Study in Austria: A Guide for International Students

Studying abroad has multiple benefits for personal and professional development, such as experiencing new cultures and perspectives, enhancing your network, and improving your language skills.

If you're still wondering which European country your following study abroad destination should be, we have a great suggestion: Austria!

Austria (Österreich), officially the Republic of Austria, is a landlocked country in Central Europe with a population of nearly 9 million. It shares borders with:

• Germany
• The Czech Republic
• Slovakia
• Hungary
• Slovenia
• Italy
• Switzerland
• Liechtenstein

The country is a federal republic divided into 9 states (Bundesländer) and lies in the heart of the Alps.

Why study in Austria?

Austria combines world-class education with a rich cultural heritage, stunning landscapes, and excellent living standards.

According to the Legatum Prosperity Index, which studied 167 countries around the globe, Austria ranks:

• 4th in safety and security
• 22nd in education
• 5th in natural environment
• 11th in living conditions
• 14th in personal freedom

Plus, according to the OECD, Austria ranks higher than any other country in Europe in terms of well-being.

Austria is also considered a world-class tourism destination, thanks to its astonishing skiing landscapes in the Central Eastern Alps, dazzling mountains for summer hiking, and breathtaking lakes.

On top of that, you'll be stepping into a cultural powerhouse. Vienna, once considered the capital of Europe, remains the world's center for classical music. It's home to legendary composers Mozart, Wagner, Strauss, and Schubert.

💡 More than 60.000 international students (26% of the country's student population) have already chosen to study abroad in Austria, charmed by the art, culture, unique architecture, and magical, memorable landscapes.

Austria - Quick facts & figures

More about studying abroad in Austria

But why is studying in Austria the best choice for your academic education? Austria combines a long academic tradition with an open-minded atmosphere, creativity, and innovation.

Overall, Austria offers a variety of higher education institutions:

• 22 public universities, including 6 Universities of the Arts, 3 Medical Universities, and 3 Technical Universities
• 16 private universities
• 21 universities of Applied Sciences (Fachhochschulen)
• 14 University Colleges of Teacher Education (Pädagogische Hochschulen)

As you can see, the study choices are endless!

Plus, studies in Austria are quite affordable, especially if you're a European national, where you can study almost for free. It's quite a deal, considering Austria has some of the best universities in the world. Some of these universities include:

• University of Vienna (the oldest and most famous university in the country)
• Vienna University of Technology
• Innsbruck University
• University of Graz
• University of Salzburg
• Johannes Kepler University Linz

For most study programs, you need to know the German language. However, don't be discouraged! Another reason to study in Austria is that the country offers multiple English-taught programs, especially on a postgraduate level, and you can take courses in German as well while studying!

The content of this country guide has been developed in partnership by OeAD.

About OeAD

OeAD is Austria’s leading non-profit-making service organisation in the field of international cooperation in education and research. The activities of the OeAD embrace general, academic and vocational education with – historically grown – specific focus on academic mobility.