Diploma Programme

The course covers

• political science and international relations
• structure and functioning of international organizations and the European Union
• economics and international economic relations
• international law, institutional and material European law
• contemporary political history with emphasis on the states of Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe
• language training at the highest levels in English, French and German

Skills Training

• rhetoric
• presentation skills
• negotiation skills
• media relations

Study Trips

The principal destination is Brussels where students can examine European institutions at first hand. Additional study trips (for example to Ukraine) is offered to all programmes.

Language Training

A challenging and multifaceted language training in English, French and German is included in the curriculum of the Diploma Programme. Classes take place in small groups. Participants are prepared for internationally recognized language certificate examinations (Cambridge Proficiency, Cambridge Advanced, DELF, DALF, ÖSD).
Students who wish to take the entrance exam for the Austrian Foreign Ministry (examen préalable) are offered additional courses in English and French preparatory for this exam.
In cooperation with the Language Centre of the University of Vienna the DA offers training in the official languages of the UN: Arabic, Chinese, Russian and Spanish.

Admission to the Diploma Programme is on the basis of a competitive entrance examination to be taken at the Vienna School of International Studies or at an Austrian representation abroad.

Candidates who wish to take the entrance examination have to fulfil the following requirements:

• a degree of at least 180 ECTS from an accredited institution of higher education (university, college)
• independent/proficient English (B2-C1). Those candidates whose mother tongue is not English must furnish evidence of their competence in English in the form of:
  i. CPE
  ii. CAE (grade: A)
  iii. IELTS (academic module with a minimum grade of 7.0)
  iv. TOEFL (minimum marks of 627 points in the paper test, 263 points in the computer test, or 106 points in the Internet test; DA institutional code / DI code = 7730).

French (at least elementary knowledge, A2) and German (beginner, A1) language skills are an advantage.

Entrance examination

The entrance examination consists of an oral section. For further details, please refer to "Preparation for Entrance Examination" (PDF, 0.3 MB).

Exam dates

• At an Austrian embassy or consulate general abroad: 22-26 February 2021
• At the Vienna School of International Studies: 22-24 March 2021
• Via Skype: 22-24 March 2021 (Exams via Skype are only available on request and for candidates based outside of Austria. Please contact genny.chiarandon@da-vienna.ac.at.)

Applications for the Diploma Programme may be made by the online/offline procedure (see below). Once all submitted documents have been examined, the DA informs the applicants whether they are admitted to the entrance examination. By the end of April, candidates are informed whether they have been admitted to the Diploma Programme.

Online/Offline Application Process

1. Register
2. Fill in the online application form and upload your CV. The document size of your CV must not exceed 1 MB.
3. Post copies of the following to the DA Registrar’s Office (the documents should reach the Registrar by 1 March 2021 at the latest):

• CV;
• motivation letter;
• university/college diploma (Candidates who have not yet finished their university/college studies at the time of application may submit their diploma by 31 July 2021. In case the applicant does not fulfil this requirement, the provisionally reserved study place is forfeited.);
• transcript of grades;
• proof of competence in English (please check the requirements on the "Admission" tab and the list of accepted certificates);
• le descriptif des compétences en Français (please download the document and fill in the form);
• copy of your passport;
• photo (passport size);
• two academic recommendation letters which MUST be:
  • submitted by the referees to the candidate in a sealed envelope or
  • submitted by the referees directly to our registrar by postal mail.
• If you are applying for a scholarship, you are required to mail the duly completed and signed (no electronic signatures) scholarship form.

Please send the documents listed above to

Vienna School of International Studies
Genny Chiarandon
Favoritenstraße 15a
1040 Wien/Vienna
Österreich/Austria

We kindly ask you not to bind or staple your application documents together in any way and not to submit them in a folder of any kind.

Certified Translations

The working languages of the Vienna School of International Studies are English, French and German. If your documents are not issued in one of these languages, please make sure you include certified translations with your application.

DA Scholarships

After assessing the academic performance and financial status of applicants, the DA may grant scholarships (including partial tuition waivers) to students from Austria and abroad. The financial status of applicants is determined on the basis of their income and available assets. Academic performance is based on the results of the entrance examination.
The decision on the allocation of financial assistance based on academic performance and financial status is made at the end of May by the Admissions Commission and the Scholarship Foundation of the Diplomatische Akademie Wien.

Herbert Cordt - Scholarship for Excellence

This Scholarship supports talented young women who come from Eastern or South-Eastern Europe and are admitted to the Vienna School of International Studies for a graduate programme in international studies.

In order to apply for a scholarship, applicants should send the filled in and hand-signed scholarship form by mail to the DA by 1 March 2021 at the latest.

Erste Bank "Fund of Excellence"

The Fund of Excellence invests in your education (tuition, living expenses).
Check the details at https://www.fundofexcellence.com/students/en/.
EU and EEA citizens only!

Country-specific Loans

For students from Great Britain

Professional and Career Development Loans are commercial bank loans that can be used to help pay for work related learning. You can borrow between £300 and £10,000 to help support the cost of up to two years of learning (or three years if it includes one year’s relevant unpaid practical work). The Government will pay the interest on the loan while you are learning and for one month afterwards. You will then need to start repaying the loan as you would any other commercial loans product. The loan can be used to pay course fees or other costs such as travel and living expenses. You can also use the loan to supplement other forms of support such as grants or bursaries. As the Professional and Career Development Loan is a commercial loan product, you should make sure you have investigated all the funding options that may be open to you to ensure you take an informed decision about whether the Loan is right for you. For further information on financial assistance to support your learning visit www.gov.uk/career-development-loans or contact the National Careers Service on 0800 100 900. Our learning provider registration number is: 12188.

For students from British Columbia

Students of the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna can apply for student loans at the Ministry of Advanced Education & Labour Market Development.