Top 10 Universities in Austria and The Scholarships They Offer

Located in the heart of Europe, Austria is a wonderful country, with a focus on offering high-quality education. Universities in this country are well-developed and provide great study experience. Many foreign students come to study in Austria as the country’s commitment to international students is reflected in the fair tuition fees and rise in enrolling students since reforms. As well as the chance to study at world ranked higher education institutions, students from around the world will also be able to pick up the German language in Austria. In addition, many Austrian universities offer financial support to help the students with their studies. These are funded by the universities itself, the Austrian government, private foundations and other organizations.

1. University of Vienna

The University of Vienna is a public university located in Vienna, Austria. It was founded by Duke Rudolph IV in 1365 and is the oldest university in the German-speaking world. With its long and rich history, the University of Vienna has developed into one of the largest universities in Europe, and also one of the most renowned, especially in the Humanities. It is associated with 20 Nobel Prize winners and has been the academic home to a large number of scholars of historical as well as of academic importance. The University is also one of the best universities in the world, having to be ranked 175^th on the QS World University Rankings 2019.

The University of Austria offers many grants to international students in all stages of studies at the University. You can search for the right grant program you may be eligible for at https://grants.at/en/. The different types of grants are, but not limited to, as below:

• Helmut Veith Stipend
• CeMM PhD Program
• DART – Doctoral Program in Accounting, Reporting, and Taxation
• Deutscher Museumsbund-Teilstipendium für Bildwissenschaft, MA
• Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree
• Ernst Mach Grant – worldwide
• Marshall Plan Scholarship
• IIASA Science Communication Fellowship
• University of Vienna Sommerhochschule (SHS) – scholarships
• Amelia Earhart Fellowship
• L’OREAL Austria (Fellowships for Young Female Scientists in Basic Research)
• Elise Ritcher Program (FWF)
• Hertha Firnberg Program (FWF)
• Talents
• Talents – FEMtech Internships for Female Students

Visit www.univie.ac.at to learn more about the University of Vienna.

2. Vienna University of Technology

Vienna University of Technology (TU Wien) is one of the major universities in Vienna. The University has received extensive international and domestic recognition in teaching as well as in research, and it is a highly esteemed partner of innovation oriented enterprises. As of in 2019, TU Wien is ranked amongst the top 200 universities in the world by QS. It currently has about 26,200 students (19% foreign students / 30% women), 8 faculties and about 4,000 staff members (1,800 academics). The University’s teaching and research is focused on engineering and natural sciences.

TU Wien supports the students’ studies financially through the Hellmut Veith Stipend for Women in Computer Science that they offer annually. The stipend is awarded to female students in the field of computer science (CS) who plan to pursue (or are currently pursuing) one of the master’s programs in Computer Science at the Vienna University of Technology – TU Wien taught in English. Those are:

• Master in Logic and Computation
• Master in Business Informatics
• European Master in Computational Logic
• Master in Computer Engineering (Technische Informatik)
• Master in Data Science
• Master in Media and Human-Centered Computing

The awards are worth EUR 6,000 each per year to waive the tuition fees at TU Wien.

Visit Study Grants for further details on the awards, or visit www.tuwien.ac.at to learn more about TU Wien.

3. Universität Innsbruck

The University of Innsbruck is a public university based in Innsbruck, the capital of the Austrian federal state of Tyrol, founded in 1669. It is currently the largest education facility in the Austrian Bundesland of Tirol, the third largest in Austria behind Vienna University and the University of Graz. Significant contributions have been made in many branches, most of all in the physics department. Further, regarding the number of Web of Science-listed publications, it occupies the 3^rd rank worldwide in the area of mountain research. Overall, according to the QS World University Rankings 2019, the University of Innsbruck is ranked amongst the top 300 universities in the world.

The University of Innsbruck offers financial support to students in financial difficulty or are deserving of an award for their academic achievements. Financial support at the University of Innsbruck are offered in the form of tuition fee waivers and reimbursements, grants, family allowance, performance-based and needs-based scholarships, and prizes. Every scholarship opportunity is offered through each faculty. Other funding programs include:

• Conference Travel Grants of the “Richard & Emmy Bahr Foundation in Schaffhausen”
• Research Infrastructure Fund of the University of Innsbruck
• Tylorean Science Funding
• 1669 travel and research scholarships
• Druckkostenzuschüsse (1^st installment) for junior researchers at the University of Innsbruck

Find out more by visiting Studying Costs & Financial Support. Learn more about the University of Innsbruck at www.uibk.ac.at.

4. Graz University of Technology

Graz University of Technology (TU Graz) is one of 5 universities in Styria, Austria. It was founded in 1811 by Archduke John of Austria and currently comprises 7 faculties. The University is a public university, and it offers 18 bachelor’s and 33 master’s study programs (of which 16 of them are taught in English) across all technology and natural science disciplines. Doctoral training at Graz University of Technology is organized in 14 English-speaking doctoral schools. The University has more than 13,000 students, and approximately 2,000 students graduate every year. Its science study programs are offered in the framework of NAWI Graz together with the University of Graz.

TU Graz and its cooperation partners support students with a range of grants and scholarships. These are available to students who achieve outstanding results in their studies, write an excellent thesis or are planning a study trip abroad.

• ITalent South East Scholarship: 5 scholarships for IT master’s degree programs for the full duration of study (value: €4,000 per academic year).
• REMUS-SEBRING Group Stipends: 5 2-year scholarships for talented and motivated female students (value: €12,000 each for 3 bachelor’s degree students; and €21,600 each for 2 master’s degree students).
• Degree Completion Scholarship for Working Students: for self-employed or employed students studying in any level at TU Graz (value: €500 per semester).
• Merit-Based Scholarship: scholarships annually awarded by faculties for students with above-average results (value: €750 – €1500).
• Thesis Scholarship: for students writing master or doctoral thesis (value: €750 – €3,600 per year).
• Best of South-East Scholarship: for students from Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia with good results in their studies (value: €750 per month for a year at TU Graz and a 2-month internship in the summer).
• Grants for Study Abroad: for foreign study and research visits.

Visit Financial Matters or Scholarships for Students for further details. Learn more about TU Graz at www.tugraz.at.

5. Johannes Kepler University Linz

Established in 1966, the Johannes Kepler University Linz (JKU Linz) is a public institution of higher education in Austria. It is located in Linz, the capital of Upper Austria. It offers bachelor, masters, diploma and doctoral degrees in business, engineering, law, science, and social sciences. Today, approximately 18,000 students study at the park campus in the northeast of Linz, with one out of nine students being from abroad. The University was the first in Austria to introduce an electronic student ID in 1998. The University is the home of the Johann Radon Institute for Computational and Applied Mathematics (RICAM) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences.

Every year, performance-based scholarships and need-based scholarships are awarded at the JKU Linz. These funds are provided by the Federal Ministry of Science, Research and Economy.

• Merit Scholarships: for students with outstanding study achievements, valued between €750 and €1,500 for two semesters.
• Funding Scholarships: for unfinished scientific work (diploma theses, master theses and dissertations) in the context of a regular study.

Visit Scholarships for further details. Learn more about JKU Linz at www.jku.at.

6. Karl-Franzens-Universitaet Graz

Karl-Franzens-Universitaet Graz (referred to as the University of Graz), located in Graz, Austria, is the largest and oldest university in Styria, as well as the second-largest and second-oldest university in Austria. The University was founded in 1585 by Archduke Charles II of Austria. It is divided into 6 faculties, the two largest are the Faculty of Arts and Humanities and the Faculty of Natural Sciences. The other faculties are the Faculty of Law; the Faculty of Business, Economic and Social sciences; the Faculty of Environmental, Regional and Educational Sciences; and the Faculty of Catholic Theology. The Faculty of Medicine was separated from the University by state legislation in 2004 and became an independent university – the Medical University of Graz. The faculties offer a wide range of undergraduate (BA, BSc), graduate (MA, MSc), and doctoral degree (PhD) programs, as well as special teaching degrees in their specific areas of expertise.

Students at the University of Graz are given the option of obtaining government funding such as the family allowance or the study grant or applying for other funding options. Various scholarships, foundations and funds offer financial support during the studies. The scholarship programs for international students are:

• Best of South-East: scholarships for talented and dedicated graduate students from Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM).
• GO STYRIA: for master, doctoral and post-doctoral students from South-Eastern European countries.
• Erasmus+ International: academic exchanges to study at the University of Graz for students studying at a university in one of the following countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Cuba, Israel, Japan, Kosovo, Montenegro, Russia, Serbia, Trinidad and Tobago, Ukraine, the United States of America, and Uruguay.
• Marshall Plan Scholarship: for academic exchanges between students at U.S. and Austrian universities.

Visit International Students – Incoming for further details. Learn more about the University of Graz at www.uni-graz.at.

7. University of Klagenfurt

The University of Klagenfurt (AAU) is a federal Austrian research university and is the largest research and higher education institution in the state of Carinthia. It has its campus in Klagenfurt. Founded in 1970, the University today holds faculties of humanities, management and economics, technical sciences, and interdisciplinary studies. It ranks among the 150 best young universities worldwide (under the age of 50 years) in the QS World University Rankings. It also hosts a number of central facilities such as: the Robert Musil Institute (co-organizer of the Bachmann Prize); the Karl Popper Kolleg (an Institute for Advanced Study); the University Cultural Centre (UNIKUM); the build! Gründerzentrum (a start-up facilitation center); the University Sports Centre (USI); and the Klagenfurt University Library.

The University of Klagenfurt offers a wide range of scholarships and grants to support the students’ studies. These include:

• Ad Astra scholarships
• Technology scholarships
• Scholarships for academic excellence
• Support grants
• Studienbeihilfe grants
• Language scholarships
• Study abroad grant
• Excellentia scholarships
• Kärntner Sparkasse private foundation scholarships
• Grant for unpaid work experience
• Reimbursements of university fees for students from third countries

Visit the Scholarships & Grants page at www.aau.at for more information.

8. Paris Lodron University of Salzburg

The Paris Lodron University of Salzburg (referred to as the University of Salzburg) is a public university located in Salzburg, Austria. It is divided into four faculties: Catholic Theology, Law, Cultural and Social Sciences, and Natural Sciences. Established in 1622, the University was closed in 1810 and re-established in 1962. Today, it has around 18,000 students and 2,800 employees and is the largest educational institution in Salzburg. The University of Salzburg is also ranked amongst the top 800 universities in the QS World University Rankings 2019.

The University of Salzburg does not offer specific scholarships to international students. You will need to secure adequate funds to support yourself during your study or research stay at Salzburg. Luckily, the Austrian Database for Scholarships is there to offer you the financial support you need for your studies. On this online database, financial support options for students, graduates and researchers range from classical grants and scholarships, allowances and prizes to extensive national, European and international research support programs.

For further details, visit the Scholarships page at www.uni-salzburg.at.

9. Montanuniversität Leoben

Montanuniversität Leoben, or the University of Leoben in Austria is the country’s university for mining, metallurgy and materials. It was founded in 1840 as the Steiermärkisch-Ständisch Montanlehranstalt in Vordernberg, Styria, Austria’s minig region. In 1849, the University was relocated to nearby Leoben. The University of Leoben is a member of TU Austria, an association of three Austrian universities of technology and offers education and conducts research in the fields of mining, metallurgy and materials science. Currently, the University has 13 departments and institutes. The University of Leoben is ranked amongst the top 600 universities by the Times Higher Education (THE), and is one of the best universities in the country.

The University of Leoben offers a wide range of scholarship opportunities to support students’ studies at the University. These scholarships vary and are available for undergraduate, postgraduate and research studies.

• Adolf Feizlmayr Scholarship
• Hochschulprofessor Dr. Rudolf Posselt’sche Reisefonds (travel fund)
• Exxon Mobil foreign exchange scholarship
• Hans-Theisbacher foundation
• Hellmut-Longin award
• Vehivle industry scholarship
• Marshall Plan scholarship
• OMV Excellence Master Scholarship
• Research scholarships
• Support scholarship
• Excellence scholarship
• Scholarship for international students
• WKO scholarship

Visit Scholarships and Awards for further details. Learn more about the University of Leoben at www.unileoben.ac.at.

10. The University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna

The University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, or simply BOKU, founded in 1872, is an education and research center for renewable resources in Vienna, Austria. BOKU combines fundamental and applied expertise in the fields of natural sciences, engineering and biotechnology as well as social and economic sciences to enhance the knowledge basis for sustainable management of natural resources. It is a member of the leading Euro-league for Life Sciences (ELLS) university network and the United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) promoting international cooperation. There are currently around 12,500 students from over 100 countries enrolled at BOKU.

BOKU offers its students financial support in the form of merit-based and need-based scholarships. The scholarships are intended for students with above-average academic performance and for the promotion of scientific research.

• Merit-Based Scholarships: these are intended for students who demonstrate above-average academic achievement. Marks and ECTS credits are averaged and the student’s ranking is factored in.
• Need-Based Scholarships: these are intended for students who require financial assistance while writing their thesis. These need-based scholarships are only awarded if proposed research meets eligibility criteria, which are essentially the same as for merit-based scholarships. Applicants must demonstrate why certain scientific research is deserving of funding. Reasons may include high travel costs or extensive and costly research.

For more information, visit the Scholarships page at www.boku.ac.at.