# Studying in Austria > Entry routes, costs, visa and work rights for international students in Austria. - **Region:** DACH - **Admissions portal:** direct to university (no central portal) · OeAD / studyinaustria.at - **Annual cost band, EUR:** 10-20k / 20-35k - **Budget note:** €726,72/semester tuition (third-country) + ÖH €26,20; €11.000–16.000/year living; NAG proof of means required for the student residence permit · 2026-27 - **Bachelor routes:** direct-bachelor, foundation-pathway, language-prep, applied-sciences - **Master routes:** direct-master, language-prep - **Language-preparation routes:** language-prep - **Visa complexity:** high ## Overview Austria is the DACH region's quieter alternative to Germany — the same German-language academic world, the same €726,72/semester flat tuition for students from any country, but a smaller, less crowded system. Public universities like Vienna, Graz, Innsbruck, Salzburg, Linz (JKU) and Klagenfurt run the full range of fields; WU Vienna is one of continental Europe's top business schools and the medical universities (Vienna, Graz, Innsbruck) are world-class. Vienna is repeatedly ranked the world's most liveable city. There is no central application service of the German kind (uni-assist) — you apply directly to each university, and recognition of your school-leaving certificate is decided by the university itself (backed by the diploma-recognition centre ENIC-NARIC Austria at OeAD). Most bachelor programmes are German-taught (B2/C1 or the university entrance exam); the Vorstudienlehrgang (VWU) is the preparatory bridge for applicants whose qualification isn't yet sufficient. English-taught options are broader at master level. After graduation Austria grants a 12-month residence permit to look for qualified work, leading into the Red-White-Red Card for skilled workers. During study, non-EU students may work up to 20 hours a week with an employment permit. For students who want the German-speaking academic route without Germany's scale and its preparatory-year (Studienkolleg) bottleneck, Austria is the direct alternative. ## Strengths - Flat €726,72/semester tuition for third-country students — the same at every public university, no per-institution surprise. - German-speaking academic world without Germany's preparatory-year (Studienkolleg) bottleneck; the VWU bridge is run by the universities themselves. - 12-month post-study job-search permit → Red-White-Red Card pathway to skilled work. - Vienna consistently ranks as the world's most liveable city; strong medical and business schools (MedUni Wien, WU Wien). ## Cautions - No central portal — you apply to each university separately, and each decides recognition of your certificate itself. Start early. - Most bachelor programmes are German-taught: plan for B2/C1 or the university entrance exam (Ergänzungsprüfung). - If your qualification isn't yet sufficient for direct entry, the Vorstudienlehrgang (VWU) adds a preparatory year before the bachelor. - Student residence permit requires proof of means to the NAG Richtsatz and takes time — apply at the consulate well ahead of the semester. - Some competitive fields (medicine, psychology) have entrance tests (e.g. MedAT) with fixed annual dates — a missed date costs a year. - Vienna scrapped the student Semesterticket on 1 February 2026 — the cheap pass is now age-gated (€24,50/month under 26, €38,92 from 26), so plan for the full fare if you turn 26 during your degree (Wiener Linien, 2026). - A Wohnheim place is not automatically cheaper — in Graz and Leoben a dorm single costs more than a room in a shared flat, so compare both before you apply (Studierenden-Sozialerhebung 2025). ## Student work rights - **Hours per week:** Up to 20 hours/week (bachelor); master students more flexible - **Separate work permit required:** yes - **Legal basis:** AuslBG · Beschäftigungsbewilligung (employer applies to AMS) - **Note:** Non-EU students need an employment permit (Beschäftigungsbewilligung) that the employer applies for from AMS before you start. ## Self-employment on a student permit - **Self-employment on the student permit:** not allowed - **Separate permit or different residence title required:** yes - **Counts against the employment limit:** not applicable - **Legal basis:** § 32 NAG · § 8 Abs. 2 Z 2 / Z 4 NAG - **Norm last read:** 2026-09-03 - **Summary:** The student residence permit does not carry the right to be self-employed: § 32 NAG ties self-employment to other permit categories (§ 8 (2) Z 2 or Z 4). Running your own business during studies means changing your residence title, not adding a work permit to it. - **After graduation:** § 64 (4) NAG gives graduates 12 months of residence to look for work or set up a business — the first point at which self-employment becomes reachable. ## Scholarships - [Erasmus+](https://studyroute.app/scholarships/erasmus-plus.md) — Monthly mobility grant set by the home institution + possible top-ups - [Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters](https://studyroute.app/scholarships/erasmus-mundus.md) — Full scholarship: tuition + travel, visa & a monthly living allowance (set per programme) - [Students at Risk Fonds (Austria)](https://studyroute.app/scholarships/students-at-risk-austria.md) — €1,200/month, standard study duration + 2 semesters (tuition not covered), 2025/26 - [Erhard Busek Grant](https://studyroute.app/scholarships/erhard-busek-grant.md) — €1,300/month for 24 months + up to €1,200 travel; tuition waived by the host university (2025/26) ## Institutions with published facts (78) - [Akademie der bildenden Künste Wien](https://studyroute.app/institutions/akademie-der-bildenden-kuenste-wien.md) — Wien - [Anton Bruckner Privatuniversität](https://studyroute.app/institutions/anton-bruckner-privatuniversitaet.md) — Linz - [Bertha von Suttner Privatuniversität](https://studyroute.app/institutions/bertha-von-suttner-privatuniversitaet.md) — St. Pölten - [BOKU University – University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna](https://studyroute.app/institutions/universitaet-fuer-bodenkultur-wien.md) — Wien - [Central European University Private University](https://studyroute.app/institutions/central-european-university.md) — Wien - [Danube Private University](https://studyroute.app/institutions/danube-private-university.md) — Krems - [Diplomatische Akademie Wien — Vienna School of International Studies](https://studyroute.app/institutions/diplomatische-akademie-wien.md) — Wien - [Fachhochschule des bfi Wien GmbH](https://studyroute.app/institutions/fachhochschule-des-bfi-wien.md) — Wien - [Fachhochschule Joanneum GmbH](https://studyroute.app/institutions/fachhochschule-joanneum.md) — Graz / Kapfenberg / Bad Gleichenberg - [Fachhochschule Kärnten](https://studyroute.app/institutions/fachhochschule-kaernten.md) — Villach / Feldkirchen / Spittal / Klagenfurt - [Fachhochschule Salzburg GmbH](https://studyroute.app/institutions/fachhochschule-salzburg.md) — Puch bei Hallein - [Fachhochschule Technikum Wien](https://studyroute.app/institutions/fachhochschule-technikum-wien.md) — Wien - [Fachhochschule Vorarlberg GmbH](https://studyroute.app/institutions/fachhochschule-vorarlberg.md) — Dornbirn - [Fachhochschule Wiener Neustadt GmbH](https://studyroute.app/institutions/fachhochschule-wiener-neustadt.md) — Wiener Neustadt - [Ferdinand Porsche Fernfachhochschule GmbH](https://studyroute.app/institutions/ferdinand-porsche-fernfachhochschule.md) — Wiener Neustadt - [FH Gesundheitsberufe OÖ GmbH](https://studyroute.app/institutions/fh-gesundheitsberufe-ooe.md) — Linz - [FH OÖ Studienbetriebs GmbH](https://studyroute.app/institutions/fh-oberoesterreich.md) — Wels / Hagenberg / Linz / Steyr - [FHG – Zentrum für Gesundheitsberufe Tirol GmbH](https://studyroute.app/institutions/fhg-zentrum-fuer-gesundheitsberufe-tirol.md) — Innsbruck - [FHW Fachhochschul-Studiengänge Betriebs- und Forschungseinrichtungen der Wiener Wirtschaft GmbH (FHWien der WKW)](https://studyroute.app/institutions/fhwien-der-wkw.md) — Wien - [Gustav Mahler Privatuniversität für Musik](https://studyroute.app/institutions/gustav-mahler-privatuniversitaet-fuer-musik.md) — Klagenfurt - [Hochschule Campus Wien (HCW)](https://studyroute.app/institutions/hochschule-campus-wien.md) — Wien - [Hochschule für Agrar- und Umweltpädagogik Wien](https://studyroute.app/institutions/hochschule-fuer-agrar-und-umweltpaedagogik-wien.md) — Wien - [Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften Burgenland GmbH](https://studyroute.app/institutions/hochschule-burgenland.md) — Eisenstadt / Pinkafeld - [Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften Kufstein Tirol GmbH](https://studyroute.app/institutions/hochschule-kufstein-tirol.md) — Kufstein - [IMC Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften Krems GmbH](https://studyroute.app/institutions/imc-hochschule-krems.md) — Krems - [Institute of Science and Technology Austria](https://studyroute.app/institutions/institute-of-science-and-technology-austria.md) — Klosterneuburg - [Interdisciplinary Transformation University (IT:U)](https://studyroute.app/institutions/it-u-interdisciplinary-transformation-university.md) — Linz - [ITM — International College of Tourism and Management (ITM GmbH)](https://studyroute.app/institutions/itm-college-bad-voeslau.md) — Bad Vöslau - [JAM MUSIC LAB Private University for Jazz and Popular Music Vienna](https://studyroute.app/institutions/jam-music-lab-private-university.md) — Wien - [Joseph-Haydn-Privathochschule für Musik Burgenland](https://studyroute.app/institutions/joseph-haydn-privathochschule.md) — Eisenstadt - [Karl Landsteiner Privatuniversität](https://studyroute.app/institutions/karl-landsteiner-privatuniversitaet.md) — Krems - [Katholische Privatuniversität Linz](https://studyroute.app/institutions/katholische-privatuniversitaet-linz.md) — Linz - [Kirchliche Pädagogische Hochschule – Edith Stein](https://studyroute.app/institutions/kirchliche-paedagogische-hochschule-edith-stein.md) — Stams / Innsbruck - [Kirchliche Pädagogische Hochschule Wien/Niederösterreich](https://studyroute.app/institutions/kirchliche-paedagogische-hochschule-wien-krems.md) — Wien - [Lauder Business School](https://studyroute.app/institutions/lauder-business-school.md) — Wien - [MCI Management Center Innsbruck – Internationale Hochschule GmbH](https://studyroute.app/institutions/mci-management-center-innsbruck.md) — Innsbruck - [Medizinische Universität Graz](https://studyroute.app/institutions/medizinische-universitaet-graz.md) — Graz - [Medizinische Universität Innsbruck](https://studyroute.app/institutions/medizinische-universitaet-innsbruck.md) — Innsbruck - [Medizinische Universität Wien](https://studyroute.app/institutions/medizinische-universitaet-wien.md) — Wien - [MODUL University Vienna Privatuniversität](https://studyroute.app/institutions/modul-university-vienna.md) — Wien - [Montanuniversität Leoben](https://studyroute.app/institutions/montanuniversitaet-leoben.md) — Leoben - [Musik und Kunst Privatuniversität der Stadt Wien (MUK)](https://studyroute.app/institutions/muk-musik-und-kunst-privatuniversitaet-wien.md) — Wien - [New Design University Privatuniversität St.Pölten](https://studyroute.app/institutions/new-design-university-st-poelten.md) — St. Pölten - [Pädagogische Hochschule Kärnten – Viktor Frankl Hochschule](https://studyroute.app/institutions/paedagogische-hochschule-kaernten.md) — Klagenfurt - [Pädagogische Hochschule Niederösterreich](https://studyroute.app/institutions/paedagogische-hochschule-niederoesterreich.md) — Baden - [Pädagogische Hochschule Oberösterreich](https://studyroute.app/institutions/paedagogische-hochschule-oberoesterreich.md) — Linz - [Pädagogische Hochschule Salzburg Stefan Zweig](https://studyroute.app/institutions/paedagogische-hochschule-salzburg.md) — Salzburg - [Pädagogische Hochschule Steiermark](https://studyroute.app/institutions/paedagogische-hochschule-steiermark.md) — Graz - [Pädagogische Hochschule Tirol](https://studyroute.app/institutions/paedagogische-hochschule-tirol.md) — Innsbruck - [Pädagogische Hochschule Vorarlberg](https://studyroute.app/institutions/paedagogische-hochschule-vorarlberg.md) — Feldkirch - [Pädagogische Hochschule Wien](https://studyroute.app/institutions/paedagogische-hochschule-wien.md) — Wien - [Paracelsus Medizinische Privatuniversität](https://studyroute.app/institutions/paracelsus-medizinische-privatuniversitaet.md) — Salzburg - [Private Pädagogische Hochschule Augustinum](https://studyroute.app/institutions/private-paedagogische-hochschule-augustinum.md) — Graz - [Private Pädagogische Hochschule Burgenland](https://studyroute.app/institutions/private-paedagogische-hochschule-burgenland.md) — Eisenstadt - [Private Pädagogische Hochschule der Diözese Linz](https://studyroute.app/institutions/private-paedagogische-hochschule-dioezese-linz.md) — Linz - [Privatuniversität Schloss Seeburg](https://studyroute.app/institutions/privatuniversitaet-schloss-seeburg.md) — Seekirchen am Wallersee - [Sigmund Freud Privatuniversität](https://studyroute.app/institutions/sigmund-freud-privatuniversitaet.md) — Wien - [Stella Vorarlberg Privathochschule für Musik](https://studyroute.app/institutions/stella-vorarlberg-privathochschule-fuer-musik.md) — Feldkirch - [Technische Universität Graz](https://studyroute.app/institutions/technische-universitaet-graz.md) — Graz - [Technische Universität Wien](https://studyroute.app/institutions/technische-universitaet-wien.md) — Wien - [UMIT TIROL – Privatuniversität für Gesundheitswissenschaften und -technologie](https://studyroute.app/institutions/umit-tirol.md) — Hall in Tirol - [Universität für angewandte Kunst Wien](https://studyroute.app/institutions/universitaet-fuer-angewandte-kunst-wien.md) — Wien - [Universität für künstlerische und industrielle Gestaltung Linz](https://studyroute.app/institutions/kunstuniversitaet-linz.md) — Linz - [Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Graz (KUG)](https://studyroute.app/institutions/kug-universitaet-fuer-musik-und-darstellende-kunst-graz.md) — Graz - [Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Wien (mdw)](https://studyroute.app/institutions/mdw-universitaet-fuer-musik-und-darstellende-kunst-wien.md) — Wien - [Universität für Weiterbildung Krems](https://studyroute.app/institutions/universitaet-fuer-weiterbildung-krems.md) — Krems - [Universität Graz](https://studyroute.app/institutions/universitaet-graz.md) — Graz - [Universität Innsbruck](https://studyroute.app/institutions/universitaet-innsbruck.md) — Innsbruck - [Universität Klagenfurt](https://studyroute.app/institutions/universitaet-klagenfurt.md) — Klagenfurt - [Universität Linz (Johannes Kepler)](https://studyroute.app/institutions/johannes-kepler-universitaet-linz.md) — Linz - [Universität Mozarteum Salzburg](https://studyroute.app/institutions/universitaet-mozarteum-salzburg.md) — Salzburg - [Universität Salzburg](https://studyroute.app/institutions/universitaet-salzburg.md) — Salzburg - [Universität Wien](https://studyroute.app/institutions/universitaet-wien.md) — Wien - [University of Sustainability (Charlotte Fresenius Privatuniversität Wien)](https://studyroute.app/institutions/charlotte-fresenius-privatuniversitaet.md) — Wien - [USTP – University of Applied Sciences St. Pölten](https://studyroute.app/institutions/hochschule-st-poelten.md) — St. Pölten - [Veterinärmedizinische Universität Wien](https://studyroute.app/institutions/veterinaermedizinische-universitaet-wien.md) — Wien - [Webster Vienna Private University](https://studyroute.app/institutions/webster-vienna-private-university.md) — Wien - [Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien (WU)](https://studyroute.app/institutions/wirtschaftsuniversitaet-wien.md) — Wien ## Sources Verified via OeAD / studyinaustria.at, migration.gv.at (NAG), university admission pages, the Austrian diploma-recognition centre (ENIC-NARIC Austria) (NotebookLM Austria notebook, 2026-07). Tuition €726,72/semester + ÖH €26,20 · 2026-27. --- Canonical page: https://studyroute.app/countries/austria Source of this file: https://studyroute.app/countries/austria.md Each figure above carries the date its record was last checked against its sources. Where no date is shown, none is claimed — the figure is real, its check date is not on record.