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Education

Austrian higher education

You can study everything from astronomy to zoology at the 88 higher education institutions in Austria. The two main types of higher education institutions are universities and universities of applied sciences (FH). However, there are also teacher training colleges (PH), which are dedicated to the training of teaching staff.

Overview

Most universities can be found in Vienna, where 193,000 students live.

This makes Vienna the largest student city in the German-speaking world. Since the adoption of the Bologna Process, Austria has had a three-tier degree system (Bachelor, Master, PhD) instead of the previous two-tier system (Magister/Diplom-Ingenieur, Doktor).

Individuals who have not passed or taken an entrance exam or are simply interested in attending public lectures can do so through non-university degree programs.   

  • Academic year

    At public universities, the winter semester typically lasts from October to January and the summer semester from March to June. The semester break is in February and the summer break lasts from July to September.

  • Accommodation

    Students in Austria can apply for student residences. There are many organizations that support students in their search for accommodation or student accommodation, e.g. home4students.

  • Insurance

    If you are a student and do not yet have health insurance, you can take out self-insurance at very favorable conditions (approx. €69.13 per month).

  • How to study in Austria?

    If you want to study in Austria for a longer period of time or enroll at a university, you will need a confirmation of admission, health insurance, a place of residence and sufficient means of subsistence.

More information about studying in Austria:

studyinaustria.at

Further information by the OeAD, Agency for Education and Internationalisation.

home4students.at

More information on student residences and shared flats.

Facts & Figures

Admission process

Requirements, procedures and deadlines vary depending on the university, but in principle you can expect up to 12 months processing time for the admission process of an international student.

It depends on the individual student. This processing time often overlaps with the application for a residence permit. You should therefore plan well.   

Note that admission to a particular Master's program usually requires that you have a Bachelor's degree in the same or a related field that is recognized by the university program for which you are applying. 

Further reading

  • Important documents for admission

    1. Online pre-registration (if required)
    2. Submission of all required documents, including proof of university entrance examination (see International Academic Recognition and Nostrification) and proof of German language proficiency
    3. If applicable: entrance exam, interview or audition or submission of a portfolio (often required at art colleges)
    4. If you are accepted, the positive letter of admission
    5. With this letter of admission, you can apply for a residence permit, visa or residence certificate
    6. Please note that you must register with the local registration office within 3 days of moving into an apartment/student residence
    7. To enrol, you must submit your letter of admission, a copy of your passport/citizenship certificate, all required forms and a passport photo

  • Preregistration

    Please note that you must register online in advance for some degree programs, especially those with entrance tests. As long as you have completed your studies within the EU, your academic achievements should be recognized without any problems, as Austria participates in the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS). For degrees obtained outside the EU, you can contact AAIS (Recognition, Application and Information System) to obtain a nostrification. The documents can be submitted online as originals or notarized copies of transcripts in German or English (see translation services). For further information, please contact the Advice Center for Migrants (AST Perspektive). 

  • Entrance examinations & STEOP

    If entrance examinations are required for your chosen field of study, these are mandatory for all applicants, even if you have passed comparable examinations in your home country. Once you are admitted, you may have to take additional exams (e.g. a Latin exam if you are studying medicine). In some cases, you will have to complete a Studies Induction and Orientation Period (STEOP) during your first semester. Instead of an entrance examination, you must pass these compulsory courses in order to continue your studies. If you fail one of the STEOP examinations, you can repeat it up to three times. If you fail three times, you are automatically ex-matriculated from the degree program and cannot repeat it. The universities of applied sciences select students through admission tests and selection interviews, whereby the number of students per degree program is usually limited. For part-time studies, applicants with relevant professional experience may be given preference or admitted without a university entrance qualification; this also applies to non-Austrians. 

  • Language proficiency & proof of aptitude

    Most art universities require you to submit a portfolio or similar proof of aptitude, while music and drama universities generally require you to pass preliminary examinations. For admission to bachelor's and diploma degree programs, students must demonstrate German language proficiency at C1 level. If you do not reach the required level, you can apply for a study preparation program in which you can prepare for additional examinations in German, but also in English, mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, history and geography. 

  • Student residence permit

    If the degree program you are interested in requires an entrance examination, the university can issue a "letter of admission with conditions". EU and EEA citizens, as well as Swiss citizens, do not need to take any additional steps, but third-country nationals must apply for a student residence permit. This small card also serves as their identity card and is issued for up to 12 months. To apply for an extension, you must achieve a minimum of 16 ECTS credits per academic year.

Student residence permit

You can apply for a student residence permit at the competent Austrian immigration authority or from abroad by submitting the following documents to the Austrian representation in your home country: 

  • Completed application form  

  • Photocopy of valid travel document  

  • Birth certificate or equivalent document  

  • Current passport photo according to ICAO criteria 

  • Police clearance certificate  

  • Notification of admission to the Austrian educational institution  

  • Proof of sufficient financial means for your stay (the figures for financial means are adjusted each year, but usually between €5,673-€1,218 per month, depending on age)  

  • Proof of accommodation in Austria (e.g. dormitory reservation, rental contract)  

  • Proof of (travel) health insurance (cover of at least € 30,000) 

More information about studying in Austria can be found on Chapter 3: Living. 

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More details on studying in Austria

Living in Austria

More information about studying in Austria can be found in the topic Living in Austria.

Financial matters

  • Costs

    Non-Austrians are often surprised that higher education at public universities in Austria is very affordable.

    The fees consist of tuition fees, material fees and the mandatory membership fee for the Austrian Student Union of €22.70 (in 2024).  

    If you have to pay tuition fees, you usually pay them online before each semester. For public universities, EU/EEA citizens and Swiss citizens must pay €363.36 per semester if they exceed the average minimum duration of 8 semesters of Bachelor's studies (or 6 semesters of Master's studies). Third-country nationals pay a semester fee of € 726.72 per semester. Tuition fees at private universities are higher and vary depending on the university. 

  • Is financial support available?

    For those who cannot afford the tuition fees, there are various forms of financial support.

    The Austrian Agency for Internationalization and Education (OeAD) is responsible for providing and managing scholarship programs and exchange programs in Austria. The OeAD offers short scholarships, entire study visits in Austria or abroad, as well as research scholarships. All available scholarships and funding opportunities can be found here. You can obtain free information from the OeAD about all scholarships, but also about the legal conditions for studying in Austria. 

  • Working alongside your studies - doing an internship

    Some degree courses require a stay abroad or a research stay of at least one semester. Internships or voluntary placements are also compulsory in many degree courses. Most university of applied sciences degrees provide for a semester of training in the form of an internship and also allow part-time work to support working students. In Austria, the Erasmus+ program is also a good opportunity to go abroad in Europe and study for one or two semesters at a university abroad, but also to complete an internship in a company abroad. International students from third countries who are studying in Austria on a regular basis can also take advantage of this opportunity. Erasmus+ is governed by the European Union and each EU country has its own coordination office. In Austria, the Austrian Agency for Internationalization and Education (OeAD) is responsible for Erasmus+.

  • Internships

    Other international youth organizations also offer internships abroad or for international students in Austria. AIESEC (the largest international student organization in the world - Association Internationale des Etudiants en Sciences Economiques et Commerciales) helps students in social and economic studies to find an internship and also has a location in Austria. IAESTE (an international exchange program - International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience) is responsible for students in STEM studies and also has a location in Austria.

Further Information

oead.at

Austria's Agency for Education and Internationalisation.

iaeste.at

International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience.

oeh.ac.at

Austrian Students' Union.

grants.at

More information on scholarships and research funding.

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