BOKU University Vienna: Tuition, English Master's & How to Apply (2027)

BOKU University in Vienna charges non-EU degree students €726.72 tuition plus €26.20 ÖH fee per semester. Students from least developed countries, a list that includes Afghanistan, get a permanent tuition waiver and pay only the €26.20 ÖH fee.

BOKU is Vienna's life-sciences university: agriculture, forestry, water, food, biotechnology and environment. Its English master's are a strong fit if you studied agriculture, environmental science, biology or engineering. The main hurdle is a paper-based application with legalised documents. Here is what you need to know.

Why BOKU is good value

• Low public fee and a permanent waiver for least developed countries.
• No application fee is mentioned.
• Rare specialisations in English: Mountain Forestry, Applied Limnology, Organic Agricultural Systems, Safety in the Food Chain, Soils and Global Change.
• Erasmus Mundus and joint degrees, some with consortium scholarships.
• Long non-EU windows: five months for the winter semester and three months for the summer semester.

Tuition and fees

BOKU says the ÖH dues must be paid by all students, irrespective of any tuition waiver. For a full budget see cost of studying in Austria.

English-taught master's programs

All are two years (4 semesters, 120 ECTS). Examples:

• Biotech and chemistry: Biotechnology, Green Chemistry (with TU Wien and the University of Vienna), Biomass Technology (joint with TU Munich)
• Water and environment: Water Management and Environmental Engineering, Applied Limnology, Limnology and Wetland Management, Natural Resources Management and Ecological Engineering, Environmental Science – Soil, Water, Biodiversity (EnvEuro), International Master in Soils and Global Change
• Forestry and agriculture: Mountain Forestry, European Forestry (Erasmus Mundus), Organic Agricultural Systems and Agroecology, Plant Breeding (Erasmus Mundus emPLANT+), Sustainability in Agriculture, Food Production and Food Technology in the Danube Region
• Food, animals, climate, buildings: Safety in the Food Chain, European Master in Animal Breeding and Genetics, Animal Biodiversity and Genomics, Climate Change and Societal Transformation, Green Building Engineering

There is also the English PhD Biomolecular Technology of Proteins (BioToP). Compare all options in English-taught programs in Austria.

Admission requirements

• Degree: a relevant bachelor's or equivalent; no minimum grade stated. If your degree is related but different, up to 30 ECTS of supplementary courses can be imposed, to finish by the end of the second semester.
• English (B2–C1 guideline): TOEFL iBT 95+ (5+ on the new scale), IELTS Academic 7.0, Cambridge Advanced 180 / grade C, CPE, TOEIC 885 (max. three years old), or a fully English-taught degree from listed countries. Some curricula state B2.
• Documents: application form, legalised bachelor's certificate, transcript with subjects, marks and ECTS, course contents or module handbook, CV, English proof, additional copies, and sworn translations if not in German or English.
• Everything at once: BOKU states that later submissions are not considered.
• Joint and Erasmus Mundus programs run their own selection and may have their own deadlines.

Deadlines

The complete application must reach BOKU Study Services within the window, so allow time for international post. See how to apply to universities in Austria for a full timeline.

Scholarships

Apart from the tuition waiver, the main funding route at BOKU is through Erasmus Mundus programs such as European Forestry and emPLANT+, which offer consortium scholarships with their own application rounds. OeAD notes that Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters are open to all nationalities. Read our scholarships in Austria guide and search grants.at.

Applying from Afghanistan

Afghan citizens pay only the ÖH fee at BOKU. BOKU lists Afghanistan under full legalisation: the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, then the Austrian embassy or consulate, plus sworn translations. However, the Austrian Embassy in Islamabad states it cannot legalise Afghan documents since 1 January 2013. Ask BOKU Study Services in writing what they accept before you post your originals. See our documents and legalisation guide.

Living in Vienna

OeAD estimates average student living costs at about €1,300 per month, with Vienna more expensive than smaller cities. For the Residence Permit – Student in 2026 you must prove €722.58 per month under 24 or €1,308.39 per month from 24, for 12 months. Details in our Austria student visa guide.

Who BOKU suits best

BOKU fits applicants with a bachelor's in agriculture, forestry, environmental science, biology, biotechnology, food science or civil and water engineering. Because BOKU checks course contents and can impose up to 30 ECTS of extra courses, a closely matching degree makes admission smoother.

Mistakes to avoid

• Emailing your application: BOKU does not accept online or email applications from non-EU applicants.
• Sending documents in parts: everything must be in the first package, because later submissions are not considered.
• Forgetting course descriptions: without a module handbook or course contents, BOKU cannot judge whether your degree is relevant.
• Posting on the last day: the application must arrive within the window, not just be sent.
• Missing Erasmus Mundus deadlines: consortium programs have their own scholarship rounds and deadlines.

Honest pros and cons

How to apply step by step

1. 1

   Choose your program

   See BOKU's English-taught master's list.

2. 2

   Collect course descriptions

   BOKU wants your module handbook or course contents to check your degree.

3. 3

   Prepare English proof and legalised documents

   Include sworn translations and extra copies.

4. 4

   Post or deliver your application

   Send to BOKU Study Services, Studienzulassung, Gregor-Mendel-Straße 33, 1180 Vienna, or hand it in by appointment.

5. 5

   Apply for the residence permit

   With your admission letter, apply at the Austrian embassy responsible for your country.