Legal Status/Accreditation/Quality Assurance

 

Confirmation by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Science, Research and Economy (BMWFW) concerning the Diploma Program in Dental Medicine at the DPU

In its correspondence, dated 8 September 2015, the Austrian Federal Ministry of Science, Research and Economy (BMWFW) confirmed the following:

  • the Danube Private University (DPU) is a „recognized and accredited educational institution“.
  • the academic title “Doctor of Dental Medicine” (Dr. med. dent.) awarded upon graduation from the diploma program in Dental Medicine at DPU has the same legal effect as academic degrees awarded by public universities in accordance with the Austrian Universities Act (Universitätsgesetz – UG 2002), and
  • the aforementioned diploma program complies with the requirements of EU Directive 2005/36/EC, Article 34.

 

Confirmation by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research (BMBWF) concerning the Study Programs in Medicine at the DPU

In its letter dated 27 November 2024, the Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research (BMBWF) confirmed that the Danube Private University (DPU) is a recognized and accredited educational institution.

The Danube Private University is authorized to offer the following study programs:

  • Bachelor’s degree program in Human Medicine (6 semesters, 180 ECTS), academic degree “Bachelor of Science” (abbreviated B.Sc.), at the Krems an der Donau campus, and
  • Master’s degree program in Human Medicine (6 semesters, 180 ECTS), academic degree “Doctor medicinae universae” (abbreviated Dr. med. univ.), at the Wiener Neustadt campus.

The degrees to be awarded are fully valid academic degrees with the same legal status as those awarded at public universities in accordance with the Austrian Universities Act (UG).

By the inclusion of Danube Private University in the Medical Universities Ordinance 2024 (MUVO 2024), Federal Law Gazette II No. 299/2024, it is confirmed that the bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in Human Medicine at DPU constitute an essential part of basic medical training in accordance with Annex V, V.1., 5.1.1. of Directive 2005/36/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 September 2005 on the recognition of professional qualifications. This also confirms that these programs comply with the general provisions of the Directive.

BMWFW – Legal Status of DPU incl. EU Directive Compliance (Human Medicine) 

 

2. Extension of the Accreditation of the Danube Private University (DPU)

The Board of the Agency for Quality Assurance and Accreditation Austria (AQ Austria) granted the renewed extension of the institutional accreditation of Danube Private University until 2030.

  • 2025 – Extension of institutional accreditation: At its 91st meeting on 19 March 2025, the AQ Austria Board confirmed that the conditions imposed had been fulfilled.
  • 2024 – The AQ Austria Board approved the accreditation application for the Master’s degree program in Human Medicine (6 semesters, 180 ECTS credits, Doctor medicinae universae, abbreviated Dr. med. univ., full-time program) with Wiener Neustadt as the location of implementation, in cooperation with the clinical partners in Wiener Neustadt, Neunkirchen and Hochegg (Result report Master’s Program in Human Medicine 2024).
  • 2021 – Extension of institutional accreditation of Danube Private University for six years with conditions, combined with the revocation of the accreditation of the Master’s program in Human Medicine during the procedure (Result report on the extension of institutional accreditation).

 

1. Extension of the Accreditation of the Danube Private University (DPU)

The institutional accreditation of DPU had already been extended by decision of the AQ Austria Board, following the reaccreditation procedure in accordance with §10 of the Decree on Accreditation of Private Universities (PU-Akkreditierungsverordnung), with effect from 1 August 2014 for a further six years until August 2020.

As part of this reaccreditation procedure, all study programs offered at DPU were evaluated and approved for continuation, including:

  • the Diploma Program in Dental Medicine leading to Dr. med. dent.,
  • the Bachelor / Master of Arts in Medical Journalism and Public Relations (BA/MA),
  • the Bachelor of Dental Hygiene (BA),

as well as postgraduate Master of Science (MSc) programs in various dental specializations, such as:

  • Aesthetic-Reconstructive Dentistry
  • Function and Prosthetics
  • Oral Surgery / Implantology (German & English)
  • Clinical Oral Surgeon / Implantologist (Full-time)
  • Orthodontics (German & English)
  • Clinical Orthodontist (Full-time)
  • Endodontics

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the following members of the  review board:  Univ. Prof. Dr. Carlo Marinello, University of Basel, Chairman; Univ. Prof. Dr. Regina Mericske-Stern, University of Berne; Univ. Prof. Dr. Günter Bentele, Leipzig University; Sarah Schober, student member, Medical University of Vienna; as well as the representatives of the Agency for Quality Assurance and Accreditation Austria – AQ Austria (AQ Agentur für Qualitätssicherung und Akkreditierung Austria).  They were all involved in the procedure for the “extension of the accreditation of DPU”, with an inspection of DPU on 11/12 March 2014, and compiled the extensive report and expert opinion dated 30 April 2014.  We have acknowledged their positive appraisal of all the important review criteria with regard to the fulfilment of the staffing and spatial requirements, as well as the practicum facilities and dental clinic (Ambulatorium), with great pleasure.

Following the conclusion of the reaccreditation procedure in accordance with section 10 of the Decree on the Accreditation of Private Universities (Privatuniversitäten-Akkreditierungsverordnung – PU-AkkVO), it is the obligation of both the Agency for Quality Assurance and Accreditation Austria – AQ Austria (AQ Agentur für Qualitätssicherung und Akkreditierung Austria) and Danube Private University to publish the review report and its findings on their websites. This is to include:

  • the report and expert opinion
  • the decision of the Board, including the grounds for its decision and
  • the statement of the applying institution under review with regard to the report and expert opinion

Personal information, financing sources, business and trade secrets are exempt from publication and replaced by an ellipsis in square brackets […]. The report and expert opinion of AQ Austria has had only a very limited amount of personal information removed. The DPU statement concerning the report and expert opinion of AQ Austria has been published in full.

Danube Private University would like to thank the review board and AQ Austria for the constructive criticism contained in the review report. DPU will build on it in its continued efforts to develop the university into an internationally renowned institution of teaching and research. Any suggestions and recommendations concerning developments, improvements, clarifications and additions will be implemented, in so far as this has not already occurred or these are not already in preparation.

Of the many positive appraisals from the review board for the courses of study at DPU, and particularly its Diploma Program in Dental Medicine (Dr. med. dent.), we would like to cite the following highlighted statement from Section 3 of the expert opinion,  “Strengths of DPU: The establishment of the course of study (dental medicine), which is based on a stringent concept of academic models and education methods and should guarantee a degree upon completion (for the first time at the end of 2015), thus ensuring the necessary expertise for the later exercising of the profession of dental practitioner.”

Another proud excerpt from AQ Austria is “the orientation of the degree to the principles of comprehensive, problem-oriented and evidence-based dentistry“.

The conclusions in the “Standards” section (page 12 of the expert opinion) represent a further positive assessment in the extension of DPU’s accreditation and state:  “In conclusion it must be stated that the academic structure, didactical design of the curriculum, continuing education modules, examination regulations, workload and course duration of the programs fulfil, if not surpass, international standards.  The required learning objectives and qualifications are attainable and the envisaged academic title is internationally comparable.”

The required official documents pertinent to the extension of the accreditation are published below:

 

Doctoral Program in Dental Medicine (PhD)

On 12 July 2017, the AQ Austria Board and the Austrian Federal Ministry of Science, Research and Economy granted accreditation for the scientific Doctoral Program in Dental Medicine (PhD) (6 semesters, 180 ECTS), along with the habilitation rights for private lecturers at the DPU.

The accreditation procedure comprehensively evaluated 30 quality criteria, including program and study management, academic staff, quality assurance, financing and infrastructure, research and development, as well as national and international cooperation.

The final expert opinion concluded:

“The essential requirements for a doctoral program, such as a positive research environment, are fully met thanks to the adequate technical resources and the variety of ongoing research topics. The supervising academic staff are highly qualified, with extensive experience in research project management and doctoral supervision from previous positions at universities in Germany and the Netherlands. This is reflected in numerous high-ranking publications.”

AQ Austria concluded that:

“Overall, the infrastructure and academic staff of the DPU are highly suitable for successfully offering a doctoral program in dental medicine. The application for accreditation is considered innovative and forward-looking.”

The accreditation of the doctoral program implicitly confirms the prerequisites for habilitation rights at DPU. Accordingly, the DPU Habilitation Regulations entered into force simultaneously with the accreditation of the doctoral program.

Report and Expert Opinion on the Doctoral Program in Dental Medicine (PhD) AQ Austria

 

In addition, the following courses of study were submitted for accreditation:

2024 – The AQ Austria Board approved the application for accreditation of the Master’s degree program in Human Medicine (6 semesters, 180 ECTS credits, Doctor medicinae universae, abbreviated Dr. med. univ., full-time program) with Wiener Neustadt as the location of delivery, in cooperation with the clinical partners in Wiener Neustadt, Neunkirchen, and Hochegg.
Result Report Master's Programme Human Medicine 2024

 

2020 – At its 59th meeting on 26 February 2020, the AQ Austria Board reviewed the application by the Danube Private University to amend the accredited Master’s degree program in Human Medicine (6 semesters, 180 ECTS credits, Doctor medicinae universae, abbreviated Dr. med. univ., full-time program, originally delivered at Krems-Stein in cooperation with the clinical partner Klinikum Wels-Grieskirchen GmbH in Wels-Grieskirchen).

The change concerned the location of program delivery through the addition of further clinical cooperation partners. In the future, in addition to the existing partners, the program will also be implemented in clinical cooperation with the KRAGES hospitals (Burgenland, Austria) and the SLK Pulmonary Clinic Löwenstein (Germany).

The AQ Austria Board resolved to approve the requested amendment.

 

2018 - Medicine (Dr. med. univ.): Report

2018 - Medicine (BSc): Report

 

Further accreditations from 2013:

Master of Science in Periodontology and Implantology (MSc): Report
Bachelor of Dental Hygiene (BA): Report