Ernst Mach Grant for studying at an Austrian university of applied sciences

The Ernst Mach Grant for studying at an Austrian University of Applied Sciences is for exchange and visiting scholars. You come to Austria for a short study stay, not to complete a degree. The grant is aimed at visiting or exchange scholars for a short study stay up to 10 months.

You can only apply for stays at universities of applied sciences, called Fachhochschulen in German. These are special universities that offer degrees only from a limited field of studies. You can find an overview of eligible universities and their programmes at fachhochschulen.ac.at.

Before you apply, you need to be accepted as an exchange scholar or free mover by an Austrian university of applied sciences. In most cases Austrian universities only accept exchange scholars who come from foreign partner universities. In exceptional cases they also accept so-called free movers. A confirmation of acceptance has to be enclosed with the application.

If you are a regular student at an Austrian university, you are not eligible. Applicants who are already permanently resident in Austria, or who have completed their academic education mainly in Austria, are also not eligible.

The current call is for stays during the Austrian academic year 2026/27, which starts in September 2026. The earliest you could come to Austria would be September 2026.

• You are studying a Master's or a Bachelor's programme at a university in one of the defined countries of origin.
• Bachelor students must have successfully completed at least 4 semesters.
• The maximum age is 35 years.
• You need to be accepted as an exchange scholar or free mover from an Austrian university of applied sciences (Fachhochschule) before applying.
• You must apply before the beginning of your planned scholarship stay.
• You are not a regular student at an Austrian university.
• You are not already permanently resident in Austria, and you have not completed your academic education mainly in Austria.
• You upload written confirmation from your home university that the exams you take in Austria, amounting to at least 16 ECTS credits, will be recognised by your home university.

• The grant is for a short study stay up to 10 months.
• The scholarship rate might not cover all expenses for your stay in Austria. Own funds are required.
• Your grant rate cannot be increased.
• You do not need to provide evidence of own funds to the OeAD agency. The Austrian residence authority might require proof of your funds in case of increased living costs, for example for health insurance or when your accommodation costs more than EUR 300 per month.

1. Check that you are eligible and read the grant regulations carefully.
2. Get accepted as an exchange student or free mover at an Austrian university of applied sciences. Contact the university beforehand, or ask the international office of your home university whether a cooperation with an Austrian university of applied sciences exists.
3. Prepare your documents. Letters of recommendation can be freely written but must bear the letterhead, date and signature of the person recommending or supervising you and the stamp of the university or department. They must not be older than six months at the time of the application.
4. Upload your letters of recommendation into your online application account, or ask your professors to send them directly to the OeAD as scanned attachments. Documents that arrive after the deadline cannot be accepted.
5. Upload written confirmation from your home university that at least 16 ECTS credits taken in Austria will be recognised. Some Austrian universities of applied sciences require a learning agreement; ask your host university for a template if that is the case.
6. Upload your Transcript of Records from the current or last semester. If you are in the Master's programme, also upload your Bachelor's degree certificate and the most recent Transcript of Records.
7. Upload a valid, biometric passport. An identity card is only acceptable for applications from the EU.
8. If your documents are neither in English nor German, upload a copy of the original and a rough English or German translation. An officially certified translation is not required.
9. Submit your online application before the deadline. Do not wait until the last minute, because the system checks your information for completeness during submission and technical support is not available outside office hours and on weekends.
10. Confirm every detail on the official page before you apply.