Low Tuition Universities in Austria, Admission Requirements and Essential Information for International Students

Planning to study in Austria? Scholarshipsgist presents a complete guide for International Students in this blog.

This blog covers the following points.

Table of Contents:

About Austria

The Republic of Austria, commonly known as Austria, is a landlocked country in the southern part of Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. The country is bordered by Germany to the northwest, the Czech Republic to the north, Slovakia to the northeast, Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the west. It has a population of 9 million people, capital and largest city is Vienna, with a population of 1.8 million people. The official language of Austria is German, but there are also other recognised languages; Hungarian, Slovene and Burgenland Croatian. The currency used in Austria is the Euro (€).

Austria is a great place for future international students like you. It has very affordable tuition fees when compared to other popular study destinations, like the US, UK, or Australia. The quality of life is very high and the country has a low crime rate.

Higher Education System in Austria

The university in Austria follows the Bologna Process same as the other European countries follow. The universities allow to study in Austria for international students under a curriculum that focuses on professional-orientated education by offering the following:

Bachelor in Austria

You can obtain a bachelor’s degree in Austria after completing three or four years of university-level education. You will require at least 180 ECTS credits.

Master degree in Austria

To get admission to a postgraduate degree in Austria, you need to complete your bachelor’s study programme. It will take at least 2 years to obtain a masters degree. You will require at least 120 ECTS credits.

PhD in Austria

Doctoral studies are based on the successful completion of a master’s degree. By pursuing Doctoral programmes you will gain a degree of PhD. The duration is a minimum of three years without the award of ECTS credits.

Admission Requirements

The general documents required for admission into any Austrian university includes;

Secondary School Leaving Certificate (Authenticated and Translated)
International Passport or Travel ID (data page)
Passport photograph (to be uploaded)
Special entrance qualification (as determined by the university or the department of choice)
Language Proficiency: Many institutions offer lessons in German or English, therefore proficiency levels in any of the two languages is very important. Students from German-speaking or English-speaking countries are exempted. B2 certificates exams are needed for German-taught programs while IELTS or TOEFL is needed for English-taught programs.
Academic Transcripts for masters and doctorate students (transcripts must detail all the courses taken in their last two years of study and the grades received)
High school diploma from your country of origin or equivalent.
Motivation letter written by you stating the reason you chose the program.
A recommendation letter from your previous professors might be also asked.
Proof of the application fee payment.
Proof of your bank statements that are sufficient to support you through your studies.
Bachelors or Masters certificate for advanced students (Authenticated and Translated)

Academic Calendar in Austria

The academic year in Austria begins on October 1st and ends on September 30th of the following year.

It consists of two semesters, including winter and summer semester.

Winter semester has a duration from October 1st to January 30th. Deadline to apply in the university for the Winter semester is 1 May to the 5th of September each year.

While Summer semester starts from March 1st to September 30th.Deadline to apply in the university for the Summer semester is 1 December to 5th of February each year.

Admission dates for both intakes can vary for each university.

Living Costs

The cost of living significantly depends on your lifestyle, whether you choose to study at a private or public university and of course, the city.

Accommodation costs

The most popular accommodation options for international students in Austria are –

The OeAD student lodging

The OeAD provides housing for around 12,000 students in Vienna, Graz, Innsbruck, Linz, Salzburg, Leoben, and Klagenfurt. It is an excellent low-cost option and an approved partner of Austrian universities and institutes.

2. Shared flat or Apartment (Wohngemeinschaften)

The most typical option after OeAD is to share an apartment or a flat with roommates, also known as a WG in Austria. This is one of Austria’s most inexpensive living options as you would be expected to pay from 250 to 450 EUR per month. You share the bills, rents and common areas with your roommates while you can have your own room

3. Living in a residence hall or dormitory

This is a viable alternative for overseas students. It comprised a variety of apartment options with shared facilities and l areas for students.

Food costs

Meals at various small neighborhood taverns or cafes range from 7 to 10 EUR on average. For instance, a soup goulash costs around 7 EUR, while a dessert may cost around 4 EUR. However, you may expect to pay between 12 and 18 EUR for a full course meal and an additional 6 EUR for a drink in tourist areas.

A three-course supper at a mid-range restaurant will cost you between 20 and 30 EUR per person.

If you intend to cook your food at home, supermarkets in Austria are reasonably priced. You can expect to spend roughly 200 – 250 EUR each month on goods. Some of the cheapest markets in Austria are Hofer (Austria’s Aldi), Zielpunkt, Spar, and Billa.

Transportation in Austria

In Austria, public transportation, whether by rail, bus, or tram, is the most convenient and safest way to travel. A metro or bus ticket costs roughly 2 EUR, while monthly transportation passes range between 30 and 50 EUR. You can also save by using your student ID card.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees in Austria will depend on more than one variable. One of these is where in the world you are from, and the other is whether you choose a public or private university. Public universities will charge considerably less than private universities. You should also expect to pay a higher tuition fee at a university of applied sciences as well.

If you are from an EU/EEA country, you are not required to pay tuition fees so long as you complete your course in its given timeframe, or within the additional two semesters allowed. If you do not finish your course in this time, you will need to pay a small tuition fee each semester you remain enrolled. This is usually around €363.36 per semester.

If you are from any other country, you are required to pay a tuition fee per semester. This is usually around €726.72 at a public institution. Both international and EU/EEA students will need to pay a student union membership fee, which is normally around €18 per semester.