Contextual Studies
Interdisciplinary teaching for FHV master’s students
Contextual Studies as part of the master's degree
All FHV master's degree programmes are characterised by three elements:
Core Programme: The compulsory basic subjects in the core study programme establish the technical and scientific craft and promote your professional skills.
Specialisation Studies: In specialisations, you expand and specialise your technical approach, tailored to your interests and professional goals.
Contextual Studies: With the ~40 courses to choose from, you will cross boundaries between disciplines and schools of thought (interdisciplinarity), cultures, languages and countries (internationality) as well as current knowledge and the future (research and development).
Your degree programme will take you through all three basic elements. You will deepen and broaden your skills by incorporating your personal interests into your studies.
Diverse selection of courses
You can choose from a pool of interesting courses, some in English, Study Trips, Research Projects and international courses. Your commitment to the Austrian Students' Union will also be recognised. Here is an overview:
| Courses | ECTS | Language |
| Introduction to Financial Markets – Overview | 3 | G/EN |
|
The Digital World: Technology, Society and Ethics |
3 | EN |
| Working in Inter- and Transdisciplinary Teams | 3 | G |
|
Human Rights in the Professional Context |
3 | EN |
|
Disruptive Technologies: Fundamentals, Applications and Opportunities |
3 | EN |
|
Introduction to the Solidarity Economy |
3 | EN |
|
Knowing in Everyday Practice |
3 | G/EN |
|
ZEN-Meditation and Self-Coaching |
3 | G |
| Innovation Ecosystem Explorers (Study Trip to Tallinn and Helsinki) | 3 | EN |
|
Health Promotion at the Workplace: Holistic Health |
3 | G |
|
Writing Lab: Creative Writing |
3 | G |
| Models of Change and Personality Development | 3 | EN |
| Intercultural Communication and Diversity Training | 3 | EN |
| Philosophicum – Presence of Mind | 3 | G |
| Data Visualisation and Analytics | 3 | EN |
| Introduction to Financial Markets – Market Strategy | 3 | G/EN |
|
Health Promotion for Employees and Managers |
6 | G |
|
Creating Innovations and Solving Problems with Design Thinking |
6 | EN |
|
Systems Thinking |
6 | G |
|
New Authority – Application of Method and Attitude |
6 | G |
| Diversity and Sustainable Development: Focus - India (Study Trip to India) | 6 | EN |
| Gaming Simulation, Serious Play, Gamification | 6 | G |
With a Research Project you take 6 ECTS in the 2nd and in the 3rd semester, so your Contextual Studies are complete with 12 ECTS. Depending on your needs, support in a Research Project can be carried out in German or English. The time slots are agreed individually with the supervisor or regulated with the research center or group. Costs can arise in a Research Project if, for example, participation in a conference supports the Research Project.
| Reseach Projects | Contact person | ECTS |
| Business Informatics | jens.schumacher@fhv.at, martin.dobler@fhv.at and steffen.finck@fhv.at | 12 |
|
Computer Science |
armin.simma@fhv.at or martin.dobler@fhv.at | 12 |
|
Digital Factory |
robert.merz@fhv.at and ralph.hoch@fhv.at | 12 |
|
Energy Technology |
peter.kepplinger@fhv.at | 12 |
| Gaming Simulation | willy.kriz@fhv.at | 12 |
| Human-Centred Technologies | guido.kempter@fhv.at | 12 |
| Micro Engineering | dana.seyringer@fhv.at | 12 |
| Smart Engineering Technologies | christian.anselmi@fhv.at | 12 |
| Social Sciences | erika.geser-engleitner@fhv.at | 12 |
The RUN European University (RUN-EU) network offers Short Advanced Programmes (SAPs) between 1 and 6 ECTS at short notice. Please refer directly to the RUN EU website for the SAPs currently on offer.
Short international exchange programs such as Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programs (BIPs) can also be credited towards the Contextual Studies as “International Activities”. These are usually more subject-specific and are communicated through your course of study.
The regulations of your master’s degree programme apply to semesters abroad and double degree programmes.
The Austrian Students' Union (ÖH) represents the students at the FHV. The ÖH has departments for culture, politics, economics and much more. You can work here in your second and/or third semester to the extent of 6 or, in individual cases, 3 ECTS per semester. Your activity can be recognised as “Active Involvement in the Austrian Students' Union” for the Contextual Studies. If you are interested, please contact the Austrian Students' Union directly.
Students can view detailed course information, time slots or possible costs, information on course selection and more on the internal information platform of the Contextual Studies.
How do the Contextual Studies work?
From the 1st to the 3rd semester (from September 2024 to November 2025) you can register (via your student portal) for courses in the Contextual Studies. These are offered for the 2nd and 3rd semesters (we recommend booking 6 ECTS per semester). You choose your courses one semester in advance until you have reached the total amount of 12 ECTS (that is 10% of your master's degree). If a course is overbooked, the lot will decide.
FAQs
You can access the relevant semester on the Master's Programme page under “Study Contents” and there under “Learning content in detail”. Courses that begin with “8001010” are part of the Contextual Studies.
Students can view details of the courses in the student portal.
The following time slots are reserved for the interdisciplinary courses of the Contextual Studies in all FHV master's programmes in the 2nd and 3rd semesters:
- Weekly - Thursday evenings (6.20 pm to 9.35 pm) and
- Two intensive training weeks per semester (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday: 8.50 am to 4.30 pm and Thursday: 8.50 am to 2.45 pm).
Slight timing deviations are possible in individual cases.
International offerings (SAP, BIP, ...) take place independently of FHV timetables. Therefore, check your timetable yourself to see whether it is possible for you to take part.
In order to ensure the quality of your personal interdisciplinary exchange with fellow students from other master's programmes, most events in the Contextual Studies take place in person. At the same time and on site, the highest level of interactivity is possible through personal experience.
In virtual units, the exchange also takes place synchronously, i.e. at the same time, but with local flexibility online via MS Teams.
Asynchronous units allow you greater flexibility in terms of time, as you can deal with the learning material independently of others.
Due to the travel preparations, the Study Trips represent a binding choice for us from the registration deadline.
Registration deadline for the “Innovation Ecosystem Explorers” course with a Study Trip to Tallinn and Helsinki: January 31, 2025.
Registration deadline for the course “Diversity and Sustainable Development: Focus - India” with a Study Trip to India: April 30, 2025.
In contrast to trips as part of a Short Advanced Program (SAP) or other international offers, these Study Trips are not funded and must be paid for by you yourself. They can be expanded into a larger, individual vacation according to your taste and options.
Please feel free to contact us
If you have any questions or would like to arrange an individual consultation, please feel free to contact us:
