Work as a student representativeStudierendenvertreter*in is an umbrella term that covers all students engaged in student representation work in some official capacity: elected mandates of the UV and StVs, heads and assistants of the Referate, tutors, and all students sent to collegiate organs and other commissions. It is defined in § 30 HSG, and the legal status as a student representative qualifies you for various perks. The different ways to become a student representative: • mandates: elected at the ÖH Wahl (only possible every two years) • department heads: elected at a UV meeting • collegiate organ student members: can be sent by the… (whether as an StVStV refers both to the 20 Studienvertretungen at Angewandte who represent the concerns of the students of their programme(s), and to the 2-3 mandates that each Studienvertretung consists of, which can only be elected at the ÖH election every two years. Apart from having the legal right to nominate Stuko members, the StVs also manage their study programme’s part of the Hufak budget. While legally all financial decisions are taken by the elected StV mandates alone, we encourage StVs to consult with their student body and make decisions in a plenum whenever possible. The legal responsibilities are defined in §… or in a collegiate organcollegiate organs are democratic committees of the university in which representatives of students, professors, assistants (“Mittelbau”) and general staff come together to discuss and decide on various issues. Angewandte’s collegiate organs are the senate, study commissions (StuKo), AKG as well as appointment commissions. Any student can be nominated to join a collegiate organ — unlike the StVs (which can only be elected every two years) members can be swapped out any time.) is voluntary and unpaid. However, your work entitles you to various types of compensation and legal protection.
Since the different compensations come from different places, you have to apply for each one you want to receive independently of each other.
Please note that in most cases Hufak needs to give you a confirmation of your student representation work, which we can only do after you’ve completed a full semester in your position. You can collect your confirmations for the winter semester at the end of January, confirmations for the summer semester at the end of June.
ECTS
qualifies you for ECTS that you can use for Freie Wahlfächer (and, in some study programmes, even for your Wahlfächer)
- what?
- you get ECTS that you can use for Freie Wahlfächer (based on §31 Abs. 3 HSG)
- 6 ECTS for every semester of being an elected StVStV refers both to the 20 Studienvertretungen at Angewandte who represent the concerns of the students of their programme(s), and to the 2-3 mandates that each Studienvertretung consists of, which can only be elected at the ÖH election every two years. Apart from having the legal right to nominate Stuko members, the StVs also manage their study programme’s part of the Hufak budget. While legally all financial decisions are taken by the elected StV mandates alone, we encourage StVs to consult with their student body and make decisions in a plenum whenever possible. The legal responsibilities are defined in §… (whether Vorsitz or normal member)
- 2 ECTS for every semester of being a StuKo or Berufungskommission member (whether main or substitute member)
- when?
- as soon as you have completed at least one semester of any ÖH position — you can wait and apply for one big chunk of ECTS at the end, or get smaller portions in between if/when you need them
- how?
- fill in Antrag auf Ersatz von ECTS-Anrechnungspunkten (both pages, except the “Bestätigung” column and the signature box on the 2nd page)
- drop the form off at the Hufak secretaryOur secretary is your first point of contact for all general questions and administrative help. You can reach him Monday to Friday 09:00 – 13:00 in his office on the ground floor of Oskar-Kokoschka-Platz 2 (Ferstel-Trakt, across from Mensa), via phone at +43 1 711 33 2270 or email to hufak@hufak.net in OKP (Mo-Fr 9-13h)
- we’ll sign+stamp the form for you, then pass it on to Studiendekan (Dean of Studies)
Toleranzsemester for Studienbeihilfe-EmpfängerInnen
If you receive Studienbeihilfe, student representation work can extend the time which you qualify to receive it. (The same apparently applies to BAföG, we can give you a confirmation of your student representation work but you will have to figure out the application process yourself.)
- what?
- “Zeiten als Studierendenvertreterin oder Studierendenvertreter sind […] bis zum Höchstausmaß von vier Semestern zur Erlangung von Studienbeihilfen nach dem Studienförderungsgesetz 1992 […] nicht in die darin vorgesehene höchstzulässige Studienzeit einzurechnen” (HSG 2014, §31 Abs. 2 and Studienförderungsgesetz 1992)
- ¾ semester extra per semester of being StV-Vorsitz
- ½ semester extra per semester of being StV-member
- ¼ semester extra per semester of being StuKo-member (need to be member for at least 2 semesters!)
- fractional semesters (e.g. ¼, ½) are rounded up
- Toleranzsemester are not transferrable between studies (also not between Bachelors and Masters of the same course!)
- “Zeiten als Studierendenvertreterin oder Studierendenvertreter sind […] bis zum Höchstausmaß von vier Semestern zur Erlangung von Studienbeihilfen nach dem Studienförderungsgesetz 1992 […] nicht in die darin vorgesehene höchstzulässige Studienzeit einzurechnen” (HSG 2014, §31 Abs. 2 and Studienförderungsgesetz 1992)
- how?
- use form SB9
- hand the form in at the Hufak secretaryOur secretary is your first point of contact for all general questions and administrative help. You can reach him Monday to Friday 09:00 – 13:00 in his office on the ground floor of Oskar-Kokoschka-Platz 2 (Ferstel-Trakt, across from Mensa), via phone at +43 1 711 33 2270 or email to hufak@hufak.net, they will get it stamped+signed for you and tell you when you can pick the form up again (usually takes a few days)
- submit directly to Studienbeihilfenstelle
Tuition fee exemption
Angewandte grants tuition feeAustrian universities charge a tuition fee, but many types of exemptions are possible. More information on the different conditions see the website of Angewandte Studienabteilung. (even if you are exempt from paying the tuition fee, you still have to pay your ÖH membership fee, which goes to support the work of Hufak and Bundes ÖH!) exemptions for student representation work, both to Austrian/EU and international students.
- what?
- based on SatzungThe statutes of Hufak control which departments exist, what the spending limits for StVs are etc. They are not set in stone but can be changed by the UV. of Angewandte (Part II § 3a):
- 1 semester exemption per semester of being StV-Vorsitz or StuKo-member
- 1 semester exemption for every 2 semesters of being normal StV-member or Berufungskommissions-member
- extra semesters earned are transferrable between studies at Angewandte (e.g. apply for exemption during your Masters for StVStV refers both to the 20 Studienvertretungen at Angewandte who represent the concerns of the students of their programme(s), and to the 2-3 mandates that each Studienvertretung consists of, which can only be elected at the ÖH election every two years. Apart from having the legal right to nominate Stuko members, the StVs also manage their study programme’s part of the Hufak budget. While legally all financial decisions are taken by the elected StV mandates alone, we encourage StVs to consult with their student body and make decisions in a plenum whenever possible. The legal responsibilities are defined in §… work you did during the Bachelor)
- no more than 4 semesters in total!
- based on SatzungThe statutes of Hufak control which departments exist, what the spending limits for StVs are etc. They are not set in stone but can be changed by the UV. of Angewandte (Part II § 3a):
- when?
- apply before or during the semester that you want to be exempt for
- for the winter semester: by the subsequent 31st March
- for the summer semester: by the subsequent 30th September
- international students: apply as soon as you have earned a full semester worth of exemption
- Austria/EU: wait until you exceed minimum study time, then start applying
- apply before or during the semester that you want to be exempt for
- how?
- two forms:
- the general exemption/reduction form of Studienabteilung (English / German)
- under ‘other reasons’ write: ÖH-Tätigkeit
- using the same form SB9 that is used for Studienbeihilfe?
- the general exemption/reduction form of Studienabteilung (English / German)
- submit it to Studienabteilung (studien@uni-ak.ac.at, or drop off at the Student Info Point at OKP)
- two forms:
Refund of childcare costs
If childcare costs are incurred in the course of your work as a student representativeStudierendenvertreter*in is an umbrella term that covers all students engaged in student representation work in some official capacity: elected mandates of the UV and StVs, heads and assistants of the Referate, tutors, and all students sent to collegiate organs and other commissions. It is defined in § 30 HSG, and the legal status as a student representative qualifies you for various perks. The different ways to become a student representative: • mandates: elected at the ÖH Wahl (only possible every two years) • department heads: elected at a UV meeting • collegiate organ student members: can be sent by the…, these can (partially) be refunded according to the financial regulationsThe Gebarungsordnung regulate the reimbursement procedures and spending limits for all student representatives at Hufak. You can find the current version of the Gebarungsordnung under Downloads. of Hufak and Bundes ÖH.
Contact the Hufak secretaryOur secretary is your first point of contact for all general questions and administrative help. You can reach him Monday to Friday 09:00 – 13:00 in his office on the ground floor of Oskar-Kokoschka-Platz 2 (Ferstel-Trakt, across from Mensa), via phone at +43 1 711 33 2270 or email to hufak@hufak.net for more information. Refund is guided by the current version of the SatzungThe statutes of Hufak control which departments exist, what the spending limits for StVs are etc. They are not set in stone but can be changed by the UV., here are the terms as of 2026:
(1) If childcare costs are incurred in connection with work for the Austrian National Union of Students, up to €25.00 per hour can be reimbursed for one child in care. This amount increases by €5.00 per hour for each additional child sent into care. Proof of the caregiver’s qualifications, such as specialized training or other experience, must be provided. Reimbursement is not possible if the care is provided by relatives up to the third degree or persons living in the same household.
(2) If the childcare is provided on a commercial basis, the entire cost can be reimbursed.
Reduced mandatory course attendance
If you miss classes with compulsory attendance because of student representation work, you can go below the mandatory attendance requirement.
§31 HSG 2014:
(6) Soweit für eine Lehrveranstaltung an einer Bildungseinrichtung eine Anwesenheitsverpflichtung vorgesehen ist, kann diese von Studierendenvertreterinnen und Studierendenvertretern, zusätzlich zu den bestehenden Regelungen betreffend die Ausnahmen der Anwesenheitsverpflichtung, um höchstens 30 vH für Tätigkeiten als Studierendenvertreterin oder Studierendenvertreter unterschritten werden. Dies gilt nicht, wenn die vollständige Anwesenheit zur Erlangung einer Berufsberechtigung erforderlich ist. Die Leiterin oder der Leiter der Lehrveranstaltung ist berechtigt, die Vorlage eines entsprechenden Nachweises zu verlangen. Von der Möglichkeit einer Unterschreitung der Anwesenheitsverpflichtung ausgenommen sind bei Lehramtsstudien die im Curriculum gekennzeichneten Praktika im Rahmen der pädagogisch-praktischen Studien.
Free choice of examiner
Free choice of examiner
§31 HSG 2014:
(5) Studierendenvertreterinnen und Studierendenvertreter sind berechtigt, anstelle von Einzelprüfungen kommissionelle Prüfungen abzulegen. Die freie Wahl der Prüferinnen und Prüfer ist ab dem zweiten Prüfungsantritt zulässig. Diese Berechtigungen erstrecken sich auch auf die beiden darauffolgenden Semester nach dem Semester der Beendigung der Funktion als Studierendenvertreterin oder Studierendenvertreter.
