Acquire Additional Qualifications and Skills

Graduates from the Accessible Web Design program acquire a basic, thorough understanding of base-knowledge technical principles that are considered essential when designing modern websites. This includes:

• understanding the main features of modern assistive technologies,
• becoming more familiar with the legal parameters and be able to formulate and produce information corresponding to legal requirements,
• being able to evaluate and improve websites with regard to accessibility, particularly for those who have disabilities,
• being able to provide consultation services for web projects with regard to accessibility,
• acquiring expertise to plan, design, and implement new, barrier-free websites independently, and
• honing a heightened sense of empathy and social skills as a result of more direct involvement with disability issues and contact with peers.

Duration and Program Structure

Students enrolled in this one-semester, part-time extension graduate degree program “Accessible Web Design” are required to successfully complete the mandatory courses to the extent of 12 semester hours per week (18 ECTS credits). The program concludes with the approval of the final thesis submitted within the internship period.

Admission Requirements

Prospective students wishing to enroll in the Accessible Web Design program should hold the required qualifications to enroll at a university (such as an Austrian “Matura” diploma, or having successfully passed the University Enrollment Eligibility Examination), or hold educational qualifications considered comparable in content and scope. Applicants should possess prior knowledge and experience in the field of information and communications technology (a certified program, professional experience).

Prospective applicants will be admitted to the program after successfully passing an admissions interview. 

Minimum Requirements to Enroll

• Hold university entrance qualifications (earned in Austria or in the EU)
• Successful completion of general secondary school education (AT), or
• Graduation from a secondary-level vocational school (AT)

Corresponding professional experience (activities in areas such as: Web design, software development, system administration, information management, or the like) is an advantage.
Those who have studied at a university, or at a university of applied sciences studies (AT/EU) in areas that include computer sciences, business informatics, media technology & design, etc. can – depending on the course content and scope - potentially transfer academic credit to count towards fulfilling program requirements.

Applicants are required to have a basic, technical understanding of the following:

A basic understanding of HTML, CSS, java script; Basic database knowledge; an understanding of a higher programming language.
The program management team will decide on final admission to the program.
 

Extension Graduate Degree Program: Accessible Web Design 

1 semester
12 semester hours per week, or 18 ECTS credits
 

A list of instructors who have academic and technical/ business backgrounds will be posted on the website soon.

Academic Title After Successful Completion of the Program

Graduates from the Accessible Web Design program will earn the academic title “Experte für Barrierefreies Webdesign”.

Program Fees

The program tuition is €4,550 and covers the entire program, including the examination fee.
Participants are responsible for covering the program fees in full; the documents will only be provided in a digital form.
Prospective applicants interested in completing the program can consider the following financial aid options:

• The Austrian Research Promotion Agency offers financial aid to promote skills (there is a review process following submission; if approved, the Austrian Research Promotion Agency covers up to 60% of the fees, up to a maximum of € 5,000)
• UBIT € 800 (financial aid is available to active members in the Vienna Fachgruppe Unternehmensberatung, Buchhaltung und Informationstechnologie, “UBIT”).
• The “Digi-Bonus” / educational support (Austrian Chamber of Labour) € 120 to € 4,000 (30% - 60% of the program fees) depending on the federal state
• AMS (Public Employment Service Austria) / Employer

FAQs

Why is this program different from similar programs offered at other educational institutions?

• The program has been designed as an eLearning program, meaning on-site attendance is kept to a minimum in an effort to reduce the commute time to and from campus.
• For years now, federal, state, and local authorities have been required to create barrier-free versions of their respective websites. The demand for experts in “barrier-free web design” will grow accordingly.

What type of new career opportunities will be open to future graduates who have successfully earned this additional qualification?

• A higher income
• Better job promotion opportunities
• Job consolidation by means of acquired expertise
• An opportunity to get in on the ground floor of a new job area

Why should employers consider supporting employees to successfully complete the program?

• Acquire additional educational qualifications in addition to working full-time
• Greater versatility within the company
• Enhanced competitive edge in the job market as a result of acquired expertise
• A higher degree of employee loyalty and commitment

Apply Now!

The application deadline is January 27, 2025.

Send your application to:

Johannes Kepler University Linz
Institut Integriert Studieren
Attn: Dr. Michael Waidhofer
Altenbergerstr. 69
A-4040 Linz

The written application must include: 

• A current CV
• A Letter of Intent (max. 1 page)
• A photo
• Proof regarding prior educational qualifications

Organizational support: 

Mag. Dr. Michael Waidhofer (0732 / 2468- 3760)
E-mail: michael.waidhofer(at)jku.at 

Please note the program will be conducted in German only.