Scholarship Foundation of the Republic of Austria - Scholarship of the Scholarship Foundation of the Republic of Austria for Master Studies in the Field of International Relations

Benefit: what you get

This scholarship amounts to EUR 1,050 per month for a period of approximately 10 months, whilst you are studying for a Master’s degree in International Relations at one of two universities in Vienna. It is funded by the Scholarship Foundation of the Republic of Austria and administered by the OeAD, Austria’s Agency for Education and Internationalisation. Tuition fees are not covered, so please budget for these separately. Health insurance is compulsory in Austria and costs around 55–200 euros per month, depending on your age; these costs are covered by the monthly scholarship. Student accommodation in Vienna usually costs 300–800 euros per month. If you come from a country outside the EU, EFTA or the OECD, you may also receive a lump-sum travel allowance in addition to the monthly scholarship.

Eligibility

• Programme and institution: You must already have been offered a place on a Master’s programme in International Relations at either the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna or Central European University (CEU) Vienna.
• Degree level: Master’s degree programmes only – no Bachelor’s or PhD programmes.
• Previous degree: You hold a bachelor’s degree (or an equivalent qualification) obtained outside Austria.
• Historical connection: You are a descendant of a person who was forced to work under the Nazi regime, OR you come from a country that was particularly affected by forced recruitment by the Nazis.
• Age: You are under 35.
• Recent stay in Austria: In the six months prior to the start of the scholarship, you were not studying, conducting research or engaged in academic work in Austria.

How to apply

Please apply online at grants.at by 1 May. Your application must be accompanied by two letters of recommendation and a letter of acceptance from the institution of your choice. If your eligibility for funding is based on the fact that you are a descendant of a forced labourer, you must also enclose a letter of confirmation or a reference number from the relevant Austrian or German reparations fund. Places are allocated through a selection process, so meeting all the requirements does not guarantee that you will receive funding.

How realistic are your chances?

The entry requirements are unusually strict: a non-Austrian bachelor’s degree in accordance with 35, a proven personal or national connection to Nazi forced labour, and an existing offer from one of only two specific institutions. This combination ensures that the pool of applicants remains small and specific. If you clearly meet all these conditions, your prospects are significantly better than for a typical open scholarship.