide: general information about our university, and the cities of Krems and Vienna.

Events for your arrival

At the beginning of the semester, we organise a colourful programme for new students: Meet & Greet, city tours of Krems, team building, intercultural workshops and excursions.

The Erasmus Students Network 

And after you've started your studies, you'll still be well served: the Erasmus Students Network (ESN) in Krems, and the International Welcome Center are committed to providing the best possible support for our international students. Whether it's excursions, going out and partying or games evenings – your calendar will very quickly be filled with activities.

ESN KREMS

Internationale Studierende - 3 Studierende machen ein Selfie neben der Donau
Internationale Studierende - 2 Studierende fahren neben der Donau mit dem Rad
Internationale Studierende - Studierende machen Übungen im Stadtpark

Get the most out of your exchange semester

There’s so much discover if you spend a semester studying at our university. We always encourage our international students to make the most of Krems’ unique location and use their free time for outings, trips and excursions.

And there’s plenty to see: located in the heart of Europe, Krems is just 70km away from the Austrian capital Vienna.

Experiences of Exchange Students at IMC Krems

Exchange students who have spent one or two semesters at IMC Krems share their experiences and impressions. Here you can read more about their adventures and student life in Krems.

Find out more
Aerial view of krems

Top ten Krems tips

The city is full of fascinating spots and places to spend your free time. A list of things that should be on everybody's to-do list.

Find out more

Contact us

The International Welcome Center is located at the university's IMC Gozzoburg site.

If you have any questions, just send us an e-mail to welcome(at)fh-krems.ac.at

 

International Relations


  • Doris Molnar
    Deputy Head of International Relations / International Welcome Center...
  • Bianca Braun, BA
    Assistant / International Welcome Center