Austria
From IFMSA SCOPE Wiki
| AMSA | ||||
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| Location | 
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| Participating cities (LC's) | Graz, Innsbruck, Salzburg and Vienna | |||
| Languages | German (official language) and English accepted for clerkship | |||
| Currency (how much is a Bigmac?) | Euro, 2.99 EUR for a Bigmac | |||
| Time zone | CET = GMT + 1 | |||
| Number of Doctors and beds per 1000 people | 6.1 beds for primary care and 3.8 doctors per 1000 people | |||
| Member of IFMSA since... | its founding in 1951. | |||
| Number of incoming students per year | 250 | |||
| Who are our NEO's | Zora Messner (Outgoings) and Julia Ebner (Incomings) | |||
| Our official website | www.amsa.at | |||
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Welcome Note
A warm-hearted welcome to our wonderful Austria and of course AMSA's exchange programme! We are already looking forward to host you and show our cities to you.
Overview
We are proud to be the home of Mozart, Mendel, Schrödinger, Freud, Nestroy, "Wiener Schnitzel", "Sacher Torte" (famous chocolate cake), „Apfelstrudel“ (apple stroodle), "Sound of Music" and many, many more ...
Austria is a very small country with about 8 million inhabitants. It consists of nine states - one of these states is the capital (Vienna, Wien) itself, where nearly a fifth of all people is living (1,6 million). So you can imagine that in most parts of Austria you will find only small villages and lots of nature, like meadows, fields, many lakes and even more mountains.
Graz (capital of the state "Steiermark"/Styria) is the second largest city of Austria with about 227.000 inhabitants, Innsbruck (capital of the state "Tirol"/The Tyrol) with about 114.000 inhabitants and Salzburg (capital of the same-named state) with about 150.000 belong to the smaller cities.
Thanks to the international migration, tourism and education, you will find many people able to speak English in all generations.
Check that links
- Information about Tourism in Austria - http://www.austria-tourism.at
- Lonely Planet - Austria - http://www.lonelyplanet.com
- Austrian Embassy - http://www.austria.org
- What the CIA says about Austria - http://www.cia.gov
- Austrian Government - http://www.austria.gv.at
- City of Vienna - http://www.wien.gv.at
- City of Innsbruck - http://www.innsbruck-tourismus.at
- City of Graz - http://www.graz.at
- City of Salzburg - http://www.stadt-salzburg.at (German)
Our health care system
In Austria there is a compulsory health insurance, like this 98% of the population have an insurance. In addition you can have a private health insurance, which covers some of the private pracitce services, which are not paid by the goverment, or transportation costs, and so on. But it is prohibited by law to make a difference in the treatment of patients depending wheter they have an additional health insurance or not. Free physicians and hospital services are provided to everyone, funded from general taxation. Hospital staff are salaried employees according to nationally agreed contracts. Hospitals are either run by state or regions or they private, which again have contracts with the state. Whilst primary care is largely provided by independent practices, who are paid, again via nationally agreed contracts, according to the number of patients registered with them and the range of additional services offered. For prescriptions there is a deductible of € 4,9.
The % of GDP for health costs is 10,2, which is above the OECD‘s average of 9,0. Life expectancy was in 2005 for women 82,24 and 76,65 for men.
The hospitals
In Austria we have 8 local committees. Each committee has it’s own university hospital where you’ll be placed. For more information about each city and the hospitals please go to their information page.
Wien/Vienna - Vienna General Hospital of Vienna Medical University
Graz - University Hospital of Graz Medical University
Innsbruck - University Hospital of Innsbruck Medical University
Salzburg - University Hospital of Paracelsus Medical Private University
Our medical education
4 universities - 4 different systems
Basically you have to pass a test to be able to study Medicine. After this the curriculum lasts for 6 years (in Vienna, Innsbruck and Graz) or 5 years (in Salzburg).
The first one to two years are mostly preclinical studies, followed by clinical studies. At the end there is a/two practical year(s) (in different fields) lasting 12 - 24 months, again depending on the university you are studying at.
After graduation we do have the title Dr. med. univ., but still we are officially not allowed to work by ourselves. Either one does an internship, rotating through the departements, which lasts for three years, finishing as a general practitioner. On the other hand there is the possibility, to go directly into specialization.
Medical University of Innsbruck (German)
Paracelsus Medical Private University of Salzburg
Cultural differences
Most Austrian people are punctual and expect others to be so too. A typical thing is Austrian cosiness, which does in no aspect mean laziness! Sometimes you might have the feeling that Austrian people are born magistrates (yes, alot of paperwork), eventhough most people don't enjoy it. Another special thing is that people are only then happy, when they have the possibility to moan about something. Last but not least, there is the saying that there is an " Austrian way" of solving problems. This is when something is done, but only "half-hearted", so we don't intimidate someone. The best example for this is, how the law handels smoking. It is prohibited in public areas like universities, hospitals, governmental offices, most workplaces, but not in all bars and restaurants (depends on the size; in the ones bigger than 75 m^2, there must be a smokefree area).
Working conditions
Normally, the clerkship starts between 7:30 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. in the morning and lasts until 3:00 p.m. or 4:00 p.m. but it can vary, depending on the department. Working days are Monday to Friday. Please ask your tutor about your timetable on the first day. We know that this exchange does not only mean hard work in the hospital but it should also be a lot of fun! If you need one day off, please ask your tutor in advance. Otherwise, we’ll have trouble organizing exchange programs for international students in future.
Language in hospitals
Most Austrian people can speak English. The main language in the hospitals is German though. Doctors want to explain things in English to you, but most of the time they speak German with the patients. This is to be sure there is no misunderstanding. So prepare yourself, that you probably won't understand everything that is going on. Remember though that the doctors are taking you as much in account as possible, but that it is not always possible to talk in English.
Accommodation & Boarding
Where you stay will depend on the LC and the time of the year you are coming to Austria aswell. Please check the pages of the different LCs. Some offer student dormitories, others offer student housing with families or other students.
In the dormitories there are single- and double-bed rooms and each room is equipped with a bed, a desk and a wardrobe. There is one kitchen on each floor, which all the students who live on this floor can share. Some kitchens are equipped with dishes and kitchenware, but in some units there is nothing like that. So take no risks and bring your own stuff with you, if you don’t want to eat at the hospital.
Concerning the boarding, you will get either money in cash or uploaded on a card, so you can eat at the hospital's own canteens, which are good for their prices.
Social program
The social programme depends on the LC you are going to.
There are some events, which will be organised by the Local Committees in cooperation with AIESEC and IAESTE:
- Vienna Weekend 2.7. - 4.7. 2010
check out http://www.vienna-weekend.at/
National & International transportation
Austria
If you want to explore our country on weekends, we would recommend you our public train, which is clean and comfortable. At a speed of 100 km/h you can reach a lot of interesting places within a very short time! A journey from the far east to the west end of Austria would take about 8 hours (800 km).
You can get information about the train system under:
http://www.oebb.at/en/index.jsp
VORTEILScard
If you are planning to travel by train, it is advisable to buy the “VORTEILScard” (euro<26; € 19.9). With this card you get a 50% reduction of the normal price on train-tickets. Except for being younger than 26, all you need to get this card are a photo and an Austrian address (dormitory’s address). There is also the VORTEILScard classic for people older than 26 years(€ 99.90 but you have to do a lot of travelling to be cheaper than without it!)
Summer Ticket
You need to have a valid ÖBB VORTEILScard <26 to buy it.
The summer ticket is available for
- €25 for everyone until 19 years old
- €59 for everyone from 20 till under 26 years
With this you can use it from 4th July till 13th September 2009 on all trains of ÖBB in Austria and the „Raaberbahn“ (not included further private railways, rack and pinion railway and spezial occasion transportation)
From Monday till Friday from 8:00 a.m. till midnight as well as the whole day on saturdays, sundays and public holidays fort he 2. Class.
Europe
For travelling around Europe by train check out: http://www.oebb.at/pv/en/Travel_within_Europe/index.jsp
There is "Sparschiene" (could be translated as "budget rail") and "Interrail". Interrail is for travelling to many countries/cities, Sparschiene is recommended for weekend-trips.
The "Interrail-ticket" is an all-inclusive ticket - you can choose periods (5/10/22/30 days) and the countries (up to all Europe). One month for all Europe ("Globalpass") <26-price would be 399€, adult 599€. This ticket is for all trains, travelling by seats in 2nd class (which usually is very good) with no reservation (mostly not necessary but you can add up and buy one). If you want to take a train with sleeping cabine, this would cost around 20€ extra (in 6bed cabine). But check it out yourselves (website above).
The "Sparschiene-ticket" are single tickets with night trains with very cheap conditions. If you book for example a bed in a 6bed-cabine, you would also get a breakfast. It can be booked online and the fares are cheaper the sooner you book. Look at the website above. You will find prices (one-way) for example Vienna to Rome (from 49€), to Dreesden/Munich/Frankfurth/Berlin (from 39€), to Amsterdam (29€), to Krakow/Warschaw (from 59€). But you need to book soon!
Travelling by plane and cheap, recommendable airlines are:
- Ryanair
- Flyniki/Airberlin
- German Wings
- Aerlingus
They all have flights from main Airports in Austria; but also check out "Bratislava" as origin if you are in Vienna, this actually is in the neighbouring country Slovakia, but is only 70km away from Vienna with very good bus and train connections (We recommend you the bus from Ryanair or Eurolines, cost around 8€ one-way, takes about 1 hour, directly from U3 station Erdberg in Vienna - book online in advance).
Weather
Austria lies within the moderate climate zone, which basically means it can rain any time of the year. In the East there is a changeover to the continental climate.
In the mountainous areas of the Alps (West and South) there is an alpine climate. The further you go to the East, the less precipitation you‘ll have but the temperature differences between summer and winter will grow.
In the Alps there is a high rate of rainfall, short summers and long winters with heavy snowfall. Avalanches are common in spring. Be aware that the sun is intense at high altitudes. In summer temperatures are usually between 25-35° Celsius, but they can easily fall below 15° Celsius. In winter you will probably find snow even in the cities, when temperatures are around the freezing point. Typical precipitation rates are 700mm per year, depending on the region (more in West, less in East), so you should definitely not forget your umbrella, even when you‘re coming in summer!
Other Important Information
Important Phone Numbers
- Fire department 122
- Police department 133
- Ambulance 144
- International Emergency Call 112
- First-Aid Doctor 141
Telephone
There is a public phone at the ground floor in the dormitory, which works with coins There are some others around the city You can either use coins or phone cards depending on the type of the phone box. In either case, you need at least € 0,20 Emergency and 0800 numbers are free. Phone cards are sold at tobacconists’ and gas stations (worth € 10, € 15 or € 35). There are a few shops where you can buy cheaper cards.
Mobile Phones
In Austria the mobile networks are GSM standard 1800 or 900 MHz. There are five mobile service providers, namely A1 (http://www.a1.net), t-mobile (http://www.t-mobile.at), Orange (http://www.orange.at), tele.ring (http://www.telering.at) and Drei (http://www.drei.at). If you have already a mobile, which is not sim-locked, you may consider buying a prepaid sim- card. If you want to buy a new mobile be careful, because most new phones come with a 12 month minimum contract. Good prepaid SIM-cards are BOB http://www.bob.at (6,8 cent per min) or YESSS http://www.yesss.at (also 6,8 cent per min). You can get BOB at every post office (e.g. LKH entrance area) and YES at every Hofer http://www.hofer.at supermarket – but also at other mobile phone shops. (mobile phone in German = “Handy”)
Banks & Cash Machines
You can get money with any credit cards (Visa Card or Master Card,... etc). The cash machines are marked with special signs and every bank has a cash machine.
Getting Robbed, Beaten Up...
Generally, Austria is a very safe country so you shouldn’t get into any trouble. Of course, there are also for example drunken people you should be a little bit careful of. Do not make fun of them, especially when they are bigger than you, baldy or muscular and do not wander around by yourself after midnight.
Drugs, Alcohol and Smoking
All drugs except for alcoholic drinks and smoking tobacco are illegal (incl.marihuana). From the age of 18 you are allowed to drink all kinds of alcohol.26
Electricity
Plugs deliver a voltage of 230 volts AC with a frequency of 50 hertz.
International Student Identity Card (ISIC)
With this card you get a reduction at cinemas, theatres, public baths,... etc. With or without the card,it is advisable to ask for possible reductions for students wherever you go. The card is available in any STAtravel office.
Youth Hostels
If you like to stay a few days longer in Graz or somewhere else in Austria, the cheapest lodging is in a youth hostel. Here you can find a list of all youth hostels in Austria:
http://www.oejhv.or.at/e-choose.htm
Exchange conditions
Contact details
E-Mail of the LEOs:
- in-wien@amsa.at
- in-graz@amsa.at
- in-ibk@amsa.at
- salzburg@amsa.at
or
Email of SCOPE-Team: scope@amsa.at
Adress of AMSA:
AKH Ebene 6M
Währingergürtel 18-20
Postfach 15, A – 1097 Wien
External websites
AMSA's official website:
in English: http://en.amsa.at/Main_Page
in German: http://www.amsa.at/Hauptseite
IFMSA's official website: http://www.ifmsa.org/
