Keystone logo
Austria

Study Master in Austria 2024

Study in Austria

Austria includes much of the mountainous territory of the eastern Alps (about 75% of the area). The country contains many snowfields, glaciers, and snowcapped peaks, the highest being the Grossglockner (12,530 ft; 3,819 m). The Danube is the principal river. Forests and woodlands cover about 40% of the land. Today, Austria is a parliamentary representative democracy comprising nine federal states. The capital and largest city, with a population exceeding 1.7 million, is Vienna.

Austria is one of the richest countries in the world, with a nominal per capita GDP of $46, 330.

Austria is officially referred to as the Republic of Austria, a country that is politically considered a federal republic and has a population of over eight million people citizens.

Austria is bordered on its north side by Germany and the Czech Republic; Slovakia and Hungary on its east side; Italy and Slovenia to the south and Liechtenstein and Switzerland to the west. Nine federal states subdivided into districts comprise Austria's 84,000 square kilometers of land (33,000 square miles), with Vienna being its capital and largest city.

A member of the United Nations and the European Union, Austria adopted the Euro as its official currency in 1999.

Austria's Climate
Most of Austria lies in a temperate to cool zone influenced in the summer by warm winds coming from the west. Because the majority of Austria is overshadowed by the Alps, the climate is predominately an"alpine"climate--rather cold during the winter months (0 to -10 Celsius or 32 to 15 degrees Fahrenheit) and relatively warm in the summer (25 to 40 Celsius or 77 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit). On average, Austria recieves around 660 mm (26 inches) of rain, snow or ice each year, with an average monthly rainfall amount of 55 mm, or around two inches.

Essential Facts About Austria

  • Nearly 90 percent of Austria's citizens speak German, followed by Serbian/Bosnian/Croatian (four percent); Turkish (two percent); Hungarian (one-half percent) and Polish (one-half percent)
  • Most Austrians who are religious are Roman Catholic
  • Nineteen Austrians have been given the Nobel Prize for Medicine, Physiology, Chemistry or Physics. This currently stands as one of the highest award numbers per capita for any country in the world.
  • Renewable resources supply Austria with over 60 precent of its power, primarily solar and wind power.
  • At nearly 650 years old, the University of Vienna is Austria's largest and oldest university.

Change currency

Basic monthly living cost

  • Rent in a shared flat

    496
  • Share of utilities

    106
  • Internet subscription

    33
  • Local transportation

    50

Sample lifestyle cost

  • Fast food combo

    9
  • Cinema ticket

    12
  • Pint of local beer

    4

About Austria

Higher Education in Austria

Austria offers postsecondary education overseen and funded by the federal Ministry for Science and Research.

Austria's 11 private universities and 23 public universities provide students with a comprehensive list of degree programs and a higher educational system that now serves the masses rather than the elite, as it did prior to the 1960s.

All students at one time were free to apply to a public university and major in any field of study they wished, a procedure that has recently experienced several changes.

Although Austria still allows eligible students to major in several subjects concurrently, the government sector responsible for the educational system has now put restrictions in place for several areas of study. Currently, these subjects include Psychology, Biology, Dentistry, Human Medicine, Economic Sciences, Journalism, and Veterinary Medicine.

Starting in 2001, students attending an Austrian university no longer enjoy free education. However, students from the European Union or European Economic Area (EEA) who finish their degree program in the minimum amount of time (three years) do not need to pay for their education. Other students must pay a tuition of €370 ($500) per term if they are Austrian citizens and €700 ($950) if they are not Austrian citizens.

Obtaining a bachelor's degree in Austria usually takes three years. Earning a Masters degree or PhD generally takes another two to three years, depending on the type of subject and specifications in which the student enrolls.

Universities of Applied Sciences (Fachhochschulen)

Universities of Applied Sciences differ from traditional Austrian universities in that they are tailored to accommodate students seeking to learn a practical skill over academic knowledge. As a student attending a Fachhochschule, you will not be allowed to choose your courses as freely as you might be at an academic-oriented university. This is to ensure that all students entering a University of Applied Science graduate within the recommended three years.

Austrian Private Universities

Since 2001, all private universities must be accredited before they are legally permitted to give academic degrees. The Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Cultural Affairs has the authority to provide accreditation. Currently, 13 private universities operating in Austria are fully accredited. Some of these include the European Peace University, the Sigmund Freud University (Vienna) and the Paracelsus Medizinische Privatuniversität (Salzburg).

Academic Degrees

A Magister degree is the first degree given to students who complete a four to six year course in the social sciences, natural sciences, humanities, law or economics. Students majoring in agriculture or engineering will receive a Diplom-Ingenieur upon finishing a degree program. Recently, some Austrian universities have started to issue Bachelor's degrees prior to the Magister, or Master's degree.

Medicine is the only area of study in which a student may earn a doctorate degree after at least six years of attending a university. Many fields of study, including medicine, demand that students write and deliver a research paper called a Diplomarbeit, which usually averages at least 100 pages.

Prominent Austrian Universities

Founded in 1365, the University of Vienna is the most famous of Austria's universities and offers three centers and 15 faculties that include Faculties of Computer Science, Psychology, Business and Economics, Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. There are also Centers for Molecular Biology, Translation Studies and Sport Science. Two other top Austrian universities are the University of Innsbruck and the Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz.

Applying to an Austrian University

To apply as an undergraduate (called the"first cycle""), a student should have a valid certificate from their previous school stating that they possess the qualifications to enter a higher education institution. Students who are members of the EEA must have completed upper secondary school before qualifying to attend an Austrian university. You will also be asked to prove you can speak German and English as well as take additional qualifying classes if necessary.

Before students can apply to a Master's program in Austria, they must have earned a Bachelor's degree or other degree equivalent to a Bachelor's diploma in accordance with Austrian educational requirements.

Some of the more competitive degree programs in Austria accept students according to grade point averages culled from previous school work. EU students can convert their GPA to the Austrian system using the EGC (European Grade Converter). Non-European students can access the standard grades comparison chart used by European students to calculate their Austrian GPA.

German is the language of instruction in Austria. Students are required to submit proof of their knowledge of the German language by providing results received from previous examinations or diplomas earned from taking German language courses.

Health Insurance Coverage

European Union and EEA students will need to have their European Health Insurance card with them while attending an Austrian university. Overseas students can either obtain Austrian public assistance medical insurance or purchase health insurance from a private carrier.

Why Study in Austria?

Offering an exceptionally developed social market economy, diverse employment opportunities and one of the highest standards of living in the world, Austria is among the top 15 richest countries in the world. With a thriving tourism industry, fascinating historical landmarks and beautiful mountainous scenery, Austria remains popular with European and overseas vacationers as well as students wanting to pursue higher educational degrees from a prestigious Austrian university.

Visa Requirements

  1. Travel Visa C (""Schengenvisa""): entitles you to stay in Austria and in all other Schengen countries for a maximum of 90 days.
  2. Visa D (Austrian National visa, Aufenthaltsvisum D) - for stays of at least 91 days up to a maximum of 6 months; not necessary if you are a Japanese national.
  3. Aufenthaltsbewilligung Studierende (temporary residence permit for students) - for stays longer than 6 months.

What type of Visa do you need?

Visa name

Travel Visa C; Visa D; Aufenthaltsbewilligung Studierende

Price and currency

EUR 71

  • For Visa C: 71 EUR
  • For Visa D: 176 EUR
  • For Residence Permit: 141 EUR

The prices can be subject to change.

Who can apply for the visa?

Nationals of EU and EEA member countries, as well as Swiss nationals, do not need visas for Austria. When staying in Austria for longer than 3 months they, however, have to apply for a ""Lichtbildausweis für EWR-Bürger/innen"" which is a confirmation of registration at the immigration office within 3 months of entry to Austria.

Other foreigners have to apply for a residence permit for study purposes (Aufenthaltsbewilligung Studierende) at the Austrian representative authority before entry to Austria after receipt of the notification of admission.

Where can you make the application?

Austrian representative authority (embassy, consulate-general)

You have to apply for a student visa in person at the Austrian representative authority (embassy, consulate-general) before traveling to Austria.

Website:

How to make the application?

All visa applicants must appear in person at the Austrian embassy/consulate. Documents to be submitted for registration include:

  1. A fully completed and signed application form (available from the representative authority; can also be downloaded from the Internet)
  2. Valid passport (should be valid for the whole duration of your stay in Austria)
  3. Passport-sized colour photograph (between 3.5 x 4.5 cm and 4.0 x 5.0 cm)
  4. Birth certificate
  5. Certificate of good conduct (where available)
  6. Health insurance
  7. Notification of admission of the Austrian educational institution
  8. Proof of sufficient financial means to cover one’s living costs for 12 months in advance (for students up to 24 years of age: 426.57 EUR/month; for students over 24 years of age: 772.40 EUR/month (these amounts include the rent for the accommodation of up to 239.15 EUR in 2009), e.g.: savings bank book/account in Austria / declaration of guarantee of a person living in Austria/Travellers Cheques
  9. Proof of accommodation (rental agreement, accommodation agreement with a student hall of residence).

In Austria, it is compulsory to register with the municipal authorities (Meldeamt: Gemeindeamt, Magistratisches Bezirksamt) within three working days of entering the country.

When should you apply?

For short-term visas (visa D): Allow 15 days for processing. Visa applications should ideally be submitted at least 3-4 weeks prior to departure but no more than 3 months prior to departure.

For long-term visas: Your visa application will be sent to Austria and the decision has to be awaited in one’s home country - therefore the application should be submitted at least 3 months before the intended arrival in Austria. The general processing period for a Residence Permit is three to six months until you will receive a decision from the Austrian authority.

Only residence titles (residence permits (Aufenthaltsbewilligung) and settlement permits (Niederlassungsbewilligung) can be renewed in Austria. You have to apply for a renewal before the expiry of the original permit. Until a decision about the renewal has been taken you may – even after the expiry of your original permit – stay in Austria.

Processing time

3 Months

Work opportunities

Nationals of the EU states, as well as Liechtenstein, Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland, do not need a work permit for working in Austria. If the work permit is granted these students are not restricted as regards the extent of their work, i.e. their permitted work is not limited to seasonal work or minimum income work (geringfügige Beschäftigung). One of the requirements for the work permit is that the vacancy cannot be filled by unemployed people registered with the employment service.

Students from Non-EU countries and Croatia are subject to the Act Governing the Employment of Foreign Nationals and require an employment permit (Beschäftigungsbewilligung). Students who are nationals of third countries get a work permit for up to 10 hours weekly if they are studying in Bachelor degree programs, students in Master degree programs are allowed to work with work permit up to 20 hours weekly. Full-time employment is possible for the periods during which no lectures take place. The work permit has to be applied for at the employment service (Arbeitsmarktservice, AMS) by the employer at least 6 weeks before the beginning of the employment and is only valid for a specific job with the specific employer.

Hours per week

10

Why do you need this type of visa?

Your visa application may be rejected if you are not able to show proof of the required funds, or if you provide incorrect or incomplete documents.