Higher Education in Austria

Strong opportunities at world-class, accessible universities offering excellence

Higher education institutions in Austria

For a country with a population of just under 9 million, Austria offers a large and diverse range of higher education institutions. There are 23 independently run public universities (öffentliche Universitäten) that regulate their own affairs and receive some financial support from the state.

There are also 21 universities of applied sciences (Fachhochschulen), which offer vocationally orientated courses of study. Graduates from these institutions tend to take up employment within their chosen fields of study. These universities are actively promoted by the state and are always looking for more women students.

There are also 17 private universities(Privatuniversitäten) in Austria that receive no state funding whatsoever. They are regulated by the Accreditation Council (Akkreditierungsrat). Those who attend these institutions can expect innovative and high-quality education and there is a strong emphasis on the arts. Private universities are characterised by their continual internal and external evaluations of teaching and research.

The 2005 Education Act created a new concept for teacher training, and there are now 14 higher education institutions focused on teacher training (Pädagogische Hochschulen). These institutions are publicly regulated.

All of these institutions of higher learning offer a range of disciplines in many subjects.

Opportunities in higher education in Austria

Austria has a long tradition of higher education. The country produces state-of-the-art research and is home to an ever-growing number of degree programmes. These higher education institutions are not just restricted to the capital of Vienna, but can be found across the country, with world-renowned facilities among beautiful settings.

Entry Requirements

For Austrians, qualification for bachelor’s degree programs comes in the form of the Reifezeugnis, the school-leaving certificate earned by those who complete their education at a higher level secondary school, or through the successful completion of a special university entrance exam.

Those who complete their secondary education at lower-level secondary schools can earn an equivalent certificate known as Berufsreifeprüfung. Admission to universities of applied sciences may take into consideration previous vocational or technical experience, and such institutions, along with teacher education colleges, can have selective admission processes.

Non-Austrians interested in studying at an institution of higher education in Austria must send their applications to the institution in question. Proof of nationality and educational certificates are also required. Many universities require proficiency in German or proof that German lessons have been attended for at least four years. Official documents in languages other than German must be legally translated.

Diploma

 The “diploma” or, in German, Diplomstudium, used to be the most common form of studying at universities in Austria. Such programs usually lasted between eight and 12 semesters and ended with the awarding of a Magister/Magistra or Diploma Engineer degree. While the Bologna Process largely eliminated the Diplomstudium in favour of the current bachelor’s and master’s system, some universities still offer Diplomstudium programs – most often in medicine and law.

Bachelor’s

There is a wide array of different subjects available depending on the type of higher education institution attended. For example, private universities tend to focus on the arts, medical health and social sciences – but this is not defined by statute.

The degree amounts to 180 ECTS credits and generally takes six semesters to complete.

Master’s

Following the successful completion of a bachelor’s degree, students can elect to continue deepening their knowledge in the form of a master’s degree. As a rule, master’s degrees take an additional four semesters of study.

Doctorate

Both public and private universities in Austria are entitled to award doctoral degrees. Depending on the institution and course of study, they usually take three years to complete. 

Cost of higher education in Austria

Unlike many countries in Europe, Austria does not require students at universities or teacher training colleges to pay tuition, provided they are from Austria or are citizens of another European Union or European Economic Area member state. The tuition exemption lasts for the expected length of study plus two additional semesters for the bachelor’s and two additional semesters for the master’s should students need them. After that, they are expected to pay a semester fee of €363.36.

Those from countries outside the EU and EEA must pay a contribution of €726.72 per semester, though there are numerous exemptions for participants in exchange programmes and university partnerships, in addition to scholarships for students from developing countries. 

There is also a nominal fee of €18 per semester for student union membership for all students.

Students attending universities of applied sciences in Austria must pay €363.36 per semester, regardless of where they are from. Tuition fees for attending private universities vary.

Quality of higher education in Austria

The state of higher education in Austria has changed dramatically since the 1960s, when attending a university was considered the exclusive realm of the elite. Numerous reforms have ensured that the university system now serves the general population. Legal changes in the early 1990s resulted in the emergence of the country’s universities of applied sciences, with the first 10 opening their doors in 1994. Private universities came into being in 2001.

Austria is considered to have an extremely high quality of education. The University of Vienna is ranked 119 in the Times Higher Education world rankings and the country boasts nine institutions in the top 1,000.