Types of institutions
Post-secondary non-tertiary programmes - comprising ISCED 4 and 5B of the international ISCED classification - require the proof of completion of compulsory schooling and a general or vocational school certificate.
The post-secondary non-tertiary education sector
ISCED 4 is the non-tertiary secondary level beginning after completion of the 10th grade and includes in Austria the following qualification paths leading to higher-level VET qualifications:
- schools for people in employment (6-8 semesters, 6 sem=daytime model and 8 sem=evening model)
- add-on courses (4-6 semesters) for people in employment leading to the higher education entrance examination for graduates of vocational secondary schools (BMS) (Aufbaulehrgänge an BHS).
- Education and training for healthcare professions including training programmes provided by schools frequently in cooperation with hospitals, in addition to courses for medical assistant professions (plastering assistants, operating theatre assistants, radiology assistants, disinfection assistants, doctor’s surgery assistants, assistant prosectors and laboratory assistants (Gips-, Operations-, Röntgen-, Desinfektions-, Ordinations- Obduktions- und Laborassistenz), and qualified medical assistants (Medizinische Fachassistenz), training programmes for emergency medical technicians, medical masseurs and therapeutic masseurs, training for assistant nurses or schools for nursing care as well as training for dental assistants.
- higher education entrance examination for apprenticeship graduates and graduates of VET schools (Berufsreifeprüfung).
ISCED 5B represents the non-university tertiary sector (BUT short cycle tertiary education) and follows on general and vocational training programmes to acquire higher-level VET qualifications. It includes
- Industrial master school (2-4 semester) (Industriemeisterschule)
- Building craftsperson school (2-4 semester) (Bauhandwerkerschule)
- Master craftsperson school (2-4 semester) (Werkmeisterschule)
- Post-secondary VET courses available in a variety of specialist areas an additionally for adults (4-6 semester): Post-secondary VET courses provide a high-level vocational training programme lasting 4-6 semesters (two to three years for working professionals) that corresponds to colleges for Higher VET (Berufsbildende höhere Schulen) or colleges for early childhood pedagogy and colleges for social pedagogy and conclude with a diploma examination. The graduates attain the professional qualifications of the corresponding BHS.
- Continuing education courses at universities (Universitätslehrgänge), universities of applied sciences and university colleges of teacher education (Hochschullehrgänge) consist of a predetermined curriculum and provide vocational and supplementary additional qualifications in a specific subject area. The admission requirements vary and are determined by the respective university however. Admission on the basis of a relevant professional qualification or several years of relevant professional experience is possible in exceptional cases defined by law.
Second chance education comprises the opportunity to catch up “full value” professional qualifications to increase one's chances in the labour market, to reduce the individual risk of unemployment and to open access to further education.
An additional option for a higher education entrance examination is to take a limited higher education entrance examination. This exam provides access restricted to one specific field of study. At an university of applied sciences, graduates may enrol for a subject-related programme after study admission. Preparation courses for graduates of the dual system are offered by adult education institutions (bfi, WIFI, adult education centres or Volkshochschulen) and VET schools with adequate offerings to their graduates.
Another higher education entrance examination is the Berufsreifeprüfung providing general higher education entrance qualifications for graduates of at least 3-year schools of intermediate vocational education and training (=schools of intermediate VET), people with apprenticeship diploma.
Prior school attendance is not compulsory for admission to the higher education entrance examination (Berufsreifeprüfung) because it is designed as an external exam with preparation courses. It consists of 4 partial exams (German, mathematics, a modern foreign language, occupation-related specialisation). The minimum age for the first partial exam is 17, for completing this exam 19 years.
Geographical accessibility
The Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research and the nine directorates of education in the provinces as administrative authorities are the main responsible governmental bodies – together with the provinces in their responsibility for the domains of compulsory education and elementary pedagogy - to ensure adequate educational opportunities and reasonable geographical accessibility.
Admission requirements and choice of school
The admission criteria depend on the specific programme:
For the access to VET schools for adults/people in employment a finished vocational education or professional experience and a minimum age of 17 years has to be proved.
In order to be admitted to the schools for social care professions, it is necessary to have the leaving qualification from an Upper Level or Medium Level School or to have completed vocational training after successfully completing the ninth year of education and to have reached 19 years of age. In addition, the applicant's medical health and his/her trustworthiness will be assessed and an admission interview or admission test will be required.
To access add-on courses (Aufbaulehrgänge) the completion of either an apprenticeship or VET School (BMS) is necessary. Preparatory courses e.g. in Mathematics and technical subjects are offered to the students in the entry stage to find their way into the curricula and learning settings again after years of work.
There are different admission requirements for education and training programmes in healthcare professions. To enter programmes for medical assistant professions, assistant nurses and other healthcare professions, it is essential that an applicant has completed his/her ninth year of general education (with a compulsory school-leaving certificate), the individual somatic and mental health and trustworthiness is sufficient. In some cases, an entry test might be necessary and applicants must be at least 17 years of age.
As already pointed out, to be admitted to the schools for social care professions, the proof of either a leaving qualification from a medium or upper school level or the apprenticeship exam plus at least 19 years of age is obligatory. In addition, the applicant's medical health and trustworthiness will be assessed and an admission interview or admission test will be required.
For the industrial master college, building craftsperson and master craftsperson school applicants must have completed a vocational training. An additional aptitude test is required for schools specialising in artistic trades.
Age levels and grouping of pupils/students
As the education and training programmes belonging to the post-secondary but non tertiary education sector addresses people already in employment and adults as target groups as well, the stipulation of an age of at least 17 years as admission requirement “determines” the accessing age levels of the students without age limitation to the top.
Thus an age mix in the classes is the “new real” going hand in hand with the promotion of second chance education and thus the intended permeability of the education system.
Organisation of the school year
The school year begins in September and lasts until the beginning of the next school year with possible special provisions for individual school types e. g. for VET schools and VET colleges for people in employment and adults. According to their life circumstances they can opt for a daytime or evening schedule with correspondingly shorter (daytime or fulltime model) or longer training periods (evening model).
In each school year, a total of eight weeks must be school-free, of which at least four weeks in one piece without interruption.
For people enrolling in continuing education courses at universities (Universitäts- und Hochschullehrgänge) the academic year at the different university institutions begins on October 1st and ends on September 30th of the following year. It is divided into the winter semester (starting on October 1st) and the summer semester (starting on March 1st). In fact the start of the semester as well as the Christmas, semester and Easter breaks are determined by each university autonomously.
The summer vacation at universities usually last three months and extend over the months of July, August and September. Apart from summer colleges, university courses, excursions and internships, no courses take place during the vacations.
Organisation of the school day and week
According to the School Periods Act (Schulzeitgesetz) the number of lessons on a school day, including free periods, may not exceed ten hours for students in grades 9 and above. The advanced course takes place every year and starts in September.
Lessons at evenings schools for people in employment and add-on courses (Aufbaulehrgänge) to the higher education entrance examination usually take place on 3-5 evenings per week (in the evening hours from 16:00 to 21:00). On Saturdays, remedial courses, optional courses, blocked lessons etc. are possible, which is also true for continuing education courses at universities (Universitätslehrgänge und Hochschullehrgänge) in their planning autonomy.
The number of weekly lessons varies between school grades and school types between 32 and 39 lesson hours.
Each lesson (“unit of instruction”) regularly lasts 50 minutes, to be extended or shortened for reasonable pedagogical or organisational reasons.
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