Music, mountains, and architecture are just some of the things to look forward to when you come to Austria. Located in Central Europe, Austria has produced many renowned scientists, mathematicians, and musicians, so studying at one of its higher education institutions can be a memorable experience.
International students account for around 30% of students in Austria. Statistics Austria reported 401,934 students at Austrian higher education institutions in 2024. Since living costs and tuition rules vary by institution and student status, aspiring scholars should look for the support they need to manage their expenses once they come to live here. Check out these best Austria scholarships for international students.
Top Scholarships in Austria
1. CEU Scholarships
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Value: Up to 50% tuition support for bachelor’s students; master’s awards may include tuition and/or stipend support; doctoral scholarships include tuition and a stipend
- Eligible Degree/s: Bachelor’s, Master’s, Ph.D.
The Central European University, located in Vienna, Austria, is a private university that offers English-taught bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programs. Its community includes students and scholars from more than 100 countries. With a focus on teaching and research, the university also aims to be a safe and diverse institution for everyone pursuing quality education. To further assist students and reward strong academic performance, the university offers several scholarship and financial aid options, with award amounts varying by degree level and program.
Here is what CEU Financial Aid Scholars Say:
“as well as the CEU Excellence Scholarship from the Central European University, Austria, which was a 50% tuition fee waiver.”
Syed Shaharyar Ahmed
“I took the IELTS Academic test since it is mostly required while applying abroad. I prepared by myself for a week and was able to secure 8 BANDS overall.”
Syed Shaharyar Ahmed
2. Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters Scholarship
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Value: Participation costs plus contributions to travel, visa, and a living allowance
- Eligible Degree/s: Master’s
The Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters Scholarships are offered to top-ranked students from around the world who are keen to complete a master’s degree abroad. Through this scholarship, students study at several higher education institutions, usually in different countries, and may receive either a joint degree or multiple degrees upon completion.
Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters are delivered by consortia of higher education institutions and must include at least three institutions from three countries. The master’s programs generally last one to two academic years and carry 60, 90, or 120 ECTS credits. Erasmus Mundus scholarships cover participation costs and contribute to travel, visa, and living expenses. Applicants usually apply directly to the relevant program consortium after completing an undergraduate degree, although final-year bachelor’s students may apply if they graduate before the master’s program starts.
3. Marshall Plan Scholarships Program
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Value: €4,000 to €10,000
- Eligible Degree/s: Master’s, Ph.D.
The Marshall Plan Scholarships Program is an exchange program between Austria and the U.S. that focuses mainly on research in technical, natural, and economic fields. Since 2008, the foundation has provided more than 1,300 scholarships to Austrian and American students, with the mission of building strong research collaboration between the two countries. Applicants must be enrolled at a partner university in Austria or the United States and should first secure supervision at both their home and host institutions.
Chosen recipients of this Austria scholarship complete a research stay at their selected host university for at least three months and receive a grant ranging from €4,000 to €10,000. The exact scholarship amount depends on the length of the research stay and the student’s degree level. The payment is made in two installments: 80% after the scholarship is formally accepted and 20% after the final report is submitted.
4. Ernst Mach Grant
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Value: Varies by grant type
- Eligible Degree/s: Bachelor’s, Master’s, Ph.D., and postdoctoral research, depending on the grant type
The Ernst Mach Grant, named after the Austrian physicist and philosopher Ernst Mach, is a scholarship program for international students and researchers who want to pursue part of their studies or research in Austria. Current Ernst Mach funding options include the Ernst Mach Grant Ukraine, Ernst Mach Grant worldwide, Ernst Mach Grant for studying at an Austrian University of Applied Sciences, Ernst Mach Follow-up Grant, Ernst Mach Grant ASEA-UNINET, and Ernst Mach Grant ASEA-UNINET Short-term Research Grant.
These grants serve different countries, degree levels, and academic purposes. For example, the Ernst Mach Grant worldwide is primarily for young researchers, while the grant for Austrian Universities of Applied Sciences is aimed at undergraduate and graduate students from non-European universities who want to study at an Austrian university of applied sciences. Duration and eligibility vary by grant type.
The monthly grant amount varies depending on the specific Ernst Mach Grant. The OeAD, Austria’s Agency for Education and Internationalization, may also assist students in arranging accommodation and health insurance, although these costs are usually paid from the grant.
Austria offers low or no tuition at public universities for some students, but the rules depend on nationality, student status, study duration, and institution type. Austrian, EU, and EEA students generally do not pay tuition at public universities during the minimum duration of their degree program plus two tolerance semesters, while many third-country students with a student residence permit generally pay €751.92 per semester. A compulsory student union and accident insurance fee also applies. Scholarships can help ease the burden of these costs and living expenses, so do not let finances stop you from applying to your Austrian dream university.
We hope this article on the best scholarships in Austria for international students was helpful. Make sure to also check out the Study in Austria and Available Programs in Europe for International Students pages for more insightful articles.
