GET A HEAD START ON COLLEGE: FERNFH Opens Its Course Offerings to High School Students

Since the spring of 2025, the Ferdinand Porsche Distance Learning Program has been part of the Austria-wide initiative “Students to Universities,” which is coordinated by the OeAD—Agency for Education and Internationalization. For the first time, particularly gifted and dedicated high school students now have the opportunity to attend courses and take exams in the Business Informatics (Bachelor’s) program while still in high school.

Starting in the 2025–26 winter semester, interested young people can get a taste of academic life and take their first steps in higher education. The exams they pass can be applied toward a future degree program—a valuable head start for their future educational path. The students will be enrolled at FERNFH as non-degree students and will pay only the ÖH membership fee; they are exempt from tuition fees.

Get a taste of college life before graduating from high school

Each semester, approximately 170 students from across Austria participate in the “High School Students at the University” initiative . The fields of study in particularly high demand are computer science, law, mathematics, and business—and this is precisely where FERNFH comes in with its bachelor’s degree programin business informaticsvia distance learning.

“With our proven distance learning model, we are creating a particularly flexible program that is especially well-suited to students who would have difficulty meeting the organizational demands of a traditional on-campus program—whether for geographical or time-related reasons,” emphasizes Mag. Astrid Braun, the project contact at FERNFH.

Admission to the program is granted through anapplicationto Young Science, the OeAD’s Center for Collaboration between Science and Schools. After reviewing the application materials, Young Science nominates suitable candidates to FERNFH. This is followed by an initial meeting with the program director, during which suitable courses are selected jointly. Enrollment then takes place.

A strong message in support of equal opportunity and diversity

Participation in the OeAD initiative is another step for FERNFH toward greater equality of opportunity, access to education, and diversity.“Promoting and providing individualized support to those interested in education, as well as breaking down barriers, are central components of our approach to education. We are very pleased that, as a university for lifelong learning, we can now open up new horizons for young talents even while they are still in high school,”said Prof. (FH) DI Dr. Martin Staudinger,program director of the Bachelor’s program in Business Informatics and head of the FERNFH faculty.

More Information & Contact

Those interested can find more information about registration and requirements at:
www.youngscience.at/schuelerinnen-hochschulen