If you are considering studying abroad, Austria is an excellent choice. Austria has everything you need - from beautiful cities and a great cultural experience to the striking Alps and great education. In most cases you are required to speak German, but there are plenty of options if you would rather conduct your studies in English.
Why Austria?
Austria is a country with beautiful landscapes and a lovely people and culture with influences from neighbouring Germany, Hungary, Italy and Bohemia. It has a strong tradition in everything from winter sports (being located in the Alps) to classical music and great food. In Austria, stunning nature with all its recreational possiblilities meets vibrant cities where history has left beautiful footprints in the form of churches, architecture and operas, restaurants and cafés.
The Austrian Education System
Austria has a free and public education system with 9 years of mandatory schooling. From an early age, schools offer a number of preparatory tracks toward further vocational, technical or university study. In order to qualify for university study, students must complete the Matura only offered by Allgemeinbildende Höhere Schulen-- AHS , which are select schools especially directed toward university preparation. For international students to qualify for university entry, they must present proof of equivalent schooling.
The Austrian education system has since the 1960's been under constant development. The education system, although state financed was before WWII a very selective system, which only provided a small portion of the population with the opportunity of a university education. Then, each child, or their parents much choose the student's path at the early age of 10.
Until the reform of 1962, only 10% of children attended the Allgemeinbildende Höhere Schulen-- AHS, which led on to the possibility of further studies at university. Only a very small portion were girls. By the early 1990s, more than 30 percent of all students finished the AHS track and just above 50 percent of them were female. Furthermore, a second educational path was developed that permitted some students without a diploma from the university-track AHS to enroll in a university.
Higher Education in Austria
Higher education in Austria has a very similar structure to the rest of Europe. In the old system an undergraduate degree lasted four or five years depending on the area of study and resulted in a master degree. With the reform to the new European system, degree structures are much the same as in the UK where a bachelor degree is earned in 3 years, and an additional master degree can be earned in a further one to two years of study.
Although most courses last between four and five years, it is very common for students to be enrolled at university for far longer. Many students stay at university for up to six or seven years before completing their studies. It has therefore become quite usual for employers in Austria to look at the rate at which you completed your degree rather than the grades.
Doctoral degrees in Austria do however differ from most other countries. Doctoral degrees generally last two years and include only little if any course work. Focus is instead placed on the doctoral thesis - 150 to 300 pages long, publishable as a book or in a refereed journal. This is however changing, and more coursework is being added to conform to the Bologna Process within the EU. The course work is often rather unstructured and courses sometimes offered as part of masters studies instead of dedicated doctoral courses.
Austrian Universities
Austria has six public universities offering degrees in a very broad range of disciplines in the arts, social science, law, medicine and science. The largest among these universities is the University of Vienna with 70,000 students. University of Vienna is also the oldest German speaking university, founded in 1365 and home to several Nobel Prize winners. The six state universities are: 
In addition to these general universities, there are fifteen specialised universities in Austria:
Two technical universities in Graz and Vienna
Six arts universities for programmes like music, design, drama, painting or sculpture in Graz, Linz, Salzburg and three in Vienna
Four other, more specialised universities in Austria:
- Leoben University of Mining, Metallurgy, and Materials; about 2,500 students
- Vienna University of Agricultural Sciences; about 5,000 students
- University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna; about 2,300 students
- Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration; about 19,000 students
- Three further schools of Medicine in Graz, Innbruck and Vienna
Necessary Qualifications
International students who aim to attend higher education in Austria need to provide proof of completed secondary education lasting at least 3 years, and equivalent to that of the Austrian Matura. Most secondary school systems will qualify you for entry provided that they qualify you for your course of study in the country where you completed your qualifications. It can be wise to apply well in advance in order to leave time for the extra processing of your papers. This applies especially to students applying from outside the EU.
Application deadlines are generally set for September 1st and February 1st for the next coming semester. In order for your application to be complete you will be required to submit entrance examination results, together with your diploma and in certain cases proof of your fluency in German.
A good command of German is generally a prerequisite for entry into higher education programs in Austria as most programs and degrees are taught exclusively in German. At the postgraduate level however, especially at private institutions who cater toward international students, classes are given in English.
If you are aiming to do your PhD in Austria, there are some special requirements that you should be aware of. Most PhD programs at the public universities will require you to hold a master degree in the subject where you wish to do your PhD. In most cases, fluent German will also be necessary unless you can find a supervisor with a good command of English. In some cases, schools may accept a master degree in a related field, especially if you can show with your thesis a move toward your potential PhD course.
Fees
In comparison to many other countries, university study in Austria is relatively inexpensive. Tuition costs for 2008 are:
- For Austrian students and EU- or EEA citizens: 363.36 Euro per semester
- for non-EU- or -EEA citizens: 726.72 Euro per semester
In addition to the students also need to pay the following:
- Student fee (Austrian Student Union fee): 14.50 Euro per semester
- Insurance premium: 0.36 Euro per semester
Choices in Austrian Higher Education
Austria has a wide range of choices within higher education. Beyond the state run universities where you can study almost anything, you will find both private universities and "fachhochschulen" which are specialized schools within the technology sector generally equivalent to polytechnics in the rest of Europe.
Public universities offer most any course you would find at any large university abroad. The large increase in the number of university students has opened up a debate in Austria regarding the effect on the quality of the provided education. In general however, the public universities hold a very high standard, also in comparison to the international market and Austria is very popular with the international student community.
Private universities in Austria are still quite small with only a small number of students, but steadily growing. Before applying to a private university it can be well worth checking their accreditation status with the Austrian Accreditation Council. Private universities are often strongly based on the American system in degree structure and regulations. As private universities have higher fees, make sure to research the school and its curriculum thoroughly to assess whether it is truly worth the extra money. A final attribute of some private options is that they offer education in English if you do not feel that your German skills are quite up to par.
Fachhochschulen are less focused on research and do not offer doctoral studies. Fachhochschulen are generally more vocationally oriented than traditional universities and mainly offer courses in the areas of business, computer science or engineering. These institutions often have less electives and a stricter curriculum which involve more practical work. They also have selective admission and smaller classes than at the large state run universities. What you should be aware of is that although these schools offer the same degrees as traditional universities (also accepted abroad) they are often shorter and you may need to complete with extra courses if you are aiming for postgraduate or doctoral studies. To check what accredited degree programs are available, consult the Fachhochschulrat. (http://www.fhr.ac.at/)
Before You Leave for Austria
Remember that before you leave for Austria, there are a few things that you will need to think about. If you are an EU national, you only need to plan your trip, since you are free to enter Austria and stay up to three months without a visa or further permission. If you are staying for more than three months, you will need to register with the Austrian Authorities within three months of entering the country. For the registration you will need to fill out a form in addition to a valid passport, proof of a valid health insurance, proof of sufficient financial means and a confirmation of your admission to university.
If you are entering Austria from a non EU country, and intend to stay for more than six months you will need to apply for a residence visa and permit before entering Austria. You do this by contacting the nearest Austrian embassy or consulate, where they will help you with information, and processing your request. As this may take some time, and you need to await the decision in your home country, you should start the application process at least three months before you intend to enter the country. If you are granted a residence permit for your intended period of study, you will be issued with a residence Visa, which you will need in order to collect your residence permit within 6 months of having entered Austria. Should you need to sit an entrance examination in Austria, you apply for a regular visa for your visit, return to your home country and apply for the residence permit from there. The issuing of visas and residence permits come with a fee. Remember that family members accompanying you will also require permits that will cost extra. Contact your nearest Austrian officials for exact prices and regulations.
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Sources:
http://countrystudies.us/austria/77.htm
http://haardt.net/studyinat.htm
http://www.help.gv.at/Content.Node/148/Seite.1480000.html
http://www.oead.ac.at/_English/Austria/index.html
