Application Process – Frequently Asked Questions
Which deadlines should I be aware of?
The overall application deadline for admission to the 2023 study programme at BOKU as well as IHE Delft is 15th June 2023.
If you intend to apply for the 2023 ADC or OKP fellowships for LWM, your IPGL application profile has to be complete before the extended deadline of 13th February 2023 and your application for admission at IHE Delft hast do be submitted by 15th March 2023 at the latest! The application window for OKP is 8th February - 30th March and applications for the ADC fellowship are open until 15th May 2023.
Do I have to apply with both IHE Delft and BOKU?
Yes. You can find links to both application platforms here.
I have encountered a problem logging into my account on the IPGL application platform – what is wrong?
1. Please re-check if you are on the correct website and try to access your account via the “Login” button on the upper right.
2. Did you put in your username and password correctly? Your username is always the e-mail address you used to register your account. If you forgot your password, use the “Forgot Password?” option under the "log in" button. If you never received the initial e-mail with information regarding your password, please re-check your e-mail account and spam folder.
3. If you are still having trouble, please contact the IPGL-Office (ipgl(at)boku.ac.at) for help.
Passport / ID
I do not have a (valid) passport – can I still apply?
Yes. Please provide a different proof of identity like an official ID or a birth certificate. However, be aware that you will need a valid passport for admission procedures.
What can I do if my name / date of birth / etc. is not the same on all the documents I have uploaded to the application platform?
Please inform the IPGL-office (ipgl(at)boku.ac.at) about the inconsistencies and why they ocurred.
English language proficiency
Which kind of certificate do I need to prove my English language proficiency during the application process?
For LWM we can accept the following certificates:
- Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English (CAE) - A/B/C
- IELTS (Academic) - min. 6.0
- TOEFL (internet based) - 90-91 (writing min. 17)
- TOEFL (internet based Home Edition) 95-100 (writing min. 17)
- TOEIC - min. 960 (must include all 3 tests, writing min. 150)
The study programme for my BSc was completely taught in English - do I still need to prove proficiency?
You may be exempt from the need to prove your English proficiency, if your BSc was taught in English and was awarded by a university in on of the following countries:
Australia, Barbados, Belize, Botswana, Canada, Cook Islands, Eritrea, Eswatini, Gambia, Ghana, Guyana, India, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Namibia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, St Vincent and Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, UK, USA, Zambia, and Zimbabwe
Please let the IPGL office know, if that is the case!
BSc degree certificates (and other degrees)
What is a certified copy?
Authenticated or certified copies are copies with an official stamp to verify that the copies are true copies of original documents. This official stamp may be from one of the following: a solicitor/notary, the educational institution from where the student gained the diplomas or the local council/local authority/local government office.
Please be aware that, for some countries, a full legalisation of documents will be necessary for admission to BOKU. You can check if your home country is on the list and how to proceed in case it is here.
I have additional qualifications to my Bachelor’s degree (e.g. a MSc degree) – should I upload those documents as well?
Yes. Please provide us with all relevant documents regarding your education, so we can make an informed decision in our evaluation process. Upload additional documents together with your BSc certificate.
Profile status ("incomplete" / "complete" / "eligible")
I have uploaded all required documents to my profile on the IPGL application platform – what happens now?
Now the IPGL-Office will check your application. As soon as your application profile has been evaluated, the status will be set to “eligible” or “incomplete”, depending on the state of the documents you provided. Each status change will come with a message (via email and on the platform itself) explaining what to do next – so check your emails (also the spam folder) and profile regularly.
I have uploaded all required documents to my profile on the IPGL application platform, but it has been reset to "incomplete" - why?
The IPGL-Office has checked your application and has found that some crucial part of your application is either missing or incomplete. Please check your application profile page - there will be a message explaining the reasons in more detail.
When and where should I send my original certified copies?
Upon our request, send your original certified copies (including certified translation and full authentication, if applicable) via air mail to:
University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna
Institute of Hydrobiology and Aquatic Ecosystem Management
IPGL office
Gregor Mendel Strasse 33/DG/34
1180 Vienna
Austria
Europe
I have received a message that I should send original certified copies via postal service – what exactly should I send and what should I be mindful of?
Make sure you send the original certified copies of your BSc certificate and transcripts that you received from your institute of education and not just copies or scans!
If your documents are in a different language you will also have to send a certified translation into English language along with the aforementioned certified copies.
I have received a message that I should send original certified copies via postal service, but I already applied last year / in earlier years. Do I still have to send the copies again?
Please contact the IPGL-Office (ipgl(at)boku.ac.at) and let us know. In most cases you will not have to send the original certified copies again.
I have received a letter of conditional admission from IHE Delft & a letter of substantive eligibility from BOKU – what are my next steps?
Now, you can apply for fellowships (we recommend you apply for more than one to better your chances) to fund your studies.
- If your BSc degree is from a non-EU university, please check out the section on fellowships on our homepage for more information.
- Applicants with a degree from an EU university may want to look into fellowships like Erasmus+ or Joint Study Free Mover.
Self-funding is of course always a possibility as well. In any case, please inform the IPGL-Office (ipgl(at)boku.ac.at) about your choice of funding.