The international focus of its degree programs is one of WU’s key strategic objectives. In the past winter semester, WU launched the Bachelor’s Program in Business and Economics (BBE), Austria’s first major fully English-taught bachelor’s program in business and economics. The new program was met with huge demand: 1,400 prospective students applied for the 120 places available. In the coming winter semester, 120 additional places and a double degree option will be added to the program. Selected BBE students will have the opportunity to earn an additional academic degree from the QUT Business School of the Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Australia.

By completing a double degree program, students can obtain two top-quality, internationally recognized degrees. The new agreement with Australia’s prestigious QUT Business School now makes this opportunity available to bachelor’s students for the first time. From October 2019, BBE students will be able to apply for the double degree program. The full duration of the double degree program is 4 years (as opposed to 3 years for the “regular” BBE program), comprising 3 years spent at the home university and 1 year spent at the partner university. Up to 10 students can be admitted to the double degree program per year (5 WU students and 5 QUT BS students) and spend an academic year at the partner university. After successfully completing the program, WU students are awarded two degrees: the WU BSc degree in Business and Economics and the QUT Bachelor of Business (B.Bus) degree.

Benefits for students: coordinated program, no tuition fees

Rector Edeltraud Hanappi-Egger says, “During their year at the QUT Business School, WU students not only benefit from the high academic quality of QUT’s course portfolio, but are also fully integrated into the academic program at QUT. The program gives them the opportunity to get to know fellow students abroad and make contact with businesses in the host country, allowing them to build up a network of valuable international contacts.” The double degree agreement also guarantees that courses completed abroad are equivalent to the corresponding courses at WU. Tuition fees are waived for double degree program students during their year at the host university. The QUT Business School is located in Brisbane and has around 11,000 students. Like WU, it holds a triple accreditation (by EQUIS, AACSB, and AMBA). WU and QUT Business School started their cooperation in 2009.

Other WU double degree programs

Double degree options are also available for two of WU’s MSc programs: Double degree agreements have been signed with Università Commerciale Luigi Bocconi for the MSc Program in Marketing and the MSc Program in Strategy, Innovation and Management Control (SIMC). SIMC double degree partnerships are also in place with the Queen’s School of Business, Canada, St. Petersburg University, Russia, and the University of Technology Sydney.

Prospective students interested in starting a WU bachelor’s program have to complete the online registration procedure by May 15. Online registration is required for all of WU’s 3 bachelor’s programs: Business and Economics; Business, Economics and Social Sciences; and Business Law.