How to Apply to Universities in Austria (2027): Step by Step

Bachelor and diploma

1. Check the programme's language of instruction and whether it admits through general registration or an entrance exam/aptitude test.
2. Confirm your school leaving certificate gives direct entry to higher education in the country where it was issued; gather legalisation or apostille documents for that country.
3. Register online in the university's application window; third-country nationals generally register earlier than EU, EEA and Swiss citizens.
4. Submit a recognised German or English language certificate matching the programme's language.
5. Sit any required entrance exam or aptitude test and pay its administration fee where one applies.
6. On acceptance, complete enrolment (Zulassung) by the published deadline, including tuition where it applies and the ÖH union fee.

Master

1. Confirm the programme accepts your bachelor's degree as equivalent and check its language of instruction.
2. Check whether the programme runs a selection procedure with its own separate deadline, usually earlier than general registration.
3. Register in the relevant application window and submit degree transcripts, language certificate and any programme specific documents.
4. Complete enrolment and fee payment by the published deadline.

PhD

1. Contact a professor in the field and agree a supervision arrangement before applying, since most doctoral programmes require this.
2. Apply for admission to the doctoral programme with your master's degree, transcripts and, where required, a research proposal.
3. Register and pay the ÖH union fee each semester; tuition applies on the same non-EU/EU basis as other degree levels once you exceed any tolerance period.