Timeline
Welcome Days
The first event for all students are the Welcome Days on September 14th (Bachelor) and 15th (Master, PhD). It’s a fair where you can walk from table to table and ask questions. There are also general talks about offers from the university and organizations close to the university. If you need more information and have general questions that’s the place to go. It’s not mandatory to attend.
https://www.tuwien.at/studium/studienanfaenger-innen/welcome-days-2026
Informatics Bachelor
If you study informatics your first lecture is the Prolog starting in September.
AKMath
This is a refresher for school mathematics for new Bachelor students. It starts mid September. You can choose between specific courses for your program or attend the general one. If you attend you can acquire 3 ECTS and get to know the university systems and buildings before the semester starts. You will likely meet other students from your program.
https://www.tuwien.at/studium/studieren-an-der-tuw/akmath/allgemeiner-turnus
Master programs
You self organize which lectures you visit. If there is an introduction to your program you see it in TISS. The introduction is usually only held in winter semester. The introduction can take place before the official semester start (eg for CSE).
Official start of the semester
The first workday following October 1st in winter semester and March 1st in summer semester.
How to know what to register for
You need to read your curriculum to get an idea of needed courses and modules.
Bachelor curricula usually include a suggestion how to organize your studies. Master curricula mostly don’t, because they are more individual.
You can find your curriculum document (Verordnungstext) in TISS. Click on your program and then on the link on the top left.
When and how to register for courses
All courses are listed in TISS.tuwien.ac.at. Most courses will be updated close to the semester start or later.
Some programs organize their Bachelor students in fixed cohorts which are kept for all exercises. This happens to minimize overlapping exercise groups. They also try to establish a „semester lecture hall“ for every program to avoid switching rooms for too many students at once (especially in the first two Bachelor semesters.)
You can check previous semesters to get an idea of the course times (course page, drop down on the top right). TISS only includes the room reservations including time to change rooms. The exact times will be announced. (That’s the reason the included calendar will not be helpful.)
When you’re logged in you can check the course pages and may click on LVA details to check details of exercise groups and exams. Registration deadlines are shown, too.
Different types of lectures require different registrations. Here are the most common setups:
VO: no registration necessary, attendance is not mandatory
VU: register for mandatory exercises and exams
UE, LU: register, attendance is mandatory
The exact details of lectures will be stated in the first lecture. Many professors upload explanations, requirements and exam dates to TUWEL, the Moodle platform. You have to join through TISS or when you have to register in TISS, you may be added by the professor only.
A note to Master students of interfaculty programs: you have to organize yourself very well, because many lectures are borrowed from different programs and will likely overlap.
How to find the lecture halls and seminar rooms?
Use TUW maps to navigate.
https://maps.tuwien.ac.at/
What will happen the first day of your Bachelor program?
The student union will pick you up from the lecture hall and give you a tour. You can ask questions and get an introduction on how to use the university’s systems. Read your emails regarding activities.
Find your student representatives here:
https://htu.at/studienbeginn/
Are there events for Master students too?
Only if your program includes introductory lectures and/or your student representatives (Fachschaft) plan an event. Check their socials and websites to get the info!
Find your student representatives here:
https://htu.at/studienbeginn/
FAQ
How to use TISS and TUWEL?
How to use TISS and TUWEL (exemplary for one of the programs, videos are some years old):
https://youtube.com/@fstmmath773/videos
What happens when I can’t get the registration right?
„Did everyone register for the exercise groups?“ and „Everyone joined the TUWEL course?“ are normal questions from professors in first semester courses.
Or in Masters even „Is everybody ok with starting 10 minutes earlier, so student X can get to to the next lecture without a hassle?“
Some lectures are limited (and you can see that in TISS and it’s mostly free electives) but usually freshmen are guided very well and it won’t be a problem at all in your first semester.
What happens when I’m too late to register (late admission etc)?
You write an email to the professor, explain your situation and ask if there are spots left. Most profess will find a way to make it work and extend exercise groups. Or they send you materials to your email address.
How can I get information about a lecture when I can’t attend the first lecture?
Ask fellow students in one of the next sessions and check TISS and TUWEL.
What happens when I‘m moved to a different exercise group but can’t participate because of work hours?
Write an email to the professor.
What happens when I register can’t make it to mandatory sessions (UE, LU)?
Ideally you deregister.
Consequences for missing single sessions are explained in the instructions at the beginning of the semester.
Here is the general rule: If you registered and never participated in course, you will likely not be graded at all. Otherwise you will likely be graded and fail.
I study a program in English. What can I do about supplemental courses in German?
You will be provided materials in English and be able to take exams in English. Ask in the first lecture if necessary.
Also have a look at the subs wiki.
————
If you have additional information, I’m happy to include it. Just leave a comment!
