If you want to become a teacher in Austria, the Pädagogische Hochschulen, university colleges of teacher education, are one of the main routes. But here’s the catch for international students: they teach in German, and as of October 2026 none of them has an English-taught degree programme in the Austrian national register.
So they are a realistic option only if your German is strong enough. And you apply directly to each college, because there is no central application portal.
What a university college of teacher education is
These are specialised higher education institutions for teacher training. The OeAD lists 14 of them. Some are public, in Vienna, Lower Austria, Upper Austria, Salzburg, Styria, Tyrol, Vorarlberg and Carinthia, and some are private or church-run, such as KPH Edith Stein and the Private University College of Teacher Education Augustinum.
They are not universities in the broad sense. They focus on educating teachers, and their programmes are mostly in German. You can see the full list on our teacher training colleges page.
Language: German is the entry ticket
Every programme at these colleges is taught in German, so you need sufficient knowledge of German to study. The exact level is set by each institution, so check with the college you are interested in.
This is the main reason they are missing from our English-language programme catalogue. As of October 2026, the national register shows no English-taught degree at any Pädagogische Hochschule. That is why they appear in our directory without programmes.
If you are looking for English-taught study options in Austria, you will need to look elsewhere. Our programme search lists 589 programmes with English among their languages of instruction, imported from the national register (455 taught in English only, the rest in German and English).
How to apply
Admission is organised by each institution, not centrally. The OeAD does not handle study applications, and there is no central application portal. So you apply directly to the college, usually online, as most programmes require online registration.
For 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 deadlines at university colleges can differ, and applicants from outside the EU/EEA may have other dates, so always confirm with the college itself.
You will also need to show your German proficiency. Some colleges may require a specific certificate; ask them early.
Fees and costs
Tuition fees at university colleges of teacher education differ from one institution to the next. The national register does not list a single fee for all of them, so you must check with each college. The figures below are for public universities and are useful for comparison, but they are not automatically the same at a Pädagogische Hochschule.
At public universities, EU/EEA and Swiss students pay no tuition only within the standard duration of the programme plus two semesters. Outside that period, and for most other students, tuition is EUR 726.72 per semester. On top of any tuition, all students pay the student union fee (ÖH-Beitrag) of EUR 26.20 per semester.
Because the teacher education colleges set their own fees, treat any figure you see elsewhere as indicative and confirm it with the institution. The national register figures for programmes and fees on this site are as of October 2026 and should be verified with the college.
Alternatives: teacher training at universities
Teacher training also exists at universities. In the register it is called ‘Lehramtsstudium’ and is offered as bachelor’s and master’s programmes. The register lists a handful of English-taught ones, so if you want to teach but your German is not yet strong, that could be a route to explore.
You can browse all institutions on our universities page or see all universities in Austria to compare options.
What about the residence permit?
If you are from outside the EU/EEA or Switzerland and plan to stay 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. The residence authority decides on permits; the institution decides on admission. We don’t give immigration advice, so check migration.gv.at and oesterreich.gv.at for the current rules.
Sources
- OeAD, application and admission
- OeAD, institutions directory
- 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 Pädagogische Hochschulen in Austria teach in English?
No. As of October 2026, none of the 14 university colleges of teacher education has an English-taught degree programme in the Austrian national register. All their programmes are in German, so you need sufficient German to study there.
How do I apply to a university college of teacher education?
You apply directly to the institution, usually online. There is no central application portal, and the OeAD does not handle study applications. Check the college’s website for exact deadlines and language requirements.
What are the tuition fees at Austrian teacher training colleges?
Fees differ from one institution to the next, so you must confirm with the college you are applying to. At public universities, EU/EEA students pay no tuition only within the standard duration plus two semesters; otherwise tuition is EUR 726.72 per semester, and all students pay the EUR 26.20 student union fee each semester.
Can I train as a teacher at an Austrian university instead?
Yes. Teacher training programmes, called ‘Lehramtsstudium’, are also offered at universities as bachelor’s and master’s degrees. The national register lists a handful of English-taught ones, so that might be an option if you need an English-language route.