Cost of Studying in Austria for International Students (2026/27)

Studying in Austria costs a non-EU student roughly €726.72 per semester in tuition at a public university, plus the €26.20 ÖH fee, plus living costs that OeAD estimates at about €1,300 per month on average. Some students pay much less: many public universities waive tuition for citizens of least developed countries such as Afghanistan, and a few institutions charge no tuition at all.

Below is a full budget with real fees from official university pages, the money you must show for your residence permit, and one-off costs that applicants often forget.

Tuition fees at public universities

According to Study in Austria, third-country students holding a Residence Permit – Student generally pay €726.72 per semester at public universities, plus the compulsory student union (ÖH) fee of €26.20 per semester, which includes accident insurance. That is about €1,505.84 for two semesters. Exemptions or refunds exist for certain scholarships, exchange programs and students from specific countries.

Tuition at universities of applied sciences (FH)

Universities of applied sciences are entitled to set their own fees, so they vary widely. These are the non-EU fees stated on official FH pages:

FH JOANNEUM in Graz charges €726.72 per semester, reduced to €363.36 for nationals of least developed countries including Afghanistan.

Tuition-free and low-cost options

• IT:U Linz (Interdisciplinary Transformation University Austria) states it is tuition-free for all nationalities; you pay only the ÖH fee. All teaching is in English.
• UAS Burgenland states there are generally no tuition fees, although only two of its degrees are fully English-taught.
• Public universities for citizens of least developed countries, as listed above.

Tuition at private universities

Private universities set their own fees, which are usually much higher. Examples from official pages: Central European University charges €8,000 per year for bachelor's and €12,000–15,000 per year for master's (master's fee table for 2025/26), Modul University Vienna charges €9,000 per semester for bachelor's, and Webster Vienna Private University charges €24,068 per year for bachelor's. Some private universities, such as CEU, offer merit-based financial aid.

Application fees and deposits

• Most public universities: no fee for regular applications.
• Programs with entrance exams or selection procedures: often €50, for example at the University of Vienna and WU Vienna's English-taught bachelor's.
• FH JOANNEUM: €250 deposit (credited to tuition) plus a €10 processing fee for third-country applicants, with exemptions for nationals of least developed countries.
• Central European University: €30 per application cycle, plus a €500 registration fee to accept an offer (credited to tuition).

Living costs in Austria

OeAD estimates average monthly student living costs at about €1,300, based on the Studierenden-Sozialerhebung 2025. Vienna and larger cities are more expensive.

Housing

Austrian universities do not automatically provide accommodation. Options include student residences (often the cheapest), OeAD student housing (furnished rooms in Vienna, Graz, Salzburg, Innsbruck, Linz, Klagenfurt and Leoben), shared flats (WG) and private rentals. For the residence permit, you need proof of accommodation for at least three months, so start your search as soon as you are admitted.

Money you must show for the residence permit

If your rent is above €386.43 per month, you must show extra funds, and you need money for health insurance. Note that the permit amounts are a legal minimum, not a comfortable budget: OeAD's own living cost estimate is higher than the under-24 amount. Read the Austria student visa guide for how to document your funds.

One-off and recurring official costs

Add sworn translations, flights, a police certificate and your first month's rent and deposit, which vary by country and city.

Sample first-year budget

Using only the official figures above, a non-EU student at a public university paying full tuition would budget roughly: tuition and ÖH fee for two semesters (€1,505.84), plus 12 months at OeAD's €1,300 average (€15,600), plus permit and visa fees (€413). That is about €17,500 before flights, translations, deposits and insurance if your living estimate does not include it. A student from a fee-exempt country would save about €1,453 in tuition.

Health insurance costs explained

You need two kinds of cover. To enter Austria, you need travel health insurance valid in Austria, which OeAD says should cover well over €30,000 including repatriation. For the residence permit, you need cover for all risks. Most degree students choose the ÖGK student self-insurance after arrival and enrolment, at €78.84 per month as of 2026, which is about €946 a year. A private policy is allowed only if it has no waiting periods, cost caps or exclusions and pays for treatment in Austria directly.

ÖGK conditions apply, for example on study duration, income limits and changes of program, and you must send a continuing-enrolment confirmation to ÖGK by 31 December each year.

Costs for PhD candidates

Doctoral study can look very different financially, because some PhD positions in Austria are paid jobs. Examples from official pages:

• IT:U Linz: PhD candidates are employed at €2,832.10 gross, paid 14 times a year, for 30 hours per week.
• WU Vienna (DIBT PhD in International Business Taxation): a limited number of employment contracts of about €2,800 per month, with tuition waived.
• Central European University: doctoral applicants who apply by 15 January 2027 are automatically considered for the CEU Doctoral Scholarship, covering full tuition plus €2,002 gross per month for 48 months.

Most other PhD students at public universities pay the same semester fees as other students unless they are employed by the university or funded by a grant.

Hidden costs and budgeting mistakes

• Paying for documents you cannot use. Check country-specific admission rules before paying for legalisation and translations.
• Ignoring deposits. Some FHs ask for deposits before reviewing your application, such as €350 at UAS Burgenland.
• Forgetting time limits on fee-free study. At IT:U, €600 per semester may be charged after the recommended duration plus two tolerance semesters.
• Budgeting only the permit minimum. The under-24 permit amount (€722.58 per month) is below OeAD's average living cost estimate.
• Leaving housing too late. You need three months of accommodation proof for the permit, and cheaper residences fill up first.

Can you work to cover costs?

With a student permit, you can work up to 20 hours per week once your employer obtains an employment permit from the AMS. Income can help with living costs, but it does not replace the proof of funds you need before you travel. See work and stay in Austria after graduation.

Fees change, so always confirm on the university page before you apply. Track deadlines for free on FindUniPath to see each university's official tuition and dates together, and see all guides on the Austria hub.