University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna


The University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, or simply BOKU, founded in 1872, is an education and research centre for renewable resources in Vienna, Austria. BOKU combines expertise in the fields of natural sciences, engineering and biotechnology as well as social and economic sciences. In research and teaching, it focuses on
  • the conservation and development of protection for habitats, economy and living standards
  • the management of natural resources and environment
  • the protection of food and health
BOKU sees itself as an innovation leader in the green economy, with the goal of integrating sustainability into all processes in society. It is a member of the Euroleague for Life Sciences, the United Nations Academic Impact, the European University Initiative, the Austrian-African Research Network and numerous other international cooperations. There are currently 10,941 students from over 100 countries enrolled at BOKU.

Campus

After 27 years at Palais Schönborn the City of Vienna decided in 1896 to build a new campus at Türkenschanzpark in the 18th district. The departments of sustainable agriculture, soil science, horticulture, animal husbandry, economics and social sciences are still headquartered at this original campus. Another city campus, located at Muthgasse in the 19th district near the Heiligenstadt underground station, is the headquarters for the biotechnology, chemistry, plant sciences, water resource management, waste management and food sciences departments. There is also a research facility complex in Tulln, north of the city, with biotechnology and agricultural sciences laboratories and facilities. Other important locations and testing fields are Groß-Enzersdorf, Jedlersdorf, Knödelhütte, Heuberg/Rosalia and the Water Cluster Lunz am See.

Departments and Research Units

15 Departments of BOKU
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Research Units and Initiatives
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Studies

BOKU offers 8 BSc programmes and 28 MSc programmes. Most of them allow various specialisations and possibilities for majors. The language of instruction is partly German, partly English. For many MSc programmes the language of instruction is English only. In general, programmes start each year in October and take three years for a BSc diploma with 180 ECTS credits and two years for a MSc diploma with 120 ECTS credits. Studies are in the field of natural resources management, life sciences & biotechnology, civil & environmental engineering, landscape planning, agriculture, forestry and winemaking.
The PhD programme is a three-year programme with 180 ECTS credits which consists of a research component and a smaller education component. In order to guarantee adequate supervision, the research subject must fit the research programme of BOKU and its institutes.
Due to BOKU's extensive world-wide engagement, the university offers many international MSc programmes as joint or double degree. It is also a member of the Euroleague for Life Sciences university network, partnering with University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Science, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Czech [University of Life Sciences Prague], University of Hohenheim, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Wageningen University and Research Centre, China Agricultural University, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Lincoln University, New Zealand and Cornell University, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

Notable alumni

Notable scientists