Study in Austria

There is no single Austria-wide grade requirement for every international applicant. Decisions depend on your school-leaving qualification, country of education, chosen institution, subject, language and any entrance examination.

For public-university admission, non-EU/non-EEA applicants generally need a qualification equivalent to an Austrian university entrance qualification and evidence that it entitles them to enter the equivalent course in the country where it was issued. Relevant country-specific or subject-specific conditions may also apply.

You may need certified academic documents, legalisation or an apostille, certified translations, language evidence and programme-specific supporting materials. Always follow the receiving institution's instructions.

Master's applicants generally need an appropriate recognised Bachelor's qualification and sufficient relevant subject knowledge. Some courses specify prerequisite ECTS credits, interviews, portfolios or entrance assessments. Doctoral applicants ordinarily need a suitable Master's or equivalent qualification, a relevant research area and any faculty-specific requirements; a research proposal or potential supervisor may also be necessary.

German is the main teaching language at Austrian higher-education institutions. German-taught programmes frequently require B2 or C1, depending on the course.

English-taught programmes set their own requirements. Acceptable evidence may include IELTS Academic, TOEFL, Cambridge qualifications or previous education in English. There is no reliable single IELTS score for all of Austria. Check that your entire degree, rather than only selected modules, is taught in English.

Students who receive admission subject to supplementary examinations may be able to attend a Vorstudienlehrgang. Subjects can include German, English, mathematics and sciences. A university admission decision is required first. For a mainly German-taught degree, applicants normally need at least A2 German before joining the preparation programme's German course.

These students do not ordinarily need an entry visa. For stays longer than three months, those meeting the relevant conditions generally need a *Registration Certificate (Anmeldebescheinigung) within four months of arrival. The current application fee is €44*. This is separate from ordinary address registration.

British nationals arriving after Brexit generally follow third-country rules unless they have protected rights from earlier residence. Qualifying short visits may be visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, but this does not itself permit ordinary employment or long-term degree study. British citizens may be able to submit a residence-permit application during lawful visa-free presence in Austria; applying does not extend the permitted 90-day stay.

For study visits up to 90 days, a visa may or may not be required depending on nationality. For eligible stays of 91 days to six months, a Visa D may be appropriate; the published standard fee is €195 for applicants aged six or over and €97 for children under six, subject to exceptions. A Visa D does not automatically grant the same employment rights as a student residence permit.

For study lasting more than six months, third-country nationals generally need the *Residence Permit – Student (Aufenthaltsbewilligung – Student)*. First applications are usually submitted in person at the competent Austrian embassy or consulate. Some visa-exempt nationals can apply from within Austria during lawful entry, but cannot stay beyond their authorised period while waiting for a decision.

A residence-permit application may require a passport, photograph, university admission, evidence of funding and its origin, accommodation, health insurance covering all risks in Austria, police clearance and correctly legalised or translated documents. The authority can request further evidence.

The normal decision period is 90 days, potentially extended by another 90 days if additional documents are required. Student residence permits are usually granted for 12 months, subject to the individual circumstances. For renewal, ordinary degree students generally need evidence of progress equivalent to 16 ECTS per academic year or eight semester hours; doctoral students may provide suitable supervisor confirmation.

Students generally need to register their Austrian address (Meldezettel) within three working days of moving in. Eligible student residence-permit holders can usually make short visits to other Schengen countries for up to 90 days within any 180-day period, subject to the applicable conditions.

A spouse, registered partner or unmarried minor child may be eligible for a Residence Permit – Family Community. Spouses and registered partners must generally be at least 21 years old when applying. Family members do not automatically obtain unrestricted salaried-employment rights; an AMS permit and labour-market test will generally be required.

Students requiring a residence permit need appropriate health insurance covering all risks in Austria. Travel insurance may be suitable for initial entry but does not automatically satisfy the residence requirement. Eligible students may obtain Austrian ÖGK student self-insurance at the 2026 rate shown above.

Entry, work and residence rules are set by Austrian authorities and may change. This is general information, not individual immigration advice. Check the official requirements for your circumstances before applying.

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