How to Apply to Universities in Austria (2027/28 Step-by-Step Guide)

To apply to a university in Austria, you choose a program, check its entry requirements, then submit an application directly to that university within its deadline for non-EU applicants. There is no central portal like UCAS or uni-assist. After you receive your notification of admission, you apply for the Residence Permit – Student at the Austrian embassy.

The tricky part is timing. Many universities set non-EU windows that close months before the general deadlines, and some programs have once-a-year selection procedures. This guide shows real windows from official university pages, with the academic year for every date.

How the Austrian application system works

According to Study in Austria, admission is organised by each institution. You apply to the university, university of applied sciences (FH) or college itself. The general university closing dates are 5 September for the winter semester and 5 February for the summer semester, but many universities set earlier periods for non-EU applicants.

• Public universities usually have an online application system (for example TISS at TU Wien, TUGRAZonline at TU Graz, LFU:online at Innsbruck). Some still require paper documents: BOKU accepts non-EU applications only by post or in person.
• Programs with selection procedures (many English-taught master's, and bachelor's programs such as business, computer science or psychology) run once a year, often in spring for the following October.
• Universities of applied sciences have fixed study places and their own application periods, often with an interview.
• Private universities run their own rounds and charge application fees, for example €30 per cycle at Central European University.

Step-by-step: from program choice to enrolment

1. 1

   Shortlist English-taught programs (12–18 months before)

   Use studienwahl.at and university program pages. See our English-taught programs in Austria guide.

2. 2

   Check entry and country-specific requirements (12–15 months before)

   Confirm your certificate qualifies. Some universities have rules for specific countries. See Austria university admission requirements.

3. 3

   Prepare language proof

   Each university sets its own English requirement, usually B2 or C1, and certificates are often accepted only if they are no more than two years old.

4. 4

   Legalise and translate documents (start 9–12 months before)

   Legalisation can take several months. Translate after legalisation. See our documents and legalisation guide.

5. 5

   Submit your application in the non-EU window

   Apply online and, where required, send legalised documents by post so they arrive before the deadline.

6. 6

   Receive your notification of admission

   The university issues a Zulassungsbescheid. If an entrance exam is still pending, you may get a conditional notification that can be used for the residence permit application.

7. 7

   Apply for the Residence Permit – Student

   Submit in person at the Austrian embassy responsible for your residence, ideally six months and at least three months before travel. See the Austria student visa guide.

8. 8

   Enrol in person after arrival

   Enrol within the university's admission period and pay the fees. For example, TU Wien's admission period for winter semester 2026/27 runs until 31 October 2026.

Non-EU application windows at Austrian universities

The table below shows windows for non-EU applicants as published on official university pages. Where a page states a recurring yearly window without printing the year, we say so. Where 2027/28 dates are not published, we show last year's dates, clearly labelled.

Earlier deadlines for applicants from South Asia, Africa and the Middle East

Some universities of applied sciences restrict applicants from certain regions to the first application period, because document checks and visas take longer.

• FH JOANNEUM (Graz): for winter semester 2027/28 master's, the first period ends 25 January 2027 and is the only period open to applicants from Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Iran and Nigeria, according to its application deadlines page.
• CU Carinthia (Villach): for winter semester 2027, Application Period 1 runs from 1 November 2026 to 15 March 2027 and is the only period open to applicants from Asia, Africa and the Middle East, with complete legalised documents.
• University of Applied Sciences Burgenland: online registration for 2027/28 opens 3 November 2026; third-country applicants who need a visa must apply by 15 March 2027 and pay a €350 deposit before review.
• TU Graz: applicants educated in Bangladesh, India or Pakistan must first complete a paid VFS Global competence check (not required for Afghanistan).

Documents you usually submit

Exact lists vary by institution, but TU Wien's admission page gives a typical set for an international school-leaving certificate. For master's programs, you replace the school certificate with your bachelor's degree certificate and transcripts.

• Passport copy
• Secondary school-leaving certificate, legalised, with an official translation if not in German or English
• Proof of a national university entrance examination, where your home country has one
• Transcripts of any previous university studies
• Language certificate (English for English-taught programs)
• For master's: a relevant bachelor's of at least 180 ECTS; some programs also ask for a motivation letter or CV

Originals may need to be shown at enrolment, so bring them to Austria.

Application fees

Most public universities do not charge a fee for a regular application. JKU Linz states that there is no fee to submit an application for admission. Programs with a selection procedure often charge €50, for example at the University of Vienna, WU's English-taught bachelor's and several University of Klagenfurt programs (2026/27). FH JOANNEUM asks third-country applicants for a €250 deposit plus a €10 processing fee, with exemptions including nationals of least developed countries such as Afghanistan.

Winter or summer semester: which intake should you choose?

Many Austrian programs accept students in both the winter semester (from 1 October) and the summer semester (from 1 March). Programs with selection procedures usually start only in winter. Non-EU windows for the summer semester tend to fall between September and January, so if you have just missed a winter deadline, a March start can save you a year. Check that your program's courses can be started in summer, and remember the residence permit still needs at least three months.

Mistakes to avoid

• Using the EU deadline. Always find the third-country window on the university's own page.
• Applying through agents. JKU Linz states that applications via agencies are unlawful and are not processed. Apply personally.
• Sending unlegalised documents. Several universities only process complete applications with legalised documents.
• Applying to too many programs at once. TU Wien allows a maximum of two applications per person.
• Starting the visa too late. OeAD advises submitting your residence permit application six months before travel if possible.

Applying from Afghanistan

Check country-specific rules before you pay for anything. The University of Vienna does not accept an Afghan 12th-grade certificate alone for bachelor's admission, or an Afghan bachelor's alone for master's admission, and the University of Klagenfurt's bachelor's admission page states that Afghan school certificates are not accepted. On the positive side, many public universities waive tuition for Afghan citizens. To keep all of these windows in one place, track deadlines for free on FindUniPath or visit the Austria hub.