Technische Universität Wien
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Q: What should be my first steps?
A: First, you should register for an account of the lecture information system TISS. It is also advisable to register for an ArchLab account and for the Campus W-LAN. Then you should start registering for your courses.

Q: How do I register for courses?
A: You can access the lecture information system TISS from any computer with internet access. Navigate to tiss.tuwien.ac.at and click on “Englisch” to change your language to English. Then choose “Curricula” on the top bar and on the next page click on “066444 Building Science and Technology  /  Mas.”. Now write down the numbers of the course you want to attend (in the first semester, choose all the lectures from the “Fundamentals” section).

Now enter your “Matrikelnummer” (student registration number) in the field next to the login button on top of the page. Use your chosen password to access your personal account. Select TISS in the list. In your account, choose "english" in the upper Bar next to your name. Click on “Favorites” (In the Group "Course Cockpit" on the left ). Now enter the number of one of the courses you want to attend and then click on “search” . Click now "Add to favorites" right from the name of the Course. Now you have the selected course in your favorites and can organise them into groups.

Some courses may have a arrow button in the "Reg." (registration) or "Group" column: That means that you should registrate for the course or should choose a group. We guarantee our students to get a spot in our core courses, so if you aren’t able to get into a group, please contact us so that we can sort it out.

The arrow button in the column Exam is used to register for exams.

Q: What kinds of courses exist?
A: There are VO, UE, VU or SEs. In TISS the "Type" column shows you the general type of a course.

VO: (Vorlesung/lecture) The lecturer presents the contents and methods of a subject. At the end there is a written and/or oral exam of the material covered in class.

UE: (Übung/exercise) Students apply their knowledge and skills to specific problems. Grading is typically based on assignments.

VU: Lectures with exercises

SE: (seminar) Lectures may be combined with in-class discussions and student presentations. Students usually write a paper.

Q: How do I get to my first lecture?
A: The winter semester starts at the beginning of October, while the summer semester starts at the beginning of March. You can contact us to find out if we are planning a special orientation session. The starting dates of your courses can be found in the TISS lecture information system, just go into the “Favoriten” section and click on the course. Here you will find information concerning its time and location. If you don’t know where your lecture hall is located, you can use the Wegweiser homepage for directions. Most of the lectures in the first semester will take place in the "old main building". If you're arriving with the subway, get out at Karlsplatz and take the exit "Resselpark". The old main building is the large building with the blue "TU-Wien" flags.

Q: Do I need my own laptop for Master Building Science and Technology?
A: We recommend students of Master Building Science and Technology to use their own notebook-PCs and to have access to the internet. Cheap legal software for students at Vienna University of Technology can be bought at the library bookstore, e.g. 8€ for Microsoft Office 2007. If you do not yet have internet at home, there are special offers for enrolled students, you can find them here
If you do not have a PC, there is the possibility to use the Archlab, where you can work, print and use the internet. Click here for directions. We strongly recommend to register for an Archlab account as soon as you have enrolled.

Q: Is it possible to access the internet at Vienna University of Technology?
A: For students with a WLAN-equipped notebook, it is possible to use the internet nearly everywhere within the university. Furthermore, there are numerous regular LAN-plugs. You can register for a free account here.

Q: How do you contact me if there are any changes regarding my booked courses?
A: In order to receive information concerning your courses, please make sure that the eMail address listed in your TISS account is correct. To change your eMail address select the purple "Organisation" Tab at the right of the screen. Select "My study data" (in the Group "Links for students") and select "Änderungen im Adressbuch" (Changes in address book). Select "New email address" and fill in the eMail address on which we can contact you. By the point "Email Type" befor you fill in your address choose "Zustelladresse" (address for service). When you have done both points press the save button.

Q: I want to borrow books from the Vienna University of Technology library. Are there any requirements or charges? Is there an online catalogue?
In order to be able to borrow books from the Vienna University of Technology library, you have to go there with your student card and get a library sticker with a barcode. There are no charges, unless you keep books for longer than allowed. The online catalogue is located here.

Q: How do I register for electives? Which electives should I choose?
A: Like all courses, you register for electives using the course information system "TISS". In some cases, personal registration can be a requirement. Furthermore, if you can not find any information on the starting date of a course, take a look at the appropriate institute's homepage. 

Some courses, especially language courses and soft skills, fill up very quickly, so register for a group (the arrow symbol in your TISS course overview in the "Group" column) as soon as possible. Even if a course is full, there is always the possibility to ask the lecturer at the very first lecture in person if you may join the course. 

If you are intersted in doing a design exercise, please ask the responsible institute, who of their instructors is most comfortable with English, so that you can register of a suitable group.

While you may choose free electives from any Austrian university, it is not yet clear, whether an architectural course taken at another Austrian university counts as an architectural elective or just as a free elective. Please contact us to find out more. 

Q: What are soft skills?
A: Softskills are a certain type of electives, which can be chosen from this list. They cover topics like language, presentation skills, and gender studies. 

Q: Which title is awarded upon completion of the Building Science and Technology program?
A: After completion, you gain the title of “Master of Science (MSc)” respectively “Diplom-Ingenieur (DI)”.

Q: Is a Master Building Science and Technology degree accepted as a qualification criterion for admission to the ‘Ziviltechniker’ exam?
A: No, ‘Master Building Science and Technology’ does not officially belong to the ‘Ziviltechniker’ category ‘Architecture’, therefore you need to have a ‘Master Architecture’ or another Diploma in architecture.

Q: How do I present my Master's thesis?
A: For your Master's thesis, you need a thesis advisor. When you have finished your thesis, you must choose a date on which you are going to present it. There are six examination dates every year and the thesis should be submitted two months before. Other dates can be arranged by exception, but the candidate has to secure the availability of the three examiners (your supervisor is automatically the first examiner) It is advised to contact the decanate timely in advance for any clarification