University of Salzburg

The University of Salzburg dates back to 1619. In 1962, the university was reestablished and has since founded a number of new faculties such as natural and social sciences.

Today, 30% of the university is made up of international students, mostly from Germany, America and Asia, as well as European Erasmus students. The University has also been recently named as one of the top ten places in Europe to do an exchange program in!

School’s Main Website | International / Exchange Student Website

GPA Requirement:

N/A

Language of Instruction:

While most courses are taught in German, there is also a wide variety of English courses, particularly in the legal and political science fields. As most courses in English are specially catered for Exchange students, you can expect a lighter workload as compared to the courses in German.

Courses:

For the course catalogue offered by the different faculties, refer to the PLUSonline platform.  You can also search for courses taught in English here.

Language Courses:

The University offers German Language courses at a price of € 20.00 per semester hour, up to a maximum of € 120.00 per semester.

The Department of German Language and Literature offers German classes, held during the semester, to all interested international and exchange students. Exchange students will receive an email from the International Relations Office that will allow them to register for the German classes. Interested students should register for the course by 5 September (winter semester) or 5 February (summer semester) using the online registration form, otherwise they will be placed on a waiting list. Students will then have to take a placement test held during the first week of October to officially register for the class. If you are unable to make it for the test, please consult with a teacher to see if you can set a different date to take the test. PLUSonline registration is not possible as you have to take the placement test first.

Courses are very intensive and have a class size of up to 60 students. You will earn 9ECTS for participation. To pass the course, you must attend at least 80% of classes and actively participate in class. You will be graded based on a mid-semester and final exam, as well as class participation.

The Language Centre of Salzburg University also offers intensive German courses during 2 periods: before the beginning of the winter semester (starting in mid-September) and also during the semester. Registration for classes can only be done through appointment with the office of Language Centre during office hours, during which you will also take a short placement test.

Refer to this page for more information.

Courses credit & course load:

Within Europe, credits are counted in ECTS where 1 credit equates to one-hour work per week. As most classes in Salzburg are worth between 2-5 ECTS, you may need to take up to ten courses to get to your required amount of units. Some modules run for the entire semester but most either run for the first or last month only.

Grading System:

In Austria you will be graded on a five- point scale whereby 1 is the highest mark and 5 is a fail.

Course Registration:

Course registration may seem confusing and overwhelming at first, but it really is simple following this list:

1. After registering at the Student Services Centre, you will be given a new student number that will be the official number used for everything. Although your classes are free, the Austrian government requires you to pay a €18.70 fee to apply for the Austrian Student Union – you will also get liability insurance through this.
    
2. Once the payment is approved after 5 working days, your PlusOnline will automatically allow you to choose your classes. Use this link to search for classes. Although the site is in German, you just need to search for classes in English and the semester you will be studying in. A list of courses and course information will then be given.
    
3. On PlusOnline, choose “Course Registration”, then “Operation: Course Registration”. Find the classes you wish to take from the list and “register” on the top right hand corner.

Flying Chalks’ tips:

• If you are placed on the waiting list, you will automatically secure a place when a student drops out of the class. If not, try emailing the lecturer taking the course.
• If you need extra credits at the end of the semester, most professors will allow you to write a paper worth however many credits you need (roughly 3 pages = 1 ECTS)
• Should you have some basic proficiency in the German language, try taking one class in the local language. It is a great platform for you to meet and interact with local students, all under the guidance of professors who are usually understanding of your limited language capability.
• If you are not able to finish your assignment in time, you can request for a deadline extension from your professors. They understand that international students are here to experience a new culture and to travel around. 

Attendance Policy:

The general rule is that apart from lectures (which have optional attendance), attendance is compulsory and also dependent on your lecturers. Should you not attend enough classes, as dictated by the relevant attendance policy, you may end up failing the subject. Despite this, compulsory attendance is not strictly enforced in most classes. 

The University of Salzburg is spread over four different campuses throughout the city. The Law and Theology departments are located right in the centre of the Old Town and are beautifully old. Unipark, the department for American, English and German studies, is right on the edge of the Old Town in a new modern building. Finally, the Natural Sciences department is further out in Salzburg Süd.

Campus Map

The campus map can be found here.

Selected Facilities:

Libraries: The university has seven libraries in total: the main, social sciences, natural sciences, law, sport and exercise sciences, achieves and Unipark libraries. These are all located in the corresponding faculty buildings. More information can be found here!

• Lockers: You will be required to leave your bags in the library lockers before entering the library. Be sure to have a 1 or 2€ coin for the deposit.
• Study Rooms: Some libraries, such as that at Unipark, offer private study rooms. These can be booked by writing your name on the timetable found outside the room. For best chances, book a few days in advance.
• Printing: The libraries all offer printing and photocopying for a small fee. Do note that the university cards used for printing can only be loaded using Austrian bank cards.

Lockers: In UniPark, as you walk in you will find a wall of lockers in various sizes. These require a 1 or 2€ deposit for the key, which you will be refunded upon retrieving your items. This can be particularly useful for when you first arrive with all of your suitcases.

Gym: The university has a gym in Salzburg Süd above Merkur (supermarket). There is a wide range of equipment and weights to use, exercise classes to attend, as well as a sauna to enjoy. A one-off ticket costs 5€. If you plan on going regularly, it may be more worth it to buy a semester or yearly pass, which can range in price from 70-165€.

​Food on Campus:

Uni Park Rooftop: On the 4^th floor lies a little café offering a range of drinks, foods and cakes that can be consumed either indoors or outside on their massive bean bags. You will enjoy a 360-degree view of Salzburg from here too, which is pretty sensational.

Mensen/Mensa: Mensa is the university cafeteria, with locations in the law, natural sciences, romance studies and humanities/communication sciences faculties. To be eligible for a discount, present your student card to the Student Union (OH Salzburg Kaifasse 28/2 Salzburg) to receive your complimentary Mensa discount card.

Frei:Kost: Every second week on a Tuesday, the student union offers lunch for all students where you can pay whatever amount you feel is appropriate, or even not pay at all if you are not satisfied. To see when and where it is, keep an eye on the OH Salzburg Facebook page - a new event is created each fortnight that informs students of food on offer.

Flying Chalks’ tip: Wednesday is Student Day in Salzburg where there are usually some great offers on anything from food to shopping all around the city. A website was created to combine all of these offers, ensuring you are kept up to date about how to save your money!

Campus Transportation:

As all four campuses have only one or two buildings each, you can easily get around on foot. If you are travelling between campuses, the following are the closest bus stops:

• Natural Sciences Faculty: Faisauergasse (lines 3, 8)
• Unipark:  Justizgebäude (lines 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 25)
• Law & Theology: Rathaus (lines 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10) or Ferdinand-Hanusch-Platz (lines 1, 6, 7, 8, 10)

Life in Salzburg is the perfect combination of laidback yet busy. There is a great café culture, and many students will meet with their friends at a café or restaurant for a few hours between classes. Most weekends, people will either go on short holidays or day-trips.

Salzburg is the perfect central European location and apart from Switzerland, all the surrounding countries are much, much cheaper than Austria. The best nearby places to travel to are Prague, Munich, Lucerne and Zurich, Budapest, Bled, Ljubljana and Vienna.

Orientation program:

Orientation week happens one week before official classes begin. The first thing for you to do is pick up a welcome package from the International Office and register at the Student Service Centre. Orientation activities should include:

• An official welcome
• Free lunch and opportunity to make friends
• Guided city tour
• Lessons on how to use the university facilities (printing, IT Services, PlusOnline and Blackboard)
• Tours of each faculty building
• Presentation by the Erasmus Student Network (ESN) and opportunity to sign up
• Information on German language courses
• Tour of the fortress/castle provided by ESN followed by beer-tasting at the Augustiner Brewery

Buddy Program:

After receiving your admission email to the university, you will be sent an email asking if you wish to partake in the buddy program. To apply, fill up the attached form. An email with then be sent notifying you of your new local Austrian Buddy, whom you contact personally for a meet up.

Student Clubs:

Unfortunately, student clubs aren’t very popular at the University of Salzburg, with only three in total. These are most predominantly made up of local students, though they are all very welcoming of international students as well.

• Debating Society (RedeSalz): The debating society holds weekly debates at 7pm on Monday nights at Unipark SR2.008. While no experience is necessary, they do recommend that you email them at Debattierclub.salzburg@afa.at before coming if you do not speak German. 
• Öh Soccer Society: The soccer club meets up on Monday nights (8-10pm) at the WRG (Joself-Preis Allee, 5). You can have a friendly game of soccer and improve your skills during these sessions.
• Club Francophone: The French-language club meets on a biweekly basis to interact in French or watch a movie and eat some delicious French food.

For more information on student clubs, click here!

University Events:

To stay updated on university events, do look out for the emails sent by the school.

• Workshops & Conferences: Throughout the semester, each department holds events and classes with international guest lecturers and speakers. These events are a great place for learning and networking.
• International Student Trip: The International Office holds two day tours of Hallstatt and the Werfen Ice Caves late in most semesters. The price is significantly cheaper than if you were to go on your own.

For other events such as Erasmus holidays or daytrips, follow ESN Salzburg and Student EuroTrips on Facebook. Both pages are updated very regularly. Be sure to buy your tickets early to enjoy the early bird discount for both companies!

• ESN Salzburg: The Erasmus Student Network (applies to exchange students also) organizes holidays, dinners and day-trips for international students at cheap prices. These are a great way to meet new people and spend a day. During Orientation Week, they will also offer trips up to the Salzburg Castle.
• Student EuroTrips: Student EuroTrips offers regular weekend holidays to all of Europe, including places surrounding and in Salzburg. Book three weeks in advance to get an early-bird discount. 

The town of Salzburg is fairly small, with about 146,000 residents. However, the place is frequented by many tourists, especially popular amongst Chinese and Americans. The Old Town of the city is a stunning area with beautiful old buildings that now houses boutiques and second-hand stores. There are also a number of museums and churches.

For food:

Flying Chalks’ recommendations:

Restaurants

• L’Osterria: Located in the New Town, L’Osterria is an absolute favourite among students. The Italian restaurant offers a range of pastas and salads, with their pizzas being the most popular. For just 7.50-11€, you can get what is probably the biggest pizza you have ever seen.
   
• Indigo: Indigo is a chain restaurant offering a variety of Indian foods and sushi. They have four restaurants in Salzburg: Salzburg Süd, Europark, Old Town and Mirabellll. Each day, different types of soup and curries are offered, and are served with rice or noodles.

Flying Chalks’ tip: Show your student card for a 10% discount and do note that their food can be quite spicy.
 

• Real 80’s: Situated close to Uni Park is Real 80’s, a Chinese restaurant that is very popular for people seeking a quick lunch. Here you will find the cheapest food in Salzburg, from sushi, salads and soups.
   
• Sacher Cafe: Located in the Sacher Hotel, Sacher Café offers a range of freshly made cakes and coffees. As it is a rather posh café, do make sure you are dressed appropriately! The famous sacher-torte (chocolate cake with a layer of jam) originated here and has since taken over the world.
   
• Café Tomaselli: Founded in 1703, the Tomaselli is in the centre of the old town and was a favourite of Mozart. It has kept the classy interiors and makes for a very unique dining experience. Tomaselli offers an extensive coffee menu and you will find waitresses coming around with cake displays for you to choose from. It is expensive, but highly recommended to visit it at least once!

Local Foods & Beverages

• Weiner Schnitzel: Weiner Schnitzel is Austria’s national dish. It is a cut of veal or pork, covered in bread crumbs and served with lemon and usually a side of chips or salad.
   
• Leberkase: Leberkase is very similar to meatloaf and typically served in bread. The name translates to liver cheese; however neither of these ingredients is in it. You can find this in all supermarkets and most food vans, but the best is from Billa and will cost you around 1.50€.
   
• Manner Wafers: One of Austrians greatest exports, Manner’s Wafers are wafer biscuits filled with hazelnut cream and are absolutely delicious. They are reasonably expensive but are of high quality and are very important to Austrians.
   
• Almdudler: Almdudler is quintessentially Austrian and is the most refreshing drink you will ever have. While the non-alcoholic drink is made from elderflower and tastes very different to anything else, you are sure to love it.
   
• Mozartkugel: Mozart bon-bon is a chocolate item made of marzipan, nougat and pistachio covered in dark chocolate and dates back to the late 1800’s from Salzburg. There are many different types of it but are highly similar with one another. These days, it is mainly popular amongst tourists rather than locals but is definitely an acquired taste where you will either love it or hate it – there is no in-between!

For nightlife and entertainment:

Being a small city, the nightlife in Salzburg isn’t the best. However, there are several places that are frequented by students:

• Half Moon: The most popular club is Half Moon, as it is one of the only ones with free entry. The club itself is very small and there is a 1€ fee for your coats.
   
• Watzmann: The Watzmann is a ‘cultbar’, with a lounge and incredible garden filled with palm trees. As it generally attracts an older crowd, Watzmann is a nice place to go for a more relaxed evening at a bar rather than a club. Watzmann works in collaboration with the university, so you may find yourself getting free or discounted drinks here.
   
• Republic: Restaurant by day, nightclub by night, Republic is in a central location and offers a range of dishes from breakfast to dinner.
   
• Irish Pubs: The two main Irish pubs, Murphy’s Law and Shamrock, are located on the edge of the Old Town and are very popular with students. The prices are relatively cheap for Austria and there is a great informal atmosphere, especially when there are sport matches on. The Irish Pubs are most commonly enjoyed in the afternoon and before a night out.
   
• Augustiner: The Augustiner is a typical Austrian beer garden, similar to those made famous in Munich by Oktoberfest and is the largest beer garden in Austria. You can even get small bites to accompany your beer – making it the perfect spot no matter what the time of day it is!

For daily necessities and groceries:

Supermarkets are a-plenty in Salzburg. All supermarkets close at 7pm, from Monday-Friday, except Hofer which is open until 8pm. On Saturdays, supermarkets all close at 6pm. Spar at the Hauptbahnhof (main train station) is the only supermarket opened on Sundays or public holidays.

• Hofer: Hofer is the Austrian version of Germany’s Aldi, offering the same store layout and products. It is the cheapest supermarket in Austria. However, the products offered are very limited and queue times are often longer than 10 minutes. You also cannot pay with VISA or MasterCard, but is still most popular amongst students.
   
• Merkur: Merkur is the best place for fresh produce, and they have a very large meat section. Although more expensive, many products have its prices reduced by 50% if you go in the afternoons.
   
• Billa and Spar: Billa and Spar are the two more expensive supermarkets in Austria, but offers convenience with its stores all over the city. They have the biggest variety of products and are good places to pick up things not available in Hofer.

Flying Chalks’ recommendation:

• Kaufland is a huge supermarket just across the border in Germany. Prices in Kaufland are about 30% cheaper than in Austria, and where meat can be up to 70% cheaper. It is well worth taking the bus there once a month to stock up.
• A bus trip will cost €2.20 return and takes around 15 minutes. Bus 24 leaves from Hanuschplatz every 20 minutes on weekdays and takes you directly outside the door of Kaufland in the German town of Freillassing.

Supermarkets Near Campus:

• Natural Sciences Faculty: Hofer, Spar; Friedensstraße 4; 1.1km
• UniPark: Spar; Kaigasse 28-30, 400m; Billa, Kaigasse 32; 450m
• Law and Theology: Spar; Getereidgeasse 9; 220m.

For shopping:

Salzburg has several shopping centers located all around the city.

• Arena 1: Arena 1 is a small mall in Salzburg Süd with brands such as H&M, Tally Weil and Desigual. Most sale products from H&M stores around Salzburg come to Arena 1 so it is great for getting a bargain.
   
• Europark: Europark is in the North of Salzburg, a 15 minute bus ride on either bus 1 or 22. Europark is the largest shopping centre in Salzburg offering brands like H&M, Bershka, Zara, C&A and Peak & Cloppenburg.
   
• Ikea: Ikea is located right behind Europark, offering everything you will need for your home at cheap prices. It is the best place to go for setting up your apartment, with bedding, towels and kitchenware all in one spot.
   
• Designer Outlet Salzburg: This outlet mall is located very close to the airport, out of town, but very close to Europark. You will find big brands like Michael Kors, Hugo Boss and Calvin Klein, however prices can still be very high and start around €50. Fortunately, Nike is relatively cheap and you will find sneakers from €20!

For leisure:

Apart from all the above, you can check out the following places and activities during your free time!

• Wine Market: Wine Markets are held outside Mirabell Gardens on weekends and is a great chance for you to try some local wine. A glass of wine usually costs around 2€, along with a 1-2€ deposit for the wineglass which you will get back upon returning it.
   
• Mozart Concert: Mozart concerts are held regularly in Mirabell castle and offer a wonderful opportunity to enter the gorgeous building. Usually, a quartet plays to a small crowd of 100 people for around 2 hours, playing songs from a range of classical composers. A student ticket costs 20€.
   
• Untersberg: Untersberg is Salzburg’s highest mountain, offering incredible views over Salzburg and into Germany. While taking a cable-car to the top is the most efficient way, you can also get to the peak via hiking which will take around 7 hours on mostly even paths.
   
• Castle: A tour of the castle is essential – after all it is the main tourist point of Salzburg. Inside you will find a maze of little rooms and learn about how each king would extend the castle and how modern plumbing was invented here. On the very top of the castle is a great viewing point which offers insanely beautiful sunset views!
   
• Mirabell Gardens and Palace: Built in the early 15^th Century, Mirabell Palace lies in the middle of Salzburg and looks across the river onto the Old Town and castle. You will be able to access some of the rooms in the Palace. The gardens are also beautiful all year round, especially in Spring when the air is filled with fragrance.
   
• Mönchsberg: Mönchsberg is the mountain behind the Old Town. It is quite easy to hike up should you take the stairs from the Spar near Unipark. There, you can enjoy spectacular views of the Old Town and Untersberg, especially during winter. If you’re lucky you might even find some locals playing their mountain horns!
   
• Mozart’s Birthplace & Living Place: The house Mozart is thought to have grown up in has been turned into a museum of his life and music works. It is relatively small but definitely worth seeing for any Mozart lovers.
   
• Red Bull Hangar-7: The Red Bull empire started in Austria. It is something Austrians are very proud of, and you will find Red Bull t-shirts and drinks everywhere. The Hangar is located near the airport and houses many Red Bull-branded planes and cars in an architectural masterpiece. Entrance is free, and there is a bar and restaurant on the upper level for those who are interested.

Day Trips from Salzburg:

Eagles Nest: The Eagles Nest is one of Germany’s top tourist attractions, just 1 hour out of Salzburg. Now converted into a restaurant, this was the house Hitler hid in during the war. With incredible views over the lake, it’s easy to see why he loved it.

Hallstatt: The small town surrounded by mountains is incredibly picturesque with houses and churches built on the water. On top of the hill, you will find the salt mines and an even more amazing view of the town. The caves are accessed by a funicular and offer an insight into Austria’s history.

To get to Hallstatt, it takes around 3 hours by public transport, including a train, bus and ferry which cost on average 30€ but fluctuates greatly depending on the weather (cheaper on wet weather days).

 Hallstatt

Werfen Ice Cave: The Werfen ice cave is a 90-minute train and bus ride away. A tour of the world’s largest ice caves takes around about an hour and is quite a tough journey as it has steep paths and the equivalent amount of steps to a 40-storey house. You can only visit the caves with a tour from May to October. You will also have to be dressed for the cold, even during summer months.

Werfen

Chiemsee: Chiemsee, an hour’s drive from Salzburg, is Germany’s largest lake.  There are several islands located there such as Herreninsel, where King Ludwig II built a replica of Versailles, and Frauenchiemsee (literally the ‘Female Island’) which is a must visit.

Chimmsee

Lakes: The state of Salzburg is filled with beautiful natural lakes, all with their own personal charm and most easily accessible by bus (your bus pass won’t cover these journeys). Bus fares range from 6-13€ each for a return trip and the journey will take around an hour.

• Moondsee: The town church is where the wedding in the Sound of Music was filmed and hence, highly popular with tourists. The rest of the town is stunningly bright and perfectly clean.
   
• Wolfgangsee: Salzburg state’s largest lake is accessible from two main towns; St Wolfgang and St Giligen. The latter is more popular as it is cheaper to get to by public transport. Admission is free at the lake where you can enjoy crystal clear warm water and scuba diving.
   
• Zell am see: Home to another pretty lake and a town that offers some of the best skiing spots in the country. You can also ride the chairlift for breathtaking views on the glass-floored viewing deck.  The journey there takes up to three hours by public transport.
   
• Fuschl: Besides just the lake, check out the Red Bull Headquarters, hike the Schober Fraukenkopf or Rundweg mountains and even try out a toboggan ride! The lake has 4 public beaches and a peak season ticket will cost you about 2.50€.

Getting from Salzburg Airport to University of Salzburg:

Getting from Salzburg airport to the city is very simple and takes only 10 minutes.

By bus:

At the bus stop right outside the terminal, take Bus 2 in the direction of Obergnigl (this will be written on the front of the bus). Depending on where you will be staying, get off at Hans Schmid Platz for accommodation in the city centre or connecting buses to Salzburg Süd. Stay on the bus until Hauptbahnhof to get connecting buses to the North of Salzburg. There are no connecting trains.

If you are going directly to the university’s International Office (the first place you need to visit at the university), get off at Hans Schmid Platz and it will be just a 5 minutes’ walk away.

By taxi:

A taxi ride from the airport to the city centre should cost no more than 15€ and takes around 10 minutes. All taxis should be metered and most drivers speak good English.