Why study a Bachelor or Master in Austria

Study in Austria

A very good option as a country for studying abroad, there are many reasons why you should study in Austria. From the affordable tuition fees to the high quality of life and safety of the country, many international students enjoy a unique study abroad experience in the country. Read on to learn more about why you should study in Austria and how much it will cost you to do so. 

Why should you study in Austria?

Even though Austria isn’t typically the country that comes to mind when people think of studying abroad, it should be! The country has a central location in the middle of Europe, with borders in eight countries which means you’ll have easy access to Europe. That means the Euro-trip you’ve always been dreaming of is well within your reach, with Austria being a literal and metaphorical bridge between the different countries. There are several other reasons why Austria is a great choice for your study abroad adventure. 

Save money

A great advantage of studying abroad in Austria is the fact that you will save money. University education is free for EU students but even if you aren’t from the EU, you will still pay relatively lower tuition fees than you would when studying in other similar European countries. Living and study expenses are also reasonable when compared with other countries, with rent also at an average cost even when living in Vienna, which is considered the most expensive city to live in. 

High Quality of life

Another reason why you should pursue your undergraduate or postgraduate studies in Austria is the high quality of life and great security. Vienna has been ranked countless times as the city in the world with the highest quality of life for people living there. The country also has a low crime rate and a great level of social security. 

Splendid landscape

Austria is one of the countries that truly has beautiful natural landscapes, so if you love nature and adventures, it’s a great option for your study abroad destination. It has access to the biggest lake in Europe (Lake Constance) and has direct access to the Alps so you can go skiing any time of year you want. It also has stunning views across the Danube river and many plains. No matter what the season, you’ll always find beautiful landscapes to go away at the weekends and enjoy. 

Unique culture 

Finally, Austria also has a unique culture and arts scene, one that is different from anywhere else in the world. It was home to world-famous composer Mozart and there are many cultures and traditions alive across the nation. It has stunning museums and architectural wonders and many different festivals for people to visit. Famous festivals include the Austrian beer festivals and Christmas markets, which many attend every year to see the beautiful decorations and festive food in the holiday seasons.

 

There are also many delicious food choices, from the traditional Austrian dishes like strudel, schnitzel, spätzle and sachertorte to other worldwide influences such as falafel, doner kebabs, sushi and pizza. You’ll always find something delicious to eat as there are many choices available to you.  

How much does it cost?

If you are an EU student attending a public Austrian university, you won’t have to pay any tuition fees, whether you are pursuing a full-time degree or are just an exchange student. You’ll only have to pay the student union semester fee of 20 euros per semester. 

 

International students will pay an average of 700 euros per semester for tuition costs, in addition to the previously mentioned 20 euros per semester. However, if you come from a developing or third world country, many universities make exceptions to these fees and don’t charge the students. 

 

When talking about Universities of Applied science, tuition fees differ as because they aren’t public universities, they are free to charge whatever they please. If you are an EU student, you can expect to pay around 400 euros per semester while non-EU students will pay a wide range from around 700 euros to 7,000 euros per semester, depending on the school and degree program. You should check your individual program and university to find out exactly how much you’ll need to pay for your degree. 

 

At private universities, tuition fees are more expensive than at public and applied science universities. Study costs differ from one program to another but international students should expect to shell out a range of 3,000 to 25,000 euros per annual year. If you want to pursue a specialized degree program like medicine or an MBA, you might have to pay higher fees of 35,000 euros or more per year. 

 

Living in Austria

When talking about the costs of living in Austria, how much you’ll need to set aside differs from one area to another. The most expensive Austrian cities, Vienna and Salzburg, will cost students a monthly cost of around 1,100 euros to pay all their living expenses. This will include accommodation, groceries, entertainment and transportation around Austria. Students may pay less in cheaper student cities like Linz or Graz as living costs there may cost students around 900 euros per month. 

Accommodation

Accommodation costs the biggest chunk of living costs for students with average accommodation costing students from 200 to 500 euros on average per month. Prices for rent are higher if you live next to the city centre or in Vienna, the capital city. Students that live alone in private rentals may pay around 400 euros monthly while those who live in student accommodation pay around 300 euros per month. If you live with a roommate in a private residence, you can expect to pay around 350 euros per month. Read on to learn specific details about the different types of accommodation available in Austria for students. 

Student Housing

There are many types of student housing available in Austria for international students. An example of budget-friendly student housing is the OeAD Student Housing which offers housing for 12,000 students in the cities of Vienna, Salzburg, Graz, Innsbruck, Leoben and Klagenfurt. They offer students fully furnished rooms, with the ability to extend their stay even during the summer. There are also residence halls and other private dormitories. These have apartments with shared amenities and areas to gather in.  

 

You can expect to pay an average of 300 to 500 euros per month when staying in student housing. 

Shared flat or Wohngemeinschaften (WG)

Another option for student accommodation is living in a shared flat, or Wohngemeinschaften (WG). This is a popular option, ranking in popularity with student housing. This option of accommodation is affordable as you share the bills with your roommates while having the privacy of your own room. You can expect to pay anywhere from 250 to 450 euros per month depending on the location of the apartment whether it’s in the city centre or not, how big it is and the services that you can find there. 

Private apartment rental

There is always the option to rent a private apartment, though this isn’t very common among first-year international students as they tend to prefer to stay at a student dorm or a WG for the first few months at least. This option is more flexible and you can also share this private apartment with other students, or with family members. Keep in mind that you’ll add extra costs for utilities like electricity and water, as they aren’t included in rent costs usually. 

 

If you rent a private apartment, you can expect to pay anywhere between 200 to 800 euros per month, depending on apartment size, whether it’s furnished or not and its location. Price ranges also differ by city, as mentioned previously. 

Other costs of living

When it comes to other costs of living, you should set aside around 150 euros per month for utilities, if you have rented a flat privately. Study materials for your courses will be around 300 euros per year. Students under 26 years of age can purchase a student travel card for half of the normal price to cover their transportation costs. This will cost them 20 euros and last a year. 

 

When it comes to health insurance, non-EU citizens will have to pay for an extra one. If they qualify for public health insurance, this means they will pay around 60 euros a month. If they don’t qualify, they’ll have to get insurance from a private Austrian provider but it will cost them around 400 euros a month. 

Universities in Austria

Austria has some great universities, though many people haven’t heard of them. However, they have excellent faculty and campuses and reasonable costs of tuition. This section talks about the degrees available to study in Austria and the best universities there to consider studying at. 

Degrees available 

When talking about degrees, there are typically the same degrees available as in other European countries. There are many bachelor’s degree options available for undergraduate studies, with subjects in diverse interest areas so you can be sure to find your passion.

 

When it comes to postgraduate degrees, there are also many options for master’s and PhD degree courses so be sure to look into the different subject areas so you can find a degree you are interested in. 

 

However, you should keep in mind that most study degrees in Austria are taught in German so you’ll have to look specifically for English programs if you don’t speak good German. You’ll need to have achieved at least a B2 level in German to be able to study a degree course in German. However, if you don’t speak German, you can still find an English program and take a supportive language program to learn German along the course of your studies. 

Top-ranked universities

There are many good universities to study abroad in Austria. From the University of Vienna to the Medical University of Graz to the Vienna University of Technology, you can find excellent institutions to pursue the major of your dreams at. Read on to learn more about the top-ranked universities in Austria.  

 

University of Vienna

Location: Vienna

The University of Vienna is a university that has over 800 years of offering great academic degrees. It is well known for degrees in science, humanities and engineering and has more than 175 subject programs available to choose from. 

The university also has a focus on doctoral training, teaching educators how to teach well. They are also passionate about advancing female careers and making sure they get equal opportunities to learn and excel. 

Medical University of Vienna

Location: Vienna

 

The Medical University of Vienna is the biggest medical university in Austria. It is known as being one of the best medical schools in Europe, offering great programs when it comes to teaching, caring for patients and groundbreaking research.

 

When it comes to the degrees offered, ybe has five study programs for students to pursue. These programs are medicine, dentistry, medical informatics, applied medical sciences and Ph. 

 

The university has made great medical discoveries in the field such as breakthroughs in the field of transplants. Vienna General Hospital, which is one of the biggest in Europe, hires most of its medical staff from this excellent institution. 

 

Medical University of Graz

Location: Graz 

 

The Medical University of Graz is another well known medical university in Austria that was founded in the south of Austria in the year 2004. It has more than 1,800 faculty members and 4,300 students studying at the university. 

 

Undergraduate degree programs there include medicine, dental science and nursing, while doctoral programs there focus on medical science. 

 

The university houses a hospital and it has a lovely campus for both employees and students to enjoy. They focus on helping students excel in the field of patient care so if you are interested in becoming a great doctor, this school is a good option for you to research. 

 

Vienna University of Technology (TU Wien)

Vienna University of Technology, sometimes known as TU Wien, is a great university for those who want to study science or technological studies. It has eight faculties with a focus on science, engineering and technology, so if this is the field you are interested in, you’ll surely find the perfect degree program for you there. 

 

The university focuses on interdisciplinary collaboration and encourages it. The campus itself has great student IT services and high technology buildings. One of the buildings there named the “Plus-Energy Building” is well known for its technological advancement, a testament to TU Wien’s innovations. 

University of Innsbruck

Location: Innsbruck

 

Another university that is well known for research is the University of Innsbruck. It publishes almost 4000 research publications per year and has many scientists as its alumni members. A highly diverse university, almost 40 per cent of students are international students. 

 

The university has 16 faculties that have programs that range from sciences like Geography to Engineering degrees in Mechatronics to degrees in Sports science and nutrition. The university focuses on conducting research in the areas of physics, cultural encounters and molecular biology. 

 

Examples of other universities

Other good universities to look into if the previously mentioned ones aren’t a good fit for you are the Medical University of Innsbruck and the University of Bodenkultur in Vienna. You can also look into the University of Graz and Salzburg University to find the perfect university and degree program for you to pursue on your study abroad journey in Austria. 

Student Visa - Austria

Like any other study abroad destination, you’ll need to find out if you need a study visa to study abroad in Austria. In general, you are exempt from a study visa if you are an EU resident or if you are living in any country in the Schengen region. You are also exempted if you are from a country with a visa agreement with Austria. 

 

However, even if you don’t need a visa, you’ll need to register for a “Certificate of Registration” once you get to Austria. You only need to get this certificate if your program will last more than 90 days. 

Types of visas 

When it comes to Austrian student visas, there are two types. There is a long term visa and a short term one. Both visas are free of charge to students studying in Austria. 

 

Long term visas are called Visa D and are usually valid for up to 6 months. After you are done with the 6 months the visa provides you with, you will typically change your visa to a Student Resident Permit. This residence permit will be needed for most studies in Austria, as they are all longer than 6 months.

 

Short term visas are called Visa C. They allow students who acquire them to study in Austria for up to three months at a time. Anyone who will study for a program longer than 3 months will need to apply for a Visa D. 

Requirements

The requirements for applying for a study visa in Austria are pretty simple. For example, you’ll need a valid passport with at least two pages that are free. It has to have been issued in the last 10 years and won’t reach its expiration date while you are studying. 

 

You’ll also need to print out the visa application form and fill it out correctly. It also needs to be signed. Another requirement for the student visa is valid Schengen travel insurance that should cover an amount of up to 30,000 euros at least. 

 

More requirements are identity pictures that follow along with the Schengen picture guidelines, and proof of the accommodation where you will be staying. This can be a rent agreement or some sort of proof that you will stay in a student dorm or a WG. You will also need to hand in your travel itinerary with the correct dates for travel and departure and your flight numbers.

 

An important requirement is also proof of financial means, showing that you’ll be able to support yourself financially during the time you will be studying in Austria. If you are less than 24 years old, you’ll need to prove that you have more than 500 euros per month while if you are over 24 years old, you’ll need to prove you can pay more than 1,000 euros a month. If you are a couple travelling together, you’ll need to show to have 1,500 euros a month together, and if you have a child, you’ll need to pay 37 euros a month for them. 

 

Academic documents you’ll need to hand in are confirmation letters that prove admission to the university and proof you have paid your tuition fees such as a receipt or bank statement. You should also submit previous university records and grades if you have them and if they are applicable to you. 

Interview Preparation 

You should also be prepared for a visa interview as you’ll probably be asked to take one. In the interview, you’ll be asked why you want to study in Austria and what your plans for the future are after graduation from your degree program. 

 

A study visa for international students who want to study in Austria usually takes from 2 to 4 weeks to be processed so be sure to keep this in mind when applying for your visa. 

How to apply - Austria

If you are considering studying in Austria due to the amazing universities and culture there, you may be interested to learn how to apply to universities there. There are several steps to apply for your undergraduate or postgraduate degree in Austria. Read on to learn exactly how to apply to a university there.

Find the right university

The first and most obvious step to applying to a university in Austria is finding universities you are interested in that have degree programs that you want to study. You should apply to the universities of your choice before the deadline, which is September for the winter semester and February for the summer semester. 

 

Some universities may also ask you to pass an acceptance exam in order to be able to join the degree program you have chosen. Please check your university and degree program pages to see if this is the case as this might mean you’ll need to apply earlier as you may have an earlier deadline. 

Check requirements

The next important step to applying is checking the requirements for your degree program and university. You should check exactly what you need to be eligible for the program and what requirements the program and university requests of applicants. 

 

In general, there are some requirements that need to be fulfilled for most Austrian universities such as having a high school diploma or equivalent one that shows proof that they did three years of study at a secondary school. You’ll also need to show that you would be eligible to study your intended degree program in your home country.

 

Other requirements include photocopies of passport, secondary school or bachelor’s certificate and German language proficiency documents, either proof that you studied for at least four years German lessons or in a German language program or a German Proficiency test certificate grade. In addition, you’ll need to prove your English language proficiency through an English proficiency test like the TOEFL or IELTS exams. 

If you are applying for a PhD program, you’ll need to submit proof that you have achieved a master’s degree in the same field that you are proposing your research in or an equivalent degree. 

Finalize your documents

Before submitting the application, be sure to finalize your documents. Make sure you have all the requirements before you hand in your application, with none of them missing as this could delay or cancel your application. The documents you submit need to be either in English or German and certified by a local authority approved by the Austrian government. If the documents are in a language, not English or German, they will need to be translated by an official translator into German or English and then approved. 

Scholarship in Austria

Finally, after learning how to apply for your university and study visa to be able to study in Austria, it is important to also know how to apply for a scholarship, especially if you can’t afford to study there without it. 

 

There are many scholarship opportunities available for international students, depending on your home country and the type of degree you want to pursue. Many different institutions offer scholarships, whether public or private. This section will talk about the various scholarships available to students who want to study abroad in Austria. 

Institutional Scholarships 

Some universities may offer scholarships to students who want to pursue their degrees there. This might be a bit rare when applying to universities in Austria but that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t happen. It’s worth looking into these scholarships by checking the university website or reaching out to the university to ask about any potential grants or scholarships available.   

OFID Scholarship

A scholarship available for students from developing countries is the OFID scholarship. It focuses on giving scholarships to students in the fields of sustainability, poverty, renewable energy or other similar fields in science or technology. However, these scholarships are only offered to students from OFID countries such as Nigeria, Libya, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Algeria and Venezuela.

 

The Austrian Government Federal Aid

The Austrian government offers study grants and aid in certain areas of study. These grants cover between 500 and 900 euros monthly. They are available for students of all study levels and are mostly for students who come from outside of the European Union. 

One-World Scholarship

Another scholarship option is the One world scholarship which comes from the Afro-Asian institute located in Salzburg. This scholarship is aimed at helping students who are postgraduate students who want to study masters or PhD studies at any university in Salzburg. 

 

Other Scholarships for International Students

The scholarship board in Austria also hands out scholarships and funding to students at all levels of Bachelor and postgrad studies. It is offered in the fields of Medicine, Technology, Sciences and Arts, so it’s worth looking into the different types of scholarships the board offers to see if you qualify for one of them.