STUDY

Special Admission Procedure for the Master Game Studies and Engineering

The special admission procedure for the Master’s degree programme in Game Studies and Engineering is scheduled to take place once per year, before the start of the winter semester. Once the special admission procedure has been successfully concluded, new entrants can take up their studies at the start of the following winter semester or, respectively, at the start of the following summer semester.

Each academic year, a total of 35 university places will be awarded at the University of Klagenfurt on the basis of the special admission procedure.

Steps of the special admission procedure:

Registration
Payment of the application fee
Upload of all required documents
Acceptance of the university place
Entry and residence
Enrolment in person
Payment of student union fees / university fees

Contact & Information

Game Studies and Engineering
E-mail: gse [at] aau [dot] at
Web: www.aau.at/en/master-gse
Verordnung des Rektorats zum Aufnahmeverfahren (PDF, German version, legally binding)
Regulation on the Special Admission Procedure (English version, PDF)

Verordnung des Rektorats zum Kostenbeitrag (PDF, German version, legally binding)
Payment of the application fee (PDF, English version)

Special admission procedure 2024
University places: 35
Start of studies: academic year 2024/2025

Links

Legalisation and translation requirements

Proficiency in English

Special admission procedure in table view

The steps of the special admission procedure in table view:

WHAT	WHO	WHEN	WHERE/HOW
Registration for the admission procedure	All applicants for the Master’s degree programme in Game Studies and Engineering	15 January to 30 April 2024 (11:59 pm CEST)	Online registration Complete the registration for the admission procedure in the registration portal For detailed information, please refer to Step 1!
Registration for the admission procedure	Non-EU- or Non-EEA-citizens	15 January to 29 February 2024
Payment of the application fee	All applicants for the Master’s degree programme in Game Studies and Engineering	15 January to 30 April 2024 (11:59 pm CEST)	Payment of the application fee by means of the ePayment service provided For detailed information, please refer to Step 2!
Payment of the application fee	Non-EU- or Non-EEA-citizens	15 January to 29 February 2024
Upload of the required documents	All applicants who have successfully completed the registration for the admission procedure	15 January to 30 April 2024 (11:59 pm CEST)	Upload all required documents to the registration portal For detailed information, please refer to Step 3!
Upload of the required documents	Non-EU- or Non-EEA-citizens	15 January to 29 February 2024
Fulfilment of minimal criteria	All applicants who have submitted a complete application by 30 April 2024 (11:59 pm CEST)	By 30 June 2024 at the latest (11:59 pm CEST)	Rectification in the registration portal For detailed information, please refer to Step 3!
Later submission of graduation documents	All applicants who submit a complete application by 30 April 2024 (11:59 pm CEST) and whose application meets the minimal criteria	By 31 October 2024 at the latest	Upload the complete graduation documents to the registration portal For detailed information, please refer to Step 3!
Invitation letter	University of Klagenfurt	After the examination of the required documents by the Admissions Committee and the Admissions and Examinations Office	Invitation letter to successful applicants by e-mail For detailed information, please refer to Step 4!
Acceptance of the university place	Applicants who receive an invitation letter by e-mail	Within 7 days from the day on which the invitation letter is sent	Accept the university place via the registration portal For detailed information, please refer to Step 4!
Entry and residence	Applicants who are not from Austria	As soon as possible	Entry and residence For detailed information, please refer to Step 5!
Enrolment	All applicants who successfully complete the admission procedure and who meet the admission requirements for the winter semester	By 31 October 2024 at the latest (for the winter semester)	In person at the Admissions and Examinations Office of the University of Klagenfurt For detailed information, please refer to Step 6!
Enrolment	Applicants who successfully complete the special admission procedure and meet the admission requirements for the summer semester	By 31 March 2025 at the latest (for the summer semester)
Fee payment	All enrolled students	By 31 October (for the winter semester) orby 31 March (for the summer semester)	Bank/online-banking For detailed information, please refer to Step 7!

The separate steps of the special admission procedure in detail

STEP 1: Registration

All applicants to the Master’s degree programme in Game Studies and Engineering must register for the special admission procedure exclusively within the registration period, using only the online registration of the University of Klagenfurt.

As a Non-EU- or Non-EEA-citizen you are strongly advised to apply within application window I. This way you are likely to have enough time to prepare all your documents and to properly plan your accommodation, residence permit, visa, travel plans etc.

Registration period

15^th of January to
30^th of April 2024

Application window I
15^th January to 29^th February 2024
Application window II
1^st March to 31^st March 2024
Application window III
1^st April to 30^th April 2024

Online registration

Online Registration Guide (PDF)

Registration for the special admission procedure for all students for whom this is the first degree at the University of Klagenfurt

Carry out the online registration to receive a user account. Applicants must provide an e-mail address for the purpose of registration (e.g. Gmail, yahoo, etc.). Fill in all fields marked with an asterisk (*). After the online registration you will receive an e-mail, inviting you to activate your user account.
Click on the link provided in the e-mail you have received. As part of the account activation procedure, you will be required to choose a username and define a password. Be sure to remember your access data (username and password). You will keep your username throughout your entire time at the University of Klagenfurt.
Once your user account is active, you can log in to the registration portal using your access data (username and password). Complete your personal details. Select the degree programme of your choice and register for the special admission procedure for the degree programme.

Registration for the special admission procedure for individuals who are already students at the University of Klagenfurt

Log in to your student portal and select the link Bewerbungsportal (registration portal) under services in the menu on the left-hand side.
Click on Bewerbung (registration). Select the degree programme of your choice and register for the special admission procedure for the degree programme.

Other or delayed forms of registration for the admission procedure cannot be considered.

Once you have registered and applied for admission to the Master’s degree programme in Game Studies and Engineering, you will receive confirmation by e-mail.
This does not conclude the special admission procedure!

For your application to be complete, you must pay the application fee and upload the required documents!

STEP 2: Payment of the application fee

Pay the 50 € application fee by means of the ePayment service provided.

The entire fee must be transferred to the bank account of the University of Klagenfurt within the registration period and it must by attributable to the respective applicant. Otherwise, the application cannot be considered. Therefore, make sure to pay the application fee correctly.

Application fee

Payment period:

15^th January 2024 to
30^th April 2024

Amount: 50 €

As a Non-EU- or Non-EEA-citizen you are strongly advised to pay the application fee within application window I. This way you are likely to have enough time to prepare all your documents and to properly plan your accommodation, residence permit, visa, travel plans etc.

The application fee is non-refundable. There are no exceptions.

FAQ

Bank transfer

You cannot make a bank transfer because it is NOT included in the ePayment service provided. You will not receive any payment details such as the recipient, IBAN, BIC, reference number etc. for the payment of the application fee.

STEP 3: Upload of all required documents

Prepare the documents

Scan all required documents. The documents must be submitted in full (e.g. front and back of the Bachelor’s degree certificate including the note of legalisation and the complete translation).

Ensure the integrity of your documents. To scan your documents, fold them if necessary. Do not remove existing attachments (e.g. seals, staples, threads, stickers, rivets etc.) under any circumstance. Do not damage any seals, staples, threads, stickers etc.

For each required document type, one file can be uploaded. Merge multiple pages of the same document into one file before the upload.

Be sure that your files are easily readable and provided in sufficiently high quality.

Upload the documents

Complete your application. Upload all required documents within the stipulated period, using the registration portal of the University of Klagenfurt.

As a Non-EU- or Non-EEA-citizen you are strongly advised to upload the required documents within application window I. This way you are likely to have enough time to prepare all your documents and to properly plan your accommodation, residence permit, visa, travel plans etc.

Permissible file format

PDF

Upload period

15^th of January to 30^th of April 2024

Registration portal

Required documents

Valid passport
Bachelor’s degree certificate
Transcript of records
Proof of proficiency in English
CV
Motivation video

Documents required where applicable

Documents concerning name change/variations
Confirmation of accreditation
Confirmation of official length of programme
Official translations

Incomplete applications cannot be considered and will be invalidated after the deadline for uploading the documents!

Upload all required documents:

passport or ID
Bachelor’s degree certificate
- i.e. documentary evidence of the completion of a relevant degree programme or of an equivalent degree programme (Bachelor’s degree or, respectively, undergraduate degree)¹and, if available, the associated notification of award (document with information on your academic title)
- in consideration of legalisation requirements
transcript of records
- i.e. an academic transcript including marks of all examinations passed within the undergraduate degree programme or, if available, a diploma supplement
- in consideration of legalisation requirements
proof of proficiency in English
- Level C1 (CEFR) ²
up-to-date CV
- in English
- with information about the applicant’s education, first language(s), all foreign language skills
motivation video ³
- in English
- in it, the applicant explains why they seek admission to the Master’s degree programme in Game Studies and Engineering at the University of Klagenfurt and why they should be offered a place
document(s) concerning a name change/variations
- if your name(s) is/are not the same in all of your documents, a document concerning the name change or, respectively, the variations in the spelling of a name/names is required, e.g. marriage certificate, affidavit etc.
- in consideration of legalisation requirements
confirmation of accreditation
- if this is required, you will be informed accordingly
confirmation of official length of programme
- if this is required, you will be informed accordingly
official translations
- if the above-mentioned documents have been issued in a language other than German or English, certified translations are required additionally

If there are doubts about the authenticity of documents or the identity of the applicant, further evidence can be requested or, for instance, an assessment interview can be held.

Your application documents will be verified for completeness and to ensure that all formal and personal criteria have been met. If shortcomings are found, you will be notified by e-mail. You will receive confirmation by e-mail as soon as all formal and personal criteria have been met.

Legalisation requirements

Depending on the country in which your documents were issued, they may need to be authenticated:

Legalisation requirements

Translation requirements

Documents which are issued in a language other than German or English need to be translated into either of these two languages:

Translation requirements

Fulfilment of minimal criteria

Within a complete application with an adequate passport, proof of proficiency in English, CV, and motivation video, the minimal criteria must be met by 30 June 2024 at the latest. Otherwise, an invitation letter for the academic year 2024/2025 cannot be issued.

By this deadline, the following criteria must be met:

official documents
- Bachelor’s degree certificate, transcript of records, proof of proficiency in English etc.: Only documents which are equipped with a wet ink signature and a wet stamp/embossing seal (i.e. manually signed and stamped) or with the Austrian ‘official signature’ (“Amtssignatur”) are considered official documents. Digitally generated documents without a wet ink signature and wet stamp/embossing seal or, respectively, without the Austrian official signature will not be considered. This also applies to provisional confirmation documents etc.
where applicable, document(s) concerning a name change/variations
where applicable, a confirmation of accreditation
where applicable, confirmation of official length of programme
where applicable, official translations of the above-mentioned documents, providing that they have been issued in a language other than German or English

Later submission of graduation documents

The Bachelor’s degree certificate, i.e. the documentary evidence of the completion of a relevant degree programme or of an equivalent degree programme (Bachelor’s degree or, respectively, undergraduate degree)¹, and the transcript of records/diploma supplement, i.e. a record of marks of all examinations passed within the undergraduate degree programme, do not necessarily have to be submitted within the registration period.

Applicants who are not yet in possession of their graduation documents within the registration period are required to provide evidence of their academic achievements in the form of

an official provisional transcript of records and
the corresponding curriculum/study plan

in German or English (with official translations, where applicable).

Scans of the complete graduation documents (in consideration of the legalisation and the translation requirements) must be uploaded by 31 October at the latest for admission for the winter semester or the following summer semester (see step 6: Enrolment in person).

Later submission of legalised documents

If your documents are not legalised in compliance with the requirements at the time of application, scan them as they are (i.e. without legalisation). Given that your application is deemed to be suitable, you will have the chance to replace the files by uploading scans of your legalised documents later on.

Scans of the complete (graduation) documents (in consideration of the legalisation and the translation requirements) must be uploaded by 31 October at the latest for admission for the winter semester or the following summer semester (see Step 6: Enrolment in Person).

All suitable applications will remain valid for the entire registration period. Applicants whose applications meet the criteria may be issued a conditional offer of study. Applications that exceed the number appointed during one application window, will automatically be included for consideration in the next application window.

Applications which do not meet the personal and/or formal criteria will be rejected.

STEP 4: Acceptance of the university place

Invitation letter

Depending on the number of applications received, slightly more than 10 university places will be allocated per application window. Applicants who are allocated a place at university receive an invitation letter with a conditional offer of study. This document can be used for various bureaucratic affairs such as applying for a visa. It is the only document issued to applicants prior to enrolment.

Acceptance deadline

within 7 days from the day on which the invitation letter is sent

Please note that the offer letter is valid only for an entry in the academic year following the special admission procedure and that the deadlines stated in the invitation letter apply.

Acceptance of the university place

If you receive an invitation letter with a conditional offer of study, secure your place by accepting the offer via the registration portal within 7 days from the day on which the invitation letter is sent.

Should you not accept the university place, admission will not be possible at a later stage.

STEP 5: Entry and Residence

If you are not originally from Austria, please make sure you find out about requirements regarding entry into and residence in Austria in a timely manner.

You may need a residence permit and a visa. If so, you will need to apply for the residence permit and the visa on your own, before you enter Austria. The University of Klagenfurt cannot support applicants in that regard.

Austrian residence permit and visa procedures are complex and demanding. The processing time of an application for a residence permit/visa can be several months. Therefore, you should start the process as early as possible.

Additional documents might need to be legalised and/or translated for a residence permit/visa application to be considered complete.

The Admissions and Examinations Office is not in charge of matters related to accommodation, residence permits, visas etc.

Entry & Residence

Important links

Stay in Austria

MIGRATION.gv.at

OeAD – Entry and Residence (General Information)

OeAD – Entry and Residence (EU/EEA/Swiss)

OeAD – Entry and Residence (Third Countries)

University of Klagenfurt: International Office

STEP 6: Enrolment in person

The winter semester starts on the 1^st of October, the summer semester starts on the 1^st of March. ⁵

A start of studies after the beginning of the semester may result in difficulties.

Applicants who have successfully concluded the special admission procedure can enrol up to the 31^st of October. Alternatively, if this deadline cannot be met, successful applicants can enrol during the admission period for the summer semester, i.e. no later than the 31^st of March. Enrolment for the summer semester is possible only if the application meets all requirements for admission by the 31^st of October 2024. Enrolment (admission) takes place in person at the Admissions and Examinations Office.

You will receive information about the date for your enrolment by e-mail in the course of the special admission procedure.

Required documents (originals or certified copies)

Valid passport or ID
Bachelor’s degree certificate
Transcript of records
Proof of proficiency in English

Documents required where applicable

Documents concerning name change/variations
Confirmation of accreditation
Confirmation of official length of programme
Official translations

At enrolment, applicants must present the following documents as originals or certified copies:

valid passport or ID (original document)
Bachelor’s degree certificate and, if available, notification of award as documentary evidence of the completion of a relevant degree programme or of an equivalent degree programme (undergraduate degree)¹
transcript of records pertaining to the undergraduate degree programme or, if available, diploma supplement
certificate or other documentary proof of proficiency in English (Level C1 (CEFR))²
where applicable, documents concerning name change/variations
where applicable, confirmation of accreditation
where applicable, confirmation of official length of programme
where applicable, official translations of the above-mentioned documents, providing that they have been issued in a language other than German or English

Documents must be presented as original documents and must fully comply with the legalisation and the translation requirements.

The documents required for the purpose of enrolment must be submitted and will be returned to the applicant without delay, as soon as the authenticity has been verified.

Prints, scans, or simple copies do NOT suffice for admission.

STEP 7: Payment of student union fees / university fees

Following the successful enrolment, the prescribed student union fees / university fees ⁴ must be paid in a timely and orderly manner by the end of the admission period.

The admission to the degree programme is only valid once the prescribed fees have been paid in full and on time! Students can only register for courses once the fees have been paid.

University fees

Important Information

¹ Successful completion of a relevant undergraduate degree programme

The following undergraduate degrees at the University of Klagenfurt are considered appropriate prerequisites for the Master’s degree programme in Game Studies and Engineering in any case, given the successful completion of the special admission procedure:

Applied Informatics
Applied Cultural Studies
English and American Studies
Informatics
Information and Communications Engineering
Information Management
Media and Communications Science

Students who have completed a Bachelor’s degree programme in the humanities, social-, or media sciences, a Bachelor’s degree programme in the field of computer sciences, information technology, information management, English studies, or media communication, or an equivalent degree programme at a domestic or foreign university, university of applied science or other recognised post-secondary educational institution, are admitted to the Master’s degree programme if they provide evidence of at least 8 ECTS credits from one of the supplementary subjects.

Holders of different undergraduate degrees are required to consult the programme director gse [at] aau [dot] at

² Evidence of proficiency in English at the C1 level (CEFR)

Your English competency is required to be certified by one of the following qualifications. The certificates mentioned under points 5 to 7 must not be more than two years old at the time of application for admission:

School-leaving certificate from a school with English as language of instruction and examination
Completion of a study programme conducted in English and lasting at least two years at a recognised post-secondary educational institution
School-leaving examination in English with a final grade no less than “good (2 or B)” in accordance with the Austrian school grading system and a minimum of 8 ECTS credits in courses with English as the language of instruction and examination at a recognized Austrian or foreign post-secondary educational institution, with a grade average not below “good (2 or B)“, or a comparable foreign education
English proficiency of university applicants whose native language is English, or university applicants with an extended stay in an English-speaking country (a semester abroad, a school year abroad, employment,
etc.), which can be proven through relevant documents (a certificate of employment/ reference, a residence permit etc.) stating the time period.
TOEFL iBT (Minimum Score: 100)
IELTS (Minimum Overall Band Score: 7) – Exam dates at the University of Klagenfurt
Cambridge English: Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) or C1 Advanced (Minimum Scale Score: 185, minimum grade B) or above
If none of the confirmations and certificates mentioned above provide proof of English language proficiency, the admissions committee may conduct an assessment interview with the applicant in order to determine his/her existing language skills. This interview can also be conducted as a video conference.

³ Motivation video

The motivation video will be assessed by the Admission Committee, who also give due regard to additional interpersonal and intercultural skills.

Content:

The applicants’ personal criteria are assessed amongst others on the basis of the motivation video. In this elevator pitch, you should describe why you want to enrol for the Master’s degree programme in Game Studies and Engineering. Outline, for instance, your motivation, your objectives, and your perspectives in relation to the degree, and explain the reasons for selecting the University of Klagenfurt as your potential educational institution. Clarify why you are the right person for this Master’s degree programme and why you should be offered a place. So, elaborate on the following three questions:

Why do I want to study Game Studies and Engineering?
Why do I wish to study at the University of Klagenfurt?
Why am I the right person for this degree programme?

Language:

English

Technical details:

Length: 60–90 seconds
File size: max. 100 MB
Permissible file formats: MPEG-4 (file extension: .mp4), M4V (.m4v), WebM (.webm), MKV (.mkv), QuickTime (.mov)

Before you create your video, watch our tutorial.

⁴ University fees and student union fee

Austrians, EU citizens, students with the status of “Konventionsflüchtlinge”, and privileged third-country nationals (“begünstigte Drittstaatsangehörige“) are EXEMPT from university fees, if they are regular students and the duration of their study is not extended by more than two semesters.

All students have to pay the student union fee.

Students who are nationals of the least-developed countries or LDCs within the meaning of the DAC list NEED NOT pay the university fees.

OECD: DAC List of ODA Recipients

United Nations: LDCs at a Glance

⁵ Term dates and deadlines

The academic year commences on the 1^st of October and ends on the 30^th of September of the following year. It consists of the winter semester and the summer semester, each including the recess period. The winter semester begins on the 1^st of October, the summer semester begins on the 1^st of March. Courses in the winter semester begin on the 1^st of October, courses in the summer semester begin on the 1^st of March (see academic calendar).

Disclosure of data

In the course of the preliminary proceedings, personal data may be passed on to third parties.

In the event of doubt, the university reserves the right to verify the authenticity of any documents submitted.

Regulation on the Special Admission Procedure

Verordnung des Rektorats zum Aufnahmeverfahren (PDF, German version, legally binding)

Regulation on the special admission procedure prior to admission for Master’s degree programmes in English at the University of Klagenfurt (PDF, English Version)