Over 15,000 candidates have registered for Austria’s medical studies entrance exam, competing for 1,900 study places in universities across the nation.
The MedAt exam started on Friday in Vienna, Innsbruck, Graz and Linz, with 15,158 examinees scheduled to participate.
This year, for the first time, up to 85 positions are designated for public interest roles within various government bodies including the Austrian Health Insurance Fund (ÖGK), Ministry of the Interior, and Ministry of Defence.
Compared to last year, there are approximately 200 fewer applications, but the number of available places has increased by 50. This translates to around ten applicants per place in Vienna, eight in Innsbruck, seven in Graz, and six in Linz.
Notably, 95% of places in human medicine are reserved for EU citizens, with 75% specifically for applicants holding Austrian high school diplomas. There are no such quotas for dental medicine, however.
Reacting to the beginning of the exam, the Austrian Student Union (ÖH) reiterated its longstanding call to abolish the MedAT and similar admission procedures. “[They] are inherently socially selective. Ultimately, it comes down to who can prepare the most effectively,” the ÖH said in a statement.
In related news, the Austrian parliament approved on Thursday an increase in the additional income limit for students, aimed at helping them better juggle their studies with work.
Read more: Parliament Raises Student Income Limit
