Current information on studying and teaching at Sigmund Freud University | Vienna, 22.04.2022

Dear students, Dear Colleagues,

With the arrival of spring, a bit of normality seems to be returning, optimism is in order. We are therefore pleased to announce the following changes regarding the COVID 19 protection measures:

  • In general, teaching will be switched to attendance from now on. Courses and examinations for which a changeover would be disadvantageous for students in terms of didactic conception or plannability can continue to take place online.    

In addition, the following applies to the faculties of Psychotherapy Science, Psychology and Law:

  • The mask requirement at Freudplatz 1 does no longer apply. Of course, we recommend that students, lecturers and staff who belong to a vulnerable group continue to wear a mask.
  • Access controls (2.5G rule) will be discontinued with immediate effect.
  • The distance rules for teaching and working are withdrawn as well.

Due to the special situation at the Faculty of Medicine (internships in health care facilities, contact with extremely vulnerable groups and hospital staff), the following rules continue to apply there:

  • FFP2 mask obligation
  • 2.5G rule
  • Lecturers with a distance >2 m to the auditorium and a negative PCR test (not older than 48 hours) can lecture without a mask.

The measures that are currently still necessary for the Faculty of Medicine will be constantly evaluated in the light of the current incidence and relaxed if possible!

We hope that with these adaptations we will gradually return to that immediate learning and study experience that is so important for the enjoyment of studying and that many students have dearly missed in the last two years.

Univ. Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. mult. Alfred Pritz
Rector | Vienna, 22.04.2022

Infoline Coronavirus: 0800 555 621 (7 days a week, 24 hours) or
Austrian Health Advice Line: 1450

Updates on latest developments and general information are available on the following websites:

Ongoing updates are also available on the ORF info page (in German)

SFU Archive

Updated 01.03.2022
Download: Information SFU COVID19 (pdf)

Updated 07.01.2022
Download: Information SFU COVID19 (pdf)

Updated 19.11.2021
Download: Information COVID19 (pdf)

Updated 10.11.2021
Download: Information COVID19 (pdf)

Updated, 25.08.2021
Download: Information COVID19 (pdf)

Updated 19.08.2021
Letter Minister Univ.-Prof. Dr. Heinz Fassmann; Download: WF058_21_Vaccination_appeal_for_students_en (pdf)

Updated 05.05.2021
Download: SFU_Procedure_Covid-19_05.05.2021_en.pdf

Updated 19.04.2021
In order to make a significant contribution to containing the COVID-19 pandemic, no face-to-face teaching is currently taking place at SFU Vienna due to the hard lockdown as decided by the rectorate. Since this lockdown will last at least until 02.05.2021, it is necessary to determine the further procedure for university operations in order to be able to fulfil the core tasks without loss of quality and to ensure the completion of studies without delay. It should also be mentioned that the student representatives have expressed the urgent wish to hold the internships in attendance as far as possible despite the COVID-19 crisis/lockdown. In the context of the above statements and current legal requirements and recommendations, the following procedure therefore applies:
1. COVID-19 protective measures for everyone in the buildings and in the research laboratory:
FFP2 masks mandatory
2-metre minimum distance
Regular disinfection and hand washing
Regular ventilation of the premises
2. COVID-19 testing:
Weekly testing of regular staff on testing services in Vienna.
– Rapid antigen tests or PCR-based tests (will be documented)
Classroom teaching (practicals)
– Teachers and students only with negative COVID-19 tests
– Rapid antigen tests not older than 48 hours
– PCR tests not older than 72 hours
3. study, teaching and examination operation:
Study and teaching operation:
Distance/digital operation (livestreams, MS Teams meetings, etc.).
Examinations:
In the procedure determined in each case by the faculties
4. research:
Max. 4 persons present in the research laboratory at the same time, in compliance with protective measures.
5. validity
The above procedure remains in force until further notice and must be adhered to at all times.
In case of non-compliance, a report will be made to the responsible supervisor.

Updated 01.04.2021
Sigmund Freud Private University: No face-to-face teaching during Easter break
The ongoing pandemic is unfortunately a breeding ground for misunderstandings and rumours. In view of this, the Sigmund Freud Private University feels obliged to point out that during the hard lockdown at the Vienna location, no face-to-face teaching will take place either in the Human Medicine degree programme or in other subjects. Online teaching will of course continue in the usual way until the situation and the legal framework allow a return to hybrid or face-to-face formats.

Updated 02.03.2021
due to the current developments of the Covid-19 pandemic, study and teaching activities at SFU will be regulated as follows:

  1. Teaching in all faculties will take place in the form of distance learning in the summer semester 2021. Courses will continue to be held online and made available either via livestream or as a recording.
  2. Practical classes are an important part of the education at all faculties of the SFU. This takes place in compliance with appropriate safety measures. The measures for the courses affected by this are communicated directly by the respective faculties.
  3. Detailed information on the degree programmes and the individual course formats is provided directly by the faculties on an ongoing basis. You can always obtain the latest information from the Study Service Centre of your faculty. The colleagues of the SSC are available for personal questions in the usual way.

These measures are valid at least until the end of the summer semester 2021. We will keep you informed about current developments and requirements for universities on the part of the Austrian Federal Government.

Updated 16.09.2020
Continuation of teaching in Corona times
Over the last semester, SFU has intensively tested different online teaching formats. We are now making every effort to guide our students through the winter semester 2020/21 in the best possible way.
Lectures take place as scheduled; teaching is largely carried out either as hybrid or online. With hybrid teaching, lectures and seminars are presented in the lecture halls and simultaneously streamed. Students can choose whether they participate in person at the university or follow the lectures remotely from another location via computer or cell phone.
In addition, learning materials are made available online. The programme heads, professors and lecturers are available to students for personal exchange and provide support wherever needed.
We consider it our responsibility to offer our students an academic environment based on a community of teachers and students where encounters and scientific exchange, contacts and friendships can be cultivated, even during a crisis as the current one.

Updated 27.08, 2020
Download: Updated information from the Rector_27.08.2020 (pdf)

Updated 25.07.2020 
Download: Updated information from the Rectorate_25.6.2020 (pdf)

Updated 09.04.2020
Download: Information Step-by-Step Plan SFU (pdf)

Updated 01.04.2020
Download: Updated information from the Rectorate_1.4.2020 (pdf)