Your foreign school certificate usually qualifies you for university in Austria if it shows no essential difference from the Austrian Reifeprüfung. But you don't send it to a central office: each university's rectorate decides whether your certificate is equivalent, sometimes with conditions attached. So the answer depends on the institution you apply to, and you need to check with them directly.
What counts as a university entrance qualification
Austrian law lists the qualifications that give access to university studies as a regular student. They include the Austrian Reifeprüfung, the Studienberechtigungsprüfung, an admission test for artistic fields, a foreign qualification where there is no essential difference, a certificate of a completed study of at least three years at a recognised post-secondary institution, the International Baccalaureate Diploma and the European Baccalaureate.
Two of these work differently. A Reifeprüfung certificate admits you to all fields. A Studienberechtigungsprüfung only admits you to a particular field of study.
How foreign certificates are assessed
If you hold a foreign school leaving certificate, the test is whether it shows no essential difference from the Austrian one. That can be fixed by agreements or decided by the rectorate in the individual case. The decision may come with conditions.
The Federal Ministry or the university can give you information on the recognition of school leaving certificates and examinations. For questions about recognising qualifications for professional purposes, the OeAD points to ENIC NARIC.
There is a difference in wording for EU/EEA applicants: you need a secondary school leaving certificate that entitles you to university studies in your home country, plus a copy of your passport and German proof for German-taught programmes. Students from outside the EU/EEA need an equivalent secondary school leaving certificate.
Where to apply and when
Admission is organised by each institution, not centrally. The OeAD does not handle study applications, and there is no central application portal. Start with the university you want. You can browse universities to see who offers what, or find programmes by subject and language.
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 confirm your date with the institution.
This site lists 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. That count comes from our own catalogue. To see the full set, go to all universities in Austria.
Costs you should plan for
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 within the standard duration plus two semesters, while most other students pay EUR 726.72 per semester.
If you are from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland and 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.
Programmes and fees on this site come from the Austrian national register as of October 2026, so confirm them with the institution before you rely on them.
Step by step for your certificate
- Identify your qualification against the list above.
- Ask the university's admission office whether your certificate shows no essential difference, and what documents they need.
- Check the deadline for your programme and your country group.
- Budget for the ÖH fee and, if applicable, tuition and the residence permit fee.
- If you are unsure about recognition for professional purposes, contact ENIC NARIC via the OeAD.
Sources
- OeAD, application and admission
- oesterreich.gv.at, admission of ordinary students
- oesterreich.gv.at, admission of foreign students
- oesterreich.gv.at, residence permit for students
- OeAD, tuition fees
- Austrian national register open data (BMFWF and studienwahl.at)
Frequently asked questions
Is my foreign school leaving certificate accepted in Austria?
It can be, if it shows no essential difference from the Austrian Reifeprüfung. The rectorate of the university decides this in the individual case, possibly with conditions. The Federal Ministry or the university can give you information on recognition.
Do I apply through a central portal for Austrian universities?
No. Admission is organised by each institution, and there is no central application portal. The OeAD does not handle study applications, so you apply directly to the university you want to attend.
What is the deadline for bachelor's programmes 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 check with the institution.
What fees should I expect as a student in Austria?
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. Students from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland also need a residence permit, with an application fee of EUR 218.