Study Assistance: 5 Key Contacts and Counseling Resources Available
In Austria, students have access to a wide range of psychological support services beyond the basic counseling offered by universities.
University Counseling Centers (Studierendenberatung) form the backbone of these services, providing dedicated psychological support, workshops, therapy groups, and consultations tailored to student needs [2][4]. Universities are also required by law to offer career and study guidance, often including psychological support related to career uncertainty and academic stress [1].
Some universities, like the Carinthia University of Applied Sciences (CUAS), offer additional Student Support Services including counseling to help with social, academic, or psychological issues [3]. Moreover, some university counseling services provide Mindfulness-based programs and therapy groups aimed at enhancing mental wellbeing among students [2].
External Quality Assurance and Career Support Programs ensure schools and universities offer high-quality career and study guidance, sometimes integrated with psychological counseling for disadvantaged or special-needs students [1].
Beyond university-level services, psychological counseling may also be available through student unions, private practitioners with student rates, and national helplines, although these were not detailed in the sources provided.
The working group Uniability provides additional psychological counseling services and advocates for the equal treatment of people with disabilities and chronic illnesses at Austrian universities. Uniability offers specific information and guides for course selection & planning, study-related service facilities, financial aid, scholarships, accommodation, and mobility programs for students with disabilities or chronic illnesses [5].
All services provided by the trained psychologists are free of charge and can be anonymous if desired [6]. For those seeking student housing, Non-profit Student Housing AG offers student dorms, vacation rentals, and other housing solutions [7].
In times of crisis, such as the Corona pandemic or the war in Ukraine, the psychological student counseling also provides assistance [8].
This article, copyrighted from 2007 to 2023, also mentions the Mindfulness Training for Students: Navigating Academic Life and Community Spirit at STUWO: Living in Student Housing [9].
References:
- Austrian Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research
- University of Vienna
- Carinthia University of Applied Sciences
- University of Graz
- Uniability
- Student Union of Vienna University (STUWO)
- Non-profit Student Housing AG
- Crisis Intervention Services
- Mindfulness Training for Students
'Exploring education-and-self-development opportunities at universities in Austria, learning about services such as Mindfulness-based programs and therapy groups, can assist students in enhancing their mental wellbeing.'
'Universities in Austria provide additional Student Support Services, like counseling for learning difficulties or career worries, as part of their commitment to comprehensive education-and-self-development and student success.'
