entrance examination eng final

8/7/2019 Entrance Examination ENG FINAL

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Diploma Programme: Entrance Examination

Candidates for admission to the Diploma Programme are required to sit an entranceexamination at the Diplomatic Academy in Vienna or at an Austrian representation abroad.

Candidates are admitted to the entrance examination provided they fulfil the following

requirements:

a degree from an accredited institution of higher education (university, college) a very good command of English, a good command of German or French or at least a

basic knowledge of the third language (German or French)

Please find the following information on the next pages:

Preparing for the Entrance Examination Recommended Literature Examples of Questions Set


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Preparing for the Entrance Examination

The purpose of the entrance examination is to establish whether a candidate has the appropriatequalifications for the successful completion of the Diploma Programme. As the number of places atthe DA is limited, candidates are admitted in the order of their ranking in the entrance exams. The

results of the entrance exams are only valid in the year in which they were sat.

The entrance examination is divided into written and oral sections. You can take it either at theDiplomatic Academy in Vienna or at an Austrian embassy or consulate abroad.

In the written section, there are three 90-minute exams in each of the following areas:

international relations and history in the 19th and 20th century economics and international economic relations international law and European law

Additionally and where appropriate, language skills in English, French and German are tested in a90-minute written exam in each by means of grammar tests, translations, essays, summaries and ashort oral exam.

The main oral exam takes place before a commission. Candidates are questioned in at least two ofthe three languages of instruction at the DA on the same three areas stipulated for the writtenexam as well as on general knowledge.

A reading list, together with recommended reading, is available to help you prepare for theentrance examination. You are also strongly advised to read on a regular basis relevant reports andanalyses in newspapers and specialized magazines such as International Herald Tribune, TheFinancial Times, Le Monde, Neue Zrcher Zeitung, The Economist, Foreign Affairs etc.


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Recommended Literature

International Relations

Battistella, Dario: Thories des relations internationales, Presses De Sciences Po, 2003 Brown, Chris: International Relations Theory, 3rd edition Kegley, Charles & Eugene Wittkopf: World Politics: Trend and Transformation, 5th edition,

St. Martins Press, 1995 Knapp, Manfred & Gert Krell (Hg): Einfhrung in die internationale Politik, 3. Aufl.,

Oldenbourg 1996 Baylis, John & Steve Smith (Eds.): The Globalization of World Politics: An Introduction to International Relations, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004, 3rd edition Carlnaes, Walter, Thomas Risse & Beth A. Simmons, (Eds): Handbook of International

Relations, London: Sage, 2001 Burchill, Scott, Andrew Liklater, Richard Devetak, Jack Donnelly, Matthew Paterson,

Christian Reus-Smit & Jacqui True: Theories of International Relations, Basingstoke:

Palgrave, 2005, 3rd edition

International Law Dixon, M.: Textbook on International Law (Blackstone Press Limited) Seidl-Hohenveldern / Stein: Vlkerrecht (Heymanns)

European Law Cartou, L.: LUnion Europenne (Dalloz) Mathijsen, P.: A Guide to European Community Law (Sweet&Maxwell) Thun-Hohenstein, C., F. Cede & G. Hafner: Europarecht (Manz, Wien)

Economics Samuelson, P.A. & W. Nordhaus: Economics (only basic concepts, fundamental concepts of

macroeconomics, microeconomics, supply, demand and product markets, economic role ofgovernment, international trade and the world economy) (McGraw Hill)

History Duroselle, J.B.: Introduction l'histoire des relations internationales (Pocket, 1997) Craig, Gordon A.: Geschichte Europas im 19. und 20. Jahrhundert (Beck)

Surveys of diplomatic history Duroselle, J.B.: LEurope de 1815 nos jours (PUF, 1997) Kissinger, H.A.: Diplomacy (Simon and Schuster, 1995)

Comprehensive surveys Thomson, David: Europe Since Napoleon (Penguin, 1990) Breunig, Charles: The Revolutionary Era, 1789-1850 (Norton, 2002) Gilbert, Felix & David Clay Large: The End of the European Era, 1890 to the Present (Norton,

2002) Rich, Norman: Age of Nationalism and Reform, 1850-1890 (Norton, 1977)


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Hobsbawm, E.J.: The Age of Revolutions, 1789-1848 ( Abacus, 1998) (LEre des rvolutions,1789-1848); (Europische Revolution 1789 bis 1848)

Hobsbawm, E.J.: The Age of Capital, 18481875 (Abacus, 1988) (LEre du capital, 1848-1875)

Hobsbawm, E.J.: The Age of Empire, 1875-1914 (Abacus, 1989) (LEre des empires, 1875-1914); (Das imperiale Zeitalter, 1875-1914)

Hobsbawm, E.J.: The Age of Extremes: The Short 20th Century, 1914-1991 (Abacus, 1995) (Lge des extremes: Le Vingtime Sicle, 1914-1991)

Postwar Europe Judt, Tony: Postwar (Heineman, 2005)

Austria Cullin, M. & F. Kreissler: LAutriche contemporaine (A. Colin) Dachs, H.: Handbuch des politischen Systems sterreichs (Manz)

Hanisch, Ernst: Der lange Schatten des Staates. sterreichische Gesellschaftsgeschichte im20. Jahrhundert, (Ueberreuter 2005) Sully, Melanie: A Contemporary History of Austria (Routledge 1990) Steininger, Rolf & Michael Gehler: sterreich im 20. Jhdt., 2Bd. (Bhlau 1997)

Last updated: September 2009


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Examples of Questions SetYou may answer in English, French or German

International Relations and Contemporary History The international role of the United States in the twentieth century. Chinas importance in Asia in the twentieth century. Austrias development in the twentieth century. The peace treaties after World War I and their international consequences. The consequences of the Second World War. The political importance of Islam in the modern world. The European Idea: its origins and the attempts to turn it into reality. Analyse the pros and cons of the enlargement of the European Union. What, in your opinion, are the economic and political prerequisites for a peaceful

relationship between states? The meaning and limits of the right to self-determination in the twentieth century, using

examples from outside Europe. Characterize the role of a great foreign affairs politician of your country in the twentieth

century.

International Law and European Law What are the sources of international law? What do you understand by "subjects of international law"? Name the tasks of the Security Council of the United Nations. What tasks do the tribunals set up by the Security Council of the UN in Den Haag and Arusha

have? Name some of the decisions of the International Court of Justice and sketch out their most

important points. Explain the concept of "extra-territoriality". What are the implications of the principle of "non-intervention"? What do you understand by the "right of self-determination of the peoples"? What are the tasks of a diplomatic officer? What do you understand by "diplomatic privilege"? What role did the European Parliament assume after the Treaties of Amsterdam and Nice? What do you understand by the "second pillar" of the EU? Describe NATO and briefly discuss its (future) role.

International Economics What do you know about J. M. Keynes? What are the functions of money? What are the main determinants of economic growth? Describe Ricardos theory of comparative advantage. Why should governments try to control air and water pollution? What is the difference between gross investment and net investment? Describe the government expenditure multiplier. How are exchange rates determined in a floating-exchange-rate system? How will an increase in income tax affect the demand for and the price of cars? What is your "opportunity cost" of studying at the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna?

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