On 6 July 2011 the new framework law on external quality assurance has been passed by the Austrian parliament. On 1 March 2012, the contained laws on higher education quality assurance [Hochschul-Qualitätssicherungsgesetz (HS-QSG)] and on private universities [Privatuniversitätengesetz (PUG)] replace the currently valid University Accreditation Act (UniAkkG).

This means:

• As from 1 March 2012 applications for accreditation and re-accreditation as private university and applications for accreditation of study programmes of private universities can only be submitted to the new Agentur für Qualitätssicherung und Akkreditierung Austria.

• For accreditation procedures which are submitted before 1 March 2012, ÖAR is the competent body until 31 August 2012 and the legal framework is the University Accreditation Act. As from 31 August 2012 all pending procedures will be transferred to the new Agentur für Qualitätssicherung und Akkreditierung Austria.

• To avoid a change of competence during a pending procedure as effectively as possible it is recommended to submit applications for accreditation to ÖAR by 30 November 2011 at the latest.

• The accreditation of private universities whose period of accreditation would expire in 2012 will be extended ex lege until 31 December 2014.

(14 July 2011)