Health Care and Nursing Upgrade
From a diploma in Health Care and Nursing to a bachelor
You are a qualified Health Care and Nursing graduate in the upper service and would like to actively develop your career for the future?
You would like to scientifically substantiate your specialist knowledge and nursing skills with a university degree?
Building on your previous training qualification in General Health Care and Nursing, the Bachelor of Science in Health Studies opens up new professional and academic prospects for you.
Then your path begins at the FHV - Vorarlberg University of Applied Sciences.
You already have a university entrance qualification or are taking the additional examinations at the FHV. Depending on your previous education, you will be credited with courses for your bachelor's degree in.
A minimum of 120 ECTS (see GuKG § 28 Para. 6) will be recognised for your degree in general Health Care and Nursing.
For people with special basic training in child and adolescent care and psychiatric Health Care and Nursing, other recognition regulations apply under university of applied sciences law. The relevant course administrators will be happy to provide information on this.
The Health Care and Nursing Upgrade course in detail
| Name of the degree programme | Health Care and Nursing | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Level of qualification according to the national and European Qualifications Framework |
Bachelor (1st study cycle) | ||
| Qualification award | Bachelor of Science in Health Studies, BSc | ||
| Field of study according to ISCED-F code | 0913 - Nursing and midwifery | ||
| Mode of study | Full-time study | ||
| Length of programme (standard period of study) | 3 semesters | ||
| Semester dates | Monday (subject to exceptions) | ||
| Number of credits | 180 ECTS | ||
| Languages of instruction | German, individual courses or parts of courses in English | ||
| Academic calendar | Important dates such as start of studies, course-free periods can be found here | ||
| Examination regulations and grading scale | To examination regulations and grading scale | ||
| Final examination | Final bachelor's examination | ||
| Costs |
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| Specific admission requirements | General university entrance qualification or equivalent Details see admission requirements |
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| Application | Apply now Application period: September 1st - November 30th 2025 |
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| Start of studies | March 2nd, 2026 |
Curriculum
| Course unit | ECTS | SHW |
| Digital health basics | 1 | 1 |
| Care assessment 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Care assessment 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Introduction to scientific work | 2 | 1 |
| Evidence-based Healthcare 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Evidence-based Healthcare 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Perinatal care | 2 | 2 |
| Total | 12 | 9 |
| Course unit | ECTS | SHW |
| Community Nurse | 2 | 2 |
| Care with mental health impairment | 3 | 3 |
| Care in a national and international context | 2 | 2 |
| Care assessment 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Care assessment 4 | 2 | 2 |
| Evidence-based Healthcare 3 | 1 | 1 |
| Evidence-based Healthcare 4 | 1 | 1 |
| Evidence-based Healthcare 5 - Exposé | 2 | 1 |
| Elective subject 1 out of 5 | 2 | 2 |
| Total | 17 | 16 |
| Course unit | ECTS | SHW |
| Diversity in care | 1 | 1 |
| Transdisciplinary case work | 1 | 1 |
| Care assessment 5 | 1 | 1 |
| Evidence-based Healthcare 6 - Bachelor's thesis | 8 | 0 |
| Bachelor's degree examination | 2 | 0 |
| Total | 13 | 3 |
Compulsory elective courses | here you choose 1 compulsory elective subject in semester 5 (2 ECTS / 2 SWS each).
ECTS: Credit points according to the "European Credit Transfer System". In accordance with international standards, 180 ECTS must be earned.
The 42 ECTS to be completed are divided over three semesters (semesters 4 to 6). You can currently see the learning content of semester 4.
Learning content in detail
Admission to the final examination
Courses: In order to register for the final oral bachelor's examination, all courses of the curriculum must have been completed positively.
The bachelor's thesis is written in the 6th semester and must be positively evaluated by the supervisor.
Graduation
Final bachelor's examination
Recognition of previous academic achievements
Special regulations: Previous academic achievements can be recognized individually in individual courses during your studies. This also applies to coursework that you have already completed at a recognised college or university. The equivalence of the acquired knowledge with the requirement profile with regard to the content and scope of the courses to be waived will be checked upon your application. If equivalence is determined, positively completed examinations will be recognised. A knowledge check is not planned in these cases. You will receive details on this in a meeting with the programme director.
General arrangements for recognition of prior learning
Career opportunities after graduation
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Care expert:in
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Practice instructor:in
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special areas of activity, e.g. intensive care, anesthesia, OR
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Advice for people with care needs and their relatives
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Child and adolescent care or psychiatric care
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Aspiring ward manager or nursing service manager
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Lecturer:r for Health Care and Nursing (with appropriate continuing education)
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Quality manager:in
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Project employee:in (e.g. international development cooperation)
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Expert:r
Voices about studying Health Care and Nursing
Access and Application
Specific admission requirements for the degree program
The Bachelor's degree program Health Care and Nursing Upgrade at the FHV requires one of the following qualifications or aptitudes:
General university entrance qualification:
Austrian school-leaving certificate or vocational school-leaving certificate or
- Certificate of university entrance qualification or
- Equivalent foreign certificate (e.g. Abitur) or
- Certificate of completion of at least three years of study at a recognised domestic or foreign post-secondary educational institution or
Relevant professional qualification:
- Completed Austrian apprenticeship with a duration of at least 3 years or completion of a three-year vocational secondary school as well as their international equivalents or
- Completed training as a nursing or nursing assistant with additional examinations at the FHV for Health Care and Nursing or
- German entrance qualification for universities of applied sciences and Swiss vocational baccalaureate
The decision on the relevance of the professional qualification for the Bachelor's degree programme in Health Care and Nursing is the responsibility of the programme director on a case-by-case basis.
Applicants with relevant professional training must pass the additional examinations at the FHV.
Knowledge of German and English at level B2 (Matura level) of the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) is a basic requirement for admission to the degree programme.
Application for the academic year 2025 - start summer semester
The following documents are required for your complete online application from November 14th, 2024:
- General diploma in Health Care and Nursing
- Letter of motivation
- Curriculum vitae in tabular format
- Certificates (Matura or equivalent qualification)
- Passport or identity card
- Current portrait photo
- Proof of language skills
If you are still missing certificates or exam results at the time of your application, you can submit them later
.
Do you have questions about studying, admission or the application process? Come to one of our information events! We will be happy to advise you personally and look forward to receiving your application!
Application deadline GKP-UG until January 15, 2025
- All applications submitted by 15 January are guaranteed to take part in the admission procedure.
- If there are more applications for your desired degree programme than places, a ranking will be made based on the application documents and the interview.
- Please note: The start date for Health Care and Nursing upgrade is March 3, 2025
Recording procedure
Once your application has been received and examined, you will receive an email about the admission procedure.
Weighting in the admissions process
- Evaluation motivation letter and résumé (30%)
- Structured interview (70 %)
You still have questions about studying?
Would you like a personal consultation? We look forward to your questions!
| Monday to Thursday | 08:30 - 11:30 | 13:00 - 16:00 |
| Friday | 08:30 - 11:30 | 13:00 - 14:30 |
or individual appointment
Information events are held at the FHV throughout the year. You are welcome to come along and get advice. Here is an overview of upcoming events: