If you are a student in Austria without other cover, you can insure yourself with the Austrian health insurance fund (ÖGK) at a favourable rate: EUR 78.84 a month, 2026 value. That is the Selbstversicherung für Studierende, and it is the route most non-EU students take to satisfy the Residence Permit, Student requirement. EU students usually just bring the European Health Insurance Card and skip the whole thing.
Who needs what
The rule splits by nationality. Students from outside the EU/EEA must show proof of health insurance that covers all risks in Austria for the Residence Permit, Student. EU students are different: for them the European Health Insurance Card is usually sufficient, whereas non-EU citizens need all-risks insurance.
Two practical points. First, the institution decides on admission and the residence authority decides on permits, nobody at the ÖGK can sort out your visa for you. Second, the permit side is not free: the application fee on oesterreich.gv.at is EUR 218 and the authority decides within 90 days. That is separate from the health insurance premium.
If you are still choosing where to apply, our list of all universities in Austria covers 65 higher education institutions and 589 programmes with English among their languages of instruction. Health insurance is one of the smaller admin tasks you will do; the bigger one is the application itself, which is organised by each institution, there is no central portal. For the full picture, see our health insurance guide.
The ÖGK Selbstversicherung: what it costs and who qualifies
The rate is EUR 78.84 a month (2026 value). It is not automatic, you have to meet conditions:
- You are a regular student at a university or university of applied sciences.
- You have no statutory insurance already.
- Your total income is under EUR 15,000 a year.
- You are within the intended study time plus four semesters.
- You have changed field at most twice.
Most degree students fit inside that box. If you take a long break, work more than the income limit, or switch courses for the third time, you fall out of it and need to look at other cover.
When cover starts, and what it won't pay for
The insurance starts the day after the application. Not the day you arrive, not the day you enrol: the day after your application. So apply before you need a doctor, not after.
It also does not cover illnesses that began before it was concluded. If you arrive with an ongoing condition, that condition is generally not covered by this insurance. Budget for that separately, or arrange private cover for it before you travel.
Every year a confirmation of enrolment has to reach the ÖGK by 31 December. Miss it and the insurance can lapse, which is a problem if the residence authority is checking your cover. Put a reminder in your calendar each December.
The e-card and the small fees people forget
You get an e-card. Its back carries the European health insurance card, which is handy if you travel within the EU. The e-card itself has an annual service fee of EUR 14.65 (as of January 2025).
Separately, the student union fee (ÖH-Beitrag) of EUR 26.20 per semester is compulsory for all students, and it includes student accident insurance only, not health cover. Do not confuse the two.
| Item | Cost | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| ÖGK Selbstversicherung | EUR 78.84/month (2026) | Health insurance for students without other cover |
| e-card service fee | EUR 14.65/year (as of January 2025) | Administration of the card |
| ÖH-Beitrag | EUR 26.20/semester | Student accident insurance only |
| Residence Permit, Student application | EUR 218 | Permit application, decided within 90 days |
How it fits with tuition and deadlines
Health insurance is one line in a bigger budget. At public universities, EU/EEA students pay no tuition within the standard duration plus two semesters, while most other students pay EUR 726.72 per semester. Add the ÖH-Beitrag on top either way.
Deadlines matter too. At public universities the general application deadline for most bachelor's programmes is 5 September for the winter semester and 5 February for the summer semester. Other programmes and applicants from outside the EU/EEA can have different deadlines, check with the institution directly.
The numbers above are as of October 2026, from the Austrian national register (BMFWF open data and the study finder studienwahl.at). Always confirm fees with the institution before you plan your budget, because they change.
What to do next
- Decide whether you have cover already: EU students via the EHIC, everyone else via all-risks insurance.
- If you need the ÖGK route, apply as soon as you have your enrolment, remember the day-after rule.
- Pay the ÖH-Beitrag of EUR 26.20 each semester; it is compulsory regardless.
- Send your confirmation of enrolment to the ÖGK every year by 31 December.
- Keep the e-card fee of EUR 14.65 (as of January 2025) in your budget.
Where the facts run out, check the source. The institution handles admission; studyinaustria.at and oead.at handle student information; oesterreich.gv.at and migration.gv.at handle residence and permit questions. None of them will decide your case for you, but they will tell you the current wording.
Sources
- OeAD, residence permit for students (no mobility)
- oesterreich.gv.at, Selbstversicherung für Studierende
- OeAD, health insurance
- OeAD, FAQ on entry and residence for third-country students
- Study in Austria, tuition fees
- Study in Austria, application and admission
- oesterreich.gv.at, admission of foreign students
- oesterreich.gv.at, Residence Permit, Student
- Austrian national register (BMFWF open data and studienwahl.at), as of October 2026
Frequently asked questions
How much does student health insurance cost in Austria?
The ÖGK Selbstversicherung for students costs EUR 78.84 a month (2026 value). On top of that you pay an annual e-card service fee of EUR 14.65 (as of January 2025) and the compulsory ÖH-Beitrag of EUR 26.20 per semester, which covers accident insurance only.
Can I apply for the ÖGK Selbstversicherung after I get sick?
No. The insurance starts the day after your application and does not cover illnesses that began before it was concluded. Apply as soon as you have your enrolment, and before you need to see a doctor.
Do EU students need the ÖGK Selbstversicherung to get a residence permit?
Usually not. For EU students the European Health Insurance Card is generally sufficient, whereas non-EU citizens need all-risks insurance covering Austria for the Residence Permit, Student. The residence authority decides on individual cases, so check the current wording on oesterreich.gv.at or migration.gv.at.
What happens if I forget to send my confirmation of enrolment to the ÖGK?
Every year a confirmation of enrolment has to reach the ÖGK by 31 December. Missing that deadline can interrupt your insurance, which is risky if the residence authority is checking your cover. Keep a reminder for December each year.