Study in Austria: A Guide for International Students

Studying abroad comes with multiple benefits for your personal and professional development, like experiencing new cultures and perspectives, enhancing your network and improving your language skills. If you are still wondering which European country should be your next study abroad destination, we have the right answer for you: Austria! 

Austria or Österreich or officially the Republic of Austria is a landlocked country located in the Central part of Northern Europe. The country shares borders with the beautiful countries of Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy, Switzerland and Liechtenstein and has a population of nearly 9 million people. The country is a federal republic and is divided into 9 states (Bundesländer) and is located in the heart of the Alps. 

But why is study in Austria the absolute best decision you can make? According to the Legatum Prosperity Index which studied 167 countries around the globe, Austria ranks 4th in safety and security, 22nd in education, 5th in natural environment, 11th in living conditions and 14th in personal freedom.

Plus, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) supports that Austria ranks higher than any other country in Europe in terms of well being. Are you still in doubt to study in Austria?

Austria is considered a world-class tourism destination, thanks to its astonishing skiing landscapes of the Central Eastern Alps, dazzling mountains for summer hiking and breath-taking lakes. The Austrian Alps extend to the countries of Switzerland, Italy, Liechtenstein and Slovenia and lie within Hohe Tauern, one of Europe’s largest national parks. 

Austria offers countless sport opportunities, so if you are a sports fan as well, even better! The most popular national sports include football, alpine skiing, swimming, ice-hockey, mountain biking and cycling.

Once considered the capital of Europe, the Austro-Hungarian Empire was a strong power from 1867 until its collapse after World War I. Throughout the 19th century, the capital city of Vienna was the center of arts, music and culture and it is still known as the world's capital of classical music.

The Austrian music legacy is still alive thanks to the famous composers Mozart, Wagner, Strauss and Schubert. It is also the home country of the philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein, female ruler Maria Theresia and the famous actor Arnold Schwarzenegger. 

More than 60.000 international students (which count 26% of the country’s student population) have already chosen to study abroad in Austria, charmed by the art, culture, intellectual history, unique architecture and magical memorable landscapes. Read through our Study in Austria Guide to find out more now!

Austria - Quick facts & figures

More about studying abroad in Austria

But why study in Austria is the best choice you can make for your academic education? Austria combines a long academic tradition based on open-minded atmosphere, creativity and innovation.

Overall, Austria offers six types of higher education institutions: 22 public universities, including 6 Universities of the Arts, 3 Medical Universities and 3 Technical Universities, 16 private universities, 21 universities of Applied Sciences (Fachhochschulen) and 14 University Colleges of Teacher Education (Pädagogische Hochschulen). As you can see, the study choices are endless!

Plus, studies in Austria are quite affordable, especially if you are a European national, where you can study almost for free. Austria has some of the best universities in the world ranking high in the global university rankings like the University of Vienna (the oldest and most famous university of the country), the Vienna University of Technology, Innsbruck University, University of Graz, University of Salzburg or Johannes Kepler University Linz, to name a few. 

For the majority of the study programs you need to know the German language. However, don’t be discouraged! Another reason answering why study in Austria is a great option is that the country offers multiple English-taught programs, especially on a postgraduate level and that you can take courses in German language as well while studying!

The content of this country guide has been developed in partnership by OeAD.

About OeAD

OeAD is Austria’s leading non-profit-making service organisation in the field of international cooperation in education and research. The activities of the OeAD embrace general, academic and vocational education with – historically grown – specific focus on academic mobility.