Leopold Figl Foundation - Grants of the Leopold Figl Foundation

What the Leopold Figl grants give you

You will receive a one-off grant to support your education. The Foundation’s Board determines the amount of the grant on a case-by-case basis and does not publish this in advance. In the past, the grants have been modest, amounting to a few hundred euros in each instance. The funds come from the Leopold Figl Support Association in Lower Austria, which is financed by the annual proceeds from the Lower Austrian Farmers’ Association Ball. There are five different funding categories, so you should apply for the one that best suits your situation:

• Vocational upper school (BHS): for pupils at a higher vocational school or an agricultural and forestry school.
• Agricultural technical school (LFS): for pupils from the 10th school year (2th year) onwards.
• Master's or diploma thesis bonus: financial support when you start your final-year dissertation at university.
• Study-start bonus: for Bachelor’s students in the 3th semester.
• Master craftsman grant: for master craftsmen in the agriculture and forestry sectors who have completed their training with distinction.

Who can apply

• Where you live: Your main residence is in Lower Austria. A second home there also counts towards the signing-up bonus.
• Level: You are a pupil at a vocational, agricultural or forestry school; a Bachelor’s student in the 3th semester; a student who is just starting their Master’s or diploma thesis; or a qualified agricultural or forestry master craftsman.
• Field of study: Any university subject is permitted. The ‘School’ and ‘Skills’ training programmes are intended for vocational training as well as training in agriculture and forestry.
• Grades: A minimum grade point average is required for school-based training programmes. For the BHS: max. 1.5 (or 2.0 if you receive a school or boarding grant). For the LFS: max. 1.0 (or 1.5 if you receive a grant). To qualify for the study start bonus, you must achieve at least 30 ECTS credits in the first year and have a grade point average of no more than 2.0.
• Age: To enrol in the vocational stream of the upper secondary school, you must be at least 16 on the cut-off date.
• No double funding: For the school-based support schemes, you may not receive any other scholarship in the same academic year and may have received a Figl scholarship no more than once previously.
• Religion: You are welcome to apply regardless of your religious affiliation.

How to apply

Apply online using the form for your degree programme on the Foundation’s website. The application deadline is 31 December 2026. There will be no interview. The committee will make its decision solely on the basis of the documents you have submitted, and you have no legal entitlement to a scholarship.

How realistic are your chances?

This funding is strictly limited to Lower Austria and to specific school, university and vocational training situations, meaning that the pool of eligible applicants is limited. If you live in Lower Austria, clearly meet the grade or final project criteria for your degree programme and submit a complete set of documents, your prospects are good. The annual budget depends on the revenue from the ball, and the grant amounts are modest; you should therefore regard the grant as a helpful top-up rather than full funding.