Reifeprüfung

Reifeprüfung, literally “maturity examination,” is the final examination certifying the completion of secondary education and the general eligibility for university study in several German-speaking regions. The term is most closely associated with Austria, where it is commonly known as the Matura and serves as the standard university entrance credential for students finishing Allgemeinbildende Höhere Schule (AHS) and similar tracks. In Swiss cantons, the corresponding qualification is the Matura (Maturität) with Canton-specific variants. In Germany the term is largely historical and the equivalent is the Abitur in some contexts.

The examination typically combines written and oral components, covering core subjects as well as electives. Common written exams include German and a modern foreign language, mathematics, and an additional subject chosen by the student. Oral examinations assess broader competence in selected subjects and, in many traditions, a final presentation or defense. A project or research paper, often referred to as a Vorwissenschaftliche Arbeit (VWA) in Austrian practice, may be required or strongly recommended as part of the preparation, though exact requirements vary by country and region.

The Reifeprüfung serves as the general prerequisite for admission to public universities and many higher education institutions. Different pathways and qualifications exist in practice; for example, Austria offers also vocational and specialized maturities and procedures such as the Berufsmatura in some cases, which provide alternate routes to higher education or to universities of applied sciences.

Overall, the Reifeprüfung is a credential that marks the completion of secondary education and enables access to tertiary education, with specific structures and requirements shaped by national or cantonal education policies.