Academy of Fine Arts Vienna - Support Fund

Benefit

You will receive a one-off grant to cover your living costs whilst studying at Academy of Fine Arts Vienna. The amount of the grant is not fixed. The money comes from the proceeds of the Academy’s annual art auction, and the Vice-Rectorate for Art and Teaching determines each year how much will be paid out. The fund supports students from countries outside Europe who have encountered financial difficulties, so that they do not have to drop out of their studies for financial reasons.

Eligibility

• University: You are enrolled on a diploma, Bachelor’s or Master’s degree programme at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna.
• Nationality: You are a national of a non-European country, or you are stateless, a recognised refugee or a beneficiary of subsidiary protection. You are not eligible to apply if you are a national of the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland or the United Kingdom, if you are an exchange student, or if you hold dual nationality with one of these countries.
• Financial need: You can prove that you need the money. You can do this by providing your bank statements for the last three months and a letter of recommendation from a teacher at the academy.
• Field of study: Every subject taught at the Academy.

How to apply

You apply once a year, from mid-March to 15 April. Applications go only through the Academy's online portal, which you register for with your student e-mail address. You can apply for the 2nd Year Scholarship at the same time, but you can only receive one of the two.

How realistic are your chances?

The eligibility criteria are strictly defined: you must be studying at this particular academy, come from a country outside Europe, and provide evidence of genuine financial hardship. As a result, the number of eligible applicants remains small. If you clearly meet these criteria and submit a complete application, including bank statements and a letter of recommendation from a teacher, your chances are quite good. The amount awarded depends on how much is raised at the annual auction; you should therefore apply early and by the deadline.