vienna diplomatic program
As a participant in the VDP program in Spring 2019, I was really looking for classes focused on the EU. Although Illinois offers courses on the EU, taking classes in English at the University of Vienna with actual students from the EU brought new perspectives on what the EU really is. The hands-on experience in my courses helped me explore my regional concentration as a Global Studies Major within the European system and shape my academic curriculum here on campus.
Paisely Meyer, VDP, Spring 2019
Course Planning
Make sure you meet with your academic advisor to plan your remaining semesters, identifying any courses you must complete while abroad. Some students have full flexibility with their schedules.
Required Courses
GER 101 Beginning German I (or placement into a higher-level course)
PS 393 Diplomatic Studies Practicum
Participants complete a research paper on an international organization with a major presence in Vienna and submit it by the end of the semester.
Online module and two pre-departure, on-campus meetings in Urbana-Champaign
Required regular on-site course mentor meetings
Recommended Courses
GER 205 Austria and Europe (Gen. Ed.: Humanities - Hist & Phil, Cultural Studies - Western)
All participants who have completed two years of college-level German or the equivalent are invited to enroll in our German in Austria Core Courses.
Political Science or other courses- Many advanced courses (3-- and 4--) available.
Selected when the course catalog is available for the specific institution.
The University of Vienna offers many courses in Political Science.
Spring-semester participants also may receive 1-hour KIN credit for successful participation in the IiVP Ski Week.
To view courses previously taken by Illinois students in Vienna, search the course approval database:
The Vienna partner universities offer a wide variety of relevant courses in English.
Course catalogues are published in late June-July for the fall semester (Wintersemester=WS) and in December-January for the spring semester (Sommersemester=SS).
The Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien (WU, University of Economics and Business) course search. Please consult the WU International Office website for
information on courses offered in English.
The Universität Wien (UW, University of Vienna) course search. When searching for courses offered in English with key words, add "lang:en" to the keyword you enter in the search field. When searching for courses from spring 2021 add "2021S“ to your keyword. (for example: “European Union lang:en 2021S”)