The University of Salzburg is both a very old and at the same time a very new and modern university. It was first founded in 1622 as a Catholic Benedictine University by the former arch-bishop of Salzburg Paris Lodron, who had been born in the small northern Italian city of Rovereto. At the beginning of the 19th century the university was closed down during the Napoleonic Wars and it wasn’t reopened afterwards when Salzburg became part of the Austrian Empire. The university was only re-established as a public university in 1962. It has expanded continuously during the following decades and has become a major institution. Today the University of Salzburg consists of four faculties with nearly 2,800 employees and about 18,000 students. One remarkable aspect of the Paris Lodron University of Salzburg is that its many different buildings are spread out all over the old part of the city of Salzburg, in the green areas of Nonntal and Freisaal and even on the Mönchsberg. Some of them date back to the time of the original founding of the university in the 17th century while others are newly built with modern designs, but all are provided with up to date facilities for teaching, learning and research. 

Now, 34% of the student population at University of Salzburg comes from other countries outside of the UE. The Austrian Student Union and the International Relations Office at the University offer Buddy Networks that pair local students with incoming students from other countries to foster international friendships and help incoming students acclimate to life in Salzburg. In order to be assigned a buddy from Salzburg, students must apply by e-mail at the Austrian Student Union. Once the application has been processed, students will receive information about their buddy shortly before they are scheduled to arrive in Salzburg. By exchanging contact information, buddies can contact each other, meet and plan future get-togethers on their own.  

Salzburg, the fourth largest city in Austria is located on the border of Germany, with views of the Eastern Alps. The city is just a 2.5 hour train ride from the country's capital, Vienna. Located on the banks of River Salzach, Salzburg's Altstadt "oldtown" was listed as UNESCO World Heritage in 1996. The historic centre is also renowned for its baroque architecture and panoramic alpine surrounding.The famous musical ‘Sound of Music’ was filmed in this city and you can visit some of the film locations. Historical places to visit also include the Hohensalzburg medieval fortress, Salzsburg Cathedral where famed composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was baptised, as well as his home which is now a museum.

Austria, officially called the Republic of Austria, is a country in Central Europe, bordering the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Liechtenstein, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Switzerland. Its central location makes it a great travel hub for Europe, with cheap access to a variety of travel methods. Its capital, Vienna, is the country's largest city, home to approximately 25% of the Australian population. The large majority of people are of Austrian heritage and speak German (though usually in a different dialect to High German). Vienna is known as a centre for music, arts, culture, and as the birthplace of the waltz. Many classical musicians, such as Mozart, were born or worked in Austria and had strong ties to the city. The Sound of Music film is one of the best-known representations of Austria, but is actually fairly ignored in the country itself. Austria is also known for its architecture, with the city centres of Salzburg, Vienna, and Graz being listed as World Heritage sites. Austria is one of the top 15 wealthiest countries in the world and is frequently listed among countries with the highest standard of living in the world. Vienna is nearly always at the top of the annual list of most liveable cities.

Did you know…..?

Vienna is home to the oldest zoo in the world, which was founded in 1752. 62% of Austria is covered by the Austrian Alps, with two-thirds of the country over 1,640 feet above sea level. It’s a great location for winter sports and summer adventures!

All students must meet standard exchange selection criteria and any host institution restrictions.
 

• UniSA academic transcript 
• Passport 
• Curriculum Vitae 
• Statement of Purpose 
• University of Salzburg exchange form 

Credits are measured by the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) and the following applies: 

• 18 units = 30 ECTS 
• 13.5 units = 22.5 ECTS 

It can sometimes be difficult to make up exactly 22.5 units (not all courses will be worth exactly 7.5 ECTS), but you should be able to get very close. Make sure you check with your Program Director if you don’t have exactly 22.5 ECTS. 

The University of Salzburg expects every incoming exchange student to have a minimum of German language competence at the B2 level according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). This is not a strict requirement, but all potential students should be aware that the primary language used for coursework at the University is German. 

Find courses at the University of Salzburg here.

To see English taught courses by faculty and department, please see here.

University of Salzburg does not offer airport pick up from Salzburg Airport. You must arrange a pick-up from the airport or the train station with the help of Salzburg students Buddy Network. To get a Salzburg Buddy, please contact the Austrian Student Union in Salzburg at international@oeh-salzburg.at. They will send you the contact information for “your Buddy”. 

More information on how to get to the campus can be found here. 

The University of Salzburg does not own any dormitories or guesthouses for students. Student representatives of the Austrian Students Union or the OeAD Housing Salzburg will help you to find accommodation. You can also check the student message boards at the University and the local newspapers.  

More information on accommodation can be found here. 

As an exchange partner with the University of South Australia, you do not have to pay tuition fees to University of Salzburg, instead you will pay tuition as you would normally at UniSA. Travel and living expenses are at your own cost. The table below gives an indication of costs you will incur:

More information can be found here.

UniSA offers a generous travel grant of up to $2500 for a full semester exchange. You may also be eligible to receive an OS-HELP loan of up to $8000. For more information please see funding and scholarships website. 

UniSA offers travel insurance as part of your exchange for up to 270 days (can be extended up to 365 days). For more information please see travel insurance website.  

Please click here to read the travel insurance policy. 

A list of Frequently Asked Questions can be found here. 

If you have any further questions about travel insurance, please contact the UniSA Insurance Office on 08 8302 1678.