Student Life in Wels
Guide for Incoming Exchange Students
Student Life
The city of Wels offers a charming city-centre with splendid town houses and romantic arched courtyards. You can enjoy the pedestrian zone which has an impressive range of high-class shops and a wide variety of restaurants, pubs (including one Irish pub), coffee-houses or wine-bars.
The university has itself gained a good reputation for beer-brewing! Currently 5 different sorts of FH beer are sold in selected bars in Wels, Linz and of course in the university cafeteria on the campus.
There are clubs and night-spots for young people such as the Schlachthof (‘Slaughter-house’ but don’t let that put you off ), a pop and rock venue played by bands from all over the world, and a wide range of social, cultural and sports opportunities in Wels, Linz and the wider region.
The Students Association organises student parties on the campus and in the city centre. See also the pages of the Student Association for an impression of the varied social life for students.
The Austrian Student Union
The student union in Austria is called "Österreichische HochschülerInnenschaft", short "ÖH". The student representation is regulated by national Austrian law and membership is compulsory. Beside the national organisation, the student union law also regulates local representations at every University.
The student union law requires that every member pays a membership fee of € 16,50 per semester, so we kindly ask you to do so as well. Payment is organised by the university management, so please ask at the International Office about the details of the procedure.
For more details regarding services of "ÖH", please consult:
www.oeh.ac.at
City of Wels
The name Wels is of Celtic origin (Wilabis). Later under the Roman Emperor Hadrian, the former Celtic settlement became the city of Ovilava.
A range of beautiful buildings bear witness to the town´s 2000 years of rich cultural history – e.g. the historic market place with its colourful town houses and romantic arcade courtyards, the ancient castle or the medieval towers.
Located in the very heart of Upper Austria, Wels today is a busy centre for trade and industry, right between Munich and Vienna, Prague and Salzburg. With a population of 55,000 and located 25 kilometres west of Linz (the capital of Upper Austria, population c. 180,000 ), Wels is a dynamic business location based on high-tech industries (mainly SMEs), many of which operate worldwide. The annual Wels Trade Fair in September is more than just a European event: it is attended by companies from all over the world.
In addition to its strong industrial infrastructure, Wels also offers a wide range of leisure facilities, like the municipal zoo, the medieval market, the open-air film festival or the nearby thermal baths. Above all, Wels is just a stone´s throw away from the Alps with its beautiful lakes and mountains – the nearest skiing resort is less than one hour away!
The university campus which is situated in the centre of Wels spreads its vibrant, lively atmosphere about the city which offers to its residents, students and guests a high quality of life, a rich cultural programme and an attractive gastronomy.
