Austria is one of Europe’s most underrated study destinations and one of the most affordable, with tuition fees among the lowest in the German-speaking world.
Home to the University of Vienna, the oldest university in the German-speaking world, established in 1365 and strong institutions in Graz, Innsbruck, Linz, and Salzburg, Austria offers world-class education particularly in music, arts, natural sciences, engineering, economics, and social sciences.
More practically, Austria’s scholarship programs for international students from developing countries are specific, accessible, and well-funded particularly the OeAD government scholarship which targets students from a wide range of developing nations.
This guide covers every major pathway to studying in Austria for free in 2026.
Why Study in Austria?
Affordable tuition. Austrian public universities charge a semester fee of approximately €363 per semester (~€726/year) for all students one of the lowest in Europe. Even without a scholarship, Austria is significantly cheaper than Germany for international students who do not qualify for tuition waivers.
German-speaking advantage. For students who speak German or want to learn it, Austria provides immersion in one of Europe’s most economically powerful languages with lower living costs than Germany or Switzerland.
Music and arts excellence. Vienna is the world capital of classical music the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna (mdw) and Vienna Conservatory are the most prestigious music institutions in the world.
Science and engineering. Graz University of Technology and Vienna University of Technology are globally recognized in engineering, computer science, and natural sciences.
Quality of life. Vienna consistently ranks among the world’s top 3 cities for quality of life safe, clean, with excellent public transport and healthcare.
Top Scholarships to Study in Austria for Free 2026
1. OeAD Government Scholarship — Austrian Government 🇦🇹
The OeAD (Austrian Exchange Service) Government Scholarship is Austria’s main government scholarship program for students from developing and transition countries funded by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research.
What’s Covered:
- Monthly stipend €1,050 (Master’s and PhD students)
- Monthly stipend €1,200 (postdoctoral researchers)
- Health insurance contribution
- Tuition fees at Austrian public universities (~€726/year) are typically covered or offset by the stipend
Note: OeAD scholarship does not always include a separate tuition waiver, the monthly stipend is designed to cover both living costs and the low Austrian tuition fees.
Eligibility:
- Citizens of eligible countries, check grants.at for current list (includes many Asian, African, and Latin American nations)
- Bachelor’s degree for Master’s applicants, Master’s degree for PhD applicants
- Strong academic record
- German or English proficiency depending on program
- Under 35 years old for most programs
- Research proposal or study plan required
Types of OeAD Scholarships:
- Ernst Mach Grant — for students from specific partner countries for Master’s and short research stays
- Grants for Doctoral Studies — for PhD research at Austrian universities
- Franz Werfel Scholarship — specifically for students from French-speaking and francophone African countries
What OeAD Looks For: Academic excellence and a clear connection between your proposed study and research or development needs in your home country. The research proposal or study plan is the most important document.
Deadline: Varies by program and country typically February–March 2027 for winter semester and September–October 2026 for summer semester
👉 Free Research Proposal Generator — For OeAD research proposals 👉 Free SOP Generator — Personal statement
2. University of Vienna Scholarships 🇦🇹
The University of Vienna, Austria’s largest and most prestigious university offers several scholarships for international students.
University of Vienna Scholarships for Developing Countries:
- Partial tuition waivers for students from developing nations
- Merit scholarships for exceptional academic performance
- Faculty-specific awards across departments
Ernst Mach Grant-ASEA-UNINET: A specific OeAD grant for students from ASEA-UNINET partner institutions in Asia, covers monthly stipend for research stays of 1–9 months at the University of Vienna.
Eligibility:
- International students from partner countries
- Strong academic record
- IELTS 6.5 / TOEFL 90 for English programs, German B2 for German programs
Strongest Programs at University of Vienna: Philosophy, history, law, social sciences, natural sciences, mathematics, computer science, and international development.
3. Graz University of Technology Scholarships 🇦🇹
Graz University of Technology (TU Graz) — Austria’s leading technical university, offers institutional scholarships for exceptional international students in engineering and sciences.
TU Graz Scholarships:
- Partial tuition support
- Research fellowships for PhD students through faculty research grants
Strongest Programs at TU Graz: Computer science, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, civil engineering, architecture, natural sciences, and biomedical engineering.
How to Access: Apply for admission, contact the international office about available scholarships. PhD funding typically comes through supervisor research grants.
4. Vienna University of Economics and Business (WU) Scholarships 🇦🇹
WU Vienna is one of Europe’s largest and most internationally recognized business and economics universities and offers the WU Excellence Scholarship for outstanding international Master’s applicants.
WU Excellence Scholarship:
- Full or partial tuition waiver
- Available for Master’s in Business, Economics, and Law programs
Eligibility:
- Non-EU international students
- Outstanding academic record — top applicants
- GMAT or GRE may be required for some business programs
- IELTS 6.5 / TOEFL 90
Strongest Programs at WU Vienna: International Business, Finance, Economics, Business Law, Social Sciences, and Data Science.
5. Erasmus Mundus Programs at Austrian Universities 🇪🇺
Several Erasmus Mundus programs include Austrian universities as partner institutions, providing the most generous scholarship coverage for study in Austria.
Erasmus Programs With Austrian Partners:
- EMJMD in Computational Logic — TU Wien (Vienna University of Technology) partner
- EMJMD in Pervasive Computing (PERCCOM) — Austrian partner university
- EMJMD in Optics in Science and Technology (OpSciTech) — Austrian partner
- EMJMD in Geospatial Technologies — Austrian partner
What’s Covered:
- Full tuition at all partner universities
- Monthly living allowance €1,400
- Travel and installation allowance €1,000
- Health insurance
Deadline: January–March 2026
👉 Read our Erasmus Mundus Scholarships 2026 Guide
6. University of Music Vienna (mdw) Scholarships 🇦🇹
For music students, the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna (mdw) is the most prestigious music institution in the world and it offers scholarships specifically for exceptional international music students.
mdw Scholarships:
- Performance scholarships for exceptional international music students
- Faculty-specific awards across departments
Programs: Orchestral instruments, piano, voice, conducting, composition, music theory, music education, and arts management.
Eligibility:
- Outstanding performance ability — audition required
- All instruments and voice programs available
- English or German proficiency
How to Apply: Apply for admission with an audition portfolio or live audition. Scholarship consideration is part of the admission process.
7. Salzburg Seminar Scholarships 🇦🇹
The American Austrian Foundation offers scholarships for participation in Salzburg Global Seminar programs, intensive seminars on global policy, health, education, and justice issues held in Salzburg.
What’s Covered:
- Full program fee
- Accommodation and meals
- Some travel support
Eligibility:
- Young professionals and students from developing countries
- Strong leadership and community engagement record
- English proficiency required
Programs: Justice reform, health systems, education policy, technology and society, environment — interdisciplinary focus.
Austrian Universities — Rankings and Strengths
| University | Location | Strongest Fields |
|---|---|---|
| University of Vienna | Vienna | Humanities, Law, Sciences |
| TU Vienna | Vienna | Engineering, CS, Architecture |
| TU Graz | Graz | Engineering, Sciences, Architecture |
| WU Vienna | Vienna | Business, Economics, Law |
| University of Graz | Graz | Social Sciences, Natural Sciences |
| University of Innsbruck | Innsbruck | Law, Sciences, Economics |
| mdw Vienna | Vienna | Music, Performing Arts |
| University of Salzburg | Salzburg | Humanities, Law, Natural Sciences |
How to Apply for OeAD Scholarship — Step by Step
1: Check eligibility at grants.at Confirm your country is eligible and which specific OeAD program applies to your level (Master’s, PhD, or postdoc).
2: Choose your target Austrian university and program Research programs taught in English (many at TU Vienna, WU, and University of Vienna) or prepare German B2 proficiency for German-medium programs.
3: Contact a potential supervisor (PhD applicants) For doctoral scholarships, contact a professor at your target Austrian university. A professor who agrees to supervise your research significantly strengthens your OeAD application.
Step 4: Apply online at grants.at OeAD applications are submitted through the online portal. Required documents:
- Application form
- Academic transcripts and degree certificate
- Research proposal or study plan
- CV
- Two reference letters
- Language proficiency certificate
- Passport copy
Step 5: Submit before deadline Deadlines vary by program and intake — check grants.at for exact dates.
Language Requirements for Austrian Scholarships
| Scholarship/University | English | German |
|---|---|---|
| OeAD | Varies by program | B2 for German programs |
| University of Vienna | IELTS 6.5 | B2 for German programs |
| TU Graz | IELTS 6.5 | — |
| WU Vienna | IELTS 6.5 | — |
| Erasmus Mundus (Austria) | IELTS 6.5 | — |
| mdw Vienna | — | — (audition-based) |
📖 Use our Free IELTS & TOEFL Practice Tests
Free Tools for Your Austrian Scholarship Application
- 📄 Free SOP Generator — Personal statement
- 🔬 Free Research Proposal Generator — For OeAD research proposals
- 💌 Free Motivation Letter Generator — European-standard motivation letter
- 📑 Free CV Builder — Academic CV
- 📜 Free Reference Letter Generator — Academic references
- 📋 Free MOI Certificate Generator — For English-medium graduates
- 📖 Free IELTS & TOEFL Practice
FAQ — Study in Austria Free 2026
Q: Can Pakistani students apply for OeAD scholarships?
Check grants.at for the current eligible countries list, OeAD eligibility varies by program and changes annually. Many South Asian and African countries are included.
Q: Is Austria cheaper than Germany for international students?
Austrian public universities charge ~€363/semester (€726/year) compared to German public universities which are tuition-free. However, living costs in Vienna are slightly higher than in most German cities. With OeAD scholarship (€1,050/month), Austria is very affordable.
Q: Do I need to know German to study in Austria?
Not for English-medium programs, many Master’s programs at TU Vienna, WU, and University of Vienna are in English. German B2 is required for German-medium programs.
Q: What is the Ernst Mach Grant?
An OeAD scholarship specifically for students from certain partner countries, covers monthly stipend for Master’s study or research stays in Austria. Check grants.at for eligible countries.
Q: How competitive are OeAD scholarships?
Moderately competitive, less so than Erasmus Mundus or Chevening. Academic excellence and a strong research proposal are the primary evaluation criteria.