Short answer: there is no general scholarship that pays for a whole master's degree in Austria. The OeAD, the country's main funding body for international students, says plainly that it offers no scholarship for a whole bachelor's, master's or PhD programme, and that there are hardly any scholarships for a whole degree programme anywhere. What does exist is a mix of joint European master's programmes, a few institution-level grants and a big database you have to search yourself.
What the OeAD does and does not fund
The OeAD's incoming programmes are mostly for a stay of a few months or a specific purpose, not for a full degree. They include the Ernst Mach Grant (worldwide, plus a version for universities of applied sciences, ASEA-UNINET and a follow-up grant), CEEPUS, the Aktion programmes with the Czech Republic and Hungary, and the Indonesia, Austria Scholarship Programme.
Two rules catch people out. First, most OeAD scholarships pay a monthly amount, and you cover insurance and accommodation out of that money. Second, once you have started your studies in Austria you can no longer apply for an OeAD scholarship. Funding has to be sorted before you enrol, not after you arrive and realise the budget is tight.
You can see which of these appear in our own listings on the scholarships page.
The master's route that actually covers a whole degree
The one possibility the OeAD names for a whole master's is an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master's Degree. These are joint programmes run by consortia of universities, and they are open to applicants of all nationalities. That last point matters: the funding is not tied to where you come from.
Erasmus Mundus is also a different kind of degree. You typically study in more than one country and receive a joint or multiple qualification, so check the structure and the language of instruction before you fall in love with the title. Our scholarship directory lists Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters alongside the Ernst Mach grants and CEEPUS.
Search grants.at, not just one website
The OeAD points students to grants.at, Austria's largest database for scholarships and research grants. Most of the entries there are not administered by the OeAD at all. They come from foundations, ministries, companies and other bodies, which is exactly why a single funding body cannot tell you the full picture.
Use it as a search tool, not a reading list. Filter by your level (master's), your subject and your nationality, then read the eligibility rules on the funder's own page. If a listing gives no amount or deadline, that is a signal to email the funder rather than guess.
Institution scholarships: small, rare, worth asking about
Some Austrian institutions offer a small number of scholarships or grants to international students. The OeAD describes these as relatively rare, so treat them as a bonus, not a plan. The way to find them is direct: check the international office or study advisory page of each university you are considering and ask what exists for your programme and level.
You can work through the options on our list of all universities in Austria. We count 65 Austrian higher education institutions and 589 programmes with English among their languages of instruction, of which 455 are taught entirely in English. That is a lot of institutions to email, so narrow it down by programme first and funding second.
Budget for what a scholarship will not cover
Even with a grant, plan the rest of the money. As listed in the Austrian national register, the student union fee (ÖH-Beitrag) is EUR 26.20 per semester and is compulsory for all students. At public universities, EU/EEA students pay no tuition only within the programme's standard duration plus two semesters; most other students pay EUR 726.72 per semester. Confirm any fee with the institution before you budget.
Students from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland need a Residence Permit, Student for stays over 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, and the institution decides on admission, so neither a scholarship nor this guide can settle those questions for you.
| Funding route | What it covers | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Erasmus Mundus Joint Master's | A whole joint master's programme, open to all nationalities | Master's applicants willing to study in more than one place |
| Ernst Mach Grant and other OeAD programmes | A defined stay, usually paid monthly; insurance and accommodation come out of it | Applicants before enrolment, not current students |
| Institution scholarships | A small number of grants, described by the OeAD as relatively rare | Anyone prepared to ask each institution directly |
| grants.at listings | Whatever each funder offers; most are not OeAD-run | Everyone, as a first search |
Timing: sort funding before you enrol
Because you cannot apply for an OeAD scholarship once your studies have started, your funding search runs in parallel with your application, not after it. Admission is handled by each institution; there is no central portal and the OeAD does not process study applications.
Deadlines vary. At public universities the general 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 dates. Check each institution's own page, and for funding check studyinaustria.at, oead.at and grants.at. The programme and fee data on this site comes from the Austrian national register as of October 2026, so confirm details with the institution before you rely on them.
Sources
- OeAD, scholarships and funding
- OeAD, overview of grants and scholarships
- OeAD, application and admission
- oesterreich.gv.at, admission of foreign students
- oesterreich.gv.at, residence permit for students
- Tuition and student union fee information (studyinaustria.at)
- Austrian national register open data (BMFWF) and studienwahl.at
Frequently asked questions
Are there scholarships for a whole master's degree in Austria?
The OeAD offers no scholarship for a whole master's programme and says there are hardly any for a whole degree. It names Erasmus Mundus Joint Master's Degrees, open to all nationalities, as one possibility. Search grants.at and ask individual institutions too.
Can I apply for an OeAD scholarship after starting my studies in Austria?
No. Once you have started your studies in Austria you can no longer apply for an OeAD scholarship. You need to arrange funding before you enrol, so run the scholarship search alongside your application.
What does an OeAD scholarship pay for?
Most OeAD scholarships include a monthly scholarship amount, and you pay insurance and accommodation out of that grant. They are generally for a defined stay rather than a full degree programme.
Where do I find scholarships that the OeAD does not run?
grants.at is Austria's largest database for scholarships and research grants, and most entries there are not administered by the OeAD. Filter by level, subject and nationality, then confirm details with the funder directly.