Recognition of Foreign Degrees

Nostrification is the recognition of a foreign degree as equivalent to the successful completion of a domestic degree by the body responsible for study matters at a university or by the UoAS academic board at a university of applied sciences.

Foreign degrees that are recognised in this way are considered to be on a par with the Austrian equivalent, including any associated rights and responsibilities.

What this means is full equality with the Austrian degree, the right to use the corresponding Austrian academic title and the option of doing a profession that requires a degree in Austria.

Within the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland, nostrification is not necessary and indeed not possible, given that the path to a series of academic professions has its own set of regulations, with citizens of these countries having the option of direct access to those professions. In these cases, professional recognition will need to be signed off by the relevant authorities (e.g.: www.berufsanerkennung.at).

When it comes to being admitted on a further course of study at a university or university of applied sciences in Austria, there is no need for nostrification, as the admission requirements can be met if an appropriate degree has been achieved at a domestic or foreign post-secondary educational institution.