Nostrification

What is nostrification? »

Can all academic qualifications awarded by foreign universities be nostrified? » 

Is nostrification absolutely necessary in order to continue studying? »

Can an application for nostrification be submitted to any university in Austria? »  

How does the nostrification process work? »   

Which documents must be submitted? »

Are there costs involved in nostrification? »

Which legal provisions govern nostrification? »

Who can I contact about nostrification? »

 

 

What is nostrification? 

Nostrification refers to the process of recognising an academic qualification awarded by a foreign university as being equivalent to an academic qualification awarded by an Austrian university.

 

Can all academic qualifications awarded by foreign universities be nostrified?

No. Persons who apply to have an academic qualification nostrified must prove that nostrification is absolutely necessary in order for them to be able to practise their profession or continue their education. This proof must be based on a legal provision. Proof of employment or potential employment is irrelevant and will not be taken into account during the processing of the application.

 

Is nostrification absolutely necessary in order to continue studying? 

No. Nostrification is not necessary in order to be admitted to a study programme.

 

Can an application for nostrification be submitted to any university in Austria? 

No. Applications for nostrification can only be submitted to a university which offers a study programme equivalent to the one completed at the foreign university by the applicant.

 

How does the nostrification process work?

Once all the necessary documents have been submitted to the University of Innsbruck, the application is processed by the Director of Studies. The Director of Studies examines the curriculum in place at the point in time when the application is made in order to determine whether the result of the overall education given at the foreign university is equivalent to that given at the University of Innsbruck. The most important criteria are the content, scope and demands of the relevant Austrian study programme. As part of this process, the Director of Studies is entitled to test at random skills and knowledge in certain subjects or modules. If the Director of Studies concludes that the foreign qualification is fundamentally equivalent to the Austrian qualification and only a few skills are lacking for full equivalence, the applicant will be ordered by decree to complete certain examinations or to submit a thesis. The decree will contain an appropriate period of time during which this must be completed. During this period the applicant will be admitted to the University of Innsbruck as a non-degree student. The Director of Studies will officially confirm the nostrification by decree. This decree will indicate:

  • to which Austrian qualification the qualification achieved at a foreign university is equivalent, and
  •  which academic title the applicant is entitled to use as a result of the nostrification process instead of the academic title he/she was awarded by the foreign university.

 

The award of this decree will be recorded on the certificate which was submitted by the applicant as proof of the qualification awarded at a foreign university.


 

Which documents must be submitted?

  1. An application (in any form) naming the study programme in Austria that is considered equivalent to the study programme completed at a foreign university as well as the Austrian academic title the applicant wishes to receive.
  2. A short CV.
  3. A declaration stating that no application for nostrification has been made at another Austrian university. It is not permitted to submit an application for nostrification to more than one university at the same time or to withdraw an application for nostrification from one university and then submit such an application to another.
  4. Passport.
  5. Proof that nostrification is absolutely necessary for the applicant to be able to practise his/her profession or continue their education in Austria.
  6. Proof of nationality.
  7. Proof that the quality of the foreign university is equivalent to that of an Austrian university.
  8. Proof of the study programme(s) completed at the foreign university (e.g. curriculum, student handbook, transcript of records, certificates, theses, etc.);
  9. The original certificate confirming that the applicant has successfully completed the study programme at the foreign university or the original certificate confirming the award of the foreign academic title.
  10. Important: In order to be admitted to study at the university, students must present proof that their language skills in German are at level B2.

All documents must be submitted as originals or as certified copies. Certificates issued in a language other than German must be submitted together with authorised translations (by sworn translators in Austria). Documents proving the applicant’s academic qualification or the award of the foreign academic title must be submitted as originals (see point 9).



Are there costs involved in nostrification?

Yes. A one-off nostrification fee amounting to €150 must be paid in advance. If the applicant is required to complete examinations or a thesis, he/she must pay tuition fees until all of these requirements have been completed. No refund of the nostrification fee can be provided if the application is denied or withdrawn by the applicant.

 

Which legal provisions govern nostrification?

  • § 90 Universities Act 2002,
  • §§ 26, 27, 28 Statutes of the University of Innsbruck, section “study-law regulations”.

 

Whom can I contact about nostrification?  

Sandra Pilser
College Service Center
Examinations Office, Innrain 52d
Phone: +43 (0) 512/507-96078
Fax: +43 (0) 512/507-2962
E-Mail: Sandra.Pilser@uibk.ac.at 

Sandra Pilser
 

  • general information

  • advice on nostrification

  • information about the nostrification process

  • applications

 

 

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