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FAQs
When and where does AEMS take place?
The summer university will be held from July 17 to August 4, 2023 in Vienna, Austria. After the official course, every participant has the possibility 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 it going to be in person or virtual in 2023?
The AEMS will take place physically – in person – in Vienna.
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. The course takes place from July 17 to August 4, 2023.
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 2022, the 46 participants came from 24 nations – and all ages: While the oldest participant was 65, the youngest was 19!
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 very open to everyone interested in the topic.
What is the language of this course?
All study and social activities are carried out in English. A certain level of 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 do I apply for AEMS?
Follow this link to the application form.
Please note that you will be asked to register for the website first. Enter your name and mail-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 open in January and remain open until June 30st, 2023.
For application, please keep your documents ready and register online via our application form.
Do you provide accommodation in Vienna?
Yes. Accommodation in an OeAD-Guesthouse is also included in the program fee, please find more info here.
Do I have to move into the 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. However, our participants enjoy the possibility of getting to know each other better as well as further discussing the topics of the course through living in a shared community.
Do I need a visa and do you provide an invitation letter?
It depends on your country of residence, 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 you an invitation letter as soon as you’re successfully enrolled in the program through the 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. For information about the visa requirements check the OeAD website.
How much is the participation fee?
The participation fee for the three-week-course, including accommodation for four weeks, social activities, excursions and ticket for public transport in Vienna is EUR 1.390,-. Scholarship holders pay a reduced fee of EUR 490,-.
What is included in the participation fee?
The program fee includes all parts of the program as well as accommodation, costs related to lecture-related activities, light refreshments during the lectures, and tickets for the public transport system in Vienna.
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.
Do you offer scholarships?
Yes, we offer scholarships for outstanding applicants who cannot afford the full course fee but have excellent qualifications.
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:
- Financial need
- Motivation letter
- Very good English knowledge
- A-level
Scholarship-holders need to hand in a follow-up report about their experience and learnings in AEMS after participation. Detailed information will be forwarded after acceptance.
When will I be informed of my scholarship status?
Applications are checked regularly and nomination mails are sent out arount the 15th of every month.
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.
I am working full-time / working part-time alongside studying. Can I still attend the program?
The summer university is open to not only students, but also professionals of various backgrounds. We want to reach as many people as possible with the many 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.
I am Austrian, can I attend?
Of course you can! The course in for national and international students and professionals.
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
Who is the organizer of AEMS and is it officially accredited by a specific organization?
AEMS is an officially accredited university course at BOKU University Vienna.
The program is a collaboration-project between OeAD student housing (organizer), BOKU University and the Economy for the Common Good. Find more information here.
Does OeAD student housing offer any other summer universities?
We also offer the Green.Building.Solutions. (GBS) Summer University. The program attracts like-minded changemakers and future green builders who aspire to make the world a better place by implementing the gained knowledge in their future careers. It is relevant to students and professionals alike in the fields of civil, ecological engineering, as well as architecture, land management and/or equivalent subjects at a domestic or foreign university. The course takes place from July 15 to August 6, 2023.