How the fees work. EU/EEA and Swiss students pay no tuition within the standard duration plus two semesters, then EUR 363.36 per semester. Most other students pay EUR 726.72 per semester (about EUR 1,453 a year); nationals of a list of least developed countries are exempt. The compulsory student union fee (ÖH-Beitrag) is EUR 26.20 per semester.
About this programme
Bachelor in Cross-Disciplinary Strategies, Applied Studies in Art, Science, Philosophy, and Global Challenges is a bachelor’s programme at University of Applied Arts Vienna in Vienna, taught in English. It runs for 4 years (8 semesters) and carries 240 ECTS credits. The register gives Vienna as the campus town. It lists the academic degree as Bachelor of Arts, BA. University of Applied Arts Vienna is a public university in Vienna.
What you will study
Cross-Disciplinary Strategies (CDS) at the University of Applied Arts Vienna is a bachelor programme for students who want to work on societal challenges by linking art, the humanities and the social and natural sciences. The programme describes itself as a reaction to the growing fragmentation of academic disciplines. Artistic strategies and approaches to art are the common disciplinary language across the degree.
What you study
The introductory year covers principles of programming, statistics, and academic work in the form of research and text production. It also covers the principles of human rights, the structure of international organisations, artistic practices, and current discourses in the social sciences and humanities.
In the following years the curriculum is structured into three study areas: science and technology, economics and politics, and artistic strategies and approaches to art. Each year has a topic dealing with a global challenge. The programme names migration, medialisation, work, growth, environment and nutrition as examples.
Content lectures are applied in cross-disciplinary projects done in team work. The programme aims to help students identify and uncover complex correlations and integrate them into cooperative processes of action.
How the programme is organised
The bachelor runs over 8 semesters and carries 240 ECTS. Teaching is in English. The academic degree is BA (Bachelor of Arts).
The structure moves from the broad introductory year into the three study areas, with annual topics and project work. Students apply what they learn in lectures through cross-disciplinary projects in teams. The programme states that it aims to enable students to identify and uncover complex correlations and to integrate them into cooperative processes of action.
Who it suits
This is for students who do not want to stay inside one discipline. The programme is built for people who want to work on current societal challenges and who are willing to move between art, the humanities and the natural and social sciences.
The qualification profile says graduates use artistic skills, strategies and principles of artistic praxis, plus knowledge of basic research principles from the natural sciences, humanities and social sciences, to develop systematic and innovative approaches for sustainable transformation and design processes. Graduates should be able to take a critical stance towards the multiple challenges of our time.
The programme also names skills it develops: identifying and addressing issues and strategies for change beyond disciplinary boundaries, systematising and communicating approaches (knowledge transfer), and instructing and guiding interdisciplinary work teams characterised by diversity and heterogeneity.
Admission, language and next steps
Teaching language is English. The programme page links to application dates and information on the entrance exam and the university entrance qualification exam. There is no central application portal: you apply directly to the University of Applied Arts Vienna, and its own pages give the application period and the entrance exam details.
Check the Angewandte's pages on financial issues for tuition fees, fee waivers, scholarships and discounts. The university also holds an Open House where students and lecturers give information and insights on the study programmes and studios.
The department is Cross-Disciplinary Strategies. The programme page also lists a master programme in CDS (MA, 120 ECTS, 4 semesters, English) for graduates who want to continue in the same direction.
What the register says
The students have to study the following modules:
- Ways of knowing and meaning
- Natural science and technology
- Economics and politics; - Global challenges
- Modular study units on artistic strategies
- Within the framework of the modular study units subject-specific excursions can also be offered
- Internships
Text as the Austrian national register publishes it. Some entries are in German. For the current content and structure, use the official programme page.
Job opportunities after graduating
- Interdisciplinary project work linking art, science and society
- Work on sustainable transformation and design processes
- Knowledge transfer and science communication
- Leading or instructing interdisciplinary, diverse work teams
- Collaboration with civil society, art, science, politics and the economy
- Research and academic work in teams or independently
- Further study in the CDS master programme or other fields
Before you apply
There is no central application portal in Austria: you apply to the institution, here University of Applied Arts Vienna. For most bachelor’s programmes at public universities the general application period ends on 5 September for the winter semester and on 5 February for the summer semester. The dates are earlier for applicants from outside the EU/EEA and for programmes with an entrance procedure, so confirm the exact date on the programme page. Entrance examination, as the register states it: Proof of artistic aptitude by means of an entrance examination. Entry requirements and language tests are set by the institution, so start from the official programme page. Our guides cover tuition fees, the student residence permit and housing.
Facts on this page come from the Austrian national register (BMFWF open data and studienwahl.at, which states the language of instruction). Fees are in euros as the register lists them. "Not listed" means the register has no figure, not that the programme is free. Always confirm requirements, fees and dates with the institution.
Quick answers
Is Bachelor in Cross-Disciplinary Strategies, Applied Studies in Art, Science, Philosophy, and Global Challenges taught in English?
Yes. The register’s study finder lists English as the language of instruction at University of Applied Arts Vienna. Confirm the language of the examinations and the thesis with the institution.
How long does it take?
The register records 4 years (8 semesters) of study and 240 ECTS credits. Sixty ECTS credits are one academic year of full-time study.
Where is it taught?
The register lists Vienna as the campus town for this programme at University of Applied Arts Vienna.
How do I apply?
There is no central application portal in Austria: you apply to the institution, here University of Applied Arts Vienna. For most bachelor’s programmes at public universities the general application period ends on 5 September for the winter semester and on 5 February for the summer semester. The dates are earlier for applicants from outside the EU/EEA and for programmes with an entrance procedure, so confirm the exact date on the programme page.
Is there an entrance examination?
The register gives: Proof of artistic aptitude by means of an entrance examination. Details of any admission or aptitude procedure are on the programme page at University of Applied Arts Vienna.
What does it cost?
EU/EEA and Swiss students pay no tuition within the standard duration plus two semesters, then EUR 363.36 per semester. Most other students pay EUR 726.72 per semester (about EUR 1,453 a year); nationals of a list of least developed countries are exempt. The compulsory student union fee (ÖH-Beitrag) is EUR 26.20 per semester. Fees are in euros as the register lists them; confirm the amount for your intake with University of Applied Arts Vienna.
Is this programme officially listed?
It comes from the Austrian national register (BMFWF open data and studienwahl.at, which states the language of instruction). The OeAD, the Austrian agency for international education, publishes the official information for international students at studyinaustria.at. The programme page at University of Applied Arts Vienna is linked from this page so you can compare.
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