Financing Options for Austrians

By jibin123 July 31, 2021 Schools 0 Comments

Students from Austria can also fall back on a wide range of financial aid for a semester abroad or a full study abroad. For Austrian students who plan to study worldwide as a freemover, there is both state support and institutional research funding. It is also worthwhile for Austrians to find out more about the various scholarship and funding options in Austria.

State subsidies as financing options for Austrians

Researching the various government grants and funding options for Austrians early on can bring a lot of financial support. The Austrian state supports students with study grants or a mobility grant.

Study grant

If you have a student entitled to student aid and wants to spend a semester abroad or year abroad is an option in addition to the domestic aid a grant to study abroad (BAS) to get. In addition, those eligible for funding are entitled to travel allowances and language courses.

Mobility grant

If you are aiming for a complete study abroad, there are only a few full scholarships from Austria. If the target country of the exchange is in the EEA or Switzerland, you can apply for a mobility grant.

For funding through a mobility grant, the planned bachelor’s or master’s degree must be completed without interruption at a university, technical college or university of teacher education, in Switzerland or an EEA country. In addition, the following criteria must be met in order to apply for a mobility grant:

The study abroad was started before the age of 30.
The university entrance qualification was obtained in Austria.
In the five years prior to receiving the mobility grant, the place of residence and center of life must have been in Austria without interruption.
The students have not previously completed any studies at a university or another university in Austria specified in accordance with (§ 3 StudFG).
The applicant may not receive any further loans or grants at the time of the application.
Proof of successful study abroad.

The amount of the benefits in the mobility grant is calculated by the study grant authority based on the social need of the applicant. Among other things, the financial and income situation of the parents and the additional income of the student are taken into account.

When planning a study abroad with a mobility scholarship, it should be noted that the first payment of the scholarship is made retrospectively after submitting at least 15 ECTS points. The mobility grant will then be paid out monthly if an annual proof of success of at least 30 ECTS points is available for the course.

Find research funding through the OeAD

In contrast to the DAAD, which is supported as an association by the German universities and student bodies, the OeAD-GmbH is an agency for international mobility and cooperation.

The OeAD itself does not award scholarships, but advises and supports people of all ages and educational levels on European and international mobility and cooperation programs in education, science and research. The OeAD provides information on the well-known mobility programs of the EU: Erasmus +, CEEPUS (Central European Exchange Program for University Studies) and Joint Study agreements, which are handled by the universities.

In cooperation with the Federal Ministry for Science, Research and Economy (BMWFW), the OeAD mainly offers Austrian students an overview of all state-wide grants and grants on the Austrian database for grants and research grants. There you will find all the information from traditional scholarships and grants to comprehensive national, European and international research funding programs.

Further financing options for Austrians: Talent advancement organizations and foundations

There is no extensive foundation system of political parties, churches and social partners in the field of study and doctoral studies as in Germany. Nevertheless, there are special scholarships for above-average students with outstanding achievements. In addition, the federal states and foundations are also committed to providing funding opportunities for Austrians.

State scholarships

The federal states in particular support local students with studying abroad, with grants and partial scholarships. In particular, the socially needy students should be encouraged.

Foreign scholarship from the Province of Burgenland

Subsidies for semester or annual scholarships. Target group are undergraduates and graduates (funding: 600 euros per semester)

Excellence scholarships from IV Carinthia

Subsidies for semester or annual scholarships (min. 6 months). The target group are graduates.

Scholarships for academic and university training measures and other study grants – State of Tyrol

Grants for semester or annual scholarships as well as a full study abroad. The target group are undergraduates, graduates and postdocs. Special feature: Socially needy students or young students who do not receive sufficient study grants are eligible for funding.

Voralberg scholarship to support study and research stays abroad

Subsidies for semester scholarships (min. 1 to max. 4 months). The target group are undergraduates, graduates and postdocs (amount of the individual grant: up to 300 euros per month).

State grant from Dr. Otto Ender Study Foundation (Voralberg)

Grants for semester or annual grants (the amount of the grant can be up to a maximum of 2,000 euros for one academic year) The target group are students from Voralberg at (technical) colleges and universities in Germany and abroad (in individual cases also students at private universities, especially with an artistic focus). Special feature: A new application is possible after a year of study abroad.

Postgraduate scholarships from ideologically independent foundations

In addition to state scholarships, there are few funding or funding opportunities for Austrians without a first academic degree. The Pro Scientia study grant supports Catholic bachelor and master students under certain conditions with an annual scholarship of at least 400 euros.

In addition, Lower Austrian undergraduates and graduates who are either studying at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences or whose parents are farmers can apply for the “Foreign Scholarship from the Support Association for Students from Agriculture and Forestry”. If necessary, they will then receive grants for semester and / or annual grants as well as for research grants. There are also other project and performance-related scholarships for postgraduate students.

Marietta Blau Scholarship

Subsidies for semester or annual scholarships (6 to 12 months). The target group are postgraduates (funding: 1200 euros per semester). Financed from the funds of the OeAD GmbH and on behalf of the BMWFW.

AAS-CEE Austrian Academy of Sciences Central and Eastern European Fellowship

Grants for project-related stays abroad. The target group are postgraduates. Special feature: only students from the fields of economics and law, economics and social sciences.

APART

Grants for project-related stays abroad for the habilitation. (24 to 36 months). The target group are postgraduates (funding: EUR 61,000 gross annually, plus a maximum of EUR 10,000 annually for travel and material costs). Financed from the funds of the OeAD GmbH and on behalf of the BMWFW.

Financing options for Austrians: Short-term stays abroad

A KWA scholarship finances a short-term research stay of at least 2 weeks to a maximum of 3 months abroad, which takes place as part of a doctoral degree or diploma / master’s degree at the University of Vienna, Innsbruck and Klagenfurt. The funding amounts to up to 700 euros per month for diploma / master’s students and up to 900 euros per month for doctoral candidates.

Scholarships for summer schools

Students at Austrian universities have the opportunity to take part in summer colleges, so-called bilateral language courses. The accepted applicants receive a full scholarship for accommodation, course fees, meals, travel expenses and insurance from the Federal Ministry of Science and Research (BMWFW).

Risky alternative: part-time job to finance a study abroad

The option of earning money in addition to studying abroad is risky in many non-European countries. Because many countries outside the EU have strict employment laws. Some visa and residence regulations even prohibit the employment of international students.