Province of Lower Austria - "Windhag college foundation" for the Province of Lower Austria

What you get

You will receive one-off payment of 1,000 EUR per school or academic year. This is not a monthly grant. You submit an application once a year, and if it is approved, you will receive the amount in a single bank transfer. The amount is determined each year by the Executive Board; there is therefore no fixed legal entitlement to it. The money comes from the Windhag Scholarship Foundation for Lower Austria, a charitable foundation run by the Lower Austrian provincial government. It supports talented school pupils and students in financial need.

Who can apply

• Level: You are a pupil or student at an Austrian state school (or a state-recognised school). This includes secondary schools leading to the Matura, universities and private higher education institutions, universities of applied sciences, teacher training colleges, the University of Agricultural and Environmental Education, and conservatoires.
• Financial need: You are unable to cover the costs of your training yourself and can provide evidence of financial hardship.
• Grades: You have achieved good results at school or university.
• Field of study: All subjects qualify.
• Nationality: You hold Austrian citizenship.
• Where you are from: Your main place of residence is in Lower Austria. Alternatively, you were born in (South) Tyrol or live in the 1070 district of Vienna.

How to apply

Applications must be submitted online via the Lower Austrian Provincial Government’s e-government form. There are separate forms for school pupils and university students. The application period runs until 15 May each year. For the 2026/27 academic year, it begins on 15 September 2026. Funding for 2026 has already been exhausted, so the next opportunity to apply is expected to be from January 2027.

How realistic are your chances?

This grant is very restrictive. You must be an Austrian citizen with roots in Lower Austria (or the other places mentioned), demonstrate a genuine financial need and have good academic results. The pool of eligible applicants is therefore small. The foundation awards approximately 24 to 25 of these scholarships each year, and funds may run out, as was already the case in 2026. If you clearly meet the eligibility criteria, can demonstrate your financial need and apply early in the next award round, your chances are good.