Austrian National Student Union (ÖH)
The Austrian National Student Union is the statutory body representing over 200,000 students in all of Austria. All persons studying in Austria automatically become ÖH members by matriculating and paying the ÖH membership fee.
Of this ÖH membership fee, which this year amounts to € 15.50, 85% remain with the Student Council at Kunstuniversität Linz, which thus finances both all its services (various benefits and scholarships, publications, canteen vouchers, etc.) and the representation of student interests at institute level. 15% of the fee is transferred to the ÖH Federal Representation to fund brochures, scholarships and benefits. € 0.50 is used to provide general accident and liability insurance of ÖH members.
Together with the student representatives at university, department and institute levels, ÖH lobbies for the interests of students in all venues. The legal basis for the work of ÖH is provided by the Student Union Act, the Student Union Electoral Rules and the Statutes of ÖH at Kunstuniversität Linz.
Federal Representation (German acronym "BV")
The Federal Representation represents all students at Austrian universities and is
composed of delegates deployed by the Student Councils at Austria’s institutions of
higher learning. Since 2007, the ÖH representatives at Kunstuniversität Linz also hold
a seat in the BV.
Student Council at University Level (German acronym “UV”)
The Student Council is the highest decision-making body/organ of ÖH at university
level. It is responsible for representing the general and study-specific interests of
students vis-à-vis government authorities and university institutions. Moreover, UV
representatives are active with a casting vote in government authorities and
institutions as well as in collegial university bodies, their commissions and
sub-commissions. The UV is elected by the students in party-based (not candidate-
based) elections, with a term of two years.
The UV of Kunstuniversität Linz is currently composed of 11 members, all of whom are
part of the “Kunst und Politik” (KuPo) ticket.
Student Representation at Institute Level (German acronym “STV”)
This body advocates and promotes the interests of students at institute/programme
level. Moreover, it disburses the budget allocated to this level of representation. The
names of the various student representatives at institute level are available at the
ÖH office and can also be looked up on the ÖH website.
