Do you want to study higher education in Austria?

Universities in Austria

Once you have completed a general or vocational education you can study at several higher education institutions which offer

• Public universities
• Colleges (Fachhochschulen)
• Faculties of applied sciences (after accreditation of programs in colleges)
• Private universities (after accreditation)
• University colleges for teacher education
• Colleges in the field of high level medicine, etc.

Austria has many quality institutions of higher education. The language of study is usually German, but many universities also offer courses in other languages. Most universities offer bachelor's degree programs of 6-8 semesters, master's programs of 2-4 semesters and doctoral programs of at least 6 semesters.

Upon completion of a university degree you can continue your studies to obtain the highest possible degree (ISCED 6), which is the doctoral or PhD degree. Furthermore, there are a number of educational institutions that offer university-type study programs.

Admission to higher level institutions requires a degree as proof that you have completed pre-school and depending on the program in some cases the entrance exam is done. Entrance exams are especially needed for students wishing to enroll in medical, dental, veterinary and psychology studies where places of study are limited.

The academic year in Austria starts on October 1 and ends on September 30 next year and consists of two winter semesters (October 1-January 30) and summer (March 1-September 30). In Austria there are over 2,000 university programs in about 70 higher education institutions.

How to apply?

To be accepted into a program, you must contact the institution that offers it because registration is different depending on the institution.

How much do studies cost?

For Austrian and EU students, the first year no tuition is paid, while from the second year students pay 363 euros per semester. Students from other countries need a study permit, ie a visa. Participation for one semester is 726 euros.

Participation in the student union costs 17.50 euros per semester and is mandatory for every student.

Financial assistance

Scholarships are awarded by several institutions. All can be found at www.grant.at, where scholarships and grants can be requested by country.