To get into a master's programme in Austria, you first need a bachelor's degree of at least six semesters, worth at least 180 ECTS. That's the core rule. Everything else, equivalence checks, deadlines, selection procedures, is set by the university you apply to, not by a central office.
What the 180 ECTS rule actually says
An Austrian master's programme requires successful completion of a relevant bachelor's degree of at least six semesters, with a minimum of 180 ECTS credits. The master's itself is worth at least 120 ECTS. So the rule is really two things: your previous degree needs enough credits, and it needs to be in a subject the university considers relevant.
If your bachelor's is shorter than six semesters or below 180 ECTS, you don't meet the basic requirement as set out. Some universities may have extra options, but you need to ask them directly, it's their call, not ours.
Why the university decides, not a central portal
There is no central application portal for Austrian universities. The OeAD does not handle study applications. Each institution runs its own admission process and sets its own rules for what counts as a relevant bachelor's and an equivalent degree.
That matters in practice. At TU Wien, for example, admission to a master's programme for applicants with a non-Austrian bachelor's degree requires the Dean of Studies to check equivalence. At the University of Vienna, master's programmes have an application period followed by an admission period, for winter semester 2026/27, that's 22 June to 5 September 2026 for EU/EEA applicants and 22 June to 3 August 2026 for non-EU/EEA applicants. Some master's programmes also have a selection procedure; the University of Vienna explains this in its Master Access Guide.
So the 180 ECTS threshold is the starting point. The actual decision rests with the institution.
Matching your bachelor's to the right master's
Most of the programmes in this directory are master's programmes, which makes sense, that's what international students often come for. We list 65 Austrian higher education institutions and 589 programmes with English among their languages of instruction, imported from the Austrian national register. Of those, 455 are taught in English only and the rest in German and English.
Use that to narrow your search. You can browse universities to see who offers what, or go straight to master's level programmes if you already know you want a master's. If you're still comparing options, the full programme finder lets you filter by language and subject.
When you're checking a programme, look at two things: the ECTS requirement and the subject match. A 180 ECTS bachelor's in a different field may not be accepted as relevant, even if the credit count is right.
Deadlines and documents: what to check and where
Deadlines vary by institution and by where you studied. 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, but other programmes and applicants from outside the EU/EEA can have different deadlines. Master's deadlines are set by each university; the University of Vienna and TU Wien dates above show how much they can differ.
For a master's application you'll typically need your bachelor's certificate and transcript, proof that the degree is at least six semesters and 180 ECTS, and evidence of the subject content. If your documents aren't in German or English, ask the institution whether you need certified translations. Confirm every requirement with the university itself before you pay for anything.
Costs are separate from admission. The student union fee (ÖH-Beitrag) is EUR 26.20 per semester and compulsory for all students. At public universities, EU/EEA students pay no tuition only 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 and can change, confirm them with your institution.
After you're admitted: permits and practical steps
Admission is one thing; the residence permit is another. Students from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland need a Residence Permit, Student for a stay of more than six months. The application fee on oesterreich.gv.at is EUR 218, and the authority decides within 90 days. The residence authority decides on permits, not the university.
Start early. A 90-day decision window plus document gathering means you don't want to apply for the permit the week before term starts. Check oesterreich.gv.at and migration.gv.at for the current wording and required documents.
There's no single page that lists every master's deadline in Austria. Instead, check the institution's own admissions page first, then studyinaustria.at for the general framework, and oead.at for orientation. If a number isn't on the university's site, email them, don't guess.
Sources
- OeAD, application and admission
- OeAD, find your programme
- TU Wien, academic calendar
- University of Vienna, application and admission periods
- Austrian national register (BMFWF open data and studienwahl.at), as of October 2026
- oesterreich.gv.at, admission of international students
- oesterreich.gv.at, residence permit for students
- OeAD, tuition fees
Frequently asked questions
Do I need exactly 180 ECTS to apply for a master's in Austria?
You need at least 180 ECTS from a bachelor's programme of at least six semesters. A degree with more credits is fine, as long as it's relevant to the master's you're applying for. The university checks both the credit count and the subject match.
Who decides if my foreign bachelor's is equivalent?
The university does. At TU Wien, for example, the Dean of Studies checks equivalence for applicants with a non-Austrian bachelor's degree. There's no central portal, the OeAD doesn't handle study applications, so you apply directly to each institution.
What are the master's application deadlines in Austria?
They vary by university. At the University of Vienna, the winter semester 2026/27 application period runs 22 June to 5 September 2026 for EU/EEA applicants and 22 June to 3 August 2026 for non-EU/EEA applicants. Check your institution's own dates, since they can differ even within the same city.
How much does it cost to study a master's in Austria?
The student union fee is EUR 26.20 per semester and compulsory for everyone. At public universities, EU/EEA students pay no tuition only within the standard duration plus two semesters; most other students pay EUR 726.72 per semester. These figures are as listed in the Austrian national register, confirm them with your institution.