If you are applying for a bachelor's or diploma programme at a public university in Austria and you have no special admission conditions, the application deadline is 5 September for the winter semester and 5 February for the summer semester. That is the general rule. But it is not the whole story: master's programmes, programmes with entrance exams and non-EU applicants often have earlier deadlines, and some institutions set their own dates entirely.
Who the 5 September and 5 February deadlines actually apply to
The general admission period covers first-time admission to a bachelor's or diploma programme at a public university. It is for starting or switching that kind of programme. If you are applying for a master's, doctoral or combined programme, or a programme with an admission or aptitude procedure, the university can set other deadlines. So can universities of the arts, private universities, universities of applied sciences and university colleges of teacher education, they all have different application deadlines.
The safest move is to check the specific programme page. You can find programmes in our catalogue and follow the link to the institution's own admission page.
Non-EU/EEA applicants often face earlier dates
For non-EU/EEA applicants, the general deadline applies unless the university has set a different special deadline for foreign applicants. Many do. At the University of Vienna, for example, the winter semester 2026/27 bachelor's and diploma application period runs from 22 June to 5 September 2026 for EU/EEA applicants, but closes on 3 August 2026 for non-EU/EEA applicants. For the summer semester 2027, EU/EEA applicants have from 16 November 2026 to 5 February 2027, while non-EU/EEA applicants must apply by 7 January 2027.
Art universities are different: they apply the same deadlines to foreign and domestic applicants because admission is by artistic aptitude test.
If you are treated as equal to Austrians, you follow the same deadlines as Austrians, check with the institution if you are unsure which group you fall into.
Master's programmes: application and admission are two steps
Master's programmes often have their own application window and a separate admission period. At the University of Vienna, the master's application period for the winter semester 2026/27 runs from 22 June to 5 September 2026 for EU/EEA applicants and to 3 August 2026 for non-EU/EEA applicants. The admission period, when you complete enrolment, is 13 July to 31 October 2026 for everyone. That is not the same as the application deadline; miss the application window and you cannot use the admission period at all.
Other universities set their own master's deadlines. Again, the programme page is the only reliable source.
Entrance exams can move the deadline months earlier
For programmes with entrance examinations, the closing date for applying to the examination can be up to six months before the beginning of the semester. At TU Wien, bachelor's admission for the winter semester 2026/27 starts on 6 July, but computer science, architecture and spatial planning have entrance exams and require separate registration from 1 April to 4 May 2026.
So if you are aiming for a programme with an aptitude test or entrance exam, work backwards from the semester start. The winter semester runs from 1 October to 30 January and the summer semester from 1 March to 30 September; the academic year starts on 1 October. Use those dates to plan, but always confirm the exam registration window with the institution.
Where to check deadlines and what to have ready
Admission is organised by each institution, not centrally. The OeAD does not handle study applications, and there is no central application portal. So you apply directly to the university or college. To see what is out there, browse universities or look at all universities in Austria in our catalogue. We list 65 institutions and 589 programmes with English among their languages of instruction, imported from the Austrian national register (BMFWF open data and studienwahl.at): 455 are taught in English only and the rest in German and English. That is our own catalogue count, as of October 2026, always confirm details with the institution.
When you apply, expect to pay the student union fee (ÖH-Beitrag) of EUR 26.20 per semester, which is compulsory for all students. At public universities, EU/EEA students pay no tuition within the standard duration plus two semesters; most other students pay EUR 726.72 per semester. Those figures are as listed in the Austrian national register, check them with your institution before you budget. If you are from outside the EU/EEA or Switzerland and plan to stay more than six months, you will need a Residence Permit, Student; the application fee on oesterreich.gv.at is EUR 218 and the authority decides within 90 days. The residence authority decides on permits; the institution decides on admission.
| Example | Winter semester 2026/27 | Summer semester 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| University of Vienna, bachelor's and diploma, EU/EEA | 22 June, 5 September 2026 | 16 November 2026, 5 February 2027 |
| University of Vienna, bachelor's and diploma, non-EU/EEA | 22 June, 3 August 2026 | 16 November 2026, 7 January 2027 |
| University of Vienna, master's, EU/EEA | 22 June, 5 September 2026 | , |
| University of Vienna, master's, non-EU/EEA | 22 June, 3 August 2026 | , |
| TU Wien, bachelor's (general) | from 6 July 2026 | , |
| TU Wien, computer science, architecture, spatial planning | registration 1 April, 4 May 2026 | , |
These are examples, not rules for every institution. Use them to see how much earlier non-EU and exam-based deadlines can fall. Then check your own programme with the university, or use studyinaustria.at, oesterreich.gv.at, oead.at and migration.gv.at for official information.
Sources
- OeAD, application and admission (sia__application-and-admission.txt)
- OeAD, find your programme (sia__find-your-programme.txt)
- OeAD, tuition (sia__tuition.txt)
- oesterreich.gv.at, admission of ordinary students (oesterreich__zulassung-ordentliche-studierende.txt)
- oesterreich.gv.at, admission of foreign students (oesterreich__zulassung-auslaendische-studierende.txt)
- oesterreich.gv.at, residence permit, student (oesterreich__aufenthaltsbewilligung-student.txt)
- University of Vienna, application and admission periods (univie__application-and-admission-periods.txt)
- TU Wien, academic calendar (tuwien__academic-calendar.txt)
- National register open data (register__open-data.txt)
Frequently asked questions
Is the deadline for Austrian universities always 5 September?
No. 5 September (winter semester) and 5 February (summer semester) are the general deadlines for first-time admission to a bachelor's or diploma programme at a public university without special admission conditions. Master's, doctoral and combined programmes, programmes with entrance exams, and some non-EU applicants can have different dates.
Do non-EU students have to apply earlier than EU students?
Often, yes. The general deadline applies unless the university sets a special deadline for foreign applicants. At the University of Vienna, for winter semester 2026/27, non-EU/EEA bachelor's applicants must apply by 3 August 2026, while EU/EEA applicants have until 5 September 2026.
When do entrance exam programmes close applications?
For programmes with entrance examinations, the closing date for applying to the examination can be up to six months before the semester starts. At TU Wien, computer science, architecture and spatial planning required separate registration from 1 April to 4 May 2026 for winter semester 2026/27.
Is there a central application portal for Austrian universities?
No. Admission is organised by each institution, not centrally. The OeAD does not handle study applications, so you apply directly to the university or college. Check each institution's own admission page for exact deadlines and requirements.