Graz is a genuine university town, and the practical starting point is this: every institution in the city runs its own admission process. There is no central application portal, and the OeAD, the agency many people assume handles applications, does not handle them at all. So you pick your programme, then you deal with that institution directly.
Our catalogue lists 8 institutions in Graz. Here's what's there and what you should sort out before you apply.
Which institutions are in Graz?
The OeAD lists four universities in the city: the University of Graz, Graz University of Technology, the Medical University of Graz and the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz. Our catalogue adds two universities of applied sciences, FH JOANNEUM and Campus 02, plus two university colleges of teacher education: the Private University College of Teacher Education Augustinum and the University College of Teacher Education Styria.
That's a mix worth noticing. You've got a broad research university, a technical university, a medical university, an arts university, applied-science degrees and teacher education all in one city. You can see the full list on our universities in Graz page, and compare them against the wider picture on all universities in Austria.
What can you study in English?
Across Austria, this site lists 65 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.
In Graz specifically, the national register lists joint English-taught master's programmes run by the University of Graz and Graz University of Technology. If you want a taught-in-English degree in Graz, those joint programmes are the concrete example to look at first. For anything else, check the institution's own programme pages, a programme taught in German will usually expect German proficiency, and the institution, not us, sets that bar.
How do you apply?
Directly to the institution. That's the whole system in one sentence.
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. Watch the caveat: other programmes can have different deadlines, and applicants from outside the EU/EEA can face different dates too. Master's programmes, artistic programmes and applied-science degrees often set their own schedule, so confirm with the institution before you plan anything around a date.
Admission decisions belong to the institution. Nobody else can tell you whether you'll get in, and no third party can apply on your behalf.
What does it cost?
Two separate things here, and people mix them up.
The student union fee (ÖH-Beitrag) is EUR 26.20 per semester and compulsory for all students. Then there's tuition. At public universities, EU/EEA students pay no tuition within the programme's standard duration plus two semesters. Past that window, or if you fall outside that group, most other students pay EUR 726.72 per semester. Universities of applied sciences and private institutions set their own fees, check with them.
Programmes and fees on this site come from the Austrian national register (BMFWF open data and studienwahl.at) as of October 2026. Treat every figure as something to confirm with the institution before you budget. Tuition at public universities is not simply free; the standard-duration-plus-two-semesters rule is what makes the difference.
| Cost | Amount | Who pays |
|---|---|---|
| Student union fee (ÖH) | EUR 26.20 per semester | All students |
| Tuition at public universities | No tuition within standard duration plus two semesters | EU/EEA students |
| Tuition at public universities | EUR 726.72 per semester | Most other students |
What does living in Graz cost?
The OeAD's average monthly living-cost estimate for a student in Austria is about EUR 1,300, and it varies by study location. Use that as your starting number, not your final one.
On rent, the OeAD notes that Graz, along with Vienna and Salzburg, may have slightly higher rental rates than smaller towns. So if you're comparing Graz with a small Austrian town, expect to pay a bit more for a room here. Our cost of living page breaks the monthly budget down further, and the accommodation guide covers what to look for before you sign anything. Don't sign a lease you haven't seen, and don't pay a deposit to anyone you can't verify.
Do you need a visa?
If you're from outside the EU/EEA or Switzerland and staying more than six months, you need a Residence Permit, Student. The application fee on oesterreich.gv.at is EUR 218, and the authority decides within 90 days.
That's the authority's call, not the university's, and not ours. We can't advise you on your individual case, check migration.gv.at and oesterreich.gv.at for the current wording, and apply early enough that a 90-day decision doesn't derail your start date.
What should you do next?
- Shortlist two or three programmes from the Graz institutions above.
- Check the language of instruction and the exact deadline on the institution's own site.
- Confirm the tuition that applies to you, in writing if you can.
- Budget from the OeAD's EUR 1,300 figure and adjust upwards for Graz rent.
- Start the residence permit process early if it applies to you.
Sources
- OeAD, institutions directory
- OeAD, application and admission
- OeAD, accommodation
- OeAD, living costs
- OeAD, tuition
- Austrian national register (BMFWF open data and studienwahl.at)
- oesterreich.gv.at, admission of foreign students
- oesterreich.gv.at, residence permit, student
Frequently asked questions
How many universities are there in Graz?
Our catalogue lists 8 institutions in Graz: the University of Graz, Graz University of Technology, the Medical University of Graz and the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz, plus FH JOANNEUM, Campus 02, the Private University College of Teacher Education Augustinum and the University College of Teacher Education Styria.
Can I apply to Graz universities through a central portal?
No. Admission is organised by each institution, there is no central application portal, and the OeAD does not handle study applications. You apply directly to the university or university of applied sciences you want to attend.
What is the application deadline for bachelor's programmes in Graz?
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. Other programmes, and applicants from outside the EU/EEA, can have different deadlines, so confirm with the institution.
How much does it cost to study in Graz?
All students pay the ÖH student union fee of EUR 26.20 per semester. 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. Confirm the figure that applies to you with the institution.