Austria 2023/24 - student fees and grants

National student fee

Good news if you are heading to a public university in Austria: home students pay no tuition as long as they finish within the prescribed length of study plus two extra semesters. The same applies to international students who have the same rights as Austrians under treaties or national law, for example recognised refugees, and citizens of the least developed countries on the OECD list don't pay tuition at all. If you study longer or collect too few ECTS credits, you have to pay, which in 2023/24 meant EUR 363.36 per semester.

Universities of applied sciences (UAS) may charge degree students, including home students, up to EUR 363.36 per semester, although not all of them do, and students from outside the EU/EEA may be asked for cost-covering fees there. Fees are the same in the bachelor's and master's cycle and don't depend on the field of study. Public universities grant need-based waivers and reductions, while UAS don't. In 2023/24 about a third of students (34%) paid fees: 24% at universities, 85% at UAS and 11% at university colleges of teacher education.

Student grants

Austria has need-based and merit-based grants for full-time students in the bachelor's and master's cycle. International students can get them if they hold a long-term EU residence permit or are family members of an EU migrant worker or an Austrian citizen. Grants are paid for 12 months a year, and the age limits are 33/38 years.

The minimum and maximum amounts are set by law and, since an amendment to the student support act, are adjusted for inflation every year on 1 September (by 5.8% in September 2023). In 2023/24 the need-based grant ranged from EUR 60 to EUR 11,724 a year, with EUR 7,511 as the most common amount. Merit-based grants ranged from EUR 750 to EUR 1,500 a year (most common EUR 1,125).

Loans

There are no publicly subsidised student loans.

Tax benefit for student's parents

Parents can get tax benefits for a student child up to the age limit of 24/25 years. Students who have their own income can also benefit from tax relief.

Family allowances

Parents receive family allowances for students up to the age of 24/25. Students can also benefit from orphan's pensions, health and accident insurance and subsidies for the Austrian National Student Union (ÖH).