The University of Vienna has introduced a new regulation that prohibits so-called third-country nationals—students without EU citizenship—from working at the University of Vienna in roles such as internships, volunteer positions (except Erasmus+), or freelance contracts. Regular employment is now only allowed if it exceeds ten hours per week. The Austrian National Union of Students (ÖH) is calling it structural discrimination.
“In the case of student employees and freelancers, administrative courts examine the actual academic activity on a case-by-case basis; mere assignment to academic staff is not sufficient,” Uni Vienna told The International. “This entails institutional and individual risks in the event of violations: liability of the responsible university bodies and reclaiming public funding and employment bans for third-country nationals.”
“The University of Vienna wants to avoid these risks,” Uni Vienna continues. Since May 2025, no more employment contracts have been concluded with third-country nationals in the following roles: Freelance employees, interns, tutors, and volunteers. However, according to the University of Vienna, third-country nationals will continue to be employed in all other employment relationships.
ÖH Speaks of “Systematic Exclusion”
The ÖH calls it a case of “systematic exclusion,” stressing that this group is already disadvantaged by higher tuition fees, visa costs, and other structural barriers. Jobs like tutoring, student assistant roles, or internships are often vital both for financing studies and for academic qualification.
“This regulation is not based on qualifications or residency status, but solely on origin,” the ÖH states. This decision effectively excludes a large number of international students and young researchers from key employment and continuing education opportunities at the University of Vienna.
The ÖH is now demanding that the regulation be immediately repealed, that full transparency be provided regarding the so-called “legal risk assessment” on which the rule is allegedly based, and that the university make a binding commitment not to implement structural exclusions in the future without involving the student union. They are particularly critical of the university’s vague invocation of an unclear legal situation, without providing any verifiable documentation or legal assessment.
