Austria: unrestricted university access for all
Once you’ve passed your school-leaving exams, you can apply to study at an Austrian university. As long as they are positive, the grades on your certificate aren’t important for the admission process. It’s different in Germany, though, where public universities use what’s called the numerus clausus system: this means you have to achieve a certain average grade in order to attend a German university. But this isn’t the case in Austria.
Access restrictions and admissions procedure
Even so, you will have to do an entry test to get a place on some degree programmes in Austria – these include in-demand programmes such as medicine and psychology. Universities of applied sciences (they’re called Fachhochschulen or FHs in German) select students using a multi-stage admissions procedure. This is because there are fewer places on each degree programme so the intake at a Fachhochschule is smaller as a result.
Studying in Austria
• No restrictions on admission (no numerus clausus system)
• Free access to university education
• Entrance exams for some degree programmes
• Multi-stage admissions procedure at universities of applied sciences
What are the different types of university?
Since 1993, students have had the option of studying either at a university or a university of applied sciences. What’s more, in Austria you can also choose to study at a teacher training college – called a university college of teacher education (pädagogische Hochschule) in Austria – or a private university. Read on to find out more about these four types of institution and what you can expect if you decide to do your degree there.
• Public universities: universities offer the widest choice of degree programmes. Generally speaking, admission is open to everyone – so you can enrol without having to go through a selection procedure. Degree programmes where you have to do an entrance exam are the exception. On the whole, universities put a particularly strong emphasis on research. The degree programmes mainly have a theoretical focus, so you can take a deep dive into your chosen subject.
• University of applied sciences degree programmes have a strong practical element. There are currently more than 700 programmes on offer in Austria, many of them focused on business, life sciences, health, media and technology. Universities of applied sciences only have a limited number of study places available each year. And this is why they use structured application and admissions procedures.
• Teacher training colleges provide training for future primary school, compulsory secondary school (Neue Mittelschule) and special needs education (Sonderschule) teachers. In many ways, their organisational structures are the same as the ones you find at a university or university of applied sciences. Before you start studying at a teacher training college, you will have to complete an admissions procedure and take an aptitude test to determine whether you are suitable to enter the teaching profession.
• Private universities are free to stipulate their own entry regulations and set their own tuition fees. They form the smallest part of – and are also the latest addition to – the Austrian higher education system. If you are interested in studying at a private institution like this, it definitely pays to find out about types of financial support and entry regulations as soon as possible, as the conditions for acceptance onto a degree programme can differ from those at public universities.
How much does it cost to study in Austria?
The answer to the question of whether you have to pay tuition fees, and if so, how much, depends on various factors, including your nationality, the university you want to apply to, and how long you have been studying already. We’ve put together a quick overview for the different types of institution:
• Tuition fees at public universities and university colleges of teacher education are EUR 363.36 per semester – but only if you have been studying for two semesters more than the specified duration of your chosen degree programme. This applies to regular students who are citizens of an EU or European Economic Area (EEA) country. There are a host of exemptions from and grounds for waiving tuition fees.
• At most universities of applied sciences you will also pay tuition fees of EUR 363.63 per semester. This applies to Austrian students, EU and EEA citizens, and students with equivalent status. Third-country citizens pay higher tuition fees.
• Private universities can set their own tuition fees. They are generally higher than those at public universities.
Besides your tuition fees, you also pay Austrian National Union of Students (ÖH) membership dues. The dues for the 2023/2024 academic year are EUR 22.70.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact us by phone or email.
