Vienna is where most of Austria's universities sit, and the OeAD names nine public ones alone. But the first thing to know is that nobody applies to Vienna centrally: each institution decides on its own admission, runs its own deadlines and handles its own paperwork. Your plan should start with one institution, not with a city-wide application.
What kinds of institutions are in Vienna
The OeAD lists nine public universities in Vienna: the University of Vienna, TU Wien, BOKU University, WU, the Medical University of Vienna, the University of Veterinary Medicine, the University of Applied Arts, the Academy of Fine Arts and the University of Music and Performing Arts (mdw). That covers everything from a large general university to a small art academy.
Alongside them are private institutions named by the OeAD, including Central European University, Modul University Vienna, Webster Vienna Private University, Sigmund Freud University and the Music and Arts University of the City of Vienna. Universities of applied sciences in the city include UAS Technikum Wien, Hochschule Campus Wien, FHWien der WKW, the BFI Vienna university and the Lauder Business School.
Our own catalogue lists 21 institutions in Vienna, among them the University of Vienna, TU Wien, BOKU, WU, Central European University, Modul University Vienna, the University of Applied Arts Vienna and Hochschule Campus Wien. You can browse the full set on our universities in Vienna page, or see everything nationwide under all universities in Austria.
Can you study in English?
Yes, at least for some programmes. Our catalogue lists 589 programmes across Austria with English among their languages of instruction, 455 taught in English only, the rest in German and English combined. Those programmes are spread over 65 institutions, so they are not all in Vienna.
When you shortlist, check the language of instruction on the institution's own page rather than assuming. A programme listed as German and English may still require German for part of the coursework, and admission staff will tell you what level they expect.
Deadlines and how admission works
Admission is organised by each institution. The OeAD does not handle study applications, and there is no central portal where you apply to several Vienna universities at once. That means two applications to two institutions are two separate processes, each with its own documents and its own date.
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, so check with the institution.
The University of Vienna is a useful example of how specific this gets. For the winter semester 2026/27 it states an application period of 22 June to 5 September 2026 for EU/EEA applicants and 22 June to 3 August 2026 for non-EU/EEA applicants. Same university, same semester, two different closing dates depending on your nationality.
What it costs
The student union fee (ÖH-Beitrag) is EUR 26.20 per semester and compulsory for all students, whatever institution you attend.
Tuition depends on who you are and where you study. At public universities, EU/EEA students pay no tuition within the programme's standard duration plus two semesters. Most other students pay EUR 726.72 per semester. Note the qualification: the exemption runs for the standard duration plus two semesters, not indefinitely.
For private institutions and universities of applied sciences, fees are set by the institution. Programmes and fees on this site come from the Austrian national register (BMFWF open data and the study finder studienwahl.at) as of October 2026, and the register can lag behind what a university actually charges. Confirm the figure with the institution before you budget.
Living costs and housing
The OeAD's average monthly living-cost estimate for a student in Austria is about EUR 1,300, and the figure varies by study location. Vienna is at the higher end: the OeAD says housing in Vienna is more expensive than in smaller towns.
That does not automatically mean you should avoid Vienna, but it should shape your budget. The city makes up some of the difference in other ways, public transport, for instance, but rent is the line that moves most. Our cost of living guide breaks down what the monthly total covers, and the accommodation guide explains the housing options students use here.
Visas and residence permits
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.
If you are already in Vienna and need to deal with a residence permit, the University of Vienna names the City of Vienna department MA 35 as the contact. The residence authority decides on permits; the university does not. Start early, because 90 days is the authority's decision window, not the total time the process will take you.
How to choose
- Pick the programme, not the city. Search the register for programmes in your subject and in a language you can handle, then look at where they are.
- Check the deadline for your nationality. The University of Vienna example shows why: the non-EU/EEA window closed a month before the EU/EEA one for winter 2026/27.
- Confirm fees in writing. Catalogue figures are as listed in the Austrian national register; the institution is the authority.
- Budget for Vienna's rent. The OeAD's EUR 1,300 average is a national figure, and housing here is dearer than in smaller towns.
| Question | Where to check |
|---|---|
| Is this programme taught in English? | The institution; our programme listings |
| When is my deadline? | The institution (dates vary by nationality and semester) |
| What will I pay? | The institution; register figures are a starting point |
| Do I need a residence permit? | oesterreich.gv.at and migration.gv.at |
For general questions about studying in Austria, studyinaustria.at and oead.at are the places to start. For admission, go straight to the institution.
Sources
- OeAD, institutions directory
- University of Vienna, application and admission periods
- University of Vienna, international students
- OeAD, living costs
- OeAD, application and admission
- oesterreich.gv.at, admission of foreign students
- OeAD, tuition fees and student union fee
- oesterreich.gv.at, residence permit for students
- Austrian national register (BMFWF open data and studienwahl.at), as of October 2026
Frequently asked questions
How many public universities are there in Vienna?
The OeAD lists nine: the University of Vienna, TU Wien, BOKU University, WU, the Medical University of Vienna, the University of Veterinary Medicine, the University of Applied Arts, the Academy of Fine Arts and the University of Music and Performing Arts (mdw). Private institutions and universities of applied sciences operate in the city as well.
What is the application deadline for the University of Vienna?
For the winter semester 2026/27 the University of Vienna states 22 June to 5 September 2026 for EU/EEA applicants and 22 June to 3 August 2026 for non-EU/EEA applicants. Deadlines differ by programme, so confirm yours with the institution.
How much does it cost to study in Vienna?
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, while most other students pay EUR 726.72 per semester. Private institutions and universities of applied sciences set their own fees.
How much money do I need each month in Vienna?
The OeAD's average estimate for a student in Austria is about EUR 1,300 per month and varies by study location. The OeAD also notes that housing in Vienna is more expensive than in smaller towns, so budget above the national average for rent.