Why You Should Study In Austria

If you wander around the streets of any Austrian city, you’ll feel like you’ve gone back in time as you start to experience that fairy tale vibe. Austria has a unique charm making every visitor marvel at its beauty. As a student in Austria, you won’t just enjoy the country’s numerous beauties; you’ll also study at one of the universities offering excellent academic options.

One of the countless advantages of studying and living in Austria is being within one of the safest countries in the world and enjoying a high quality of life.

You can discover Austria’s incredible culture and history, if once you attend the diverse social events held in any of its major cities. From art exhibitions to concerts, theatre performances, and the famous balls – you can find pretty much anything.

Austria is also the perfect destination for outdoor sports fanatics. The Austrian Alps are the perfect setting for skiing, hiking and climbing.

The great number of high-quality education institutions, a long academic tradition and an open-minded learning atmosphere make Austria an easy choice for students who are seeking an international education.

Austrian universities, as well as Austrian cities, have a high multicultural environment; so it is easy for foreign students to adjust here. Study degrees are either research-focused or they include practical exercises in order to develop your problem-based learning skills. Austrian universities partner with many of the local research centres that conduct projects in quantum physics, biomedicine, nanotechnologies, communications, and environmental technologies.

Why study in Austria?

1. It’s super affordable and in some cases free

Public universities in Austria are free for all EU and EEA citizens; international students only pay around 1,500 EUR per academic year. At universities of applied sciences (UAS), tuition rates vary between 365 and 7,500 EUR depending on the study programme and your nationality.

2. You’ll live in a safe and secure environment

Austria is one of the safest countries in the world, enjoying a low crime rate and a high standard of living and social security. In a world full of political and military tensions, armed conflicts, and violent protests, you won’t have many worries while living in Austria.

3. High quality of life

If you choose Austria, you’ll have the opportunity to study and live in Vienna, which has been ranked as the city with the highest quality of life for 10 years in a row! Everything from transport to accommodation, from student services to administrative support, from salaries to job outlook is excellent.

4. Austria is an artistic and cultural hub

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Franz Schubert, Egon Schiele, Gustav Klimt — do we need to say more? Austria also has a long list of museums and galleries which are a must-see for any visitor.

5. There’s a sport for everybody

If you’re into sports, you should feel right at home in Austria. There’s something for everybody! And if you haven’t found your preferred activity, don’t give up. You can choose from football, alpine skiing, hockey, swimming, mountain-biking, etc.

Universities and colleges to attend in Austria

Austria is home to over 50 higher educational institutions, divided as follows:

• 22 public universities (including research universities and universities of arts)
• 21 universities of applied sciences
• 13 private universities

Examples of universities in Austria we recommend:

• Central European University (CEU)
• WU (Vienna University of Economics and Business)
• University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria
• FH Kufstein Tirol – University of Applied Sciences
• Vienna School of International Studies

What is it like to study in Austria?

The general atmosphere in an Austrian university is quite relaxed and professors are always willing to help students, answer their questions and make sure they understand everything they are learning.

Students get to work in small teams during seminars and team projects, giving students a huge advantage, while they understand new information easier and faster. Additionally, students can engage in active discussions and can present their own point of view.

International offices within the universities often organise trips to nearby cities and surroundings, helping international students adjust to a new country and culture.

What to study in Austria?

As music and arts have had a major influence upon Austria’s culture and traditions, you can expect many universities and academies to provide a large number of study programmes devoted to these fields. However, you can also find plenty of Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in numerous fields, from Business Administration, Computer Science, to Languages, Political Science, Psychology, and Engineering.

Here are some of the most popular study options in Austria…..

• Masters in Marketing in Austria
• Masters in International Business in Austria
• Masters in Computer Sciences in Austria
• Masters in Electrical Engineering in Austria

Where to study in Austria?

Vienna is home to the largest number of universities in Austria. Other cities in Austria that house a variety of universities or academies are Graz, Salzburg, Linz, Graz and Innsbruck.

Highly urban cities like Vienna and Linz have numerous cultural attractions, with museums, theatres, bars and restaurants, to fulfil your active social life.Instead, in cities like Innsbruck or Salzburg that are surrounded by mountains, you can mostly spend your free time in the middle of nature, hiking or skiing during the winter.

Find out more about what it’s like to study in Vienna.

How to apply

For most universities in Austria, you can simply apply online by submitting the application form along with all requested application documents. However, it is always recommended that you check with your chosen university, as in some cases, you will also have to send documents by post. Here are a few important steps to keep in mind:

• Carefully check all the required application documents and make sure they are all translated into English or German. For instance, an internationally recognised Bachelor’s degree or equivalent is the main requirement when enrolling in a Master’s degree at a university in Austria.
• Make sure to know what the language requirements are, and whether you need to prove skills in English before enrolling in a degree programme.
• Show how you performed as a student, and be sure to know what your Grade Point Average (GPA) was during your studies.
• To help your chances of going to Austria, be sure to apply to more than one university!

Make sure you qualify for an Austrian university

Take Preparation Courses

These kinds of courses enable degree-seeking students to get an extra educational boost just before they start their Master’s degree or other post-graduate degree programmes.

Try a pre-M.B.A., pre-Law, or pre-Medicine programme, as well as any other foundation or preparation courses that will allow you to study in the degree programme of your choice.

Improve your English through an English-language prep course

If you’re attending a degree programme in Austria, you will sometimes need to prove that your language skills are good enough to participate in the classes and understand the lectures. These courses will also prepare you for any of the English-language tests that universities require.

English-language tests

There are over 200 English-taught programmes in Austria.

Universities in Austria will want to see proof that you have good English-language skills, so that you can easily succeed in their courses. Almost all Austrian universities accept these official English exams:

• PTE Academic
• IELTS
• TOEFL
• C1 Advanced