Study guide in Austria
Austria is one of the countries that may be an ideal destination for you to study, as it is located in central Europe and has at least 70 high-quality universities and more than 350,000 students, 25% of whom are international students.
Here are some of the reasons why so many students around the world make Austria the first choice.
Why would you choose Austria as a study destination?
Austria is an excellent location geographically
Its presence in Central Europe made it easy to move between it and the surrounding countries, as it shares borders with 8 other countries, and whether it is by plane, trains or even buses, if your budget is limited, it will be interesting to take advantage of this opportunity in tourism during holidays.
It is one of the best countries in the world for the quality of life
In 2019 Vienna ranked the capital of Austria as the best city for quality of life for the tenth year in a row! According to many criteria such as general climate, school quality, very low crime rate, health insurance, etc.
Academic degrees in Austria are internationally recognized
Many universities in Austria are highly ranked in the world university rankings, which guarantees you excellent education quality and the chance to get better jobs after completing your studies.
The study cost is low
Despite the high quality of education, Austria is known for its financial support for higher education to facilitate its provision to those who deserve it, as the cost of education there is one of the least expensive countries, and you also have the opportunity to apply for scholarships to reduce the financial burden on you, and if you are from one of the European Union countries, you do not have any Absolute cost as long as you finish your studies within the period specified for you.
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The language of study There is one of the easiest languagesto learn
The official language in Austria is German as well as the primary language of study in universities. You will also find some programs taught in English, whether your studies are in German or English, that will be one of the features that will make it easier for you to study there. Many institutions in Austria offer German language improvement courses for international students. You can learn more about them here .
Tuition costs in Austria
The cost will vary based on more than one factor, including the country you come from and the type of university you will be applying to: is it private or public; Private universities and institutes have a much higher tuition cost than the public.
Austrian students and students of European Union countries will not have to pay any expenses as long as they finish their studies within the period specified for them or in the two additional periods after that period, and if they do not finish their studies in that period, they will have to pay fees estimated at about 363.36 euros for each semester.
International students will have to pay an estimated fee of 726.72 euros per semester in public universities and institutes. Both the European Union and international students must pay a student union membership fee of 18 euros per semester.
Universities of applied sciences have their own fees that are different from the rest, so contact the university to find out more.
The cost of living in Austria
Although Austria is one of the richest countries in the world, the cost of life is lower than many other European countries, and many places such as shops, restaurants, cinemas and museums provide discounts and special offers if you show them the card that proves that you are a student. Here’s the average cost for some basics like food, transportation, and entertainment:
| Good or service | Monthly cost (in EUR) |
| A cup of coffee or tea | 3 |
| sandwich | 3.50 |
| A liter of milk | 1.11 |
| A meal in the students’ restaurant | 10 |
| Metro ticket | 2.2 |
| Monthly transportation subscription | 48.5 |
| Cinema entrance ticket | 9 |
| Museum entrance ticket | 8 |
| Monthly internet bill | 31.9 |
| Average monthly cost | 950 euros |
What are the conditions for studying in Austria?
- You have a residence permit in Austria.
- You have a high school diploma.
- That you have been accepted at the university you want to join.
- You have specified the course you want to study.
- You hold a certificate proving your proficiency in the German language.
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What are the conditions for obtaining an entry visa to Austria?
- You have a valid passport.
- That you have been accepted at the university you want to join.
- To have proof of your financial ability to live in Austria within the period specified for you. This is the required monthly value for 2020:
- For students under 24 years old : 533.85 EUR per month.
- For students older than 24 years : 966.65 EUR per month.
- Your proof of having a place to stay in Austria, such as a rental contract or booking a room in a hotel or student housing
- Proof of health insurance availability, you can learn more about it here .
Are there scholarships for Austria?
The Austrian Agency for International Cooperation in Education and Research, or OeAD, is the largest funder of grants to Austria. It offers many grants and facilitates student residency through their housing office. However, the scholarship will not cover a complete study program such as a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate, as well as the rest of the scholarships in Austria, as it covers only a specific period of your studies and provides support in the form of monthly funding.
The form of financial support that you will find in grants to Austria varies depending on the country you come from and the academic stage you have reached. You can find here most of the scholarships that are offered in Austria.
Housing for students in Austria
Contrary to the norm in most countries, Austria does not offer university housing for students. They have to choose between housing in private apartments or dormitories.
- OeAD or the housing office of the Austrian Agency for International Cooperation in Education and Research provides accommodation for about 12 thousand students annually in several cities in Austria, the primary objective of the office is to provide comfortable housing for students with an average cost.
- If you choose to live in private apartments, the common choice among students is to share an apartment together so that each of them has a private room, but they share a kitchen and bathroom, and the monthly rental cost is divided among them as well, which will make it less for each of them if he will live in the apartment alone. The cost of rent varies from one region to another, but it will range between 250 and 450 euros per month, and do not forget that housing in private apartments will add to you expenses such as gas and electricity bills and so on.
- Student dormitories provide you with multiple types of housing, in which you will find private rooms or rooms shared between two, three or more students, each room has its own bathroom, but the kitchen is shared between the rooms, and in general the cost of accommodation in it will be lower than private apartments, which makes it always popular Large, on the website of your university’s student union in Austria you will find more information about it.
Can students work while studying?
For international students, they need to obtain a work permit in order to be able to apply for a job while studying, and that permit is obtained from the employer before starting it. The permit allows you to work part-time only while studying and working holidays for a maximum of 3 months. Consequently, working in Austria will not guarantee that you will cover your monthly expenses during the period of your stay, so you have to provide enough money before deciding to study there.
What are the most popular leisure activities in Austria?
- Austria is full of stunning natural landscapes, so you can visit the third largest lake in Europe, which is Lake Constance, the Alps, and other landscapes that vary from season to season.
- There are many museums that show you the history and cultures of Austria in wonderful art forms, such as the Natural History Museum, the Museum of Modern Art and the Museum of Fine Arts.
- You can join teams that practice your favorite sport, Austria has a large number of sporting activities such as football, basketball, hockey, mountain climbing and others, and you will find your university organizes many sporting events that will help you make new friends and expand your circle of acquaintances.
Is Austria safe? What about the health system?
Austria is one of the safest places to travel to, as it is ranked third in the safety ranking of countries around the world. Scams, robberies and murders are almost rare out there, but you still need to be careful from time to time to protect yourself and your property.
Austria is considered one of the best countries in the world in terms of health insurance for its citizens, as about 99% of its citizens have insurance. For international students in Austria, health insurance will be compulsory for them, so if you will stay there for longer than 6 months, you will be considered a resident and therefore you will have to pay a fee to cover health insurance in the local center of the city in which you are staying.
What are the challenges that international students face in Austria?
- Language : Although the German language is one of the most easy languages to learn, students take some time to get used to dealing with it in the society around them, which poses difficulty in mixing and integrating in the beginning, so it will be useful for you to master the language as much as possible before you travel. .
- Civilization shock : International students find it difficult to accept some of the cultures and customs that exist in European countries in general, due to their difference from their home country and the difference in clothing, food, religious ceremonies, etc., so you must read and know about Austria well before traveling to know the community that you will try to communicate with.
- Financial burden : The restrictions of working as a student in Austria make it difficult to cover the cost of living there because the work you are allowed will be part-time and low-wage, so you have to plan your budget and try to save as much as possible.
- Housing : The lack of university housing in Austria raises the cost of housing for you, especially in major cities such as Vienna, where you will find the cost of housing is higher than others, so look for accommodation that is suitable for your budget as possible.
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