The MAIS programme extends over two years.
MAIS-1
In the first year of the Master of Advanced International Studies students attend classes in the fields of political science, international relations, economics and international economic relations, contemporary history, as well as international and European law. The student’s interests, preferences and prior knowledge are taken into account in individual student counselling sessions. The knowledge previously acquired in undergraduate programmes is complemented and supplemented, and the necessary basis for the analysis of specific topic areas in the MAIS2 year is created.
MAIS-2
In the second MAIS year students apply the knowledge acquired during the MAIS1 year in specialised courses and seminars to analyse problems and solve case studies. Methodological and interdisciplinary seminars, presented by prominent personalities from politics and science, prepare students for writing their Master’s thesis. In their Master’s thesis students are required to analyse a specific problem in international relations from the aspect of at least two academic disciplines.
Study Trips
In the first MAIS year a study trip to Brussels offers students the opportunity to examine European institutions at first hand. During the second MAIS year there is a study trip to the countries of the Western Balkans. Additional study trips (for example to Ukraine/Poland or Bulgaria) are offered to all programmes.
Furthermore, there are excursions to international organisations headquartered in Vienna (UNO, OSCE, OPEC, UNIDO, IAEA, EUMC).
Language Training
Over the course of the two MAIS years students must complete language courses in German or French comprising at least 4 ECTS. In cooperation with the Language Centre of the University of Vienna and the Confucius Institute at the University of Vienna the DA offers further optional courses in the official languages of the UN: Arabic, Chinese, Russian and Spanish.
In order to be eligible for admission to the MAIS programme candidates must have:
- a university degree in any discipline (minimum 180 ECTS)
- an excellent command of English
Those candidates whose mother tongue is not English must furnish evidence of their competence in English in the form of:
- a first degree in English
- CPE
- CAE (grade: A)
- IELTS (academic module with a minimum grade of 7.0)
- 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).
Applications are assessed by the MAIS Admissions Commission. Candidates may also be required to sit a written exam and/or be invited to a personal interview.
Candidates may be admitted directly to the second MAIS year provided they have:
- completed the Diploma course of the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna or an equivalent university programme (for instance, within the framework of a cooperation agreement of the DA with other universities) or
- participated in a first level degree (180 ECTS points) and another graduate programme (60 ECTS points at least) which cover the contents of the MAIS1 year compulsory modules in economics, law, political science and history.
Applications for the MAIS Programme may be made by the online/offline procedure (see below). The MAIS Commission reviews all applications and may, in some cases, invite candidates to an interview. Only applications completed in full are taken into consideration.
Application deadlines:
15 January (early decision) and 1 March 2018 (regular decision)
Candidates who have not yet finished their university/college studies at the time of application may submit their diploma by 31 July 2018. In the case the applicant does not fulfil this requirement, the provisionally reserved study place is forfeited.
Online/Offline Application Process
- Register
- Fill in the online application form and upload your CV. The document size of your CV must not exceed 1 MB.
- Post copies of the following to the DA Registrar’s Office (the documents should reach the Registrar by 15 January or 1 March 2018 at the latest):
- CV
- motivation letter
- proof of competence in English (please check the requirements and the list of accepted certificates under the tag “admission”)
- 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 2018. In case the applicant does not fulfil this requirement, the provisionally reserved study place is forfeited.)
- transcript of grades
- copy of your passport
- photo (passport sized)
- two academic recommendation letters. These 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
Diplomatic Academy of Vienna
Genny Chiarandon
Favoritenstraße 15a
1040 Vienna
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 Diplomatic Academy 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.
Start Application
DA Scholarships
Financial assistance in the form of student loans and scholarships is available to specific target groups, depending on the number of sponsorships received. Additionally, there is a limited number of partial tuition waivers granted by the DA to students of all nationalities based solely on academic performance. Decisions on applications for financial assistance are taken by the Diplomatic Academy Scholarship Fund at the end of May.
In order to apply for a scholarship, applicants should submit the filled in and hand-signed scholarship form together with the required application documents.
Information about scholarship applications is sent out together with the decision on admission to the MAIS programme.
Application deadline: 1 March 2018
Scholarship of the Austrian Scholarship Foundation
This Foundation awards scholarships to citizens of those countries that suffered under the National Socialist regime, particularly through the recruiting of forced labour. The programme is, however, not only intended for people from the countries particularly affected by the recruitment of forced labour, but also for the descendants of forced labourers who live in other countries.
Please check the deadline for this scholarship carefully, as it usually expires at the beginning of March.
Please find further details at the Austrian Database for Scholarships and Research Grants.
Wüstenrot
In cooperation with the Wüstenrot savings bank the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna grants a limited number of student loans to students of the MAIS programme in their 1st OR their 2nd year of studies at the DA.
Loan conditions
Student loan: max. EUR 12,500 either in the 1st OR in the 2nd year of the MAIS
Loan period: 78 months, of which 18 months installment-free and thereafter 60 monthly repayments
Terms of loan: 6% per annum max. variable
Application deadline: April 30
Students can only apply for loans after they have been accepted to the MAIS programme. The granting of the loan is considered and has to be approved by the Director after the student has made the required down-payment of EUR 500 to secure their place in the MAIS programme. Please mail the application form directly to our financial officer Claudia Nilsson (claudia.nilsson@da-vienna.ac.at).
Application form
Erasmus+ Master Loans
Erasmus+ Master Loans allow students to apply for support for their master's studies abroad. Loans will be offered by participating banks and student loan agencies on favorable conditions to mobile students, including better than market interest rates and up to two years to allow graduates to get into a job before beginning repayment. For more details please read the attached document.
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.
Stanford University‘s Ford Dorsey Program in International Policy Studies (IPS)
An exchange programme has been set up between the Vienna School of International Studies and Stanford University. It provides a 3-month exchange between two students from the DA and two students from Stanford.
The exchange programme is supported by a generous grant from the foundation of the former US Ambassador to Austria, Susan McCaw.
MGIMO’s Master Programme in International Affairs and Political Science
An exchange programme has been set up between the Vienna School of International Studies and MGIMO. It provides a 5-monthexchange between two students from the DA and two students from MGIMO.
GSIS' MA Programs in International Studies
An exchange programme has been set up between the Vienna School of International Studies and Korea University’s Graduate School of International Studies (GSIS). It provides a 4-month exchange between two students from the DA and two students from GSIS.
CFAU Master Programme in International Relations
An exchange programme has been set up between the Vienna School of International Studies and the CFAU. It provides a 4-month exchange between two students from the DA and two students from CFAU.
The Hebrew University – European Forum
An exchange programme has been set up between the Vienna School of International Studies and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. It provides a 4-month exchange between two students from the DA and two students from HUJ.