Doing a PhD is not always easy, and interpersonal problems and conflicts can arise for a variety of reasons whenever humans work together. Conflict is virtually impossible to avoid, it is human nature to disagree, and disagreements are healthy when approached correctly.  Eliminating conflict entirely would cause its own problems: there would be no diversity of opinion, and no way for us to catch and correct flawed plans and policies. Or, if you feel affected by the stress, or in case you are facing discrimination or other forms of assault,seek help. Talking to other people can give you a feeling of relief and help cope with anxieties.

We take the issue of conflict management seriously and offer our support to all students who need it. If conflicts arise during your PhD studies that require outside assistance to solve, please do not hesitate to contact the doctoral school’s executive manager Isolde Prommer (isolde.prommer@univie.ac.at or phone ext. 50030) OR student representative(s) (studreps.phanuspo@univie.ac.at) OR any other member of the steering team directly.

We are available for one-on-one meetings to discuss the problem and take measures to reach a conflict/problem resolution together with you. For conflict solving we will do our best, dependent on conflict specifications, to analyse contributing factors (causes), to generate interventions (e.g. brainstorm possible solutions, creative thinking), to evaluate solutions (e.g. discussion, mediation, prioritizing, and includes identifying possible barriers to successful solution implementation), to implement a plan and to evaluate their effectiveness.

Of course, all information will be treated highly confidential and only communicated to other (involved) parties with your consent.

Below a list of further units at Univ. Vienna, free public assistance & emergency councelling services: e.g. women's and men's against violence helplines/services, psychological/psychiatric services, anti-racism work, free legal advice on residencial permits, among others.

Assisting units of the University of Vienna

Emergency counselling services or crisis hotlines of the City of Vienna or Austria

  • Psychological counselling services
  • Crisis intervention center Vienna
    Providing support and counselling for people in acute crises, Vienna. Counselling in person, via telephone or via e-mail.
  • Social psychiatric emergency services (PDS) in Vienna
    Immediate psychiatric assistance for people in acute crises: By calling this number, you will receive qualified and immediate assistance around the clock.
  • Women's helpline /Frauenhelpline gegen Gewalt
    The consultants are bound to absolute confidentiality. You can also remain anonymous if you wish. Services in many languages, website provides lots of information and links e.g. on women's shelters, councelling centers for sexual violence, victim protection groups in the hospitals, sign language support, regional centers, women with dsabilities and experience of violence, and FAQs.
  • Men's councelling & hotlines
  • Ö3 Kummernummer careline
    • phone: 116 123  (every day from 16:00 to 24:00)
  • Telefonseelsorge crisis hotline
    • phone: 142  (every day from 0:00 to 24:00)

Emergency services in German

Organisations/NGOs assisting on topics such as racism, online hate, legal advice

  • helping hands - http://helpinghands.at/
    • a non-governmental organisation (NGO) that helps immigrants/newcomers, and organises and runs various projects that offer help where it is most needed: focus is on legal advice on aliens’ law.
    • phone: +43-1-310 88 80 10 (Mo 9:30-17:30, Tu 9:30-13:30, We & Th 9:30-14:30)
    • e-mail: info@helpinghands.at
  • ZARA – Civil Courage & Anti-Racism-Work - https://zara.or.at/en
  • The WEISSE RING supports crime victims
    • free 24 hrs victim emergency number / Opfer-Notruf: 0800 112 112 (https://www.opfer-notruf.at/)
    • Legal support, information, counselling, accompany and support in exercising rights (in German), free of charge: https://www.weisser-ring.at/
    • member of Victim Support Europe https://victim-support.eu/: Although VSE does not provide direct support to victims, it operates a referral system as a way to coordinate victims and the national support services.
  • HEMAYAT – Betreuungszentrum für Folter- und Kriegsüberlebende /Centre providing counselling and support for survivors of war and torture, Vienna