University of Vienna: Tuition, English Programs & How to Apply (2027)

The University of Vienna charges non-EU students €726.72 in tuition plus a €26.20 Students' Union (ÖH) fee per semester, so €752.92 in total. If you are a citizen of one of the designated developing countries, Afghanistan included, the tuition is waived for your whole degree and you pay only €26.20 per semester.

For that price you get access to a large public university and a long list of English-taught master's programs in the capital. This guide covers fees, English programs, entry rules, deadlines with their academic year, and the honest catches, especially for applicants from Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and similar countries.

Why the University of Vienna is good value

• Low, flat fee: the same €726.72 per semester for every non-EU student, regardless of program, plus the €26.20 ÖH fee.
• Full fee waiver for some nationalities: the university waives tuition for the full duration of studies for citizens of designated developing countries, and Afghanistan is on that list.
• Breadth of English master's: 36 programs, from Computer Science and Data Science to Banking and Finance, Astronomy and Global Demography.
• Capital-city location: you study in Austria's capital, which is useful to know if you later want to work and stay in Austria after graduation.
• Two intakes: master's without a selection procedure can start in the winter or the summer semester.

Tuition and fees for non-EU students

There is no application fee mentioned for regular programs, master's or the doctorate. Only bachelor's programs with an entrance exam or aptitude test charge a €50 administration fee, paid once per program group. Compare these numbers with other cities in our cost of studying in Austria guide.

English-taught programs

According to our fact pack, the University of Vienna offers 1 English-taught bachelor's, 36 English-taught master's and 9 doctoral options. The single English bachelor's is Mathematical Foundations of Data Science (3 years), which uses an entrance procedure. Examples of two-year English master's:

• Computing and data: Computer Science, Data Science, Computational Science, Media Informatics, Business Analytics
• Economics and business: Applied Economics, Banking and Finance, East Asian Economy and Society
• Life and natural sciences: Drug Discovery and Development, Ecology and Ecosystems, Green Chemistry, Evolutionary Genomics and Systems Biology, Meteorology and Climate Science, Astronomy, Mathematics
• Social sciences and humanities: Communication Science, Global Demography, Governing Socio-Ecological Transformations, Anglophone Literatures and Cultures

See the full list on the university's master's programmes page and compare with other universities in our English-taught programs in Austria guide.

Admission requirements

Each master's program has a Master Access Guide (MAG) that lists which prior degrees qualify. Documents must be legalised and, if not in German or English, translated by a sworn translator. Our Austria admission requirements guide explains these rules in more detail.

Deadlines

Applying from Afghanistan: read this first

The University of Vienna has strict country rules for Afghan certificates. An Afghan 12th-grade certificate alone is not accepted for a bachelor's; you also need proof of prior university study. An Afghan bachelor's alone is not accepted for a master's; you need a completed master's as well. Each case is reviewed individually.

On legalisation, the university lists Afghanistan as full diplomatic certification, temporarily deferred: you need the attestation of the Afghan Ministry of Education and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, plus a sworn translation if the documents are not in German or English. This matters because the Austrian Embassy in Islamabad states that since 1 January 2013 it cannot verify or legalise documents issued in Afghanistan. More in our documents and legalisation guide.

Scholarships and funding

The fact pack found no general university scholarship for international degree students. The main financial help is the fee waiver for citizens of designated developing countries. For other funding, search grants.at and read our scholarships in Austria guide. OeAD notes that full-degree scholarships in Austria are rare.

Living in Vienna: costs and visa money

OeAD estimates average student living costs at about €1,300 per month, and says Vienna and larger cities are more expensive. For the Residence Permit – Student you must show funds for 12 months in advance: in 2026 that was €722.58 per month under 24 and €1,308.39 per month from 24, according to OeAD. The university does not allocate rooms, so start your housing search early. The full process is in our Austria student visa guide.

Honest pros and cons

How to apply step by step

1. 1

   Pick your program and read its MAG

   Check the Master Access Guide to confirm your degree qualifies and whether the program has a selection procedure.

2. 2

   Check country-specific rules

   Read the country-specific requirements for your country of education.

3. 3

   Prepare documents

   Legalise your certificates, get sworn translations and book an English test (IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL iBT 94 for most programs).

4. 4

   Apply online in the right window

   Use the online application and submit within the non-EU window for your intake.

5. 5

   Receive your admission letter

   You need the notification of admission to apply for the Residence Permit – Student.

6. 6

   Apply for the residence permit early

   Processing can take up to 90 days. Then apply for a visa D, travel, and enrol in person.