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Title
Oriental Studies (Bachelor)
Category
undergraduate
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e625f6934a054332a3fdd9fde549ff29
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# Oriental Studies (Bachelor)

**Source**: https://studieren.univie.ac.at/en/degree-programmes/bachelordiploma-programmes/oriental-studies-bachelor-with-osa/
**Parent**: https://studieren.univie.ac.at/en/degree-programmes/bachelordiploma-programmes/

© Stephan Procházka

The bachelor’s programme in Oriental Studies aims at providing an academic pre-professional education. Students achieve a range of educational goals, including: profound knowledge of the complex historical, cultural, social and linguistic realities of the Middle East as well as North Africa and Central Asia; basic knowledge of work in historical and philological disciplines; introduction to a selected Oriental language (Arabic, Babylonian or Turkish); competences in interdisciplinary cooperation and intercultural communication; and ability to critically evaluate different media.

### Bachelor of Arts

Degree Programme Code: 033 600

6 semesters / 180 ECTS credits (including 30 ECTS credits of [extension curricula](https://studieren.univie.ac.at/en/extension-curricula-and-alternative-extensions/))

Laguage: [German](https://studieren.univie.ac.at/en/admission/german-language-proficiency/)

[Compulsory Online-Self-Assessment](https://self-assessment.univie.ac.at/) (in German)

[Curriculum](https://senat.univie.ac.at/fileadmin/user_upload/s_senat/konsolidierte_Bachelorcurricula/BA_Orientalistik_Version2022.pdf) ([2nd amendment](https://mtbl.univie.ac.at/storage/media/mtbl02/2024_2025/2024_2025_89.pdf))

### Facts & Figures

- Students: **282**
- Graduates in the last academic year: **28**
- Number of semesters needed for graduation (median): **8,9**

*Data updated on: 26.11.2025*

[Information about presentation & calculation](https://backend.univie.ac.at/index.php?id=157848&L=2&id=157848)

*\*[Click here for further information on statistical data in the field of teaching and learning. (in German)](https://studieren.univie.ac.at/studienangebot/warum-hier-studieren/statistische-daten-zum-studienbetrieb/)*

### Attention

#### Instruction Language German

Please note that the instruction language of this programme is German. To start the degree programme, you need to hold a [certificate of German proficiency on C1 level](https://studieren.univie.ac.at/en/admission/german-language-proficiency/).

[### uni:check](https://unicheck.univie.ac.at/en/)

### Admission Procedure

[Additional exam in Latin (during the degree programme)](https://studieren.univie.ac.at/en/admission/additional-exams/)

[Information about the admission procedure](https://studieren.univie.ac.at/en/admission/bachelordiploma-programmes/oriental-studies/)

[Online-Self-Assessment (OSA)](https://self-assessment.univie.ac.at/orientalistik) (in German)

### Getting Started

[Orientation course](https://studieren.univie.ac.at/en/degree-programmes/bachelordiploma-programmes/oriental-studies-bachelor-with-osa/)

[Orientation in the first semester](https://studieren.univie.ac.at/en/study-organisation/)

[Semester planning](https://studieren.univie.ac.at/en/semester-planning/)

[Introductory and orientation period (STEOP)](https://studieren.univie.ac.at/en/semester-planning/introductory-and-orientation-period-steop/)

### Getting Informed

[Department of Oriental Studies](http://orientalistik.univie.ac.at/en/)

[Students' Representatives Oriental Studies](https://orientalistik.univie.ac.at/en/studying/student-representation/)

## Study programme

Following the Introductory and Orientation Period (STEOP), students have to complete the group of compulsory modules Middle Eastern Studies and a group of alternative compulsory modules, part of which is a specialisation in either Ancient Near Eastern Philology and Archaeology, Arabic and Islamic Studies, or Turkish Studies. To successfully complete the programme, students have to write two bachelor’s theses.

### Five concepts

which you will deal with during your studies:

- Cuneiform script
- Mesopotamia
- Cultures influenced by Islam
- Arabic dialects
- Ottoman Empire

... and many more.

## Overview of the programme structure & topics

Here you find the current offer of courses for this programme to gain better insight into the topics and structure. For more information please click on the respective level.

[Introductory and Orientation Period (16 ECTS)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=337668)

[Compulsory Module OR-1 Introduction to Oriental Studies (2 ECTS)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=337671)

[Group of Elective Modules Einführung in die orientalischen Sprachen (14 ECTS out of 2 Elective Modules)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=337672)

[OR-2a/AO-1 Introduction to Babylonian I (7 ECTS)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=337673)

[OR-2b/AR-1 Introduction to Arabic I (7 ECTS)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=337674)

[OR-2c/TU-1 Introduction to Turkish I (7 ECTS)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=337675)

[Group of Compulsory Modules Oriental Studies (43 ECTS)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=337669)

[OR-3 Cultural and Economic Geography of the Middle East and North Africa (5 ECTS)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=337676)

[OR-4 Religious History of the Middle East (6 ECTS)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=337677)

[OR-5 Ancient Near Eastern History (8 ECTS)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=337678)

[OR-6 History of the Middle East and North Africa after the Rise of Islam (8 ECTS)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=337679)

[OR-7 History of the Ottoman Empire and Modern Turkey (8 ECTS)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=337680)

[OR-8 Cultural and Historical Continuities (8 ECTS)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=337681)

[Alternative Group of Compulsory Modules (91 ECTS)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=337670)

[Ancient Near Eastern Philology and Archaeology (91 ECTS)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=337682)

[AO-2 Babylonian II (9 ECTS)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=337683)

[AO-3 Babylonian III and Academic Research and Writing (7 ECTS)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=337684)

[AO-4 Sumerian I (9 ECTS)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=337685)

[AO-5 Sumerian II and Academic Research and Writing (7 ECTS)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=337686)

[AO-6 Ancient Near Eastern Archaeology I (5 ECTS)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=337687)

[AO-7 Ancient Near Eastern Archaeology II (5 ECTS)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=337688)

[AO-8 Cultural History of Mesopotamia (8 ECTS)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=337689)

[AO-9 Mesopotamian Literature (Reading of Literary Texts) (5 ECTS)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=337690)

[AO-10 Alternative Compulsory Module (10 ECTS out of one of the following Modules)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=337691)

[AO-10-1 Languages of Mesopotamia’s Neighbouring Regions (10 ECTS)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=337692)

[AO-10-2 Material Culture of Mesopotamia (10 ECTS)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=337693)

[AO-11 Alternative Compulsory Module (10 ECTS out of one of the following Modules)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=337694)

[AO-11-1 Philology Seminars (10 ECTS)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=337695)

[AO-11-2 Seminars on History, Material Culture and Cultural History (10 ECTS)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=337696)

[AO-12 Elective Modules (16 ECTS out of 2 Elective Modules)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=337697)

[AO-12-1 Seminar on Akkadian (including BA Thesis) (8 ECTS)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=337698)

[AO-12-2 Seminar on Sumerology (including BA Thesis) (8 ECTS)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=337699)

[AO-12-3 Seminar on Archaeology (including BA Thesis) (8 ECTS)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=337700)

[Arabic and Islamic Studies (91 ECTS)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=337701)

[AR-2 Language Module: Arabic II (12 ECTS)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=337702)

[AR-3 Language Module: Arabic III (12 ECTS)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=337703)

[AR-4 Language Module: Arabic IV (12 ECTS)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=337704)

[AR-5 Language Module: Arabic V (6 ECTS)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=337705)

[AR-6 Language Module: Arabic VI (6 ECTS)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=337706)

[AR-7 Arabic Dialect (Basic Level) (5 ECTS)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=337707)

[AR-8 Arabic Dialect (Intermediate Level) (5 ECTS)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=337708)

[AR-9 Arabic Dialect (Advanced Level) (6 ECTS)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=337709)

[AR-10 Introduction to Academic Methods (3 ECTS)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=337710)

[AR-11 Introduction to Selected Fields of Arabic and Islamic Studies (4 ECTS)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=337711)

[AR-12 Selected Fields of Modern Middle Eastern Studies (4 ECTS)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=337712)

[AR-13 Seminar on Philology (including BA Thesis) (8 ECTS)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=337713)

[AR-14 Seminar on Islamic Studies (including BA Thesis) (8 ECTS)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=337714)

[Turkish Studies (91 ECTS)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=337715)

[TU-2 Turkish, Basic Level II (8 ECTS)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=337716)

[TU-3 Turkish, Intermediate Level I (6 ECTS)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=337717)

[TU-4 Turkish, Intermediate Level II (10 ECTS)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=337718)

[TU-5 Turkish, Advanced Level I (7 ECTS)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=337719)

[TU-6 Turkish, Advanced Level II (8 ECTS)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=337720)

[TU-7 Persian, Basic Level (8 ECTS)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=337721)

[TU-8 Introduction to Academic Methods and Selected Fields of Turkish Studies (6 ECTS)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=337722)

[TU-9 Ottoman I (8 ECTS)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=337723)

[TU-10 Ottoman II (8 ECTS)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=337724)

[TU-11 Seminar on Linguistics or Literature (including BA Thesis) (8 ECTS)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=337725)

[TU-12 Seminar on Turkish History and Cultural History (including BA Thesis) (8 ECTS)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=337726)

[TU-13 Society and Culture of Modern Turkey (6 ECTS)](https://ufind.univie.ac.at/en/vvz_sub.html?path=337727)

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## After Graduation

Graduates are qualified to pursue a career in the following occupational fields:

- integration and development cooperation
- participation in academic research and educational institutions
- activities at museums
- adult education
- tourism
- media
- international organisations.

Additionally, they are well prepared for work in other occupational fields that require profound knowledge of the cultural area defined above. During their studies, students have also acquired the necessary ability to use the most important modern technologies and media applied in the field and critically discuss them.

### Master Programmes

- [Ancient Oriental Philology and Oriental Archaeology (Master)\](https://studieren.univie.ac.at/en/degree-programmes/master-programmes/ancient-near-eastern-philology-and-near-eastern-archaeology-master/)
- [The Arab World: Language and Society (Master)\](https://studieren.univie.ac.at/en/degree-programmes/master-programmes/arab-world-studies-master/)
- [Turkish Studies (Master)\](https://studieren.univie.ac.at/en/degree-programmes/master-programmes/turkish-studies-master/)
- [Master Access Guide](https://studieren.univie.ac.at/en/degree-programmes/master-programmes/master-access-guide/)

### Continuing after Graduation

- [Alumni of the University of Vienna](https://www.alumni.ac.at/)
- [Postgraduate Center - postgraduate programmes at the University of Vienna\](http://www.postgraduatecenter.at/en)
- [Uniport - career service of the University of Vienna\](https://www.uniport.at/uniport-fuer-studierende)

### Graduates' Perspective on the Degree Programme

[#### Degree programme in retrospect](https://www.qs.univie.ac.at/en/analyses/graduate-surveys/)

### Graduates ...

- say that this degree programme receives the grade: 2.2 (good)
- rate the level of difficulty as: 3.5 (appropriate)

→ These results are basd on feedback from 34 graduates.

\**You can find further assessments of the degree programme from its graduates’ perspective in the graduate survey of the**[bachelor’s programme in Oriental Studies](https://www.qs.univie.ac.at/fileadmin/user_upload/d_qualitaetssicherung/Dateidownloads/AbsolventInnenbefragungen/2021/Bachelor/141_Bachelor_Orientalistik_public.pdf) graduation survey (in German).*

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