Updated on Jul, 25 2025 12:31 IST
Study Masters in Austria
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Austria is one of the leading higher education destinations of Europe. The country is home to thousands of international students enrolled in a range of different UG and Master’s program in various fields such as management, engineering, law, agriculture, and so on. Today, owing to high quality of education in its world-class universities (Austria has some of the oldest and exceptionally well-ranked universities in the world), Austria is one of the most sought-after Master’s program destinations. Multiple factors have contributed to making many students dream to Study masters in Austria one of the leading choices for international students, particularly Indian students. Study masters in Austria offers the best to those to seek excellence in any field of pedagogy. Wondering how to make it to the top universities in Austria and get enrolled in various master’s program as an Indian student? Here is a complete guide you need to fulfil your dream to study masters in Austria. This guide explores all aspects (cost of program, eligibility for master’s program, scholarship, post-study opportunities, living conditions, etc.) that are necessary for a student to study masters in Austria.
Here is a bird’s eye view of the prospect of ‘Study masters in Austria’. This is going to help Indian aspirants who want to study masters in Austria, to get the right picture before the big move:
|
Masters in Austria |
Facts & Figures |
|
Ranking of Austrian Universities |
6 universities ranked in 2024 QS Top 500 Ranking |
|
Top 3 Universities in Austria |
The University of Vienna TU Wien The University of Innsbruck |
|
In-take (Austrian Universities) |
Summer Intake (Session starts in March) Winter Intake (Session starts in October) |
|
Average Tuition Fees for Masters Courses |
INR 1.3 lakhs/annum to INR 2.6 lakhs/annum |
|
Post-study opportunities |
1-year post-study work visa. Part-time work allowance of not more than 20 hours/week. Average starting salary: INR 35L/year (varies as per program) |
|
Response time |
4 weeks to 12 weeks |
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Visa (non-EU students) |
Type D visa |
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Visa cost (student) |
INR 12,000 |
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Proof of Funds |
INR 9L/year |
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Scholarships |
- Australia government scholarships - OeAD Scholarships - University-specific scholarships - Erasmus + Program (for EU/EEA students only) |
Austria is one of the most beautiful countries in Europe. It is known for its rich history, tradition and culture. The country has a good track-record in education and infrastructure. But what makes study masters in Austria so lucrative for Indian students? Let us understand why study masters in Austria- as a prospect, can be the next big thing for you:
World-Class Universities: Austria is home to some of the best universities in the world. There are some premium institutes such as University of Vienna, Vienna University of Technology (TU Wien), and University of Innsbruck, which have excellent ranking in QS World Ranking of universities in various categories. What makes Austrian universities stand apart is their emphasis on research and innovation. These universities have a tremendous track record of research output historically, which makes them an ideal destination for study masters in Austria.
Affordability of Master’s program: The cost of Master’s program in Austrian universities vary from program to program. However, the general trend shows that the cost to study masters in Austria in any discourse in much less and affordable compared to masters in traditional higher studies destinations such as USA, UK, Australia, etc. The tuition fee to study masters in Austria for international students on an average is between €1,500 and €3,000 per year which is between INR 1.3 lakhs to INR 2.6 lakhs. Compare this in UK where in can be between INR 10 lakhs to INR 20 lakhs.
Plethora of Master’s Program: Austrian universities offer a wide array of master’s program for Indian students to choose from. There is a plethora of discourses starting from engineering to arts and humanities. This diversity of discourses is a welcoming factor for Indian students to study masters in Austria.
English as a Medium of Instruction: The medium of instruction in many discourses (science, engineering, medical sciences, etc.) is English, which makes it easier for international students. There are other discourses where the language/medium of instruction is German.
Rich Cultural Experience: Austria is a treasure trove of history, culture, tradition and heritage. It has one of the oldest historical heritages in the world. The country is also blessed with exceptional monuments, a long list of museums and art galleries, scenic beauty and welcoming atmosphere, which collectively contributes to enriching the learning experience of an international student from India in Europe. The richness of culture, coupled with superior education contributes to holistic development of students. Austria is where Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Franz Schubert, Egon Schiele, and Gustav Klimt came from. This makes the prospect to study masters in Austria very lucrative for Indian students.
Strong Career Prospects: Opportunities after completion of master’s program is an important concern for international students who study masters in Austria. Graduates holding master’s degree from reputable Austrian universities are highly valued by employers around the globe, more specifically in sectors such as engineering, environmental sciences, business, etc. This can be attributed to the fact that Austrian universities are ranked very well.
Schengen Visa: Austria is one of the 29 Schengen countries. They have common visa policies and open border policy which means, you can travel to any of these 29 countries.
Higher Quality of Life: Choosing to study masters in Austria gives you the opportunity to study, live and work in cities like Vienna, which is known to has a very high quality of life in the world. Whether it is transport, public services, accommodation or general administration, everything is top-notch and excellent.
Safe & Secured Environment-Safety is Priority: Austria is undoubtedly one of the safest countries in the world, with an exceptionally low crime rate. This also adds to the high standard of living and social security. Right now, nearly all major countries in the world are dealing with political and military tensions, armed conflicts, and violent protests, none of which finds way to Austria.
Global Recognition: To study masters in Austria is to secure a Master’s degree that has global acceptance, highly valued by employers around the globe (particularly in engineering, business and medical sciences).
An Indian aspirant wishing to study masters in Austria must meet a set of eligibility criteria in order to apply and get enrolled in various master’s program:
Candidate is required to complete 12th (10+2) with at least 60% marks
Candidate must possess a bachelor's degree to get enrolled in the relevant master’s program.
Candidates must receive the bachelor’s degree from a recognized institution/university.
A candidate must also produce 2-3 letters of recommendation to check the academic performance of the student in the previous institute of study.
Candidates are not always required to appear for university-level entrance exam. However, this is not thumb-rule for all programs and all universities. Some universities may require the candidate to sit for interview/exam to get enrolled in specific master’s program.
Language proficiency tests are mandatory for Master’s program in Austria:
English-taught program: Valid IELTS (score: 6.0-7.0) or Valid TOEFL (90-100).
German-taught program: proficiency in German (C1 or higher)
Note: The National Academic Recognition Information Centre under The Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research (BMBWF) is associated with assessing qualifications and recognition of degrees in Austria.
Refer to the list of documents mentioned below needed by a student in India to apply to study masters in Austria.
Educational:
Academic transcripts (UG degree, marksheets, etc-including 12th board exam).
A valid passport
Statement of Purpose (SOP)
Letter of Recommendation (LOR)
CV/Resume
Birth certificate
Certificate of good conduct (preferably from former institution of study)
Language Proficiency certificates- IELTS (6.0-7.0) or TOEFL (90-100): German language proficiency of C1 or higher.
Visa
Passport
Health insurance
Passport sized photographs- recent (scanned copes)
Bank State of Guardians as proof of sufficient financial means to cover the candidate’s living costs for 12 months, including rent. It includes savings bank book/account in Austria /declaration of guarantee of a person living in Austria/Travellers Cheques.
Proof of accommodation (rental agreement, accommodation agreement with a student hall of residence).
It is mandatory to register with the municipal authorities in Austria within three working days of entering the country.
Visa documents (required after approval of application by the university). All candidates applying for Austrian Visa must visit the Austrian Embassy in person in respective country.
Foreigners (other than those outside EU & EEA) have to apply for a residence permit for the purpose of higher education.
For most universities in Austria, there are two intakes in a year for nearly all their master’s program (with reasonable variations as per nature of program). The two intakes for Master’s program in Austria are as follows:
Summer Intake: Session starts in March.
Winter Intake: Session starts in October.
Master’s Programs in Austria are typically 1-year programs, corresponding to the two-year masters' programs found around the globe. Here are more details:
A Master's degree in Austria typically takes 1 to 2 years (2 to 4 semesters) for full-time students.
Full-time:
Master's programs at Austrian universities are designed for a full-time study of 2 years (4 semesters).
Part-time:
Part-time programs can extend the duration for even up to 6 years.
Specific Programs:
Certain specialized Master's programs, such as MRes (Master of Research), might have longer durations.
Indian candidates who wish to study masters in Austria need to appear for language proficiency test, such as IELTS/TOEFL.
English-taught program: Valid IELTS (score: 6.0-7.0) or Valid TOEFL (90-100).
German-taught program: proficiency in German (C1 or higher)
Indian students are required to follow a specific set of procedures in a particular order to apply for ‘Study Mater’s in Austria’. Here is what you need to do to make the process of application resolute, easy and successful. If you find it a bit challenging, here is how we at Anigdha can help:
Connect With Us: Connecting with Anigdha’s team will make the process entirely smooth, hassle-free, easy and comfortable. We provide guidance in each and every step of the process, filling you in with relevant information. By utilizing all our resources, we can help students/aspirants/candidates with documentation, application, tracking of application, successful admission and every other relevant input and update.
Choose the Right University: Zeroing down on the right, appropriate and desired university is a challenging process. Our team considers various factors such as student’s interests, goals, eligibility criteria, and budget to help them finalize the university to study the program of their choice.
Documentation: Getting all the documentation right is also extremely important. It can be a confusing and challenging process. However, with our experts ready to offer help at every step, we can help you gather the relevant, authentic and legal documents needed for the application process.
Application: Application is another area where you need to be very careful. Furnishing correct, relevant, legal, authentic documents and information in the application is paramount. All of this must be submitted before the due date. Our team helps you at every step to make sure that the application is done correctly and within the stipulated time frame.
Fee Payment: As and when your application is approved by the authorities, you are required to deposit your semester fee. Note: The fee is to be paid as per the university’s guidelines.
Visa Processing: Once you pay the fee, the university will send you an invitation letter. It is time to get your visa documents ready. The process might take up to 3 weeks. Do not worry! We will help you arrange all the documents for smooth visa processing.
Travel and Accommodation: You can count on our expert local agents in Austria for any support related to flight bookings and finding an affordable accommodation.
To help you understand the overall scenario, there are 3 types of university to study masters in Austria. Here are the complete details:
Public universities: There are 22 public universities offering diverse Master’s program in Austria. These universities are govt-funded and excel in academic research in a range of academic realms. These universities offer a full range of postgraduate programmes. The notable amongst them for master’s program is the Danube University of Continuing Education Krems, which specialises entirely in PG programs across multiple disciplines.
Private universities: Austria is also home to many private universities. Currently, there are about 16 private universities in Austria for study masters in Austria. These universities tend to design courses and programs, set fees and manage admissions as per their own policy. However, all universities are required to be accredited by government agency.
Universities of applied sciences: Currently, Austria has 21 universities of applied sciences. Master’s programs in these universities tend to be vocationally orientated.
Here is a table for the top universities for study masters in Austria for international students along with respective international ranking & popular master’s programmes offered in the universities:
| Top Universities in Austria | QS World Ranking (2024) | Renowned Master’s Program |
| University of Vienna | 124 | Humanities, Social Sciences |
| Vienna University of Technology/TU Wien | 179 | Engineering, Computer Engineering |
| University of Innsbruck | 242 | Natural Sciences |
| Graz University of Technology | 277 | Mechanical Engineering |
| Johannes Kepler University Linz | 354 | Business administration, International Law |
| Vienna University of Economics and Business (WU) | 57 | Business administration, Economics. |
University of Vienna:
Country: Vienna
Course: Master’s (MA, M.Sc., M.Ed., M.E., etc)
Year of Establishment: 1365
Popular Master’s Program: Philosophy, History, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics, Computer Science, Economics, Law, Psychology.
Passing Percentage:
Vienna University of Technology/TU Wien:
Country: Vienna
Course: Master’s (MA, M.Sc., M.Ed., M.E., etc)
Year of Establishment: 1815
Popular Master’s Program: Architecture, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biotechnology
Passing Percentage: 60%
University of Innsbruck:
Country: Vienna
Course: Master’s (MA, M.Sc., M.Ed., M.E., etc)
Year of Establishment: 1669
Popular Master’s Program: Medicine, Law, Economics, Natural Sciences, Humanities, Social Sciences, Engineering, Education, Sports Science
Passing Percentage: 60%
Vienna University of Economics and Business (WU):
Country: Vienna
Course: Master’s (MA, M.Sc., M.Ed., M.E., etc)
Year of Establishment: 1898
Popular Master’s Program: Business Administration, Economics, International Business, Finance and Accounting, Marketing, Supply Chain Management, Entrepreneurship, Business Law.
Passing Percentage: 60%
University of Graz:
Country: Vienna
Course: Master’s (MA, M.Sc., M.Ed., M.E., etc)
Year of Establishment: 1585
Popular Master’s Program: Arts and Humanities, Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, Law, Business and Economics, Education, Environmental Studies, Medicine and Health Sciences
Passing Percentage: 60%
Johannes Kepler University Linz:
Country: Vienna
Course: Master’s (MA, M.Sc., M.Ed., M.E., etc)
Year of Establishment: 1966
Popular Master’s Program: Medicine, Natural Sciences, Engineering, Law, Education, Social Sciences, Business.
Passing Percentage: 60%
The cost to study masters in Austria is relatively low when you compare the same with legacy higher studies destinations such as UK, USA, Australia. The affordability is one of the biggest advantages of choosing to study masters in Austria.
Here is a breakdown of the cost to study masters in Austria for Indian students:
Note: Tuition fee varies on the basis of the nature of the Master’s program. Hence, the tuition fee for different Master’s program in Austrian Universities is not same or uniform.
Here is a breakdown of cost to study masters in Austria:
| Expenditure under | Average Monthly Cost (in INR) of Master’s Program |
| Accommodation (private rental) | 35,000 - 60,000 (approx.) |
| Accommodation (dormitories for students) | 17,000 - 44,000 (approx.) |
| Student Health Insurance (mandatory) | 5,200 (€60/month) (approx.) |
| Food | 22,000 - 30,000 (approx.) |
| Transportation | 4500 – 8500 (approx.) |
| Public Transportation | 4300 (approx.) |
| Miscellaneous | 9000 - 13,000 (approx.) |
Tuition Fee
For EU/EAA students: The lowest average tuition fee is Rs. 31,000/year in Master’s programs.
For non-EU/non-EEA students (Indians): Between Rs. 1.3 lakhs/annum -to- Rs. 2.6 lakhs/annum for Master’s programs.
Living Costs
Average monthly living costs in Austria for Indian students can range between INR 80K & INR 1 Lakhs, for master’s programs.
Accommodation Options & Cost for Master’s in Austria There are multiple options for accommodations available for Indian students who study masters in Austria. Students can choose for private rentals spaces as well as student dormitories. Here is a breakdown of the cost of accommodation to study MBBS in Austria.
Private rental space: 35,000 - 60,000/month (approx.)
Student Dormitories: 17,000 – 44,000/month (approx.)
To study masters in Austria in English, German language proficiency is not a primary requirement for admission. However, some universities or specific programs might have exceptions.
If the medium of instructions for your program is English, learning basic German can significantly enhance your experience as well as stay in Austria, making daily life easier and increasing your job prospects in case you wish to stay back and work in Austria.
What are the mandatory requirements to study masters in Austria for Indian students?
As per eligibility criteria set for Master’s program in Austria, a student must possess legal, authentic and relevant Bachelor’s degree in relevant subject or discourse, proof of language proficiency (German or English), and a host of necessary documentations which are listed above in the article.
What is the cost to study masters in Austria for Indian Students?
For Indian students (students outside EU/EEA countries) the average cost of master’s program in Austria ranges between 1.3 Lakhs INR /annum & 2.6 Lakhs INR /annum. This is tuition cost. There is also accommodation cost, living expenses and food cost.
Are there scholarships available for Indian students to study masters in Austria?
There are several scholarships available for students to study masters in Austria. There are- OeAD scholarships, Austrian government scholarships, etc. Refer to the list of scholarships mentioned above in the article.
What are some of the best Master’s program for Indian students in Austria?
Engineering, business administration, and law at top universities like the University of Vienna and TU Wien make for the best Master’s degree programs in Austria.
What career options can students explore after completion of Master’s degree in Austria?
Master’s degree from Austrian universities is highly valued around the globe by employers. Students can get into the job market directly with great scope of placement, or opt for further research in Academia.
What is the duration of master’s programs in Austria?
The duration is 1 year, which is equivalent to 2 years master’s program commonly found in most countries.
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