Study in Austria

In terms of area, Austria is no bigger than the US state of Maine, and in terms of population, it is home to fewer people than London or Paris – but Austria should not be judged by its size.

This is, after all, the nation which gave us Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Sigmund Freud and Ludwig Wittgenstein (and let’s not forget: Arnold Schwarzenegger and the Von Trappe family). Once upon a time, this alpine nation was also the dominant political and military force in Europe, and though it perhaps doesn’t quite enjoy this level of power today, it is still an influential and eminent part of the continent.

• Find a university in Austria

Sandwiched between Germany, the Czech Republic, Hungary (with which it was once unified), Switzerland, Italy, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Lichtenstein, Austria is located pretty much in the dead centre of Europe, forming a bridge between east and west. It is dominated by the Alps in its southeast and centre, and the Danube – 10% of which lies within the nation’s borders – on which the capital city Vienna was built. Said city is home to over a quarter of Austria’s population, and boasts the world’s highest quality of living (according to the Economist Intelligence Unit and the Mercer Survey). It is one of Europe’s great cultural capitals, and for fans of architecture, music and art is not to be missed.

In terms of higher education, Austria’s system is extremely internationalized. More than 15% of the total tertiary enrolment in the country is made up of international students, rising up to more than 20% if only advanced research programs are considered. In fact, according to the OECD, 1.6% of all international students study in Austria – not a bad figure at all for a nation of such diminutive proportions. The nation’s leading university, Universität Wien, sits at 155 in the QS World University Rankings®, and is joined by Technische Universität Wien (231), Universität Innsbruck (290), Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz (366), Johannes Kepler Universität Linz (432), Paris Lodron Universität Salzburg (545) and Alpen-Adria-Universität Klagenfurt (637).

• View the entire QS World University Rankings >

Admissions/Entry/Visa requirement

To apply to study in Austria, you should apply directly to the university at which you wish to study. Your secondary qualifications must be considered to be of an equivalent level to those offered in Austria, and must be sufficient to gain entry to a similar program in the country where it was earned. You will also need to prove that you speak German to the level stipulated by the university. The vast majority of courses in Austria are taught in German, though English is widely spoken as a second language. If you are applying to a universität der künste (university of the arts), then you will have to sit an entrance examination. 

As with other countries in the EEA, fees and visa requirements depend on whether or not you are a citizen on of an EEA nation.

Applicants from the EEA (and Switzerland)

•    Entitled to the same free education as local students. However you will have to pay fees if you take over two semesters more than the standard amount of time to complete your course
•    Do not require a visa to enter or study in Austria.
•    Must demonstrate you have enough money to pay your living expenses and have purchased medical insurance (preferential rates of EU$32 per month are available to students) to local municipal authority.

Applicants from outside the EEA

•    Must pay fees of US$485 per semester.
•    Must apply for the appropriate residence permit (D) from local Austrian embassy (if you are from a nation which does not require a visa to enter the country you can do this in Austria, otherwise you must apply from your country of residence).
•    In order to get this, you must show a letter of acceptance, proof that you have found somewhere to live, proof that you have purchased medical insurance, a photo, your birth certificate, proof of sufficient financial means (deemed to be €438 – or US$585 – per month; you need to have enough for 12 months), proof you have somewhere to stay, and a police certificate where appropriate.
•    If you have to sit an entrance exam, you will be issued a conditional letter of admission and only have to demonstrate credibly that you will have sufficient financial means and accommodation when applying for your permit. Pass your exam and you will have to provide more solid proof.
•    However, if you do not need a visa to enter Austria, then you can simply sit your exam and then apply for a residence permit while there.
•    Must apply to Labour Service if you want to work.