15,158 people, slightly fewer than last year, registered for the medical studies entrance exam on Friday (5 July). A total of 1,900 study places are available at the medical universities of Vienna, Innsbruck and Graz and at the medical faculty of the University of Linz. That is fifty more than last year. For the first time, there are so-called ‘dedicated’ study places for tasks of general interest on a larger scale, a total of 85;
In 2021, a record number of applications was recorded: at that time, around 17,800 applied for a place at the university. The following year, that number was 15,800 and the year before that, it was 15,400. Experience shows that around 80 percent of those who apply actually appear for the eight-hour written exam.
Decline in the number of applicants in Vienna and Linz
The decline in applications was recorded in Vienna and Linz – in the federal capital, almost 7,400 people (2023: 7,500) registered for the entrance exam this year, and in the capital of Upper Austria around 2,000 (2023: 2,100). In Innsbruck (3,200) and Graz (2,600), the numbers remained almost constant. Conversely, the number of study places increased by 50 compared to the previous year due to an expansion plan. A total of 772 places are available in Vienna (2023: 760), in Innsbruck 420 (2023: 410), in Graz 388 (2023: 370) and in Linz 320 (2023: 310). A further expansion to a total of 2,000 places will take place in two-year steps by 2028.
75 percent reserved for candidates with an Austrian high school diploma
This year, there are, purely mathematically speaking, about ten candidates for one study place in Vienna, about eight in Innsbruck, about seven in Graz and about six in Linz. At least 95 percent of the places in human medicine are reserved for EU citizens, and 75 percent of the places are reserved for candidates with an Austrian high school diploma. For dentistry, however, there is no such quota.
The entrance test mainly asks for knowledge from medically relevant subjects (especially biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics) and cognitive skills (including memory, recognition of implications). Ten percent of the test result depends on the text comprehension part of the test, another ten percent on the recognition of emotions and social decision-making components. The Matura is not a prerequisite for taking the test; the Matura certificate may only be presented as part of the admission process.
Maximum 85 places reserved for authorities
This year, up to 85 of the 1,900 study places are reserved for tasks of general interest for the Länder, the Austrian Health Insurance Fund, the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Defence. Anyone wishing to apply for this had to take part in the regular registration process and commit to performing a certain service for a certain period of time at the institution concerned, for example as a statutory health insurance, hospital, military or official doctor.
For this, a lower score on the test is sufficient. Applicants do not necessarily have to place themselves among the best candidates of the respective university, but “only” achieve a performance of 75 percent of the results of all applicants (and belong to the best applicants within the respective quota of specific study places). This system already existed – but only the federal army (with ten places) used it. Now significantly more institutions use it.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
