Admission 2025/26: Studying at the University of Graz

“Roter Stern über Graz”: Barbara Stelzl-Marx's book about the Soviet occupation in 1945

When the Styrian capital was occupied by the Red Army on 9 May 1945, fear and uncertainty mingled with relief at the end of the war for the majority of the population. The British had actually been expected. They took over eleven weeks later. Although the time under Soviet occupation was short-lived, it left deep traces in the collective memory and in personal life stories. Based on archive documents and interviews with contemporary witnesses, historian Barbara Stelzl-Marx describes the everyday life of the people in the first weeks after the war in her new book "Roter Stern über Graz" in a well-founded and detailed manner.

Ice and snow on the retreat: what climate change means for our water

Artificial snow slopes wind their way through green forests and meadows. Last winter once again took a heavy toll on ski resorts. But climate change is not only a major challenge for tourism. If it is too mild and dry during the cold season, this also has a negative impact on the water balance. "The snow cover fulfils an important function. When it melts in spring, it supplies the rivers and replenishes the groundwater," says Wolfgang Schöner from the Department of Geography and Regional Science at the University of Graz. The researcher is involved in a new study on the effects of climate change on Austria's water management. The study was commissioned by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Climate and Environmental Protection, Regions and Water Management (BML).

Technology for tomorrow: Competence Centre Battery4Life takes off

By April 1st, the new battery research centre “Battery4Life” opens its doors at the TU Graz. Innovative battery technologies for electric vehicles are the research field of this new COMET-Centre in order to make batteries more efficient and more sustainable. Primary focus is the safe operation to allow long life-cycles both in the vehicle and by second-life applications like stationary use as well.

A new age of research

Knowledge is power; but sharing knowledge makes it more powerful. Open Science, the movement for transparent and freely accessible science, is fundamentally changing the research industry. Instead of lonely ivory towers, it favours open access, open data and open collaboration