Study in Austria

Austria is a distinguished cultural and academic hub in the heart of Europe and one of the world's most accessible study destinations, combining prestigious universities, world-renowned quality of life—with its capital Vienna consistently ranked as the world's most livable city—and near-free tuition at public universities. Home to historic institutions including the University of Vienna (the oldest university in the German-speaking world), TU Wien, and the University of Graz. Offering hundreds of accredited German- and English-taught programmes, non-EU students benefit from exceptional higher education at less than 1,500 EUR per year, complemented by respected government funding such as the Ernst Mach Grants.

universities listed

scholarships & discounts

government programmes

Government scholarships & national programmes

Scholarships funded by the state or its official bodies for international students.

Austrian Government Ernst Mach Grant (OeAD / BMBWF)

Fully Funded2 scholarships

The Austrian Government Ernst Mach Grant, funded by the Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research (BMBWF) and administered by OeAD, provides full financial support for master students, doctoral candidates, and postdocs worldwide to conduct research at Austrian universities with monthly stipends (€1,150–€1,300), tuition fee waivers, health insurance, and accommodation assistance.

Universities(2)

Fees for international students and the highest discount or scholarship available, from each university’s official sources.

All cities:

State university

Carinthia University of Applied Sciences (CUAS)

جامعة كارينثيا للعلوم التطبيقية

Villach1 scholarship

Annual Tuition:€727 – €1,454 per year

Active scholarshipsDetails

Private (foundation) university

Modul University Vienna

جامعة مودول فيينا

Vienna1 scholarship

Annual Tuition:€7,000 – €14,000 per year

Active scholarshipsDetails

All scholarships & discounts (6)

Filter by funding type and study level.

Fully Funded

Erasmus Mundus Joint Master in Public Policy & International Affairs (Mundus MAPP)

Master’s

2026-12-01Details

Partially Funded

Carinthia University of Applied Sciences (CUAS) TECH Scholarship

by Carinthia University of Applied Sciences (CUAS)

Master’s

Open for applicationDetails

Partially Funded

Erasmus Mundus MESPOM Joint Master Programme

Master’s

2027-01-07Details

Partially Funded

Ernst Mach Grant for Universities of Applied Sciences (FH)

by Austrian Government Ernst Mach Grant (OeAD / BMBWF)

Bachelor’s

2027-02-01Details

Partially Funded

Modul University Vienna Tuition Reductions & Anniversary Awards

by Modul University Vienna

Master’s

Open for applicationDetails

Living Stipend Only

Austrian Government Ernst Mach Worldwide Research Grant

by Austrian Government Ernst Mach Grant (OeAD / BMBWF)

PhD

2026-12-01Details

Study guide

The study system

Higher education in Austria complies with the European Bologna framework across two distinct institutional models: 1) Public Research Universities (Universitäten): Dedicated to fundamental research and scholarly theory. • Bachelor's Degree: 3 years (180 ECTS credits). • Master's Degree: 2 years (120 ECTS credits). • Doctorate (PhD): 3 to 4 years of thesis research. 2) Universities of Applied Sciences (Fachhochschulen - FH): Oriented towards practical training, industry partnerships, and compulsory internships. The academic calendar consists of two semesters: Winter semester starting 1 October, and Summer semester starting 1 March.

How to get admitted

1) Undergraduate Admissions: • Certified translated secondary school diploma, and passing entrance examinations where applicable (e.g. MedAT for medicine or admissions filters for business and computer science). • Proof of Special University Entrance Qualification (Besondere Universitätsreife): Demonstrating entitlement to study the chosen subject in your home country (required by several public universities). 2) Master's Admissions: • Relevant accredited Bachelor's degree with transcripts and syllabus verification. 3) Language Requirements: • German-taught programmes: Level B2 or C1 verified by ÖSD, Goethe-Zertifikat, or TestDaF. • English-taught programmes: IELTS 6.5+ or TOEFL iBT 85+. 4) Major Austrian Scholarships: • Ernst Mach Grants funded by the Austrian Federal Ministry (BMBWF) via OeAD, offering monthly allowances of up to 1,250 EUR for research scholars and students.

Fees and living costs

Tuition Fees in Austrian Public Universities (Unique Advantage): • Non-EU/EEA International Students: A flat fee of only **726.72 EUR per semester** (~1,453 EUR per academic year) plus the mandatory Austrian Student Union fee (ÖH-Beitrag) of ~22.70 EUR per semester. • Exemptions: Students from Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and select developing partners are completely exempt from tuition fees, paying only the ÖH fee. • Universities of Applied Sciences (FH): Typically 727 to 1,500 EUR per semester. Living Costs & Financial Requirement: • Average monthly living expenses: 950 to 1,250 EUR (Dormitory accommodation: 350–550 EUR, subsidised student health insurance ÖGK: ~69 EUR/month, food, and transport). • Official residence permit financial proof (2026): Under 24 years of age requires ~672 EUR/month; 24 years and older requires ~1,217 EUR/month for a full year (~14,600 EUR).

Visa, residence permit and health insurance

Austrian Student Residence Permit (Aufenthaltsbewilligung Student) Procedures: 1) Official University Admission: Securing the formal notification of admission (Zulassungsbescheid). 2) Application at Austrian Embassy: Lodged in person with passport, admission letter, certified accommodation contract (Wohnrechtsvereinbarung), bank statement proving 1 full year of maintenance, legalised police clearance, and birth certificate. 3) Entry Visa D: Following approval from Austrian immigration authorities (such as MA 35 in Vienna), an entry Visa D is issued to travel to Austria and collect the residence permit card.

Working while studying

Working During Studies: • International non-EU students can work part-time up to 20 hours per week throughout their Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD studies, with work permits (Beschäftigungsbewilligung) issued through a streamlined process by the Austrian Public Employment Service (AMS). • Average hourly earnings range from 12 to 16 EUR across student sectors. Post-Study Work & Settlement: • Austrian university graduates are entitled to a 12-month post-study residence permit to seek employment matching their qualifications. • Securing a qualified job offer allows direct conversion to the Red-White-Red Card (Rot-Weiß-Rot – Karte), providing a direct pathway to permanent residence in Austria and the EU.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Key questions and answers regarding eligibility, documents, and application steps for 2026 / 2027.

Yes, Austrian law sets public university tuition for non-EU/EEA students at just 726.72 EUR per semester (~1,453 EUR/year), and completely waives tuition for students from developing and least developed countries.

Yes, top Austrian universities (such as University of Vienna, TU Wien, and Universities of Applied Sciences) offer dozens of Master's and PhD programmes taught entirely in English across business, computer science, and engineering without requiring German.