Austria University Admission Requirements for International Students

To get into an Austrian university as an international student, you need a qualification that gives you general university access: for a bachelor's, a school-leaving certificate equivalent to the Austrian Matura that also lets you study at university in your home country; for a master's, a relevant bachelor's of at least 180 ECTS; for a PhD, a master's in the same field. Each university checks this itself.

On top of that, English-taught programs require proof of English, some programs run entrance exams or selection procedures, and some universities have country-specific rules. This guide covers each layer with official examples.

Bachelor's admission requirements

Study in Austria explains that you need a secondary school-leaving certificate equivalent to the Austrian one, which also entitles you to university study in your home country. If your home country has a national university entrance examination, you usually need to show that you passed it. TU Graz, for example, names Iran's Konkur and China's Gaokao as entrance exams it may require.

• Legalised school-leaving certificate and transcripts, with a sworn translation if not in German or English
• Proof of university entrance qualification for your subject in your home country
• Passport copy and language certificate
• For some programs: registration for an entrance exam or aptitude test

Master's admission requirements

For a master's, you need a relevant bachelor's degree of at least six semesters (180 ECTS). Most public universities do not publish a minimum grade. Instead, they check whether your previous studies match the program's content.

If your degree is three years long, check carefully: it may still be 180 ECTS, but some universities apply stricter rules for specific countries. Read the program's curriculum page before you apply.

Entrance exams and selection procedures

Programs in high demand, such as medicine, psychology, architecture, business and computer science, can have entrance exams or selection procedures. These usually run once a year before the winter semester.

• WU Vienna, Bachelor in Business and Economics: online self-assessment plus a two-hour in-person written exam in Vienna. For 2026/27 there were 240 places and the exam was on 30 June 2026. Details for 2027/28 are due in mid-November 2026.
• University of Vienna: bachelor's programs with an entrance exam and master's programs with a selection procedure had application windows from 2 March 2026 for 2026/27. 2027/28 dates are not yet published.
• TU Graz: six IT and biomedical master's programs rank applicants on prior studies and a motivation letter; registration for 2027/28 runs 15 October to 15 December 2026.
• JKU Linz, MA Management: a GMAT of at least 600 is required for applicants whose degree is not from an EU/EEA institution.

Supplementary exams and University Preparation Programmes

If your schooling differs significantly from the Austrian system, for example fewer than 12 years of school, the university may admit you on condition that you pass supplementary examinations. These can cover German, English, mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, history or geography.

You can prepare in an official University Preparation Programme, such as VWU in Vienna and Graz (run by OeAD) or the programme in Leoben. You can only join after an Austrian university has admitted you, and the programme can be the basis for a Residence Permit – Student.

English language requirements

Each university sets its own English requirement. Many accept a degree taught in English from certain countries instead of a test, and several only accept certificates that are no more than two years old.

German is not required for English-taught programs. For German-taught programs, universities usually require German C1 before admission. For more scores and test waivers, see English-taught programs in Austria.

Country-specific rules for Afghanistan and South Asia

Austrian universities publish rules for certificates from certain countries. These are the most common reason for rejected applications from South Asia, so check them before you pay for legalisation and translations.

TU Graz also requires applicants educated in Bangladesh, India or Pakistan to complete a paid VFS Global competence check first, and JKU Linz states that this check becomes mandatory from summer semester 2027 for master's applicants from Bangladesh, India and Pakistan.

Motivation letter, CV and portfolio

Selective programs often ask for a motivation letter, CV and sometimes references or a portfolio. IT:U Linz asks for a one-page motivation letter and a 2–3 minute application video in English, and TU Wien requires a portfolio for architecture. Keep letters specific: explain why this program, which courses fit your background, and what you want to do after graduating.

Doctoral (PhD) admission requirements

For a PhD, you need a relevant master's or diploma degree. At most technical and research universities, the key step is finding a supervisor first. TU Wien and TU Graz both require a written confirmation of supervision from one of their professors before you can be admitted, and TU Graz accepts doctoral applications online at any time once that confirmation exists.

Some doctoral positions are paid jobs rather than study places. At IT:U Linz, PhD candidates are employed, and the application asks for a CV, degree certificates, a motivation letter and contact details of two or three references. Read the specific call for each research group.

Requirements at universities of applied sciences

Universities of applied sciences (FH) follow the same basic rule on general university access, but they usually add a selection step such as an interview, and they have a fixed number of places. They also tend to set earlier, region-specific deadlines. CU Carinthia, for example, accepts applicants from Asia, Africa and the Middle East only in its first application period, with complete legalised documents. The University of Applied Sciences Burgenland asks bachelor's applicants for a recognised English certificate no more than two years old, or an English test before the interview.

How to check your eligibility in 4 steps

1. 1

   Read the program's curriculum

   Compare its required background with the subjects and ECTS on your transcript.

2. 2

   Find the country-specific rules

   Search the university's international admissions pages for your country.

3. 3

   Check the language requirement

   Note the level, accepted tests and the maximum age of certificates.

4. 4

   Ask the admission office if unsure

   Email them with your exact documents before you spend money on legalisation.

Next, read how to apply to universities in Austria and the documents and legalisation guide. To keep each university's requirements and deadlines in one place, track deadlines for free on FindUniPath.