Austria is famous for its quality higher education in German and English and interesting academic programs. Austrian universities do not lag behind the trends of our time, so only advanced methods are used in teaching, and educational institutions are equipped according to the best standards. The European country annually receives many foreign students who want to get a first-class education and a valuable diploma in order to successfully find a job in prestigious Austrian and world companies in the future.
Higher education in Austria – general information
- Higher education here includes bachelor's, master's and doctoral studies. The first stage of training will take 3 years, the second - 1-2, the third - up to 6 years.
- The academic year consists of two semesters: the first begins in late September and October (depends on the university), the other in March. In winter, students can rest for 2 weeks during the Christmas holidays, and in February - a break between semesters, during which students actively close debts, pass exams.
- At universities, faculty members strive to give students a base for promotion and success in a particular area of expertise.
- Universities adhere to a five-point grading system, where 1 is the highest. Training is also conducted according to the credit system (bologna educational system, which operates in Europe) - in order to get a certain degree and diploma, it is necessary to collect the proper number of credits that indicate the number of hours allotted for study.
- In some universities, it is allowed to skip lectures - attendance depends entirely on the program.
- Studies include practice - internships can be done for free at the university or get a job in a company and work for a salary.
- Each university has its own platform, where professors post lectures and necessary information for exams.
The current higher education of the country is divided into three types:
- Colleges of Education
- Higher schools or universities of applied sciences
- "Standard" universities and universities of the arts.
Requirements for admission to Austria
To enter Austria, you need to collect a package of documents and translate it into the language of instruction - German or English. Documents must be checked for errors, valid and notarized. The deadline for submitting documents for the winter semester is October 1, for the summer semester - March 1.
For admission to the university and further registration of the scholarship, a package of documents will be required:
- Completed admission form from the university's website
- Diplomas and academic certificates with a list of grades and completed courses
- Certificate from a higher education institution confirming the possibility of admission to the university
- Certificate of Proficiency in German (ÖSD B2)
- Letters
- Portfolio
- Motivation letter.
The cost of education in Austria
Citizens of EU countries can study at public universities for free, and for students from other countries the fee will be about $ 1700-$ 1800 / year. If a foreigner studies in German, the cost will be about $ 800-$ 1200 / year (for administrative fees and necessary academic expenses). In English, the price will be higher - from $ 1500 / year. Private institutions set prices from $ 1,000 to $ 45,000 per year - much depends on the prestige of the educational institution and its location.
How to get education in Austria for free?
Residents of the country and the European Union can receive education for free, foreigners can apply for grants and scholarships. Basically, universities do not set high requirements - you just need to prove your value and interest. The procedure for admission to educational institutions is quite simple - there are no entrance tests. Applying for a scholarship is at the very beginning of the learning path.
Step-by-step plan:
- Choose your desired university and specialty
- Read the information about funding on the official website in the section "Scholarships and grants"
- Explore Austrian Foundations
- Choose the right option for you at the price
- Collect a package of documents, prepare for admission
- Fill out the discount form
- Prepare carefully to meet the selection criteria.
Scholarships in Austria – what you need to know
Grants and scholarships in Austria are managed and distributed by a centralized structure, the Agency for International Cooperation in Education and Research (OeAD-Gmbh).
Funding for students can come from a variety of sources, such as:
- Special scientific and cultural funds
- National Funds
- Austrian governmental organizations
- International organizations (UN, IAEA).
In total, almost 1700 grants and scholarships are available here, but their number varies significantly in specialization: most of the programs are offered by programs:
- Biology
- Medical Research
- Chemistry
- Physics.
Finding funding for a liberal arts major is difficult, but possible. Usually, subsidies are designed for a short period of time - at the time of writing a scientific paper or performing research in a certain area. It is quite difficult to get full funding, basically the scholarship covers one or two semesters. There are different types of scholarships in the format:
- Full payment for tuition and meals in the student canteen (accommodation, medical insurance, travel is paid by the recipient himself)
- Reimbursement of part of the tuition fee
- One-time payment for certain purposes
- Monthly payments that the recipient spends at his own discretion + payment for working and research trips.
Usually, the greatest funding is offered for doctoral programs. Candidates who meet the requirements of the fund have the opportunity to receive full funding for several years of scientific work - students will receive 2000 € -3000 € per month.
Examples of scholarship programs for students
Webster Vienna
The scholarship provided by a large private university in Austria for foreign students covers 10-50% of the amount of the tuition fee. There are also discounts and grants for active prospective students. Usually, discounts on studies are received by excellent students who speak English at a high level.
Erasmus Mundus
A common type of financing among foreigners. Erasmus+ is an international student exchange program sponsored by the European Union. Funds are allocated for students of Austrian universities specializing in various disciplines: engineering, humanities, fine arts, sociology, entrepreneurship, natural sciences, medicine, management. Students can win near-full tuition coverage.
AstroMundus
Grants for master's programmes in astronomy and astrophysics at the University of Innsbruck. The funding provides for a monthly allocation of funds to each scholarship holder in the amount of 1000 € for 24 months + the costs of scientific trips and equipment are reimbursed up to 5000 € annually. To get funding, you need to go through a competition and demonstrate your strengths.
Scholarship of the newspaper "Vedomosti" for education under the MBA program
Subsidy at the Vienna University of Economics and Entrepreneurship for citizens of the CIS, which students receive on the basis of a competition. The children are awarded a grant of 10,000 €, which serves as a discount from the total cost of study - 35,000 €.
Scholarship of the Foundation of Austria
Funding for students from countries that suffered significantly during World War II and for descendants of individuals who were forcibly sent to work in Germany and Austria. Payment is made in the amount of 940 € within 1-4 months.
Other popular scholarships:
- Ernst Mach – monthly allowance of 940€-1040€
- Franz Werfel – payments up to 950€/month for 4-9 months
- Bertha von Suttner – the ability to receive medium subsidies for up to 27 months
- CAG scholarship – payment for a period of 1 to 9 months up to 1100€
- Mondi – 1000€/month up to 48 months
- Bertha von Suttner Scholarship
- Ernst Mach Scholarship.
Prestigious universities in Austria with scholarships
Most Austrian institutions provide funding opportunities. You can find profitable subsidies in the following educational institutions, which are included in the list of the best in the country:
- University of Vienna
- Leopold and Franz University Innsbruck
- Vienna University of Technology
- University of Graz
- Johannes Kepler University Linz
- Medical University Vienna
- Alpine-Adriatic University of Klagenfurt
- University of Salzburg
- Medical University Graz
- Vienna University of Economics and Business.
Features of obtaining a scholarship in Austria
Every year, educational institutions of the country offer children from abroad unique opportunities that are relevant only for a year. For example, for 2021-2022, doctoral students of any nationality are offered the LogiCS program, designed for highly motivated students who want to work in the field of logical methods in computer science. The LogiCS doctoral program is a Ph.D. degree. The course is founded by the Austrian science foundation FWF and is jointly supervised by three universities: the Vienna University of Technology, the Graz University of Technology and the Johannes Kepler Institute of Linz.
