Austria combines a rich historical and cultural heritage with varied landscapes and a well-developed higher education system. These qualities make it an attractive study destination for students from around the world.
Studying in Austria offers international students several advantages, including access to long-established universities and specialized higher education institutions, convenient travel to other European countries, and the opportunity to live in cities and towns known for their history, culture, and natural surroundings.
Studying in Austria can be compelling for international students because the country offers programs at all major degree levels and across a wide range of disciplines. Graduates from third countries may also be able to remain in Austria temporarily to look for suitable employment or start a business, provided they meet the applicable residence requirements.
If you are an international student considering Austria for undergraduate or postgraduate study, read on for an overview of the country’s higher education system, tuition fees, living costs, admissions, residence requirements, scholarships, and post-graduation work options.
How to Plan for Your Studies in Austria
Finding a university and program that match your academic interests and career goals is especially important when planning to study abroad. The following sections provide an overview of how to plan your studies at Austrian higher education institutions.
Education System in Austria
Austria is home to public universities, private universities, universities of applied sciences, and university colleges of teacher education. Admission policies vary by institution and program. Some programs have open or broadly accessible admission procedures, while others—particularly medicine, dentistry, psychology, architecture, business, computer science, biology, and arts programs—may use entrance examinations or selection procedures. Therefore, it is not accurate to describe all Austrian universities as highly selective or as having low acceptance rates.
Austria’s higher education system offers programs for students of many nationalities and at different levels of study. Available fields include the humanities, engineering, the arts, medicine, social sciences, law, business, finance, natural sciences, and many others.
The official Study in Austria directory currently lists the following main types of higher education institutions:
- Number of public universities: 23
- Number of universities of applied sciences: 21
- Number of private universities: 19
- Number of university colleges of teacher education: 14
Statistics Austria recorded 401,934 students at Austrian higher education institutions in 2024. The figure covers public and private universities, theological schools, universities of applied sciences, and university colleges of teacher education.
Choosing a University in Austria
International students in Austria can choose from many institutions and degree programs. The right choice will depend on factors such as the available curriculum, admission requirements, language of instruction, tuition, location, research opportunities, and career goals.
Vienna, Graz, Innsbruck, Linz, and Salzburg are among Austria’s major university cities, and many of the country’s universities and colleges are located in them. Other institutions are based in smaller cities and towns, giving students additional options outside the largest urban areas.
Austria’s best-known institutions include the University of Vienna, which was founded in 1365 and is the oldest university in the German-speaking world. The university currently offers approximately 188 degree programs. German is generally the language of instruction, although a selection of programs is taught in English or in a combination of languages. Students should check the language requirements of each program rather than assume that most programs are available in English. More information about language requirements is available in this guide to language tests in Austria. The university reports ties to 11 Nobel laureates.
Other examples of Austrian public universities include:
These institutions should not be described as having uniformly high international acceptance rates because admissions data and selection procedures differ by university and program.
Choosing a Study Program in Austria
Austrian higher education institutions offer programs at the bachelor’s, master’s, diploma, and doctoral levels. International students should compare each program’s curriculum, language, entry requirements, duration, tuition, and professional recognition before applying.
Available subjects include the humanities, science and technology, law, language studies, business, engineering, the arts, and medicine. German remains the main language of instruction across Austrian higher education, but hundreds of English-taught programs are also available. Students can explore English-medium programs and should confirm the exact teaching language on the official program page.
Austria follows the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System, commonly known as ECTS. Program requirements vary, but the usual structures are as follows:
- Bachelor’s degrees: require at least 180 ECTS credits and generally take three to four years. Some professional programs follow a different structure.
- Master’s degrees: generally require a relevant bachelor’s degree and commonly take approximately two years. The official Study in Austria program guide describes master’s programs as requiring at least 120 ECTS credits, although students should verify the curriculum of the individual program.
- Diploma programs: generally take four to six years. Medicine and some other regulated subjects may be offered as diploma programs rather than through a separate bachelor’s and master’s structure.
- Ph.D. or doctoral programs: require a relevant diploma or master’s degree and last at least three years. They normally involve independent research and a doctoral dissertation.
How to Finance Your Education in Austria
The following sections explain the main expenses international students should consider when preparing a budget for studying in Austria.
Tuition fees in Austria
International students should review both tuition and living costs before deciding to study in Austria. Fees depend on the institution, the student’s citizenship or residence status, the type of program, and, in some cases, the length of enrollment.
One advantage of studying in Austria is that tuition at many public universities is lower than at numerous private institutions. Under the standard public-university rules, students from Austria, the EU, the EEA, and Switzerland are generally exempt from tuition during the prescribed program duration plus two tolerance semesters. They must still pay the Austrian Students’ Union fee. Once the tuition-free period has been exceeded, the standard tuition is generally €363.36 per semester, in addition to the Students’ Union fee.
Students from third countries generally pay €726.72 in tuition per semester at public universities, plus the Students’ Union fee. Exemptions or equal-status rules may apply in specific circumstances. Students should check the current fee page of their chosen university rather than rely on a general statement that all students from developing countries study free of charge. More information about comparatively low-tuition universities in Austria is available here.
Universities of applied sciences may charge tuition, and private universities set their own fees. The amount can vary substantially by institution and program, so there is no single nationwide annual fee that applies to every university of applied sciences or private university.
At the University of Vienna, non-EU/EEA students generally pay €726.72 in tuition plus the €26.20 Students’ Union fee, for a total of €752.92 per semester. Exemptions are available for certain students. EU/EEA and Swiss students generally pay only the Students’ Union fee during the prescribed program duration plus two tolerance semesters.
MCI Management Center Innsbruck is a university of applied sciences, not a private university. Its current fee page states that beginning students from the EU, EEA, and Switzerland pay €363.36 per semester, while non-EU students in bachelor’s and master’s programs pay €8,250 per semester. An additional Students’ Union fee of €26.20 per semester applies. Students should consult MCI’s current admissions and tuition page before applying.
The general tuition structure can be summarized as follows:
- Public universities: EU/EEA and Swiss students are generally exempt from tuition during the prescribed duration plus two tolerance semesters. Third-country students generally pay €726.72 per semester, although exemptions may apply. The Students’ Union fee is charged separately.
- Universities of applied sciences: institutions may charge tuition, and the amount varies by institution, citizenship, and program.
- Private universities: each institution establishes its own tuition and other fees.
All figures should be confirmed directly with the institution because tuition and mandatory student fees can change.
Cost of Living in Austria
Living costs depend on the city, type of accommodation, and personal spending habits. According to the official Study in Austria website, the estimated average monthly living cost for a student is approximately €1,300. Costs may be higher in Vienna and other large cities.
International students should budget for accommodation, health insurance, food, transportation, study materials, communications, recreation, and other personal expenses. The official estimates are approximately:
- Accommodation: €450 to €700 per month, based on a place in a student residence
- Food: approximately €300 per month
- Studies and personal expenses: approximately €500 per month, including transportation, culture, recreation, and study-related needs
- Example prices: approximately €3.20 for a single city transportation ticket, €12 for a meal in a typical student restaurant, €10 for a cinema ticket, and €14 for a museum ticket
These amounts are guidelines rather than guaranteed prices. Students comparing Austria with countries such as the Netherlands or Sweden should use current city-specific budgets rather than broad country rankings.
Health insurance is required. EU, EEA, and Swiss students may be able to use a European Health Insurance Card or another recognized form of coverage, depending on their circumstances. This does not mean that every health service is automatically free. Third-country students applying for a Residence Permit – Student must demonstrate health insurance covering all risks in Austria.
Eligible degree students may take out preferential student self-insurance through the Austrian Health Insurance Fund after entering Austria and enrolling. The monthly contribution is €78.84 as of 2026. Eligibility conditions apply, and students who do not qualify must obtain another policy that satisfies the residence authority’s requirements.
Financial Aid and Scholarships
Austria’s public-university tuition rules can reduce study costs for some students. However, an exemption from tuition is not automatic for every international student, and tuition exemptions do not cover accommodation, food, insurance, transportation, or other living expenses.
International students can search for scholarships in Austria through universities, the OeAD, grants.at, the European Union, foundations, and other funding organizations. Coverage, eligible nationalities, study levels, application procedures, and deadlines vary. Students should always check the current official call before applying.
Examples of funding opportunities include the following:
1. Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters
- Scholarship coverage: participating master’s programs may offer full scholarships to highly ranked applicants. These scholarships cover participation costs and contribute to travel, visa, and living expenses.
- Eligibility: applicants to participating Erasmus Mundus Joint Master programs. Program-specific academic and admission requirements apply.
- Program duration: one to two academic years, corresponding to 60, 90, or 120 ECTS credits.
2. Scholarships of the Scholarship Foundation of the Republic of Austria for Master’s Degree Studies in International Relations
- Scholarship duration: nine months. Applicants should consult the current grants.at call for the latest stipend, insurance, accommodation, and travel provisions.
- Eligibility: graduates and postgraduates pursuing a master’s degree in international relations. The scholarship is intended particularly for descendants of forced laborers under the National Socialist regime and nationals of countries that were especially affected by that regime.
- Published closing date: April 1. Applicants should confirm the deadline for the relevant application cycle.
3. MCI Partner University Scholarship
- Scholarship amount: 60% of tuition for the full duration of study
- Eligibility: non-EU/EEA students coming from an MCI partner university who enroll in an eligible MCI master’s program. Executive programs are excluded, and applicants must otherwise be required to pay the applicable tuition.
How to Apply to Austrian Universities
The following sections provide a general guide to applying to Austrian higher education institutions. The institution offering the program is responsible for admissions, so applicants must also follow its official instructions.
Admission Requirements
International applications may require additional documentation, legalization, certified translations, or proof of language proficiency. Processing foreign qualifications can also take longer, so students should review the requirements well before the semester begins.
Requirements vary by institution, program, study level, and applicant qualification. Admission is not based on one mandatory nationwide checklist that applies identically to every Austrian university.
Typical academic requirements include:
- For a bachelor’s program: a secondary school leaving certificate that provides access to university study, or an accepted equivalent qualification
- For a master’s program: a relevant bachelor’s degree of at least six semesters and normally at least 180 ECTS credits
- For a Ph.D. or doctoral program: a relevant master’s or diploma degree, or an accepted equivalent qualification
- Language proficiency: proof of German or another teaching language at the level required by the program
- Additional selection requirements: an entrance examination, interview, portfolio, audition, or other selection procedure where required
Required Documents
Applicants must submit the documents requested by the institution within the applicable application period. Foreign documents may need to be legalized, and documents not issued in German or English may require legalized translations.
Commonly requested documents include the following, although not every item is required by every university or program:
- Completed application form
- Copy of a valid passport or other accepted proof of nationality
- Secondary school leaving certificate or diploma from the most recently completed degree
- Academic transcripts
- Proof of German, English, or another required language
- Legalized documents and certified translations, where required
- Statement of purpose, letter of motivation, or research proposal, if required
- Reference letters, if required
- Portfolio, audition materials, entrance-examination registration, or other program-specific evidence, if required
- Proof of payment only when the institution charges an application or processing fee
Application Deadlines
For many public universities, the general closing dates are September 5 for the winter semester and February 5 for the summer semester.
- Winter semester: general university application closing date of September 5
- Summer semester: general university application closing date of February 5
These dates do not apply uniformly to every institution or program. Universities of applied sciences, private universities, arts universities, teacher education colleges, and programs with entrance examinations may have different or substantially earlier deadlines. Some entrance-examination registration periods can close up to six months before the semester begins.
International applicants should begin early because reviewing foreign qualifications, legalizing documents, obtaining translations, and completing the residence process can take several months.
General Admission Steps
Because admission procedures differ, students should use the university’s official program and admissions pages as their primary instructions. A typical process includes the following:
- Choose an institution and program
- Confirm the academic, language, and program-specific entry requirements
- Check the application deadline and any entrance-examination registration date
- Prepare legalized documents and translations where required
- Complete the application and pay an application fee only if one is required
- Submit the application before the applicable deadline
- Complete any interview, examination, audition, or portfolio assessment
- After admission, review scholarship, accommodation, insurance, and immigration requirements immediately
How to Obtain a Student Visa in Austria
Immigration requirements depend on nationality, the duration of the stay, and the student’s circumstances. Third-country nationals admitted to an Austrian higher education institution for a stay longer than six months generally require a Residence Permit – Student. This residence permit is not the same document as an entry visa.
In most cases, the initial application for a Residence Permit – Student must be submitted in person to the responsible Austrian embassy or consulate in the applicant’s country of residence. After a positive decision, an applicant who requires a visa to enter Austria may need to obtain a Visa D before traveling to collect the residence permit. See this separate overview of the Austria student visa process for additional guidance.
The exact documents depend on the case, but the official checklist for a first application generally includes:
- A valid passport or other accepted travel document
- A recent passport-sized photograph that meets the specified standards
- Notification or confirmation of admission from an Austrian higher education institution
- Proof of sufficient financial means
- Proof of accommodation in Austria for at least the period required by the authority
- Proof of health insurance covering all risks in Austria
- A copy of all passport pages
- A recent police clearance certificate for a first application, subject to the applicable legalization and translation rules
- Legalized and translated civil-status or other supporting documents when requested
- Payment of the €218 residence-permit application fee for applications submitted on or after January 1, 2026
The required monthly financial means are €722.58 for students under age 24 and €1,308.39 for students age 24 or older. Different amounts apply to couples and children. Additional funds must be demonstrated when accommodation or certain regular expenses exceed the threshold specified by the authorities. Applicants should check the official page immediately before applying because these amounts are adjusted periodically.
A typical application process is as follows:
- Receive confirmation of admission from an Austrian higher education institution
- Review the official checklist for your nationality, intended stay, and program
- Find the responsible Austrian representation through the government’s directory of embassies and consulates
- Arrange an appointment and prepare the originals and copies of all required documents
- Submit the application in person and pay the required fee
- Respond promptly if the authority requests additional documents
- After approval, obtain a Visa D when required, enter Austria, register your address, and collect the residence permit
The official decision period is generally 90 days after a complete application has been submitted. It can be extended by another 90 days if additional documents are required. The OeAD recommends applying at least three months before the intended entry date and, where possible, beginning the initial process six months in advance.
How to Prepare for Your Arrival in Austria
Studying in another country requires additional planning. Before traveling, students should confirm their accommodation, insurance, immigration documents, travel arrangements, enrollment steps, and initial budget.
Austria offers active student communities in both large and smaller university cities. Nevertheless, preparing in advance can make the transition easier and reduce the risk of administrative or financial problems after arrival.
Some of the most important preparations are outlined below.
Arrange your accommodation
Finding an apartment or a room in a student residence can take time, especially when arranging accommodation from abroad. Begin early, verify the legitimacy of the landlord or housing provider, read the contract carefully, and understand the deposit, notice period, utilities, registration rules, and refund conditions. Many universities provide housing information, but they do not necessarily guarantee accommodation.
Bring your essentials
Bring essential documents, prescriptions, appropriate clothing, and any personal items that may be difficult to replace immediately. Keep important documents and copies in your hand luggage rather than checked baggage. Most ordinary household and personal products are available in Austria, so there is generally no need to transport excessive quantities.
Familiarize yourself with your school and neighborhood
Before arrival, review the campus map, public transportation routes, enrollment instructions, emergency contacts, and the location of essential services. Student associations, orientation events, international offices, and classmates can also help new students become familiar with their surroundings.
How to Study and Live in Austria
Moving abroad can involve academic, administrative, social, and personal adjustments. Experiencing challenges during the first weeks or months is normal, even for students who have prepared carefully.
The following sections discuss several common issues and practical ways to manage them.
Challenge 1: Deal with the language barrier
German is Austria’s official language and the main language of instruction in Austrian higher education. English-taught programs are available, but students may still need German for housing, government appointments, health care, shopping, employment, and everyday communication. Learning basic German before arrival and continuing with a course in Austria can make daily life easier. Students should also become familiar with Austrian vocabulary and regional accents without assuming that communication in English is impossible outside major cities.
Challenge 2: Get ready for the cold winters
Winter conditions vary by region and altitude, but students arriving from warmer climates should prepare for cold temperatures and shorter daylight hours. Bring or budget for a warm coat, suitable footwear, layers, and rain or snow protection. Students interested in winter sports should also budget separately for transportation, equipment, insurance, and resort fees.
Challenge 3: Prepare yourself for the high cost of living
Even when tuition is relatively low, accommodation and everyday expenses can place significant pressure on a student budget. The official national estimate is approximately €1,300 per month, but the actual amount depends on the city and lifestyle. Prepare a realistic budget, include a financial reserve, and do not rely on an unsupported ranking of Austria as a specific numbered “most expensive” country.
Challenge 4: Follow the rules carefully
Students must follow university regulations, residence-permit conditions, address-registration rules, insurance requirements, employment restrictions, and local laws. Read official notices carefully and contact the responsible university office or government authority when a requirement is unclear rather than relying solely on informal advice.
Challenge 5: Get in touch with your family
Homesickness and culture shock can affect international students in different ways. Regular contact with family and friends can help, as can developing a local support network, joining student groups, maintaining a routine, and seeking professional counseling when needed. These adjustments are not always easy or immediate, so students should use the support services available to them.
Can You Work in Austria After Graduation
International graduates may have options to remain in Austria after completing their studies, but eligibility depends on nationality, residence status, qualifications, employment, and compliance with immigration requirements.
Students can improve their employment prospects by using university career services, attending job fairs, speaking with faculty and alumni, gaining relevant experience, building professional networks, and developing German-language skills. Employment opportunities differ by field, location, qualifications, and labor-market conditions, so no particular sector can guarantee a job.
Third-country nationals who successfully complete an eligible Austrian degree while holding a Residence Permit – Student may apply to renew that permit for 12 months to look for employment or start a business, provided they meet the general residence requirements.
If a graduate receives a job offer from a specified employer during that period, the graduate may apply for a Red-White-Red Card without a labor-market test when the position matches the graduate’s qualification level, the salary is at least the locally customary amount for a comparable Austrian graduate, and the other residence conditions are satisfied. The card is initially tied to the employer named in the application. More information is available on the Austrian government’s immigration portal.
While studying, holders of a Residence Permit – Student may generally receive a work permit for employment of up to 20 hours per week without a labor-market test. The employer must apply for the work permit before employment begins.
We hope that this Ultimate Guide to Studying in Austria was informative and helpful. If you are interested, check out the Europe Scholarships Page and available courses in Europe for international students!
