Science, teaching, and research are not a priority for the government, according to the Ministry of Science’s announcement to Universities Austria (uniko). You have all surely followed the recent media reports about the looming, massive budget cuts at universities.
What this specifically means – and why it affects you:
The Austrian Conference of Universities (uniko) demanded an inflation-related budget increase from 16.5 to 18 billion euros to ensure high-quality university operations in the 2028-2030 teaching period. Instead, a cut to 15.5 billion euros is now being proposed by the government.
- Worse supervision ratios: This means less staff in labs, seminars, and exercises, and the quality of teaching will noticeably decline.
- Longer waiting times, overcrowded courses: Fewer exam dates and staff will naturally lead to courses exceeding their capacity limits, or even the cancellation of elective courses!
- Fewer study spaces: Budget cuts lead to fewer study rooms and poorer infrastructure in lecture halls.
- Expiration of fixed-term contracts: Existing positions for doctoral students, as well as tutors and student assistants, will expire and not be re-advertised. Paid internships or diploma positions will also have to be cut.
- Loss of future viability and competitiveness: A de facto cut of 14% affects not only universities but also the core of Austria’s technology and business location – with consequences for internships, theses, research projects, and future career opportunities.
- Abandonment of intergenerational equity: You – the next generation – would be granted poorer educational opportunities than previous generations. This is not an austerity measure, but a directional decision against the future.
Demonstration against Budget Cuts
The university management, together with HTU, calls on all staff and students to participate in the large university demonstration! Managers are asked to support the participation of employees during working hours within the scope of official possibilities, and lecturers are asked to support the participation of their students accordingly.
Courses and Exams: To enable participation in the demonstration, courses may be canceled or postponed if possible. In this case, students must be informed as soon as possible. Exams or partial achievements to be completed are not covered by this and must be held. Oral exams, however, can be postponed by mutual agreement.
Demo Workshop
On Tuesday, May 26, 2026, a large-scale demo workshop will take place across TU Wien. Among other things, banners, signs, and a coffin (following the motto: burying education) will be made here.
The workshop will take place on Tuesday from 12 PM in Hof 01, Hof 02, Geniehof, the courtyard at the BD building, and in Gußhaus. Materials such as cardboard, paints, and brushes will be available on site, but please also bring any usable items you have (e.g., brushes, pens, paints, spray paints, cardboard, wooden strips for handles, glue, scissors, cutters, and anything else you can think of).
The workshop will run throughout the afternoon and evening, so if you don’t have time at 12, feel free to join later. Even if you only have a half-hour break between courses, stop by and paint a sign. All contributions help to show on Wednesday that we will not accept this silently.
Free snacks and drinks will be available on site.
TU Demo March on Wednesday, May 27
Since it will be a sunny, hot day, please remember to bring enough water, snacks, sun protection such as sunscreen and head coverings (we recommend TU caps), and anything else you need to get through the day safely and comfortably.
Refreshments before the demo will be provided; there will be free drinks and waffles in front of the TU.
During the demo march itself, there will be marshals in yellow high-visibility vests; please follow their instructions and contact them if you need help.
To ensure we are visible together as TU Wien, there will be a TU demo march from the main building to the large demonstration:
- 11:00 AM: Opening of student assemblies and speeches by TU Wien representatives
- 5 minutes to 12: Formation of the demo march
- 12:00 PM: Joint departure towards the University of Vienna / Ring for the large demonstration
- 1:00 PM: Integration of TU into the large demonstration in front of the main building of the University of Vienna
- 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM: Rally at the University of Vienna
- 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM: Large demonstration march of all universities
- 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM: Final rally
Because now more than ever: Together, we are TU Wien!
Demo Route:
