University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna (Vienna/Austria) - Support scholarship

Support scholarship (Förderungsstipendium) of the mdw

You will receive a one-off grant of 750 EUR to 3,600 EUR per academic year to fund a specific academic or artistic project. The amount will be paid as a lump sum once your application has been approved. It is intended to cover the additional costs actually incurred in connection with your work. The University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna (mdw) awards this grant for ambitious projects such as artistic or academic diploma and Master’s theses, stays abroad as part of a doctoral thesis or an international conference, film and musical theatre productions, and composition projects. It covers travel and accommodation costs (including conference fees), the hire or rental of any specialist equipment required, service charges, and research expenses such as books, journals and archive material. Funding is not available for items of equipment that you retain (laptops, cameras, instruments), office supplies or the production of CDs.

Who can apply

• University: You are enrolled on a standard degree programme at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna (mdw).
• Field of study: Open to all degree programmes at the university.
• Study progress: How far you must be depends on your degree. Bachelor or diploma students: after the 2nd semester and at least 50 ECTS credits. Master's students: after at least 30 ECTS. Doctoral students: after passing the required subject exam.
• Project not finished: The project for which you wish to apply for funding must still be ongoing at the time of application and must not yet have been completed.
• Nationality: You are an Austrian citizen or are treated as such under Austrian law. This includes EEA nationals, Swiss nationals and British nationals who were living in the EU before 1 January 2021, as well as certain non-EU nationals and refugees with valid residence status in Austria.
• Expert reference: A university lecturer confirms that your costs are reasonable and that your results to date indicate that you are likely to complete the project with above-average success.

How to apply

You must apply online using the form on the Director of Studies’ Office website by 30 October 2026. You must submit a project description, a breakdown of costs, a funding plan, a current certificate of residence (ZMR extract) and the expert report. You may submit any missing attachments by email by 15 November 2026.

How realistic are your chances?

This grant is tied to a specific university and requires a detailed project proposal, including a breakdown of costs, as well as a letter of recommendation from a lecturer; as a result, the pool of eligible applicants is small and the field is manageable. The amount of the grant depends on how much your project actually costs, and your academic performance also plays a role. If you clearly meet the academic progress requirements, submit a well-planned project and apply on time with a complete set of documents, your chances are good. Applicants who have previously received this scholarship may be ranked lower.