Study in Austria

Students who wish to travel internationally for their higher studies and internship experiences will be able to go to Austria given that they follow the necessary procedures. Austria is located in the heart of Europe and offers experience in cultural immersion and different fields of study. The largest cities in this country include Vienna, Salzburg, Wels, Dornbirn, Graz, etc. and the language that is spoken in the country is German.

Since the most commonly spoken language in the country is German, one of the primary requirements of moving to the country involves understanding and learning the language. Most of the courses that are taught in colleges and universities within the country use German for instruction. This does not imply that there are no courses offered in English but practically speaking, the number of universities offering their programs in English is rare with the cost of education being higher for the same. Students who seek to study in Austria will have to gain a certain level of proficiency in the language so that they will not have a language barrier that affects their learning and residential experience.

Benefits of Studying in Austria

Apart from the scenic beauty of Austria which lets students enjoy the alpine view, there are plenty of other reasons that attract students to this country from all over the world. The country is situated in the heart of Europe provides individuals with-

High quality of life and enough social security that can make even international students feel safe.
The country has a rich intellectual history that will allow students to explore both their architecture and historical sites. This will in return allow candidates to build knowledge within their respective fields of study.
Educational expenses in this country are inexpensive when compared to other parts of the country and are deemed to be highly reasonable even for international students. Though private universities in the country can seem relatively more expensive, there are public universities in the country that offer education that is free of cost even for international students.
Even though learning German to move to the country can seem to be a hassle, in the long run, it will aid candidates in procuring jobs anywhere in the world due to the importance of German in general.

In short, the universities in Austria will be offering education that is of international standards, the cuisine, and landscape of the country will keep candidates happy, and the educational expenses they will incur during their stay will be way lower than most countries.

Eligibility for Studying in Austria

International candidates who wish to study in Austria will have to obtain a residence permit to do the same unless they are EEA citizens or Swiss. The general requirements for candidates who wish to study in Austria are-

Valid Passport/Proof of Nationality
A-levels/ High School Diploma/Equivalent Certification
Academic Transcripts
German/English Language Proficiency Certification, as required.

Cost of Studying in Austria

The cost of studying in Austria is different for Austrian students and students from third-world countries. Candidates who are Austrian citizens or European citizens will have to pay close to nothing as their educational fee if they are in public universities. International students enrolled in public universities, who come from third world countries, will have to pay a set amount of EUR 726.72 per semester. Candidates who are scholarship recipients will be exempted from paying the fee.

Candidates who are not enrolled in public universities and are part of the Universities of Applied Sciences or Private Universities will have to go by the rules and regulations of their respective institutions. The fee structure in such institutions is subject to vary from place to place.

Higher Education System in Austria

Higher education in Austria has been divided into three categories. These categories are private universities, universities of applied science, and federal universities. This division has been made based on the regulations for funding that each university receives. The universities in Austria offer more than 2,000-degree programs out of which a majority of courses are offered in the field of arts. The country is well-known for its love of cultural elements which manifest in its love for theater and other forms of art.

Humanities, tourism, and hospitality are the other fields that are commonly chosen by international candidates while studying in the country. Apart from these commonly chosen programs in the country, Austria also offers high-quality education in biological sciences, business, law and regulations, and even marketing.

Degree Programs in Austria

While Austria’s education system offers different types of degrees and certification courses for different fields of study, their universities also provide bachelor's, master's, and Ph.D. programs for different subjects. A bachelor’s program in the country will take up duration of 6 to 8-semesters while a master’s program will take up a duration ranging between 2 to 4 semesters. Ph.D. programs offered within the country will have 6 semesters in all.

The educational year in Austria begins on October 1st and carries through until September 30th of the following year with semesters being divided into summer and winter semesters only. A winter semester will begin on October 1st and end on January 30th whereas a summer semester will begin on March 1st and end on September 30th. The schedule will have various breaks included in between the semesters making up for the mid-semester and holidays.

Top Universities in Austria

The top universities in Austria are-

University of Vienna
Medical University of Vienna
University of Innsbruck
Vienna University of Technology
Medical University of Graz
Medical University of Innsbruck
University of Bodenkultur Wien
University of Graz
Graz University of Technology
Salzburg University

Scholarships to Study in Austria

Candidates who wish to study abroad will either be able to apply for scholarships from their own country or apply for government scholarships provided by Austria. The specifications for each scholarship including the eligibility criteria change from one to another. But generally, scholarships are either merit-based or need-based. It can also be provided according to ethnicity, nationality, gender, etc. For finding scholarships provided by Austria, candidates can visit the OeAD database which is their leading resource for scholarships and grants. A few of the scholarships that candidates can apply for are-

Austria Government Scholarship 2021-2022

This scholarship is provided by the Austria Development Corporation and is open to all international students who wish to study in Austria. It covers educational fields like Natural Sciences, Social Sciences, Medical Sciences, Arts, etc. irrespective of the course level the candidate is enrolling for. The target students are from developing countries and ADC priority countries who will be provided with EUR 1,050 every month along with health insurance, accommodation, and airfare travel costs.

Helmut Veith Stipend Scholarships in Austria

Candidates from any country will be able to apply for this scholarship as long as they are studying Natural Sciences of Computer Sciences. The scholarship targets graduates and is provided for 2 years in all with an amount of EUR 6,000 paid annually in installments. The scholarship is provided to candidates who have enrolled in the Vienna University of Technology for a course taught in English.

JAM International Student Scholarships in Austria

This scholarship is provided to candidates enrolling for bachelor's and master's programs and provides an amount of EUR 3,250 per semester for two semesters. It is only given to students who are not from the EU and will be provided based on the artistic achievements of the candidate. Though it is generally a merit-based scholarship, in extreme situations, they also provide the scholarship based on financial need.

Visa to Study in Austria

All international students who are non-EU citizens will require a student visa to study in the country. Candidates who wish to stay in the country and study for less than 90 days will have to take a visa C and a visa D if they need to stay for a duration between 90 days and 6 months. In cases where the candidate will require staying for over 6 months, they will have to take a residence permit after lawful entry into the country.

Working While Studying in Austria

International students are allowed to work in Austria though the number of hours and the permits they will require for the same will be dependent on various factors. A few of these factors include the nationality of the candidate and their current visa status. If the candidate is doing unpaid work in the form of training, internships or placements, they will not require any work permit. While students from the EU, EEA, and Switzerland do not need a specific work permit to work within the country, students who come from other countries will have to get a work permit. This work permit will be provided to the candidate based on the residence permit they hold at the time.

Career Options in Austria

International students in Austria will be able to support themselves and their education by working in the country. They will require a work permit to do so if they belong to a country outside the EU, EEA, or Switzerland. The most popular jobs that students take up are weekend jobs, part-time jobs, and on-campus jobs depending on their academic schedule.

Weekend jobs are mostly preferred by students who have a full academic schedule. The jobs will most often require only basic knowledge in German and will pay around EUR 300 to EUR 400 every month depending on the location and the work the candidate does.

Part-time jobs are opted by students who have time-management skills and can juggle between work and education daily. They will be able to take up professions like being a waiter, a tutor, salesperson, hotel staff, etc. based on their interest and get paid up to EUR 1,000 a month.

On-campus jobs are taken up by post-graduate and research students who can be teaching assistants or research assistants within their department. They will receive monthly stipends or scholarships based on the job they do which is often not calculated as a salary per se.

Apart from these, students who have graduated and are looking for jobs will find that the most popular job options in the country are-

Web Developer
Accountant
Project Manager
Data Processor
Power Engineer