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Scholarships
Scholarship for studying abroad
Unilateral scholarship programmes
Exchange programmes
Austria has bilateral agreements for exchange programme scholarships with the following countries: Egypt, Albania, Belgium, China, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Yugoslavia, Columbia, Croatia, Luxembourg, Mexico, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, Slovak Republic, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand, Czech Republic, Tunisia, Turkey and Hungary. There are lots of different forms of students and research programmes that are funded in Austria on the basis of these agreements. Only students, graduates and researchers / scientists can apply for this kind of grants.
ÖAD Scholarship Database
Private scholarships are usually only awarded when no government and federal scholarships. However, there are instances when private scholarships awarded in conjunction with federal scholarships. These grants are provided from private organisations, foundations part of universities, local authorities and public agencies, which are interested in a specific field of study.
Scholarship for studying abroad
You qualify if:
- You are a scholarship-holder and continue to receive scholarship.
- You are studying in a university of arts, a theological school or an academy.
- You have finished the first two-year term of your studies or in case that there is just one term you are in the fifth semester; you plan a three-month study abroad or three-month stay abroad for your diploma / dissertation work
In one of the above mentioned cases you might have the chance to get a scholarship for studying abroad together with your financial aid.
Application requirements for study abroad scholarships:
- You receive financial aid / grant in your home country
- Your application together with your study programme and accompanied by a confirmation from competent authorities stating that your studies abroad and degrees earned there will be recognised in your home country.
- A matriculation confirmation from your university abroad
Unilateral scholarship programmes
Foreign students, graduates as well as scientists and researchers can apply for a unilateral scholarship. In this way they get the chance to study at Austrian higher education institutions. You can apply for one of the following scholarships:
Bertha von Suttner - Scholarship
This institute offers a limited number of grants to doctoral students in the sciences who intend to write their thesis in Austria. If applicants are not citizens of a developing European country, they will be funded only if they intend to attend theological or humanity courses. The allowance consists of a scholarship, covering tuition fees and accommodation. Sometimes health and accident insurance is also covered. Dissertation applicants must make their applications in one of the exchange offices of ÖAD.
Franz Werfel – Scholarship
Candidates for this scholarship have to work as guest researchers in an institute - library, archive, research. The grants/scholarship programmes are available to Austrian and international university lecturers working in the field of Austrian studies and literature. The allowance consists of a scholarship, covering tuition fees and accommodation. Sometimes health and accident insurances are also covered.
Ernst Mach – Scholarship
Applications are open to graduates pursuing doctoral studies outside Austria or who have already obtained a PhD (or equivalent) and are working at their home university. The age limit is 35 years of age. The grant is awarded for one to nine months.
Kunstuniversitäts – Scholarship
Applicants for art and artistic study courses have to submit a proof of their affinity for arts together with their application form. You will be awarded a monthly grant and it is also possible to be released from the obligation to pay a tuition fee (application to the rector).
Nord-Süd-Dialog – Scholarship
Natural science, technical, social and business studies postgraduates, who intend to earn a doctorate or take part in research in Austria can apply for this scholarship with the Austrian diplomatic mission. The financial aid consists of a monthly scholarship, covering tuition fees and accommodation. Sometimes health and accident insurance, as well as travel costs are also covered. Scholarship holders do not have to pay the foreign student tuition fee.
Fachausbildung für Angehörige aus Entwicklungsländern
Natural science, technical, social and business studies postgraduates, as well as well as physicians and medical trainees, who intend to specialise or take part in research in Austria can apply for this scholarship with the Austrian diplomatic mission. The financial aid consists of a monthly scholarship, covering tuition fees and accommodation. Sometimes health and accident insurance, as well as travel costs are also covered. Scholarship holders do not have to pay the tuition fee for foreign students.
Lise Meitner-Scholarship
For highly qualificated 'postdocs' from all study fields:
Der Wissenschaftsfonds
Joint Study
Austria and universities from the following countries have bilateral agreements for exchange of students: Egypt, Argentina, Brasil, Bulgaria, China, Denmark, Germany, Finland, France, Greece, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Canada, Lithuania, Mexico, Nicaragua, Norway, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand, Czech Republic, Hungary, the USA. For more information contact your university or the university you are interested in.
Performance scholarships are awarded only at theological universities, university of applied sciences and academies in the field of BMBWK (Bundesministerium für Bildung, Wissenschaft und Kultur) and they are funding a specific field of study (Bildungseinrichtung).
Who qualifies:This kind of scholarship is granted to students with outstanding performance results. After a two-year term, no longer than two moths after obtaining your grades, you have to submit your results to the corresponding authorities and if they meet the requirements for 'outstanding performance' you will be granted a scholarship. The candidate has to meet the same criteria as for financial aid (except the social criteria). Detailed awarding criteria is determined by the education institution.
You have no legal right to pursue claims.
A limited number of applicants may be awarded a two-week language course grant in an amount not exceeding the regular monthly scholarship. The language course, aimed at improving students' language skills has to be completed on time, prior to the beginning of their studies abroad.
Who qualifies:Students, who have successfully completed a language course, can apply for a language course grant at the competent authorities given that they provide the following documents:
- A final confirmation of the language course graduation
- A receipt of the paid language course fees
- In case that the course is a part of the ERASMUS programme a Socrates/Erasmus-report is required
Further information
The Austrian Federal Ministry for Education, Science and Culture and the Austrian Exchange Service (ÖAD) give a better overview of these programmes and provide a good database of available grants. Fore more information please check the following web pages:
Bundesministerium für Bildung, Wissenschaft & Reisen
Austrian Academic Portal
or in the following brochures:
"Informationen für ausländische Studienbewerber"
"Study in Austria" (in English).
International exchange programmes are listed on the ÖAD web page:
ÖAD
One of the ÖAD scholarship databases called GRANTS gives detailed information about scholarships and about national scholarship programmes:
ÖAD Scholarship Database
You should also enquire for more information directly at the university where you intend to study.