Students in Austria are on average older and work more. This is evident from the current Eurostudent study, which compares the social and economic study conditions in 25 countries. Students from non-wealthy families in particular often have to work in this country. Of those who work more than twenty hours, three quarters would not be able to pay for their studies without work. One in eight people seriously considers dropping out of their studies.
The average age of Austrian students is 27.1 years, half of them are over 25 years old. The average age in the comparison countries is 25.9 years, or a third is over 25 years old. However, the spread is large and varies from an average age of 20.9 years in Azerbaijan to 31.4 years in Iceland.
Later start of the study
In general, the study shows that students who do not come from academic families and who start university after professional experience or in another way are older when they start their studies. The same applies to students who work more than 20 hours a week. They are generally more dependent on their own income and can count less on support from their parents or the state.
In Austria, the group of working students is relatively large: 56 percent works the entire semester, another 13 percent works part of the time. Women work an average of 20 hours per week, men 23. For at least 55 percent, the job has a (very) strong connection to their studies.
45 to 50 hours per week
In Austria, only 31 percent do not work at all; in four of the countries surveyed, this figure is only lower. If you include compulsory subjects, self-study and work, Austrian university students work 45 hours a week, while students from other forms of higher education (technical college, teacher training college, private university) work 51 hours. The national average is 48 or 50 hours.
In Austria, students from non-wealthy families are significantly more likely to work alongside their studies (76 compared to 62 percent), and they also consider themselves to be working more often than students from wealthy families (39 compared to 17 percent). Three-quarters of students who work more than 20 hours a week say that they would not be able to pay for their studies without their job. Not surprisingly, intensive work is a problem for academic success: 14 percent of this group seriously consider dropping out of their studies. Among non-working students, this figure is only half as high.
Fewer and fewer people live at home
Where Austria still stands out: Relatively few students in Austria live with their parents (20 versus 34 percent). The share of students with children is also relatively low in Austria at nine percent (despite the higher average age). The national average is 12 percent, and in other countries with older students it is considerably higher.
Discrimination is relatively common
The results in the section of the study on discrimination are also striking: students from Austria reported relatively often that they were treated badly at their university because of certain characteristics. In total, 30 percent of Austrian students said that they experienced discrimination at universities. Only in Spain and Portugal were there comparable figures; the average in the 25 countries was 22 percent. There were more reports of discrimination in Austria, mainly on the basis of gender and ethnic origin, and the education of the parents was also mentioned more often as a reason than the average in the country. According to the study, bad treatment because of weight is less of a problem at local universities than in other European countries.
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.
