About us
The Faculty of Social Sciences was established in 2004 as an independent organisational unit and is one of the largest faculties at the University of Vienna. It is committed to the principle that research and teaching are an inseparable whole. Its research covers a broad spectrum and includes both basic and applied research. The Faculty sees itself as a centre for university education and continuing professional development, offering students the opportunity to specialise on a broad academic basis, which is intended to enable them to successfully meet the changing demands of professional life.
Through its research output, the Faculty makes a significant contribution to finding answers to scientific questions of high social relevance, thereby fulfilling the social function and responsibility of science and the University. In doing so, it focuses both on established disciplinary and interdisciplinary fields of research and on innovative, multi- and transdisciplinary research, both across disciplines within the Faculty and in cooperation with other faculties and international, national and local research institutions. Critical reflection on the structure and problems of contemporary society is one of the guiding principles of its research activities.
In order to strengthen its wide-ranging research output and raise its profile, the Faculty focuses on five key research areas. These address key societal challenges and are organised on an interdisciplinary and cross-institutional basis. In addition, researchers from the Faculty are currently active in two university research platforms and one research centre. Researchers from the Faculty are also involved in various research groups, three university research networks and numerous national and international projects.
Around 11,000 students are enrolled on the various bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programmes at the Vienna Doctoral School of Social Sciences (ViDSS) in the subjects of Social and Cultural Anthropology, Political Science, Communication, and Sociology – some of which rank among the largest degree programmes in Europe – as well as in master’s or doctoral programmes in Demography, Gender Studies, Governing Socio-Ecological Transformations, Development Studies, Nursing Science, and Science and Technology Studies.
Information on the strategy
University Vienna 2031: Development Plan (PDF)
Strategic focus of the Faculty on pages 156-163