Programs & Universities in Austria - Study in Austria

Programs & Universities in Austria

Austria has 22 public universities, 21 Fachhochschulen (universities of applied sciences), 14 private universities, and 6 universities of teacher education (Pädagogische Hochschulen). Unlike the US or UK where prestige concentrates in a handful of institutions, Austria's public universities are broadly excellent, well-funded, and internationally recognized. Choosing the right program and institution type matters enormously for your experience and career. This guide helps you navigate the options.

Types of Higher Education Institutions

Austria has several distinct types of institutions, and understanding the differences is essential:

Public Universities (Universitäten)

Austria's 22 public universities are the backbone of the higher education system. They are research-intensive, government-funded, and charge no tuition for EU/EEA students (EUR 726/semester for non-EU).

Characteristics:

• Strong theoretical and research focus
• Large institutions (University of Vienna has 90,000+ students)
• Open admission for most programs (no limit on places)
• High degree of academic freedom — you design your own schedule
• Doctoral programs available
• Lectures can be large (100-500+ students), seminars smaller

Fachhochschulen (FH) — Universities of Applied Sciences

Austria's 21 FHs offer practice-oriented education with a structured curriculum:

Characteristics:

• Small class sizes (25-50 students)
• Mandatory internships (Berufspraktikum) built into the curriculum
• Fixed timetables and structured study plans
• Competitive admission with limited places (selection includes applications, tests, interviews)
• Strong industry partnerships and high employment rates
• No doctoral programs (you'd transfer to a university for PhD)
• Some FH programs are specifically designed for working professionals (berufsbegleitend)

Private Universities

Austria has 14 accredited private universities, including:

• MODUL University Vienna — tourism, sustainability, governance
• CEU (Central European University) — social sciences, humanities (relocated from Budapest)
• Webster University Vienna — business, media, international relations
• Sigmund Freud University — psychology, psychotherapy, medicine

Private universities charge higher tuition (EUR 5,000-15,000/year) but offer smaller classes and sometimes niche programs not available elsewhere.

Major Public Universities — Detailed Profiles

University of Vienna (Universität Wien)

• Founded: 1365 (oldest university in the German-speaking world)
• Location: Vienna
• Students: 90,000+
• Strengths: Sciences, humanities, law, economics, pharmacy, psychology
• Notable: 15 Nobel laureates associated with the university; Sigmund Freud, Ludwig Boltzmann, and Erwin Schrödinger were connected here
• English programs: Select Master's programs in English, including English and American Studies, Science-Technology-Society, and several international Master's programs
• Admission: Open admission for most Bachelor's programs; some programs (biology, psychology, economics) have aptitude tests

TU Wien (Technische Universität Wien)

• Founded: 1815
• Location: Vienna
• Students: 28,000+
• Strengths: Engineering, computer science, architecture, mathematics, physics, chemistry
• Notable: Strong research output; significant industry partnerships in automotive, energy, and IT sectors
• English programs: Several Master's programs in English, including Computational Intelligence, Logic and Computation, and others in technical fields
• Admission: Open admission for most programs; some competitive Master's programs

University of Graz (Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz)

• Founded: 1585
• Location: Graz
• Students: 30,000+
• Strengths: Natural sciences, humanities, law, social sciences, environmental sciences
• Notable: Four Nobel Prize winners; strong research in physics and chemistry; Graz offers a more affordable student life than Vienna
• English programs: Select Master's programs in English
• Admission: Open admission for most Bachelor's programs

University of Innsbruck (Leopold-Franzens-Universität Innsbruck)

• Founded: 1669
• Location: Innsbruck
• Students: 28,000+
• Strengths: Physics, atmospheric sciences, mountain research, theology, law, sports science
• Notable: Internationally recognized for atmospheric physics and Alpine research; beautiful Alpine campus setting
• English programs: Some Master's programs in English, particularly in sciences and business
• Admission: Open admission for most programs

WU Vienna (Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien)

• Founded: 1898
• Location: Vienna (modern campus designed by Zaha Hadid and other architects)
• Students: 22,000+
• Strengths: Business, economics, finance, business law, information systems
• Notable: Triple-accredited (EQUIS, AACSB, AMBA) — one of fewer than 120 business schools worldwide with this distinction; modern campus opened in 2013
• English programs: Strong English-taught Master's programs including MSc in International Management, MSc in Finance, MSc in Strategy, Innovation, and Management Control
• Admission: Open for Bachelor's; competitive for English-taught Master's programs

BOKU Vienna (Universität für Bodenkultur Wien)

• Founded: 1872
• Location: Vienna
• Students: 12,000+
• Strengths: Natural resources, life sciences, environmental engineering, food science, landscape architecture, biotechnology
• Notable: Austria's leading university for sustainability and environmental sciences; growing international profile
• English programs: Several Master's programs in English related to environmental and life sciences
• Admission: Open admission for most programs

Mozarteum University Salzburg (Universität Mozarteum Salzburg)

• Founded: 1841
• Location: Salzburg
• Students: 1,600+
• Strengths: Music performance, conducting, composition, music education, fine arts, performing arts, stage design
• Notable: One of the world's top music conservatories; named after Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart; located in his birthplace
• Admission: Highly competitive aptitude exams (Zulassungsprüfung) for all programs; musical ability is the primary criterion

TU Graz (Technische Universität Graz)

• Founded: 1811
• Location: Graz
• Students: 16,000+
• Strengths: Engineering, technology, natural sciences, architecture
• Notable: Strong partnerships with the automotive industry (AVL, Magna); collaborative programs with University of Graz (NAWI Graz) and Med Uni Graz
• English programs: Some Master's programs in English, particularly in engineering
• Admission: Open admission for most programs

Other notable universities

The Fachhochschule System

Austria's 21 FHs are a strong alternative to traditional universities, especially for students who value practical skills, structured programs, and strong job placement:

Top Fachhochschulen

Why choose an FH?

• Job placement rates — many FH programs report 90-95% employment within 6 months of graduation
• Mandatory internships — typically 1-2 semesters of practical work experience built into the program
• Industry projects — capstone projects and thesis work often done in partnership with companies
• Small classes — you actually know your professors and classmates
• Structured schedules — less confusion about course selection and progression
• Part-time options — many FHs offer berufsbegleitend (alongside work) programs for working professionals

English-Taught Programs

While German-taught programs dominate at the Bachelor's level, English-taught options are growing rapidly at the Master's level:

Where to find English-taught programs

• WU Vienna — MSc in International Management, Strategy, Finance, and more
• TU Wien — select engineering and computer science Master's programs
• MCI Innsbruck — multiple business and technology programs in English
• FH Technikum Wien — English-taught engineering and IT programs
• CEU Vienna — social sciences, humanities, public policy (all in English)
• MODUL University Vienna — tourism, sustainability (in English)
• FH Joanneum — some design and engineering programs in English
• University of Vienna — select Master's programs

Tips for English-taught programs

• Search oead.at and studienwahl.at to find complete listings
• Master's programs have the widest English selection
• Some nominally "English" programs may have individual courses in German — check the curriculum carefully
• Learning German alongside your English-taught program gives you a major advantage for internships and careers in Austria

How to Search and Compare Programs

Online resources

1. Studienwahl.at — official database of all recognized Austrian higher education programs
2. OeAD (oead.at) — Austrian Agency for Education and Internationalisation; extensive information for international students
3. FH Guide (fachhochschulen.ac.at) — complete listing of all FH programs
4. University websites — for detailed curricula, faculty profiles, and specific admission requirements

What to compare

Create a spreadsheet with:

1. Institution name and type (Uni vs FH)
2. Program name and degree
3. Language of instruction
4. Duration and ECTS credits
5. Admission requirements and process
6. Number of available places (critical for FH programs)
7. Application deadline
8. Internship requirements
9. Location and living costs
10. Graduate employment data

Medicine in Austria — The MedAT

Studying medicine in Austria requires passing the MedAT, a centralized admission test held once per year in July:

• Who takes it: All applicants to the Medical Universities of Vienna, Graz, Innsbruck, and JKU Linz
• Test structure: Scientific knowledge (biology, chemistry, physics, maths), text comprehension, cognitive skills, social-emotional competencies
• Quota system: Approximately 75% of places for Austrian/EU candidates, 20% for EU candidates from other countries, 5% for non-EU candidates
• Competition: Very high — about 16,000 applicants for roughly 1,850 places
• Preparation: Start 6-12 months ahead; preparatory courses and practice materials are available

Next Steps

• Understand admissions — learn exactly how to apply, with deadlines and document checklists
• Budget your costs — plan your finances with a detailed cost breakdown
• Prepare for your visa — know the visa requirements for studying in Austria
• Explore student life — find out what daily life is like in Vienna, Graz, Salzburg, and beyond