Step 1 of 10
Understand Why Students Choose Austria
Austria offers affordable public tuition, historic and highly ranked universities, an exceptional quality of life (Vienna regularly tops livability rankings), and a central location for exploring Europe — with growing English-taught options.
Affordable — modest public tuition
Quality of life — Vienna tops rankings
Central Europe — + rich culture
How to help: Weigh Austria’s affordability, quality of life, and central location against the German-language expectation for many programs — it’s excellent value in the heart of Europe.
Good to know: Vienna regularly ranks as one of the world’s most livable cities — a genuine draw for students.
Step 2 of 10
Understand the System
Austrian higher education includes public universities (Vienna, TU Wien, Graz, Innsbruck, WU Vienna) and universities of applied sciences (Fachhochschulen), which are more practical. Degrees follow the European bachelor’s—master’s—doctorate structure.
Public universities — Vienna, TU Wien, Graz
Fachhochschulen — practical UAS
3+2 — European structure
How to help: Choose between a public university and a Fachhochschule (UAS) based on whether you want academic breadth or practical, career-focused study.
Good to know: Fachhochschulen (UAS) are practical and employer-linked, often with smaller classes — a strong route for professional fields.
Step 3 of 10
Get the Student Residence Permit
Non-EU/EEA students staying over 6 months need a student residence permit (Aufenthaltsbewilligung Studierender), applied for before entering Austria at an Austrian embassy/consulate. It can’t be obtained by converting a tourist stay, and renewals happen in Austria.
Aufenthaltsbewilligung — student residence permit
Before entering — apply from abroad
Not from tourist — can’t convert
How to help: Apply for the Aufenthaltsbewilligung Studierender before you travel (3–6 months ahead), with admission, funds proof, and insurance — you can’t switch from a tourist stay.
Watch out: Apply early (3–6 months ahead) — processing plus document translation and legalization takes time, and you must apply from abroad.
Step 4 of 10
Apply to Universities
Applications go directly to universities. Deadlines are typically 5 September (winter semester) and 5 February (summer semester). Some programs require entrance exams (e.g., MedAT for medicine), and non-German documents need sworn translation.
Apply directly — to universities
5 Sep / 5 Feb — semester deadlines
Entrance exams — for some (MedAT)
How to help: Apply directly to your universities by the 5 September / 5 February deadlines, prepare for any entrance exam, and get non-German documents sworn-translated.
Good to know: Some competitive programs (like medicine’s MedAT) have entrance exams — check your program’s selection early.
Step 5 of 10
Plan for Tuition & Funding
EU/EEA students mostly pay only the ÖH student-union fee (~€25/semester) within standard study time (~€363.36/semester if they overrun). Non-EU students pay ~€726.72/semester. OeAD manages scholarships (e.g., Ernst Mach grants).
EU — ÖH fee (~€25/sem)
Non-EU — ~€726.72/sem
OeAD — scholarships
How to help: Budget the modest tuition (non-EU ~€726.72/semester) plus living costs, and explore OeAD scholarships like the Ernst Mach grants.
Good to know: Austrian public tuition is remarkably low — the real budget line is living costs, not fees.
Step 6 of 10
Meet the Financial Requirement
For the permit you must prove sufficient funds, and the amount is age-based: recently about €722.58/month (under 24) or €1,308.39/month (24 and over), covering living costs (a portion allocated to rent).
Age-based — under vs. over 24
~€723 / €1,308 — per month
Covers — living costs
How to help: Prepare proof of funds at the age-appropriate monthly amount, plus health insurance — both are required for the residence permit.
Watch out: The funds requirement is higher if you’re 24 or over — confirm the current amount for your age with OeAD/the authority.
Step 7 of 10
Meet Language Requirements
Many programs are taught in German (often requiring B2 or C1), with a growing number in English (especially master’s). Even in English programs, German strongly helps daily life and future career prospects in Austria.
German — B2/C1 for many
English — growing (master’s)
German helps — daily life & work
How to help: Take the right test for your program’s language (German B2/C1, or English), and learn German — it materially helps with life and work in Austria.
Good to know: Many Austrian programs — especially at bachelor’s level — are in German, often needing B2/C1 — check your program’s language.
Step 8 of 10
Arrange Insurance & Prepare to Move
You need health insurance (ÖGK statutory or equivalent, recently ~€79/month for students), and non-German documents must be sworn-translated and legalized/apostilled. Budget living costs of about €950–1,100/month, and use OeAD student housing.
Health insurance — ÖGK ~€79/month
Translate docs — sworn + legalize
Living costs — ~€950–1,100/mo
How to help: Arrange health insurance, get documents sworn-translated and legalized, and use OeAD student housing — then complete arrival registration.
Good to know: All non-German documents need sworn translation and legalization/apostille — a common cause of delay, so start early.
Step 9 of 10
Understand Work Rules
Students may work up to 20 hours per week alongside their studies (with an employment permit for non-EU students, arranged via the employer). Full-time work is possible in breaks, within the rules.
Work — up to 20 hrs/week
Employment permit — for non-EU
Full-time — possible in breaks
How to help: You may work up to 20 hours/week (with the required employment permit for non-EU students) — useful, but plan to fund your studies primarily from other sources.
Good to know: Non-EU students generally need an employment permit (arranged by the employer) to work — confirm the current process.
Step 10 of 10
Thrive & Work After Study
After graduating, you can apply for a 12-month job-search residence permit to find qualified work, then switch to the Red-White-Red Card (Rot-Weiß-Rot Karte) once you have a suitable job — a clear path to working in Austria.
12-month permit — to find work
Red-White-Red Card — for skilled work
Clear pathway — to staying
How to help: Plan for the 12-month job-search permit and the Red-White-Red Card route, build networks during study, and target Austria’s in-demand fields if you want to stay.
Good to know: Austria’s 12-month job-search permit plus the Red-White-Red Card is a clear post-study pathway — confirm current salary thresholds and conditions.
Quick Reference
Studying in Austria: The Essentials
A snapshot — figures change, so confirm everything with the Austrian representation, OeAD, and your university.
- The systemPublic universities (Vienna, TU Wien, Graz, Innsbruck, WU) and universities of applied sciences (Fachhochschulen); European bachelor’s—master’s—doctorate structure.
- The permitNon-EU/EEA students staying over 6 months need a student residence permit (Aufenthaltsbewilligung Studierender), applied for from abroad before entering; can’t be converted from a tourist stay.
- Applying & languageApply directly to universities (deadlines ~5 Sept / 5 Feb); many programs in German (B2/C1), growing English options; entrance exams for some; sworn-translate documents.
- MoneyEU pay the ÖH fee (~€25/sem; €363 on overrun); non-EU ~€726.72/semester; prove age-based funds (~€723/mo under 24, ~€1,308/mo 24+); ÖGK health insurance; OeAD scholarships.
- Work & afterWork up to 20 hrs/week (employment permit for non-EU); a 12-month job-search permit and the Red-White-Red Card provide a post-study work pathway.
Official & Trusted Sources
Where to learn more
About this guide. This guide is a general, plain-language overview compiled by K12 Academics, current as of 2025–26, and is not legal or immigration advice. Austrian rules, tuition, and the funds requirement change; confirm all details with the Austrian representation, OeAD, and your university.
Studying in