Karl Landsteiner Private University, Krems an der Donau

Karl Landsteiner Private University for Health Sciences in Krems an der Donau was founded in 2013 and is therefore a young institution. It structures the medical programme not as a continuous degree but on the Bologna model in two stages: three years Bachelor Medical Science with 180 ECTS credits, followed by three years Master Humanmedizin leading to the Dr. med. univ. degree. Together these make six years of study.

What defines the faculty

The greatest advantage for German-speaking applicants is the language of the clinical phase. The Master Humanmedizin is taught in German, and clinical training takes place at the University Clinics Krems, St. Pölten and Tulln — that is, in a German-speaking clinical environment. No additional language needs to be learned alongside the programme, and the transition into a junior doctor position in Germany or Austria is correspondingly smoother.

The two-stage structure is also notable. The Bachelor covers the pre-clinical foundations and concludes with 180 ECTS credits; the Master focuses on clinical training at the three university clinics. The admission process has no numerus clausus. Cohorts are small and distances in Krems are short. Those who prefer structured supervision to a large anonymous faculty will find suitable conditions here.

Where the limits lie

Krems is expensive. €14,175 per semester means €28,350 per year, and over twelve semesters around €170,100 in tuition fees alone — one of the most expensive routes to a medical degree in the German-speaking world. Add €800 to €1,200 per month for rent, food, insurance and transport, plus ancillary costs for the application, study materials and the selection process. Overseas BAföG covers only a small fraction of this.

The selection process is a genuine filter: first an online aptitude test, then a personal interview, and both stages must be passed. The language switch is also an adjustment, because the Bachelor is in English and the Master in German; both languages must be mastered confidently. And the Bachelor is not a stepping-stone exit: German faculties do not recognise a Bachelor in human medicine, so a transfer there remains the exception.

Who this site suits

Krems suits you if you want to remain in the German-speaking world, value a small structured environment, and the costs over twelve semesters are genuinely sustainable. Those who focus primarily on fees will find considerably more affordable routes in Eastern Europe; those who prioritise clinical practice in German and short distances to Vienna, on the other hand, are well placed here. Whether the financing and your profile fit the selection process is something we assess individually in a free consultation.

Admission

The prerequisite is the general higher education entrance qualification or an equivalent Matura; there is no numerus clausus. Selection proceeds in two stages: first an online aptitude test, then a personal interview. The content tested is upper secondary school knowledge, not university material. Both stages must be passed — without a passed test you do not reach the interview at all. Because the Bachelor is taught in English and the Master in German, the university requires evidence of both languages. The test is taken online; travel to Krems is not required for this.

Deadlines

The programme starts in the winter semester; there is no summer entry. A missed cohort costs twelve months. The aptitude test and the interview fall in the preceding months and must align in timing. We deliberately do not quote specific deadlines here because they shift each year. Several months of lead time are realistic, and those who start early have more room to prepare.

Tuition fees and cost of living

The tuition fee is €14,175 per semester and applies across all twelve semesters of Bachelor and Master, totalling around €170,100. Application and selection fees, study materials, health insurance, and deposit and registration at the place of residence come on top. Budget €800 to €1,200 per month for living costs; rooms in shared flats in Krems start at around €300. Overseas BAföG can in principle be applied for, because Austria is a member of the European Union, but at this level of fees it covers only a small proportion.

Structure and language of instruction

The programme is divided on the Bologna model. The three-year Bachelor Medical Science covers 180 ECTS credits, is taught in English and covers the pre-clinical foundations. This is followed by the three-year Master Humanmedizin in German, which concludes with the Dr. med. univ. degree. Together this makes six years of study and twelve semesters. The language switch after the third year is an adjustment to plan for.

Clinical training and practice

Clinical training takes place at the University Clinics Krems, St. Pölten and Tulln. The three sites cover a broad subject range, and you work in a German-speaking clinical environment from the outset. Cohorts are small, so supervision is close. This makes the later transition into a postgraduate training position in Germany, Austria or Switzerland easier.

Recognition in Germany

Austria is a member of the European Union. The Dr. med. univ. from Karl Landsteiner Private University therefore falls under Directive 2005/36/EC, Annex V, as amended by Delegated Decision (EU) 2023/2383, and is automatically recognised in Germany. No equivalency assessment applies; no knowledge examination either. For Austria, the Austrian Medical Chamber is the competent authority; for Germany, you apply to the authority of the federal state in which you wish to work. Processing times depend on the federal state; for Switzerland the competent federal authority decides.

Life in Krems an der Donau

Krems an der Donau lies in Lower Austria at the eastern edge of the Wachau and has around 25,000 inhabitants. As a university town with several institutions, the city has a student character; distances are short and the surroundings are attractive: the Danube, vineyards and cycle paths are part of everyday life. Nightlife is modest; Vienna is reachable by train in just over an hour.

Housing and daily life

Rooms in shared flats start at around €300 per month; there are also student residences and small rental apartments. Because the city is small, availability is limited at the start of semester; some students commute from the surrounding area or from the Vienna direction. Searching early is particularly worthwhile here.

Community and getting there

Cohorts are small — you get to know people quickly. Language barriers and long journeys do not apply: from Germany, Krems is easily reachable via Vienna or by car, and both everyday life and clinical work are conducted in German. Austrian prices are higher than in Eastern European study destinations.

Is the Krems degree recognised in Germany?

Yes. Austria is a member of the European Union; the Dr. med. univ. from Karl Landsteiner Private University is therefore automatically recognised in Germany under Directive 2005/36/EC. No equivalency assessment or knowledge examination applies. This covers the entire pathway of Bachelor Medical Science and Master Humanmedizin.

Why does Krems have a Bachelor and a Master?

The university structures medicine on the Bologna model: first the three-year Bachelor Medical Science with 180 ECTS credits, then the three-year Master Humanmedizin. Together these make six years and the Dr. med. univ. degree. The Bachelor covers the pre-clinical foundations; the Master focuses on clinical training.

In which language is the programme taught?

The Bachelor is in English; the Master is in German. Both languages are needed during the programme and both certificates must be submitted with the application. For German-speaking school-leavers it is primarily the English Bachelor phase that requires adjustment; in the clinical phase you then work in German, because patients at the university clinics also speak German.

What does the programme cost in total?

The tuition fee is €14,175 per semester and applies across all twelve semesters, totalling around €170,100. Add €800 to €1,200 per month for living costs as well as ancillary costs for application, materials and insurance. This makes Krems one of the most expensive routes to a medical degree in the German-speaking world.

How does the admission process work?

In two stages: first an online aptitude test, then a personal interview. Both stages must be passed; there is no purely grade-based process and no numerus clausus. The content tested is upper secondary school knowledge. Without a passed test you do not reach the interview at all.