University Course Palliative Care 2026

Start

06.03.2026

Course type

Course

Study type / modality

part-time

Scope

122 Lessons, 260 PFP Points, 122 DFP Points

Cost

Regular: € 3.690,-
€ 3.550,- Early Bird Price until 09.01.2026
€ 1.980,- price for students
(Matrikel no. email)
€ 1.980,- price SFU Alumni

Completion

Diplom für Palliativmedizin von der Österreichischen Ärzteakademie

Language

German

Information

Please contact for content and organisational questions palliativ@sfu.ac.at;
Mag.a Dr.in Zohreh Bahmani, MSc 

Payment will be made by invoice. You will receive a request for payment shortly after registering.

Registration

Zur Anmeldung

Registration Deadline

05.03.2026 10:00

REGISTER HERE

Inhalt

Palliative care refers to the holistic treatment and dignified care of people with progressive ilnesses or a limited lifespan with the aim of promoting and maintaining their subjective quality of life and autonomy as far as possible. This requires broad, interdisciplinary knowledge and makes professional interdisciplinary cooperation indispensable, as in addition to the treatment of pain, the psychological, social and spiritual aspects of a dignified life must not be ignored.

This university course under the direction of Prim. Prof. Dr. Rudolf Likar includes aspects and approaches from various specialist areas and offers a fundamental basis for sensitized work with the dying. People from different professional groups who are involved in the treatment and care of people with serious illnesses can take part.

Dates
Module 1: Introduction to Palliative Care
Friday, 06.03.2026, 14:00-20:45; Saturday, 07.03.2026, 09:00-17:30

Module 2: In-depth Aspects of Palliative Care
Friday, 17.04.2026, 14:00-19:15; Saturday, 18.04.2026, 09:00-17:30

Module 3: Legal and Ethical Framework
Friday, 08.05.2026, 14:00-20:00; Saturday, 09.05.2026, 09:00-16:30

Module 4: Psychological, Psychotherapeutic and Spiritual Support
Friday, 12.06.2026, 14:00-19:15; Saturday, 13.06.2026, 09:00-17:30 

Module 5: Communication skills - Internal & External
Friday, 16.10.2026, 14:00-20:00; Saturday, 17.10.2026, 09:00-16:30 

Module 6: Children's Palliative Care
Friday, 13.11.2026, 14:00-20:00; Saturday, 14.11.2026, 09:00-16:30 

Module 7: Assisted Suicide
Friday, 11.12.2026, 14:00-19:15; Saturday, 12.12.2026, 09:00-17:45 

Module 8: Final Module - Reflecting on Your Own Attitude
Friday, 22.01.2027, 14:00-19:15; Saturday, 23.01.2027, 09:00-16:30 

Lecturers
Prim. Univ. Prof. Dr. Rudolf Likar, MSc; Univ. Doz. Dr. Josef Spatt; DGKP Monika Jahn; Mag. Felicitas Jakobsen; Cornelia Prasch, MSc; Dr. Charlotte Wetterauer; Univ.-Prof. Dr. Karin Bruckmüller; Univ. Doz. Dr. Gerald Gatterer; Dott. Mag. Cesare Lino; Prim. Mag. Dr. Erwin Horst Pilgram; Mag. Theresia Rosner-Seifertr; OA Priv. Doz. Dr. Gudrun Kreye; DGKP Manuela Wasl, MSc; Mag.a Dr.in Elisabeth Ponocny-Seliger; Mag. Dr. Doris Bach; Dr. Martina Kronberger-Vollnhofer, MSc (Palliative Care); Mag.a Antonia Mittelbach-Kovac; Mag.a Ursula Weinhäupl; Dr. Erfried Pichler; Mag. Klara Doppler; Univ.-Prof. DDr. Ferdinand Rudolf Waldenberger; Dr. Helga Willinger; Dr. Wolfgang Gombas; Univ. Prof.in PDin DDr.in Eva Katharina Masel, MSc; Mag. Stefan Dressler-Stross; OA Dr. Ralph Simánek, MSc

Learning Objective
  • Acquisition of palliative expertise
  • Strengthening communictaion skills in dealing with patients and relatives
  • Developing skills in the care and support of seriously ill and dying people
  • Expanding interprofessional communication skills
  • Strengthening personal reflection skills in dealing with death

Course Management & Contact Details
Lehrgangsleitung & Kontakt für inhaltliche Fragen:
Prim. Univ.-Prof. Dr. med. univ. Rudolf Likar, MSc.
palliativ@sfu.ac.at

Kontakt für organisatorische Fragen:
Mag.a Dr.in Zohreh Bahmani, MSc
palliativ@sfu.ac.at

Main Topics
  • Introduction to Palliative Care
  • In-Depth Aspects of Palliative Care
  • Legal and Ethical Framework
  • Psychological, Psychotherapeutic and Spiritual Support
  • Communication Skills - internal & external
  • Children's Palliative Care
  • Assisted Suicide
  • Final Module - Reflecting On Your Own Attitude

Target Group
The "Palliative Care" university course is aimed at people from different professional groups who are involved in the treatment and support of people with serious illnesses:
  • Doctors
  • Nursing scientists
  • Psychologists/psychotherapists
  • Therapists (speech therapists, physiotherapists, etc.)
  • Social workers, social scientists
  • Pastoral care workers / theologians
  • Lecturers in education, training and further education institutions

Targets
  • Acquisition of palliative expertise
  • Strengthening communictaion skills in dealing with patients and relatives
  • Developing skills in the care and support of seriously ill and dying people
  • Expanding interprofessional communication skills
  • Strengthening personal reflection skills in dealing with death

Admission Requirements
The following admission requirements must be met: 
  • Completed university or university of applied sciences degree in medicine, nursing sciences, psychology, social work, professions of the higher medica-technical services (psychotherapy, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy), theology and other relevant courses of study in the professional field of hospice and palliative care or
  • Health and nursing diploma, a degree in the professions of advanced medical-technical services or a diploma in nursing assistance
Professional training or relevant professional experience may be sufficient in individual cases. The course management decides on final participation.

Methodology
The speakers are experts who can provide evidence of relevant professional training or studies as well as several years of practical and/or teaching experience. The content is taught in the form of lectures, interactive discussions, practical exercises, group work and case studies. The university course "Palliative Care" consists of 8 modules and lasts one year (2 semesters). The course includes 122 teaching units of theory. All courses are offered as lectures (VO) or lectures combined with exercises (VU). A lecture (VO) is a course in which knowledge is imparted by the lecturer. In the case of a lecture combined with an exercise (VU), in addition to the knowledge
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