You are special. So are we.
This is what makes the degree programme so special
Want to study all over Europe? No problem!
The University of Klagenfurt is a member of the Europe-wide association ‘European Inter-University Association on Society, Science and Technology’ (ESST). As a student in the Master’s programme ‘Science, Technology & Society Studies’, you will benefit from this network. You will be able to complement your Master’s study with a specialization module, and write your Master’s thesis at an ESST partner university. This will give you the opportunity to acquire the ESST Certificate or the ESST Diploma Master of Arts ‘Society, Science and Technology in Europe’ in addition to the Master’s degree from Klagenfurt.
During the programme, you can focus on the following subject areas:
- Governance, innovation, sustainability: you will examine the ambivalences of science and technology in ongoing controversies and risk debates, for example concerning climate change, food security, health and justice. You will develop skills that enable you to comment critically on approaches to sustainable governance of research and innovation, and to refine approaches in research and innovation.
- Knowledge, culture, digitalisation: you will learn about the emergence of ‘modern’ science and current developments in scientific organisation and practice. You will engage with epistemic approaches, practices and work environments of different knowledge cultures, as well as with the changing meaning of data, information and communication in the digital age.
- Democracy, power, politics: you will explore the interrelatedness of science and politics by asking how power relations shape, and are shaped by, knowledge and technology. You will be trained to reflect on, and engage in, political debates on science and technology at the local, regional, national, and international level.
- Gender & diversity, bodies, identities: you will acquire the skills to uncover the context-dependency of knowledge and technology. This will enable you to identify the characteristics and limits of ethnocentric claims to objective knowledge, and to show how individual and collective identities, in particular gender representations, are constructed, perpetuated, or challenged by science and technology.
Small working groups and optimal teacher-student ratios enable productive exchange between students and lecturers
Contact
Student Advisory Service
Email: studieninfo [at] aau [dot] at
Programme Director
Website of the degree programme director
Email: sts-master [at] aau [dot] at
How we are seen
- We excel in rankings!
The University of Klagenfurt is one of the top 2 % universities worldwide.
(Times Higher Education World University Rankings) - We are distinguished by our students!
The University of Klagenfurt has received a Global Student Satisfaction Award.
(Studyportals – the Global Study Choice Platform)
- Our study programmes come highly recommended!
The University of Klagenfurt is recommended by 97 % of its students.
(studycheck.de) - Top quality is our standard!
The University of Klagenfurt places high value on comprehensive quality standards. Our quality management is EVALAG-certified,
we maintain the highest environmental standards (EMAS certification) and are a family-friendly university.
(State quality label “hochschuleundfamilie”)
Your skills are our mission. This is what we can teach you
Upon completion, graduates of the Master's degree programme “Science, Technology & Society Studies” are able to:
- perform analyses of current problem areas and fields of conflict with regard to science, technology and innovation;
- comprehend interactions between scientific-technological developments and societal change;
- process insights from social-scientific science and technology research for the benefit of societal decision-making and design;
- apply the acquired skills in the strategic planning and project management of businesses and in public engagement processes; and
- contribute actively to scientific research projects.
Programme structure
In Klagenfurt you can study at your own pace. To help you follow your path with confidence, we keep it clear of (bureaucratic) stumbling blocks and barriers. If you wish to reach your goal quickly and efficiently, we will always be there to support you. Our recommended course of study will guide you through the semesters. You work your way through the curriculum – making the most of opportunities to broaden your horizons and without wasting time. If you would like to know which courses await you before you start, take a look at the wide range of seminars and lectures.
Main areas
Programme structure: a tabular overview
| SUBJECT | DESIGNATION | ECTS |
| Required Subjects | Grundlagen der Wissenschafts- und Technikforschung | 22 |
| Empirische Forschungspraxis | 12 | |
| Kompetenzerweiterung | 12 | |
| Electives | Wahl von zwei Fächern: | 24 |
| Internship | Internship (alternativ 3. Gebundenes Wahlfach) | 12 |
| Master thesis | Masterarbeit | 22 |
| Begleitung von Masterarbeiten | 4 | |
| Options | 12 | |
| Total | 120 |
Recommended course of study
Important note regarding lecture courses scheduled on a cyclical basis: Although certain lecture courses are only offered once a year, the corresponding examinations can be taken year-round on specific dates.
1. Semester (Starting in the winter semester)
| SUBJECT | ECTS | Course number + title | Course type |
| Grundlagen der Wissenschafts- und Technikforschung | 2 | 816.004 Orientierungslehrveranstaltung | UE |
| 4 | 816.005 Theorien und Themen der Wissenschafts- und Technikforschung 1 | VO | |
| 4 | 816.006 Aktuelle Forschungsfelder und Kontroversen der Wissenschafts- und Technikforschung 1 | SE* | |
| 4 | 816.013 Moderne Gesellschaft und globaler Wandel | SE* | |
| Empirische Forschungspraxis | 6 | 816.011 Forschungsansätze und -methoden der Wissenschafts- und Technikforschung | VC* |
| Kompetenzerweiterung | 4 | 816.015 Wissenschaftskommunikation / Technikkommunikation | SE* |
| 4 | 816.017 Berufsfelder der Wissenschafts- und Technikforschung | UE/EX* | |
| Freie Wahlfächer | 2 | ||
| Total | 30 |
* compulsory attendance
| SUBJECT | ECTS | Course number + title | Course type |
| Grundlagen der Wissenschafts- und Technikforschung | 4 | 819.015 Theorien und Themen der Wissenschafts- und Technikforschung 2 | VO |
| 4 | 819.019 Aktuelle Forschungsfelder und Kontroversen 2 | SE* | |
| Kompetenzerweiterung | 4 | 816.016 Moderation und Partizipation | SE* |
| Gebundenes Wahlfach 1 | 4 | Einführung | SE* |
| 4 | Vertiefung oder Übung | SE* oder UE* | |
| Gebundenes Wahlfach 2 | 4 | Einführung | SE* |
| Freie Wahlfächer | 6 | ||
| Total | 30 |
* compulsory attendance
Practical training
Within the scope of the degree programme students can complete a placement in an organisation, for example:
- in a domestic or foreign business, in public administration, a non-profit organisation, or a non-university research institution, in a publishing house or a museum, or
- in one of the STS research groups (Department of Science and Technology Studies, Department of Science Communication and Higher Education Research) at the University of Klagenfurt.
If it is not feasible or possible to complete a placement, students can earn 12 ECTS credits by completing an additional Elective from the Master's programme.
Following the completion of the placement, students report on the project semester in the course “Reflection of the Placement” (2 ECTS credits) and record their experiences in a written project report.
Relevant professional activities conducted prior to or during the Master's programme may be accredited as practical experience worth a total of 10 ECTS credits in justified cases.
Limits are old news. What else can we offer you?
There are no limits to your personal development. Enjoy the freedom that only a university degree can offer you and expand your horizons beyond your academic studies. You can pick and choose which competences will set you apart in the future. We have lots to offer, for instance:
- Are you looking to set up your own business and launch an entrepreneurial venture? By acquiring the “Build! Entrepreneurship Certificate” you will gain precisely the skills you need to turn your brilliant idea into a successful business! The nearby Lakeside Science & Technology Park also offers you the necessary facilities so you don’t need to sit in a garage while you are working on the app that will change the world and expand your wallet.
- Do you want to learn a new language and prepare for an international career? You can learn Russian, Spanish or Chinese (and many other languages besides) at the University of Klagenfurt.
- Are you interested in collaborating in groups, teams and organisations to achieve the best possible results? In the extension programme “Social Competence and Organizational Learning SCOL“ we will show you how project and conflict management, mediation processes and moderation techniques can succeed.
Admission
Admission to the Master’s Dregree Programme Science, Technology and Society Studies must occur within the admission periods.
Important enrollment information
The Admissions and Examinations Office can be visited after an appointment has been made. Appointments are made as follows:
- Students need to book an appointment via the student portal (campus.aau.at) via the menu on the left under Services and the button “Appointment bookings”.
- Applicants need to book an appointment via the registration portal and the tab “Appointment bookings”.
- Applicants without access to the registration portal may book an appointment via the general booking page at appointment.aau.at.
Prerequisites
You do not have to go through a special admission procedure to start the Master‘s degree in Science, Technology and Society Studies in Klagenfurt. You only have to meet the following conditions, which also apply to all other programmes:
- Bachelor’s degree programme from all fields completed at a University or a University of Applied Sciences, or a degree programme of equivalent academic value, completed at a recognised post-secondary educational institution
Students who have successfully completed a Bachelor's degree programme assigned to the groups of Engineering Sciences, Natural Sciences, Medical Sciences, or the Arts, must demonstrate that they have acquired an adequate level of knowledge in the following areas (overall 12 ECTS credits):- Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Science and Technology in Society, e.g. History of Technology, Philosophy of Technology, Sociology of Technology, Technology Assessment, Environmental Policy, Participatory Processes and Civic Participation, Technology and Science Communication, Ethics of Medicine, Technology or Environment, Sustainability Research, and/or
- Fundamental Principles of the Social and Cultural Sciences (theories and methods), particularly from Sociology, Political Science, Social and Cultural Anthropology, Geography, and/or History.
Prospective students who apply for admission to a Master’s degree programmes taught in German must provide evidence of German language proficiency at the B2 respectively C1 level according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) at the time of application.
Term dates & deadlines
Winter semester 2023/24
General admission period for Bachelor’s programmes:
10 July to 5 September 2023
General admission period for other programmes:
10 July to 31 October 2023
Summer semester 2024
General admission period for Bachelor’s programmes:
08 January 2024 – 05 February 2024
General admission period for other programmes:
08 January 2024 – 31 March 2024
The first steps are always … accompanied!
We won’t abandon you, especially at the start of your studies!
- Here in Klagenfurt, you will get to know your fellow students during the Welcome Days – and you will make new friends in the very first week; friends you will share memorable experiences with in the years to come.
- Our student guidance service is here for you if you need some support as you start your studies. You can reach us via WhatsApp, e-mail, phone or our social media channels.
- At the ÖH student union Info Days at the start of each semester experienced students provide advice about your chosen degree programme and share useful insiders’ tips.
Best prospects. Your professional opportunities
The Master's programme aims to prepare students for work in various institutional contexts. Job opportunities, among others, exist in:
- university and non-university research as scholars;
- the media, museums, and in research centres as experts in science and technology communication;
- the public administration of the EU, as well as national, provincial and local governments, professional associations, and civil society organisations as specialists in research, technology and innovation;
- international organisations as programme managers;
- research funding organisations as experts in programme management;
- companies as innovation managers or sustainability officers;
- policy and business consultancy; and
- mediation and as moderators in public participation processes.
The world is your own!
In general, students are encouraged to spend at least one semester studying abroad. This particularly applies to periods of study spent abroad at the locations of members of the European Programme “European Studies of Society, Science and Technology” (ESST), in which the University of Klagenfurt is an active member. It is recommended to schedule the ESST study visit abroad in the third or fourth semester. Examinations successfully completed within the context of a study visit abroad shall be recognised, provided that the student obtains the programme director's specific permission in advance.
FAQ. Frequently asked questions
When does the semester start?
The winter semester starts on the 1st of October and ends on the 31st of January. The summer semester starts on the 1st of March and ends on the 30th of June.
Further information is available in Term dates & deadlines.
How can I apply for a Master’s degree programme?
Further information on how to apply for a Master’s degree programme can be found on our webpage Admission to a Master’s degree programme.
How can I prove English language proficiency?
A list of the accepted language qualifications is available in the Regulation issued by the Rectorate concerning proof of required language proficiency for admission to study programmes.
Where can I find additional information? Who can I contact with questions?
Please refer to the Curriculum (PDF) and our website for further information on all aspects of studying. If you have additional questions, you can also contact the Student Representatives of the Austrian National Union of Students or the Programme Director directly.
Continuing your studies
Once you have completed the Master’s degree programme in Science, Technology and Society Studies you can continue straight on to the following degree programmes:
These Masters’s degree programmes may also be of interest
1
2
3
1
Universität Klagenfurt
2
Lakeside Park
3
Wörthersee
This is why the University of Klagenfurt is one of the best young universities in the world …
