Universität / FH
Research or applied learning?
Choose the format that fits how you learn.
Study in Austria · study optionsSTUDY ABROAD / AT
Aufwind.Your next chapter.In Austria.
Aufwind / An upward current. A fresh sense of possibility.
Vienna’s university arcades. Engineering, research and creative practice with an Austrian perspective. Explore public universities and Fachhochschulen, then build a plan around the programme, language and preparation that suit you.
Guide checked · Official sources
VIENNA / IN FOCUSAUSTRIA
Hubertl · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Display cropped
€726.72 / semester
Standard public tuition for many non-EU students
Plus the student-union contribution; exceptions apply.
Austrian Government · studyingLanguage first
English options, German preparation
Check the actual course and entry requirements.
Study in Austria · study options01 / YOUR STARTING POINT
Where are you starting from?
Choose the closest match. Use it to plan your next checks, not as an admission decision.
Build the foundation before the first semester.
Austria’s university entry route depends on your qualification, chosen subject and teaching language. Work backwards from those requirements to a realistic intake.
Study in Austria · application and admission- 01Ask the institution how it assesses your school qualification and subject background.
- 02Check language evidence, entrance procedures and any supplementary examinations.
- 03Allow time for translations, legalisation and the institution’s own deadlines.
Keep in mind
An available course is not an open-ended admission offer. Some subjects have earlier selection procedures or additional requirements.
02 / THE REAL COST
Low tuition is a starting point. Build the whole plan.
The strongest Austrian shortlist connects academic fit with language and a realistic cost of living.
Separate tuition from contributions
The standard public-university tuition for many third-country students is €726.72 per semester. Check exemptions and your university’s invoice. The student-union contribution is additional; FH and private fees can differ.
Austrian Government · studyingPrepare the language you will actually need
Explore English-taught options, but check programme-specific entry evidence and the language of compulsory practical work. German can also make everyday life and future professional conversations easier.
Study in Austria · study optionsPrice the city, then the first month
Use a current accommodation quote, add bills and transport, and plan for the housing deposit before arrival. Keep health insurance in the monthly budget.
Study in Austria · living costs03 / MAKE THE NUMBERS YOURS
What would your first year look like?
Change the example figures to match your shortlist. See the expenses and the cash you may need to set aside.
UNIVERSITY STUDY / 12 MONTHS / EUR
Illustrative first year at the standard €726.72-per-semester public tuition rate, plus two €25.20 student-union contributions. Confirm your own invoice and applicable exemptions. Living, arrival and deposit amounts are editable examples; FH and private programmes need their own tuition quote.
YOUR FIRST-YEAR PICTURE
Total cash to plan for€21,853.84
- Estimated expenses
- €20,403.84
- Refundable deposit
- €1,450.00
Living costs × 12 + tuition + other fees + arrival costs. The deposit is added separately as money to set aside.
Build from funds you can rely on.
No sign-up. Your figures stay in this page.This example deducts no unawarded scholarship or income from a job you have not secured.
04 / FUNDING THE MOVE
Find the right kind of support.
Start with an affordable study plan. Then explore funding that matches your background.
Use grants.at with your profile
Filter by your country of origin, level and subject, then read the actual call. Many grants support a research stay or specific activity rather than the whole of a degree.
Search the Austrian grants databaseLook for a specific funded research opportunity
Ask the department about advertised research funding, the selection process and any supervisor requirement. A general admission offer is not evidence of funded study.
Explore OeAD funding programmesMake the affordable route sustainable
OeAD does not offer a general scholarship for an entire Austrian bachelor’s, master’s or PhD. Compare confirmed exemptions and institution-specific awards, then fund the remaining living costs from reliable resources.
Understand funding limitsSTUDY. WORK. UPSKILL.
Work during and after your studies.
Understand the study-related options, then prepare for the next stage.
During your studies
For employed work, the employer generally needs an employment permit. Students may obtain permission for up to 20 hours a week without a labour-market test, provided study remains the main purpose.
Austrian Government · temporary residenceAfter completing an Austrian degree
Eligible graduates may renew their student residence permit for 12 months to seek employment or start a business, subject to the applicable requirements.
OeAD · student residence permitPrepare for a professional next step
Use your projects and university careers support to understand the field. Any longer-term employment route has its own requirements; a degree or search period does not promise a role.
Austrian Government · temporary residence05 / FROM INTEREST TO ACTION
A route you can work through.
Start at the step that matches where you are. Course dates and your circumstances set the pace.
- 01
Choose your learning environment
Compare a university with an FH on curriculum, teaching format and assessment.
Study in Austria · study options - 02
Check academic and language entry
Identify any entrance procedure or preparation requirement before selecting the intake.
Study in Austria · application and admission - 03
Request your fee calculation
Separate tuition, the student-union contribution and any other programme charges.
Study in Austria · tuition fees - 04
Build the residence evidence
Calculate resources for your age, actual housing and insurance, then prepare the documents.
OeAD · student residence permit - 05
Plan your first weeks
Arrange housing, registration and the practical essentials, with an arrival buffer.
06 / KEEP YOUR PLAN CURRENT
Worth knowing before you apply.
Reviewed guidance and official publishers to follow as your plan develops.
2026 RESOURCES
Age changes the financial-evidence calculation.
Use the current student-residence figures and include the housing adjustment and insurance. A single advertised “proof of funds” number can leave the plan incomplete.
OeAD · student residence permitReviewed 10 September 2026STUDENT WORK
The employer’s permit is part of the process.
The 20-hour student concession does not remove the need to check and obtain the required employment permission.
Austrian Government · temporary residenceReviewed 10 September 2026Keep an eye on what’s new
For the latest published notices, visit OeAD · Austria’s education agency. Read the date, eligibility and deadline on each announcement.
The reviewed guidance above is a dated reference. New announcements do not automatically change the page’s advice.
THE QUESTIONS THAT MATTER
A little more clarity.
Useful answers to bring into your next conversation.
There is no general free-tuition promise. Many third-country students pay the standard public tuition plus the student-union contribution; exemptions and institution-specific rates need checking.
Study in Austria · tuition feesYOUR NEXT MOVE, WITH STAAR
Turn “what if” into a first step.
Tell us where you are today. We’ll help you explore what comes next.
SOURCE NOTES
Check the detail at its source.
Reviewed 10 September 2026. Course, funding and immigration rules can change. Use the current rules for your nationality, residence and intake.
Study in Austria · study options
Universities, FH programmes and teaching languages.
Study in Austria · application and admissionAcademic requirements, documentation and selection.
Austrian Government · studyingStandard public tuition and the Austrian study system.
Study in Austria · tuition feesTuition categories, student-union contributions and exemptions.
Study in Austria · living costsAccommodation and everyday cost planning.
OeAD · student residence permit2026 resources, insurance and graduate renewal.
Austrian Government · temporary residenceStudent employment permits and work conditions.
grants.at · Austrian grants databaseSearch funding by nationality, level and field.
OeAD · grants and scholarshipsOfficial funding programmes and calls.
Study in Austria · scholarships and fundingFunding scope and limits for full degrees.