More flexible learning and working with your own device: the ZID adapts its computer room service

Students

Many students now use their own laptops or tablets and are therefore no longer reliant on fixed computer workplaces. In light of these changing usage patterns, the ZID is adapting its computer room facilities to better meet current needs. Alternative computer rooms remain available to students at faculties and in specialist libraries. In addition, modern Student Spaces provide space for working with your own device.

Illustration by Storyset

Everyday university life is now largely digital. From laptops to tablets: a great many students now work flexibly with their own mobile devices across a variety of learning and workplace spaces, such as the modern Student Spaces at the University of Vienna. As a result, the use of the computer rooms has also changed significantly in recent years: the demand for fixed computer workplaces has declined steadily.

“A few years ago, the computer rooms were still almost fully occupied. Since then, demand has fallen significantly; most students now have their own devices. Even at peak times, such as at the end of the semester, many rooms are only around 10 per cent full. This adjustment is therefore a necessary step to respond to changing usage patterns and to continually tailor our services to the actual needs of our users,” says Helmuth Hönigsperger, who oversees the computer room service of the ZID.
 

Changes at various locations

Due to these changing usage patterns and the steadily declining utilisation rates, the ZID is adapting its computer room services to current demand. From 19 July 2026, selected computer rooms at several University of Vienna sites will therefore no longer be available, including on the Campus of the University of Vienna and in the Neues Institutsgebäude (NIG). A list of all affected rooms can be found on the Computer Rooms service page.

Computer Rooms 2 and 3 on the campus will be closed from 2 July 2026 due to an event.
 

Alternative study and work spaces

Students still have several options for studying and working at the University of Vienna.

  • You can use the computer rooms at departments or in special libraries.
  • For those wishing to work on their own devices, the University of Vienna offers modern Student Spaces at a total of 10 locations.
  • In addition, library locations are also available as study and work areas.
     

Equipment will continue to be used for teaching

The existing equipment from the affected computer rooms will be put to sustainable use: PCs, monitors and cabling will be transferred to the Faculty of Computer Science, where they will be used in future teaching laboratories. In this way, students will continue to benefit directly from the existing hardware.

Notes

The u:print devices from the computer rooms, the u:print top-up station and the u:card terminals will remain at the NIG and will be located in the Student Space on the ground floor from September 2026.
 

The so-called Class Rooms – classrooms for computer-based courses equipped with computer workstations – are not affected by the changes.

Incidentally, the University of Vienna’s first computer room – known at the time as the PC room – was configured and set up in 1994.

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