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Karl Franzens UniversityGraz - Austria
Information Sheet:
Karl Franzens University (PDF Country and City
History
After World War I Austria struggled to maintain its independence and in March 1938 it was invaded by German troops and Hitler proclaimed its Anschluss (union) with Germany. Following World War II, it was not until 1955 that Austria gained full independence from the occupying powers (Britain, France, Russia and the US) and on 26 October 1955 Austria was declared "permanently neutral" by act of Parliament, which it remains to this day. Austria became an EU member in 1995. Currently Austria has a ‘Grand Coalition’ Government formed by the People's Party and Social Democrats with the social democrat Alfred Gusenbauer as Chancellor.
Geography
Austria is bordered by Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy and Switzerland so there are many opportunities to see other countries and this is true too of almost all the Utrecht Network member universities. The scenery in almost all parts of Austria is glorious with alpine vistas, green valleys and hills, (40% of Austria is woodland) pretty villages and attractive cities. This is, after all, the country where they filmed The Sound of Music! Austria has a predominately alpine climate with cold, snowy winters but the summers can be warm with temperatures between 20 – 35 degrees.
City Graz is a very friendly city and is also, very much, a university town with its 4 universities and 2 Universities of Applied Sciences and over 39,000 students. There is an excellent student infrastructure, great pubs, affordable restaurants and cafés and many bookshops. The bicycle is the preferred method of transport for students and many bike tracks wind through numerous parks and green spaces within the city. UniversityKarl-Franzens-University Graz is more that 400 years old (founded in 1585) and has always been an admired centre of learning and research. Six Noble Prize winners have taught and researched at Karl-Franzens. The research areas for which Graz is famous are the biosciences, nanosciences and topics to do with South Eastern Europe and there also is close co-operation between the University and industry in many areas. There are approximately 21,000 students enrolled in 6 faculties – Theology, Law, Social and Economic Sciences, Humanities, Natural Science and Environmental and Regional Sciences and Education. The University is very close to the old town centre and all of the University’s buildings are within walking distance of each other. The International Office in the centre of the campus. The International Office International Office website for exchange
Orientation Orientation is a week’s duration and includes formal registration, including student ID which costs all student approx. €16 for a semester. The ID gives access to the library, email account and provides cut prices at the cinemas, theatre, opera and reductions for meals at Mensa. During orientation there are talks and information on life in Graz, visas, insurance, cycling in Graz. There are also many social activities and parties arranged by the Student Union and they also organise trips to Vienna, thermal spas in the region, Venice and other fabulous cities in Europe. During the semesters, every 2 weeks there is a party at Propeller the student bar and everyone is informed either personally or via email. In between the parties at Propeller, there are “Stammtisch” – quieter parties for talk, not disco, so there is no tecno music! All students must register within 3 days of arrival in Austria with the magistrate. Details about this registration will be given at Orientation and the I. O. through the buddy program (see below) will help with all the necessary information and will take new students to the correct government department. This information is also covered in the ‚Welcome Guide’ that all prospective students receive prior to departure from their home country. Each student is paired with an Austrian student in a buddy system. International students would be picked up at the railway station or the airport and taken the dormitory – this of course presumes that AEN students have advised Graz of their arrival details – most important! The buddy will help with information about the quickest route to the university and help with the settling in process. The buddy will also help with things like the best place to get kitchen equipment, the best deals on mobile phones, social activities etc. If for any reason students do not ‘click’ with their buddy, the I. O. will find another buddy Accommodation and Food Accommodation is guaranteed for exchange students, provided they apply in time, and is usually in University apartments, which are of a very high standard, with one double room, 2 singles, 2 bathrooms, living room and kitchen. Some apartments have all single rooms. There are excellent laundry facilities in each apartment block. There is also a sauna, recreation and bar-b-que area on the roof. Each apartment block has a quiet room for study and research and all rooms have internet access (download 15 G bites) which is included in the cost of the room together with heating and electricity. The cost is €600 for a double and €1.200 for a single room per semester – there are slight variations according to the particular dormitory. Students are responsible for cleaning their own apartments. The apartments are 15 – 20 minutes from the University campus and the old town by public transport but, as mentioned earlier, most students have bikes. In the dorms pillows, blankets and doonas are provided but sheets, doona covers, pillow cases etc are but do NOT bring these from Australia as the sizes are very different. Ensure that accommodation is finalised before arrival and if you should find that your accommodation is not up to scratch (i.e. the previous students left the apartment in a mess) complain! It is also possible to get private accommodation in the city and the OAD Housing Office provides support in finding accommodation.
Students usually cook for themselves. There are excellent fresh food farmers markets every day and, of course, supermarkets. There is a very cheap but good supermarket chain called Hofer. The University has a student cafeteria called Mensa on campus that is open for breakfast and lunch. It would cost approximately €4 for a meal at the cafeteria. Useful KnowledgeAEN students must get Austrian Health Insurance which costs approximately €23 per month. This covers students for medical expenses, dentist, eye examinations and can include the cost of new glasses. The insurance is valid in the whole of Europe including Bulgaria, Bosnia-Herzegowina, Croatia, Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegra and Turkey but not for the former Soviet Union. Prescriptions will, however, be charged at a nominal rate of €4.70 per prescription. The public transportation system in Graz is highly efficient, buses and trams run frequently. A monthly pass costs 33 Euro. The Federal Railway (ÖBB) has a special offer for people under the age of 26; the ‘Vorteilscard’ costs €20, is valid for a year and allows up to 50% off all train trips in Austria, e.g. a trip to Vienna would normally cost €30 so for a student with the Vorteilscard, the cost if €15. There is definitely no need for a car. It is preferable to have a little German language skills however small but even without I am assured that survival is possible! Graz is not a nightclub town but there is reliable information from previous Australian students that it is a pub town. Beer is €3 - 4 for ½ a litre in a pub and €4 for a six pack in the supermarkets. Be a little cautious, the beer has a higher alcohol level than Australian beer and there is a huge variety. To make the most of your time in any of the exchange options available and this is true of Graz as well, the incoming students must make an effort to make friends and not expect people to automatically gravitate to them.
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