How to study, work and live in Austria

Everything ‘beautiful’ is associated with Austria. It is a perfect destination for studies. Located in central Europe, a lot of international students consider the country as one of the best. Austria is known for its incredible mountains and lakes. It has one of the best economies in the world and a very low unemployment rate. Without mincing words, Austria is a good country for studies. Foreign students who travel to Austria never wish to return to their home country. If this is exactly what you seek and don’t know how to go about it, we shall provide you with the information on how to study, work and live in Austria.

Universities, universities of applied sciences, and university colleges of teacher education make up Austria’s higher education system which also houses technical and medical specialty institutions, as well as a university center for postgraduate education.

Studying in Austria is an adventure many foreign students would want to experience. There are roughly 22 public universities, which include 6 universities of the arts, medical universities, and technical universities, 16 private universities, 21 universities of applied sciences, and 14 university colleges of teacher education which students can choose from.

A study in Austria provides students with loads of benefits. One of such is the free and low tuition fee. some international students can study in Austria without paying tuition fees depending on their nationality. In the course of this article, you will find out if you are among those that can study in Austria on free tuition.

To prepare you for your study mission to Austria, you need to know a few reasons why you should study in Austria. They include the following.

Why study in Austria?

• Affordable tuition fee
Austrian universities have one of the lowest tuition fees in Europe. International students from the EU zone can study in Austria for free, whereas non-EU students will pay but at an affordable cost.
• Open-minded
Austrians are open-minded people. Locals integrate with foreigners. The country is also peaceful; international students can move freely without feeling oppressed or harassed by anyone especially the locals.
• Robust economy
For years now, Austria has been recognized as one of the strongest economies in the world; this explains why there is a very low unemployment rate. It is also among the top countries with high remuneration. You earn a decent wage working and studying in Austria.
• Study in German/English
Austria is different from Germany, although, the official language is German. Most universities in Austria teach in German, but there are Austrian Universities offering English-taught programs.

• Standard education

Austrian universities provide good standard education. All its tertiary institutions are known for offering quality education; providing teachings in a state of the art facilities for proper learning dedications
• Travel to other European countries
With your study permit, international students regardless of their nationality can travel to other countries especially nearby countries for sightseeing.

How to apply for admission in Austria

1. Choose a Program
This is the first step to every application process for all countries. Research more about the program you want to study in Austria, then check the universities that offer that course; check the tuition, and study requirements, and move to the next step.
2. Check the Admission Requirements
The admission requirements for universities vary based on nationality, study level, and type of program. In case there are no provisions for that on the school website, find a way to write or speak with the admission office to provide you with the lists of admission requirements.
3. Arrange your documents
Based on the requirements, the school asks you to provide, make sure you have them available. Do not forward a few because they are not complete. Every school might have its admission requirements, but there are general documents mostly requested, they include the following.
Admission requirements to study in Austria
Proof of identification with an identity card or a passport and copies of them.
Passport photographs.
High school diploma or equivalent.
Transcript of records with the grades of your previous education/studies.
Motivation letter
A recommendation letter
Proof of language proficiency in English such as TOEFL or IELTS.
Proof of German language proficiency such as ÖSD, TestDaF, Goethe Institut, or Telc Deutsch.
For master’s degree
Completion of at least six semesters of specialized related coursework Bachelor’s degree is required (min 180 ECTS)
For doctoral programs: Master’s degree or equivalent in the same field of study as your research project
Proof of the application fee payment.
Proof of funds
4. Submit Your Application
You are to submit your application through the university’s website. There is no central application portal in Austria, submission is done online or you may be asked to send through mail. Just follow the instruction.
5. Get your offer letter
If you meet the basic requirement for the program, the confirmation unit of the Austrian College or University will assess the application and offer you admission by sending your offer letter.
5. Apply for an Austrian Student Visa
Getting your admission approved is a huge success, but there is another step that will see you arrive in Austria. If you are an EU applicant, you are exempted from applying for the Austrian study visa, but Non-EU applicants must obtain a student visa to study in Austria. Once you receive your admission letter from the school, start the visa process immediately. In some countries, the visa application processing time can take more than 60 days.

Top universities in Austria

Danube University Krems
FH Campus Wien – University of Applied Sciences
Graz University of Technology
IMC University Of Appied Sciences Krems
Johannes Kepler University of Linz
TU Wien
Universität Salzburg
University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria
University of Graz
University of Innsbruck
University of Klagenfurt
Medical University of Graz
Paracelsus Medizinische Privatuniversität (PMU)
University of Leoben
University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (Universität für Bodenkultur, Wien)
University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna (Vetmeduni Vienna)
University of Vienna
Vienna University of Economics and Business
Modul University Vienna

Tuition/funding

It is tuition-free for EU students to study in Austria. For international students from Non-EU countries, the tuition fee varies by the type of institution, and program. Tuition fees for public universities are usually lower than Private Universities and Universities Colleges of Teacher Education
Highlights
There is no tuition charge for EU students if they do not exceed the minimum period of their study and more than two semesters. After the two-semester term is over, you will only be required to pay 363.36 EUR every semester.
The university fees in Austria are only 726.72 EUR each semester and 1,454 EUR per academic year for international students with a study permit. Other universities might have higher tuition.

Cheap Universities in Austria

1. University of Vienna
Tuition Link
2. University of Linz
Tuition Link
3. University of Klagenfurt
Tuition Link
4. University of Innsbruck
Tuition Link

Scholarships

Even though the tuition fee for Austrian universities is cheap, there are scholarship options available for all students. Here are popular scholarships in Austria.

Various study grants and scholarships are available in Austria for international students. You should consider the following options:
Scholarships are offered by various universities and organizations on the Grants.at website
Scholarships are also offered by the OeAD (The Austrian Agency for International Mobility and Cooperation in Education
For scholarship updates in Austria, check the Austrian Database for Scholarships and Research (grants.at).

Can you study in Austrian universities in English?

Most Austrian universities teach in the German language, but some universities offer English-taught programs particularly postgraduate programs. You can find a lot of English programs in the listed schools:

FH Vorarlberg University of Applied Sciences
At the University of Vienna
The University of Vienna.
Vienna University of Technology.
University of Innsbruck.
The Medical University of Graz.
The Medical University of Innsbruck.

Intake period in Austria

To study in Austria, the admission intake period are:
February 1: Summer Semester studies
September 1: Winter Semester studies

Study and work in Austria

Foreign students in Austria are allowed to work part-time for up to 20 hours a week. Furthermore, as long as the student is engaged in an Austrian study program, they are free to work.
In the vast majority of situations, overseas students in Austria do not apply for work permits on their own. Instead, your potential employer will submit your application on your behalf. With a student work permit, you can only work during the hours that you are enrolled at a recognized university. Working up to 20 hours a week as a Master’s student is mostly approved.

Stay back in Austria after graduation

Austria is one of the countries that allow international students to stay back after graduation. Students who finished from an Austrian university/college can extend their residence permit for one year to find a job. This applies to Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Ph.D. programs.

Highlights

Graduates from the EU/EEA countries are allowed to stay back in Austria after completing their studies without a work permit. While Non-EU/EEA students and Croatian students who have completed their degree studies in Austria may stay in Austria for an additional twelve months after their student visa has expired to look for work or start a business.
Note: They must apply to the competent residence authorities for confirmation (MA 35). Students in this category must submit their documents before the student visa expires.

Conclusion

Austria is one of the best study destinations. Depending on your nationality, you can study in Austria for free, and after completing your studies in Austria, if you are from a Non-EU country and wish to stay back, you have a grace period to search for a job within one year, while students from EU countries are allowed to stay without a work permit.