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We know there is a lot of uncertainty about academic life due to the worldwide COVID-19 crisis. This has forced us to change the way we implement our programs. For the time being, we have hybrid learning options in place for those who can travel and we offer the best possible online setting for those who are not allowed to travel.
Nevertheless, we remain positive that we will be able to greet all of our new and returning students on our incredible campus once again. It is just a matter of time. After all, the international flair makes the MBA experience unlike none other.
At the moment the COVID-19 travel restrictions are forcing us to offer modules in a hybrid format of in-classroom and online-learning. We have refitted our classrooms with the best IT equipment. We can assure those students who are momentarily facing travel restrictions that they will still receive an excellent learning experience.
This contingency plan is a guarantee that you can start your MBA program in the fall of 2020. We are confident that the program start this fall will be a worthwhile experience for our students. We hope to be seeing you in one of our classes this fall!
However, our MBA programs are not online programs and are not intended to be. The international networking opportunities and in-class attendance of our international students will remain an important part of our programs.
As long as this COVID-19 crisis lasts, the WU Executive Academy will remain as flexible and supportive as possible. Any newly admitted student who would like to defer may do so. Their seat confirmation fee will be used to reserve a place in the next cohort. As long as this COVID-19 crisis lasts, the WU Executive Academy will remain as flexible and supportive as possible. Any newly admitted student who would like to defer may do so. Their seat confirmation fee will be used to reserve a place in the next cohort.
No, scholarships only apply to the advertised program start, so if you refrain from starting in October/November 2020, you need to reapply for a scholarship for an MBA program starting in 2021.
Yes, your payment deadline for your Seat Confirmation can be extended, but you must contact the Program Management in order not to lose your seat in the Fall 2020 cohort.
If you have been admitted and you prefer to join the 2021 cohort rather than the cohort starting in October or November 2020, you must contact the Program Manager no later than the deadline communicated at your admissions interview. This is known as your “Seat Confirmation” deadline - which helps us cap class sizes after a certain number has been reached. This, in turn, enables us to maintain a good student-to-faculty ratio and highly interactive classes. That is why we place such emphasis on deadlines for confirming your participation in an MBA program.
At the moment the COVID-19 travel restrictions are forcing us to offer modules in a hybrid format of in-classroom and online-learning. We have refitted our classrooms with the best IT equipment. We can assure those students who are momentarily facing travel restrictions that they will still receive an excellent learning experience.
This contingency plan is a guarantee that you can start your MBA program in the fall of 2020. We are confident that the program start this fall will be a worthwhile experience for our students. We hope to be seeing you in one of our classes this fall!
However, our MBA programs are not online programs and are not intended to be. The international networking opportunities and in-class attendance of our international students will remain an important part of our programs.
Nevertheless, requesting a refund for the Seat Confirmation Fee because of the COVID-19 crisis will be possible. In order for our committee to evaluate the case, the student must prove that, at the moment of requesting a refund, they are subject to health or mobility restrictions that impedes their travel to the study location. For further details, please contact your MBA Program Manager.
The COVID-19 outbreak does not affect your application. We have implemented an application process that is 100% online. If you can access the internet and are able to have a video call, you are able to apply for an MBA program. We want you to stay safe without having to put your future on hold. Our Admissions Team will continue to support you through the application process and are available by phone, email, and videoconference.
Current events and info-sessions are already offered online, so you can continue to learn about the MBA experience and get connected with our community.
This is not an issue since English certifications are not required to apply. Please see the question on “Proof of English Skills” for details.
The Program Managers are here to support you throughout the visa application process. Contact us by phone number +43-1-31336-4816 or by email executiveacademy(at)wu.ac.at.
As of March 2020, the Austrian government has taken measures to mitigate the crisis. As a university, we are in close contact with governmental authorities. For more information on the current measures, please visit these sites of the Federal Ministries:
Executive MBA Bucharest: The situation in Romania is similar. Here, measures have been taken at a national level. We are strictly following the guidelines of the governmental authorities. For more information visit https://gov.ro/ro/masuri
The changes in program format have no effect on the diploma because the amount and quality of learning sessions, content, peers, and faculty remain unchanged.
The vast majority of our professors will be the same online as in the traditional face-to-face format. We do make adjustments especially when the International Residencies are involved - however these are rescheduled, not canceled. That can lead to a change in faculty if the professor is not available at an alternative date.
The entire team at the WU Executive Academy is working hard to support all professors in the new hybrid learning format. Therefore, classes will be held as planned.
Economic need is always taken into consideration when evaluating scholarship applications. The WU Executive Academy Scholarship Committee is aware that many of our incoming students and their families have been affected by the recent circumstances and will take this into account. Please mention any difficulties you are experiencing in your application.
If you are unable to commit at this stage given the circumstances, kindly send an email to the MBA Program Manager or to mba@wu.ac.at so that we can evaluate whether a deadline extension is possible.
No, the Admissions Team is fully functional.
Scholarships only apply to their advertised program, so if you refrain from starting in October/November 2020, you need to reapply for a scholarship for the MBA program starting in 2021.
Yes. If for any extremely exceptional reason your local Austrian Consulate has decided to close, they would announce it on their website, or they would tell you by phone.
Yes. The same applies here: If for any extremely exceptional reason your local Romanian Consulate has decided to close, they would announce it on their website, or they would tell you by phone.
Given the high volume of work they probably have these days, it may take longer for them to reply to emails. Most Consulates have the instructions on how to apply for visas on their websites or they redirect you to the external services provider that processes visas for them, so keep this in mind because sometimes the information you are looking for is available in just a click!
You can find detailed information for foreign students here.
Please contact your Program Manager if the beginning of the classes is approaching and you have not yet received your visa, despite having submitted your visa application in time. We will do our best to contact your local Consulate and to try to expedite your visa process. If this does not work either, or you simply submitted your application late, you will need to contact your academic team to explain your situation and determine what options are available to you.
At the moment and to our knowledge, you must submit a medical certificate of good health when applying for a student visa. For now, the certificate does not include specifications regarding COVID-19 but, moving forward, it’s possible that you may be asked to prove that you either don’t have the virus or that you have successfully recovered from it. Contact the local Austrian Consulate to learn about this specific requirement.
As of today, this is not a requirement in order to return to Austria.
At the moment, international travel is being regulated by authorities. Please check with the Austrian consulate or embassy in your country regarding travel restrictions. Current information can also be found on the website of the Ministry of European and International Affairs: https://www.bmeia.gv.at/en
We would like to remind you that, although we are under exceptional circumstances, immigration laws still apply. Thus, those who wish to travel should keep their legal documentation up-to-date. Students who are currently in their home countries and do not have the necessary documentation to enter or return to the Schengen area should contact their local consulate as soon as possible.
Current information about Austrian laws can be found on the website of the Ministry of European and International Affairs: https://www.bmeia.gv.at/en
Current information about Romanian laws can be found here: https://gov.ro/ro/masuri
Austria is gradually reopening its borders. The Vienna Airport is open, and flights are continuing to operate. The local train and bus stations are also open. Please check both Austrian and your local regulations before booking a trip (see below).
Entry from inside the EU and the Schengen Area:
At the moment, residents of most EU countries are allowed to travel to Austria and they do not need to show a negative COVID-19 test or commit to quarantine. There are some exceptions. Please see the updated list here and on the website of the Federal Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology.
Important: Third-country nationals travelling from inside the Schengen area by air have to carry a medical certificate proving a negative COVID-19 test result in order to avoid a 14-day quarantine and be able to attend classes on campus. Testing can be done directly at the airport upon arrival. Click here for details.
Entry from outside the EU and the Schengen Area:
Please see updated information from the Austrian National Tourist Board, which is available in several languages, here.
Excellent information is also available on the website of the Federal Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology.
Links for Travel information:
Find out the answers to the most commonly asked questions about the MBA programs at the WU Executive Academy.
Excellent quality 95% of our alumni would recommend their MBA program to a colleague or a friend.* The WU Executive Academy places 45th worldwide and 4th in the German-speaking region (DACH) in the
Financial Times Executive MBA Ranking 2018. We are ranked in the top 20 worldwide in the working experience of our students and our international course experience. The WU Vienna also holds triple accreditation: Less than 1% of business schools in the world have quality levels recognized by the three largest and most influential business school accreditation organizations: AMBA (Association of MBAs), AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) and EQUIS (European Quality Improvement System) by the European Foundation of Management. International experience We are located in the heart of Europe and our faculty is quite international:
Furthermore, our international residencies will enable you to overcome cultural barriers and experience business practices in different countries. Find more information on our faculty members on each program’s website. Global network During your MBA you will establish an extremely valuable network with your classmates. In addition, you get access to the powerful WU Executive Club:
Do you need more reasons for the WU Executive Academy? Get them here.
In general, out of all our MBA students:
Since building a career is a lifelong journey, the WU Executive Academy offers the Career Accelerator Program, which helps you succeed. The WU Executive Academy supports your professional development with individual coaching, career workshops, trainings, panel discussions and webinars. You will learn how to optimize your LinkedIn profile, negotiate your salary and position your personal brand. All our services – many of which are provided by HR experts and executive search partners - continue even after your graduation.
In general, 59% of our alumni receive higher earnings while doing an MBA or within 1 year after graduation.*
Explore our alumni’s career stories here.
You'll expand your expertise when doing an MBA. However, an MBA goes beyond theory. It is an amazing journey. You widen your horizon by exchanging ideas with international executives and you develop as an individual when you:
Discover age, years of work experience, nationality, gender and much more in our class profiles:
During the modules, teaching usually takes place every day from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm. During some evenings, you will also meet guest speakers for additional insights.
Physical presence during classes is mandatory. It helps to build trustful relationships, which encourages students to engage in fruitful discussions and knowledge sharing. This safe place facilitates effective learning for the individual and the class as a whole. If you miss a substantial portion of a class, we will work out together how you can make up for it. For every class attended outside a student’s regular program cycle, a fee of EUR 200 per day will be charged.
If the planned standard period is exceeded because not all of the mandatory modules have been positively completed, a fee of EUR 500 will be charged for each additional semester.
With the right motivation and support from your surrounding environment, you can definitely attend an MBA program next to big life events. Many of our students have begun a new career, moved to another country or started a family while successfully finishing the program. Therefore, we ask you to get in touch with your employer and your personal contacts to inform them and to get their support for your significant requirement of extra time for the MBA program.
Modules are graded based on pre-assignments, class participation and post-assignments. While for specific modules pre- and post-assignments are in the form of exams majority of the acquired learning is assessed via papers and case studies.
The part-time format of our MBA programs allows you to participate in a demanding program while being in a full-time job. The modules are organized in blocks with several weeks in between, depending on the format. Please look at the schedule for the specific program or reach out to our program managers for advice on doing the program next to a full-time job.
Our alumni work in diverse sectors such as IT, finance, consumer goods, consulting, industry/manufacturing, pharmaceutical. Check out our class profiles (PDF) for details:
The program is based on balanced mixture of theory and practice. Pre-module materials consist of theory, papers and articles on the current developments and case studies. Case methodology is also used during the modules. Furthermore, in class discussion consists of sharing experience and best practices among the program participants.
In general, we offer Executive and Professional MBAs. Our Executive MBA programs are designed for experienced executives who are seeking a general management education. We offer two Executive MBAs:
A Professional MBA program is the right option for you, if you want to combine hands-on specialist know how and general management. Explore our nine different Professional MBA specializations here.
Since choosing an MBA program can be quite challenging, our experts are happy to help. Discover our consulting services here.
Moreover, our Program Finder can help you to compare our programs and choose the right one.
You can find our MBA curricula below:
See the starting times of our MBA programs in the MBA Programs - Facts Overview.
You can find an overview of all MBA tuition fees in the MBA Programs - Facts Overview.
Yes, the WU Executive Academy offers a wide range of scholarships and financing options. Discover them here. Scholarships are awarded on a case-by-case basis. The admission committee decides whether and to what extent a scholarship will be granted by evaluating your:
Additional eligibility criteria for each scholarship can be found here.
To apply for a scholarship it is required to state your motivation for the scholarship in the motivation letter, provide a proof of salary and – if applicable - documentation of exceptional circumstances (e.g. supporting dependents, medical care etc.). You have to bring the originals of these documents to the admission interview.
The application deadlines for each scholarship can be found here.
For further information regarding the application process, please click here.
Yes, our MBA tuition fees are fully tax deductible for taxpayers in Austria. With our flexible payment modalities, you can spread the fees over several tax periods. Learn more about the available financial benefits for individuals and companies in Austria here. However, as tax deductibility can vary greatly from person to person, we recommend that you also contact a tax advisor or inquire directly at the tax office.
If you are taxpayer of another country, please contact your local tax authorities for information on available tax deductions.
If you apply, we will carefully assess your
In general, we expect you to have to have a solid career progression and the commitment to pursue an MBA next to your busy schedule.
You need at least an undergraduate university degree (e.g. bachelor degree) for our MBA programs. Furthermore, we require a minimum work experience of 3 years (5 years for the Executive MBA) together with an excellent knowledge of the program language (English or German).
Yes, for our MBA programs there is at least an undergraduate university degree required (e.g. bachelor degree). Applicants with an exceptional career progression and profound professional experience may also be admitted to an MBA program if they submit an excellent GMAC Executive Assessment score.
If you are applying for an Executive MBA we expect at least 5 years of relevant work experience as well as some leadership experience.
If you are applying for a Professional MBA we expect at least 3 years of relevant work experience. Read more about the admission requirements here.
Your proficiency in written and spoken English is assessed during the admission process. No formal proof or certificates (e.g. IELTS, TOEFL) are required. Under certain circumstances, some applicants might be asked to submit a formal proof of their language level (C1) to further proceed in the admission process.
Student diversity is an asset of our MBA programs and we welcome students from all over the world. If you are a non-EU citizen, you might need a visa to enter, live and work in Austria. You can find detailed information for foreign students here.
Yes, there is an application fee of EUR 200. It has to be paid via credit card.
In general, the application process takes approximately one month.
We follow a rolling admission process, which means you are able to apply and can be accepted at any time until the application deadline. Since the programs often fill to capacity, we recommend that potential students submit their applications as early as possible. Qualified applicants are admitted on a rolling basis.
Please e-mail mba(at)wu.ac.at.
Yes, please contact mba(at)wu.ac.at for further information.
We have some students from developing countries in our MBA programs; you can see the class profile for instance here. Once accepted into our programs, a student gets visa support from the MBA program manager for participating in modules in Austria as well as in the International Residency – which most often takes place in the USA. We have a good track record of helping students get visas, so we would just suggest you apply and take the next steps once you are accepted. Feel free to get in touch with us.
*Data acquired from the 2018 Financial Times EMBA Ranking, the 2019 Alumni Survey and the 2016 & 2017 Overall Feedback from our students.