Financing your studies in Austria: General overview and country-specific information

The Austrian University system has undergone several decades of reform that has made it one of the most open and equal systems in Europe. Students leaving secondary schools are free to enter any program or course they wish – although there have been some restrictions recently imposed on a few high-demand programs.

Studying in Austria is not just attractive because of its reformed and open education system, but also because fees are low. So, many students attend courses out of personal interest rather than just to obtain a degree. Indeed, students who do complete a degree in a timely fashion pay no fees, so for many students university tuition is in fact free.

Only one in eight secondary school graduates with good grades apply for scholarships. This is because many have misconceptions about getting funding. Here are some of the common misconceptions.