Study in Austria

Austria is an extraordinary location to teach abroad. As the former birthplace of Mozart and Freud, Austria is full of culture and history and provides a variety of further education programs for graduates to choose from.

Austria also offers many more magical aspects to its visitors and locals. It lies at the crossroads of eastern and western European history and is home to many majestic landscapes, both urban and rural. It's centrally located in Europe, and borders eight other countries, making it prime for easy travel. During the winter, the snowy Alps offer some of the best skiing in the world along with towering pines and fantastic apres-ski.

Those who choose to teach in Austria will find locals incredibly friendly and welcoming and be glad to know that they are living in one of the safest countries in Europe, as Austria has a remarkably low crime rate.

Why study in Austria?

Austria punches above its weight economically. Despite its relatively small size and population, it is the 12th richest country in the world in terms of GDP (Gross Domestic Product) per capita, has a well-developed social market economy, and a high standard of living.

With high-quality universities and low tuition fees, it is an attractive alternative to Germany in which to learn in one of the world's most important languages – German.

• Austria has 23 public and 11 private universities.
• There are three Austrian universities in the QS World University Rankings 2014–15 Top 300. The nation's leading university, the University of Vienna is 156th, Vienna University of Technology is 246th, and Universität Innsbruck is 288th.
• Established in 1365, the University of Vienna is Austria's oldest and largest university.
• A dozen or so undergraduate and many more postgraduate courses are taught in English. More are taught in English and German.

Entry and visa regulations

EU students do not need a visa to study in Austria but will need to apply for a residence permit from the local resident registration office.

• Applicants for undergraduate or graduate courses must submit their applications to their chosen university or college. Application forms are available from the selected university's Student Admission Office (in some cases, the application form is available online).
• As the language of instruction at Austrian universities is German, applicants are required to prove their level of command of the German language either by school examination results, if studied at school, or by presenting German language course diplomas, such as the Test Deutsch als Fremdsprache für ausländische Studienbewerber – TestDaF. Most institutions require a minimum level of a command corresponding to the B1/B2 level according to the European language passport. Masters and research programs may not require any knowledge of German since they are usually designed for international students.
• If the language of instruction of the chosen course is English, a minimum-level command corresponding to the B1/B2 level according to the European language passport is required.

While some - but not all - Austrian universities provide some student accommodation, the number of beds provided is very small compared to the student population.

Although the country enjoys a high standard of living, Working while studying.

Students from EU countries can either work a maximum three months full-time in any one year without a limit for the income or part–time (up to 12 hours a week) with an earnings limit of €420 a month. In both cases, the employer has to file a permit of employment (Beschäftigungsbewilling) at the local government institution.

Health and safety

• EU students are entitled to use Austria's healthcare system in the same way as nationals so long as they have a European Health Insurance Card. However, public health insurance is mandatory for attending university in Austria.
• Austria is a safe destination and violent crime is rare. Pickpockets and purse snatchers can be found in the highly populated areas, including areas frequented by tourists, bus and train stations, and on subways. Under Austrian law, you are required to have your passport readily accessible at all times. If you don't carry your passport with you, your passport must be in the same district as you, and you must be able to access it within one hour. A UK driving license is not recognized as an official form of ID.

VESTYN education ready to help you in getting admission in Austrian Universities English taught programmes.