FAQs

The Summer University

When and where does AEMS take place?

The summer university will be held from 15 July to 2 August 2024 in Vienna, Austria. After the end of the course, participants who chose the housing option have the opportunity to expand their stay in the student guesthouse by one week (for free) to have more time for sightseeing and experiencing one of the most liveable cities in the world.

Is there an online-only option?

AEMS will take place in person in Vienna only.

What is the language of this course?

All study and social activities are carried out in English. A good knowledge of the English language is therefore obligatory.

Do participants receive a certificate / ECTS at the end of the course?

Yes. After successful completion of the summer university, participants receive a certificate on 5 ECTS and an individual grade. You can use the certificate for accreditation at your home university. For accreditation, please get in touch with your home university beforehand.

How can I get the 5 ECTS accredited at my university?

Please get in touch with your home university about accreditation of the ECTS into your studies beforehand, to clarify if the course is accepted by your university. If you need help, please reach out to us, as we can provide respective documents.

Please keep in mind to consider the application deadlines mentioned below.

Participants

How many participants take part in the course?

We have between 50 and 60 participants each year.

Who is the program aimed at?

AEMS is open to students and professionals from various backgrounds with an interest in economy, finance and ecology. AEMS participants explore already existing alternatives to the current profit-oriented economy and get an in-depth understanding of complex interconnections.

What is the field of participants like?

The summer university is open to students and professionals of all fields. We have a strong international profile with participants from all over the world. In 2023, the participants came from 24 nations! So far, we have also covered a wide age-range: While the oldest participant was 83, the youngest was 18!

The majority of participants are currently studying at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, alongside a number of professionals from a range of business sectors. Some previous participants were former parliament members, bankers, employees of ministries but even artists, campaigners and business entrepreneurs. We aim to reach as many people as possible with the important content of the program and are thus open to everyone interested in the topic.

I am not a student anymore. Can I still attend the program?

Of course, you can! The summer university is open not only to students, but also professionals of various backgrounds with an interest in the topic. We want to reach as many people as possible with the great number of alternative ideas for our economy.

However, please note that the summer university is a full-time program taking place for the duration of three weeks. Continuous attendance is mandatory. It’s a very intense program. We recommend taking off the three weeks so you can concentrate solely on the program.

I am working full-time / working part-time alongside studying. Can I still attend the program?

The summer university is open not only to students, but also professionals of various backgrounds with an interest in the topic. We want to reach as many people as possible with the high number of alternative ideas for our economy.

I am Austrian, can I attend?

Of course, you can!

I have a disability or require special medical attention. How do I let you know about this?

We are committed to create an environment of equal opportunity and will strive to make all reasonable adjustments in order to enable students to undertake the program. If you have any prior questions, don’t hesitate to contact us at aems@oead.at

Application

How do I apply for AEMS?

Application will open in January 2024 on our homepage.

Please note that you will be asked to register for the website first. Enter your name and email-address and choose a password to complete this step. Afterwards, you need to fill in the application form for the AEMS Summer University.

When does application start and end?

Applications starts in January 2024 and is possible until 30 June 2024.
The application deadline for scholarships is 1 April, 2024!
For application, please keep your documents ready and register online via our application form.
EARLY BIRD: If you apply before 10 March 2024, you save EUR 200,- on the regular participation fee!

How long does it take for my application to be reviewed?

We check applications on a frequent basis and try to get back to every applicant as soon as possible. Please be patient, if we do not answer your application immediately.

Participation fee and payment

How much is the participation fee?

The participation fee for the three-week-course, including all program points, social activities, excursions and ticket for public transport in Vienna is EUR 1.390,-. Scholarship holders pay a reduced fee of EUR 590,-.

Do you offer any discounts?

Yes!

Bring-a-friend-offer: There is a special treat for our former participants of both summer universities: As an alumni of GBS or AEMS you can get one week in our student residence in Vienna summer for free, if somebody joins upon your recommendation! The applicant only needs to enter your name in the application form. More details here.

Early Bird: If you apply before 10 March 2024, you save EUR 200,- on the regular participation fee!

What is included in the participation fee?

The program fee includes all parts of the program, costs related to lecture-related activities, light refreshments during the lectures, and tickets for the public transport system in Vienna.

Accommodation in a student guesthouse for 3 weeks is available for an additional EUR 200,- and also includes one optional extra-week after the end of the summer university for you to make the most of your stay in Vienna and visit to Austria.

Costs related to your trip to Vienna (e.g. flight, visa expenses), food and individual evening activities are on you. You can find more information on what’s included here.

What is NOT included in the fee?

All costs related to your trip to Vienna, including Visa expenses, if needed
Costs related to health and household insurance
Food and laundry during your stay in Vienna

You can find more information on what’s included here.

Can I pay by credit card or paypal?

Yes, it’s possible to pay the participation fee via credit card, paypal, or bank transfer.

Where can I find the Terms and Conditions?

Please read our General Terms and Conditions before applying.

Scholarships

Do you offer scholarships?

Yes, we offer scholarships for students who cannot afford the full course fee but have excellent qualifications. The application deadline for scholarships is 1 April 2024.

Who is eligible for a scholarship?

We offer a limited number of scholarships to outstanding applicants in need of financial aid. The requirements for a scholarship are:

Student
Financial need
Motivation letter
Very good English knowledge
A-level

How can I apply for a scholarship when I am studying at a partner university of AEMS?

Students from our partner universities can apply for a scholarship of the respective university – find the list of partners offering scholarships here. If you study at one of our partners and would like to apply for their scholarship spot, please fill in the name of your university in the application form in the field “scholarship reference”.

When will I be informed of my scholarship status?

Scholarship recipients will be informed after the end of the application period, which ends 1 April 2024. Exceptions are outstanding applicants who need to apply for a visa to attend the AEMS, who will be notified earlier.

Travel and accommodation

Do you provide funds for my travels?

Travel costs are not included in the participation fee. However, we recommend to have a look at OeAD GmbH, who provides some grants for research and staff mobility (such as CEEPUS, Erasmus, etc.).

Do I need a visa and do you provide an invitation letter?

It depends on your country, whether you need a visa for Austria or not. Please check with the Austrian Embassy in your country. We will support your visa application by providing an invitation letter as soon as you’re successfully enrolled in the program after payment of the participation fee.

Please note that it is the student’s obligation to take care of visa arrangements for entry and the duration of their stay in Austria.

Do you provide accommodation in Vienna?

Yes, optional accommodation in Vienna is available for an extra EUR 200,-. The fee includes accommodation in a student guesthouse for the entire program duration of 3 weeks, plus an additional free week after the summer university to make the most of your stay in Vienna! Please find more info here.

Do I have to move into the student guesthouse?

Moving into the guesthouse is not obligatory for participating in the summer university. If you’re already living in Vienna, you can of course take part in the program from your own home.

Where do I pick-up my room key?

More information on how to receive the key for your room in the student guesthouse will be sent out after your successful program enrolment.

Do you provide transport from the train station/airport?

Transport from the train station/airport is not provided. More information on how to receive the key for your room will be sent out after your successful program enrolment. When picking up your key, you will also receive a ticket for the public transport system in Vienna.