University of Vienna (Vienna/Austria) - Merit scholarship for law students

Merit scholarship for law students

As a law student at the University of Vienna, you will receive a one-off cash reward for outstanding exam results. The exact amount is not disclosed. The university pays out the returns from a special fund for law students, with the payment divided into different tiers depending on your grade point average. How much you receive depends on how many people apply and the size of the fund’s balance for that year. The payment is made once a year and is based on your academic performance in the previous calendar year. You can apply for this grant in addition to any other scholarships you are already receiving.

Who can apply

• Course: You are currently studying for a Diplom degree in Law, or a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in International Law at the University of Vienna. You may also apply if you have completed one of these degree programmes in the relevant year.
• Credits: You have passed at least 40 ECTS worth of graded examinations within a calendar year (from 1 January to 31 December). All graded results count, including optional modules and examinations that were not passed. Results marked ‘pass/fail’ and resits do not count.
• Grades: Your weighted average mark is 2.50 or higher on the Austrian grading scale, where 1 is the highest mark.
• Study length: No limit. We don’t check how long you’ve been studying.
• Nationality: Any nationality can apply.

How to apply

Applications are made online via the university’s u:space portal. First, save your bank details (IBAN and BIC) there. The application window is short: for the graduating year 2025, it closed on 21 May. The next round begins in the summer term of 2027 for the graduation year 2026. There is no interview. The ranking is determined automatically based on your grade point average.

How realistic are your chances?

This programme is open exclusively to law students from Vienna who meet the minimum requirements of 40 credit points and a grade point average of 2.50; the pool of participants is therefore limited to a specific group of high-achieving students. If you meet these minimum requirements, your grades will determine the outcome – not essays or letters of motivation. There is no legal entitlement to the money, and the amount paid out depends on the annual budget. Think of it more as a welcome bonus for good academic performance rather than a reliable source of income.