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AUSTRIA
Introduction
Austria is a small country in the centre of Europe, well known for its music and beautiful nature. However, Austria is also a modern industrialised country with metallurgical industry, motor industry, machines, textiles, oil and chemical industry and food industry. The capital Vienna is an economic centre of middle Europe with increasing importance. Vienna is the political, cultural and economic centre of the country and has about 1.6 million inhabitants. Vienna is the third seat of the United Nations and also of other international institutions (OPEC, European Patent Office, etc.).
University of Vienna
The University of Vienna, Austria's largest university, was founded in 1365 by Duke Rudolf IV. It is not only the oldest university in the German-speaking countries, but, as a result of the dramatic political changes of the last few years, has also come to gain increasing significance as a centre of learning in Central and Eastern Europe. There are currently approximately 85.000 students from 121 countries enrolled at the University, whose eight faculties offer 130 courses of study. The University is a publicity maintained institution and is open to everyone who has obtained the Austrian school leaving certificate or equivalent.
The Faculty of Law dates back to the year the University was founded. Nearly 15.000 students, almost 46% of all Austrian law students, are enrolled here. The faculty has thirteen departments and law studies are organised around the central disciplines of civil law, penal law, constitutional law and administrative law, with European law rapidly gaining importance. Computers and law courses are optional for the law student. Theoretical studies of at least four years'length, which lead to the degree of 'Magister', prepare students for the specific practical training required for the individual legal profession - judge, lawyer, notary public, etc. This first degree may be followed by doctoral studies.
Winter term: 1 October to 31 January
Summer term: 1 March to 30 June
Computers and Law courses
The Faculty of Law offers undergraduates a programme in computers and law. The main course is given in the summer term (4 hours a week). The main topics are: introduction to computer use for lawyers, legal information science, legal knowledge representation, information retrieval systems and artificial intelligence and law. Many additional courses are offered: computer technology in the administration of justice (winter term, 2 hours a week), mastering European law with information technology (CELEX) (winter term, 2 hours a week), data protection law (summer term, 2 hours a week), and a practitioner's seminar (winter and summer term, 2 hours a week). The courses mentioned above are taught in German. For the incoming ERASMUS students special ERASMUS lectures are given in English (summer term, 2 hours a week).
These lectures cover all tops of computers and law with particular reference to Austrian practice and research. The ERASMUS students can participate in the interdiciplicary research and studies between the Faculty of Law, Institute of Public International Law and the Faculty of Social Studies and Economics, Indtitute of Applied Computer Science.
Languages
The ERASMUS lectures will be in English. The other courses in Computers and Law are given in German.
Facilities
The University of Vienna has the larges library in Austria with about 4 million volumes. There exist other excellent specialised libraries in Vienna (Vienna International Centre for the United Nations, OPEC, etc). Computer labs are available at the Istitute of Applied Computer Sciences (DOS/Windows, UNIX) or at the Computing Centre at the University of Vienna (DOS/Windows, VM/XA, UNIX).
Accommodation
The Austrian Academic Exchange Service (ÓAD) is concerned with accommodation in hall of residences ("Studentenheim"). On request they try to find accommodation for exchange students. The cost for a place in a "Studentenheim" ranges from ATS 2.500,- up to ATS 3.300,- per month. The Austrian Academic Exchange Service helps students to find private accommodation. The cost is ATS 3.500,- and more per month.
Cost of living
The living expenses in Vienna are about ATS 7.000 to 9.000 (included ATS 2.500 to 4.000 for housing).
Whom to contact for more information
If you need more information you can contact:
MMag.Dr. Erich Schweighofer:
Universität Wien
Rechtswissenschaftliche Fakultät
Institut für Völkerrecht
Universitätsstrasse 2
A-1090, VIENNA
Austria
Fax: +43 1 4027941
Phone: +43 1 4064341-14
Email:
erich.schweighofer@univie.ac.at(erich.schweighofer@univie.ac.at)
Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr.Dr. Gerald Quirchmayr:
Universität Wien
Sozial- und Wirtschatswissenschaftliche Fakultät
Institut für Angewandte Informatik und
Informationssysteme
Liebiggasse 4/6
A-1010, Vienna
Austria
Fax: +43 1 4060197
Phone: +43 1 4062367-18
Email:
gerald.quirchmayr@univie.ac.at(gerald.quirchmayr@univie.ac.at)
WWW: http://www.ifs.univie.ac.at/law/erasmus.html