Study in Austria

 

Austria is certainly a top choice among international students at present times. The quality of life enjoyed by expats and citizens of Austria is one selling point tempting students to select Austria as their study abroad destination. Austria is 14th richest country of the word by GDP. The working hours allowed to students are restricted by government to enable students keep their focus on work.

Why Pakistani Students Should Study in Austria?

The accommodation is inexpensive as the government has ensured that no expat or citizen has to pay more than 25% of his/her income on rent. Post graduation opportunities are available for students according to their academic profiles and working skills and expertise. The quality of higher education is not less than the UK and Germany. Austria is although majorly a German speaking country but universities their offer plethora of courses in English medium. The general requirements of studying abroad are written below to give an overview of living in Austria as an international student:

Admissions in Austrian Universities for Pakistani Students 

Admissions criteria in Austria are decided by universities themselves. You can apply for admission at an Austrian Higher education Institution through online website. For admission in an under graduate program most of the Austrian Universities take entrance examination to assess academic eligibility of the applicant. For admissions in post graduates program the merit system is simple. The university will require your academic transcripts, recommendation letter from your professors, letter of intent written by you explaining why have you chosen a certain program for pursuing your degree, language proficiency test certificate of German or English language whichever medium of instruction for your study program you have chosen and a filled application. After being selected for the program in Austrian University you will be emailed an acceptance letter from university giving you details about tuition fee or scholarship availability if any and also asking for verification of your documents from Austrian Embassy located in your country.

Updated Student Visa of Austria Guide for Pakistani Students 

Those admitted in a study program at Austrian University which has duration of six months will be issued a student visa. Whereas those admitted in a study program at an Austrian University which has duration of more than 6 months will be issued a residence permit student of Austria. To attain either of the student visa or residence permit for students the applicants need to know that the University they are taking admission in must be accredited by Government of Austria. For both type of visas, the applicants need to provide a valid travel document (passport and national identity card), clearance letter from local police station stating the you don’t have criminal charge registered against you, proof of paid tuition fee, proof of accommodation arranged in Austria for duration of your stay, Bank statement proving that you have financial resources to back your living and study expenses and language proficiency test.

How Pakistani Students can Get Permanent Residence of Austria?

Austrian government has introduced 6 immigration programs based on education, skills and employment eligibility of an applicant. The students can extend their residence permit duration up to 12 months to find an employment. During this duration the can search for a job according to their qualification and professional mastery. After attaining a job contract from employer they become eligible for one of the immigration program and get Red-White-Red Card and paid accordingly. 

The minimum wage and employment services and facilities are controlled by Government of Austria. Upon getting Red-White-Red Card the holder is subject to all state provided privileges and sanctions expect for the right to vote. If you continue to live in Austria for 8 years un interrupted, it makes you eligible to attain citizenship of Austria on condition of clearance letter from police station proving that you has been a responsible resident throughout all these years.

Living Expenses and Study Expenses Austria for International Students 

Study Cost

People have general perception of Austria as an expensive country of Europe. When in reality it is way more reasonable in cost of living and study than other famous European countries such as the UK and Ireland. A student can expect to pay around 1450 Euros per year for a post graduation study course. The University of Vienna is the top ranked university of Austria consequently it is the most expensive one. You can expect to pay around 700 Euros per semester or it varies depending upon the citizenship of student and also depend upon time for how long you have already been studying there. The public sector universities offer a considerably low cost per year fee contrary to it private universities are quite expensive.

Living Cost

The living cost in Austria is substantially low cost. Despite being a popular study abroad destination and a tourist destination, Vienna is not expensive as London or Dublin. The universities in Austria do not offer on campus accommodation but there are private dormitories which are connected with universities or owned by universities where majority of international students reside. You can expect to pay 300 to 500 Euros per month including bills which is quite cheap owing to the fact that Austria is one of the richest countries in the world. The dormitories have all the facilities that a student can ask for; the location is near to public transports, universities, free internet, bicycle parking area, furnished kitchens, furnished bedrooms. In dormitories you can have single room, shared room, apartment, studio apartment or flat. Private housing is also not so expensive. You can expect to get a private accommodation in 300 to 500 Euros with almost same facilities as dormitories but with privacy. Food is expensive especially in winter season when finding fresh vegetables and fruits gets short due to weather.

On average a student requires approximately 800 to 1000 Euros per month to bear his/her living expenses.

Latest Student Jobs in Austria for Pakistani Students 

In Austria work permit is applied by the employer on your behalf for providing you an employment contract. You will be eligible for availing all employment benefits of paid holidays, protection against unlawful and uninformed dismissal from job and sick leaves by registering your employment contract with local authorities. The wage will be settled according to law of Austria and you will be duly paid. Masters students are allowed to work for 20 hours a week and Bachelors students are allowed to work for 10 hours a week. There are plenty of job options for students in Austria and on average a student can earn 800 to 1000 Euros per month.

Health Insurance for Austria International Students

What health insurance covers:

Doctor and hospital visits

Medicans

Mental health

Prescription drugs

Medical devices and more

If you wander around the streets of any Austrian city, you’ll feel like you’ve gone back in time as you start to experience that fairy tale vibe. Austria has a unique charm making every visitor marvel at its beauty. As a student in Austria, you won’t just enjoy the country’s numerous beauties; you’ll also study at one of the universities offering excellent academic options.

One of the countless advantages of studying and living in Austria is being within one of the safest countries in the world and enjoying a high quality of life.

You can discover Austria’s incredible culture and history, if once you attend the diverse social events held in any of its major cities. From art exhibitions to concerts, theatre performances, and the famous balls – you can find pretty much anything.

Austria is also the perfect destination for outdoor sports fanatics. The Austrian Alps are the perfect setting for skiing, hiking and climbing.

Find your perfect study degree in Austria!

The great number of high-quality education institutions, a long academic tradition and an open-minded learning atmosphere make Austria an easy choice for students who are seeking an international education.

Austrian universities, as well as Austrian cities, have a high multicultural environment; so it is easy for foreign students to adjust here. Study degrees are either research-focused or they include practical exercises in order to develop your problem-based learning skills. Austrian universities partner with many of the local research centres that conduct projects in quantum physics, biomedicine, nanotechnologies, communications, and environmental technologies.

Why study in Austria?

1. It's super affordable and in some cases free

Public universities in Austria are free for all EU and EEA citizens; international students only pay around 1,500 EUR per academic year. At universities of applied sciences (UAS), tuition rates vary between 365 and 7,500 EUR depending on the study programme and your nationality.

2. You'll live in a safe and secure environment

Austria is one of the safest countries in the world, enjoying a low crime rate and a high standard of living and social security. In a world full of political and military tensions, armed conflicts, and violent protests, you won't have many worries while living in Austria.

3. High quality of life

If you choose Austria, you'll have the opportunity to study and live in Vienna, which has been ranked as the city with the highest quality of life for 10 years in a row! Everything from transport to accommodation, from student services to administrative support, from salaries to job outlook is excellent.

4. Austria is an artistic and cultural hub

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Franz Schubert, Egon Schiele, Gustav Klimt — do we need to say more? Austria also has a long list of museums and galleries which are a must-see for any visitor.

5. There's a sport for everybody

If you're into sports, you should feel right at home in Austria. There's something for everybody! And if you haven't found your preferred activity, don't give up. You can choose from football, alpine skiing, hockey, swimming, mountain-biking, etc.

Universities and colleges to attend in Austria

Austria is home to over 50 higher educational institutions, divided as follows:

22 public universities (including research universities and universities of arts)

21 universities of applied sciences

13 private universities

Examples of universities in Austria we recommend:

Central European University (CEU)

WU (Vienna University of Economics and Business)

University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria

FH Kufstein Tirol - University of Applied Sciences

Vienna School of International Studies

What is it like to study in Austria?

The general atmosphere in an Austrian university is quite relaxed and professors are always willing to help students, answer their questions and make sure they understand everything they are learning.

Students get to work in small teams during seminars and team projects, giving students a huge advantage, while they understand new information easier and faster. Additionally, students can engage in active discussions and can present their own point of view.

International offices within the universities often organise trips to nearby cities and surroundings, helping international students adjust to a new country and culture.

What to study in Austria?

As music and arts have had a major influence upon Austria’s culture and traditions, you can expect many universities and academies to provide a large number of study programmes devoted to these fields. However, you can also find plenty of Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in numerous fields, from Business Administration, Computer Science, to Languages, Political Science, Psychology, and Engineering.

Here are some of the most popular study options in Austria

Masters in Marketing in Austria 

Masters in International Business in Austria 

Masters in Computer Sciences in Austria 

Masters in Electrical Engineering in Austria 

Where to study in Austria?

Vienna is home to the largest number of universities in Austria. Other cities in Austria that house a variety of universities or academies are Graz, Salzburg, Linz, Graz and Innsbruck.

Highly urban cities like Vienna and Linz have numerous cultural attractions, with museums, theatres, bars and restaurants, to fulfil your active social life.Instead, in cities like Innsbruck or Salzburg that are surrounded by mountains, you can mostly spend your free time in the middle of nature, hiking or skiing during the winter.

How to apply

For most universities in Austria, you can simply apply online by submitting the application form along with all requested application documents. However, it is always recommended that you check with your chosen university, as in some cases, you will also have to send documents by post. Here are a few important steps to keep in mind:

Carefully check all the required application documents and make sure they are all translated into English or German. For instance, an internationally recognised Bachelor's degree or equivalent is the main requirement when enrolling in a Master’s degree at a university in Austria.

Make sure to know what the language requirements are, and whether you need to prove skills in English before enrolling in a degree programme.

Show how you performed as a student, and be sure to know what your Grade Point Average (GPA) was during your studies.

To help your chances of going to Austria, be sure to apply to more than one university!

Make sure you qualify for an Austrian university

Take Preparation Courses

These kinds of courses enable degree-seeking students to get an extra educational boost just before they start their Master’s degree or other post-graduate degree programmes.

Try a pre-M.B.A., pre-Law, or pre-Medicine programme, as well as any other foundation or preparation courses that will allow you to study in the degree programme of your choice.

Improve your English through an English-language prep course

If you’re attending a degree programme in Austria, you will sometimes need to prove that your language skills are good enough to participate in the classes and understand the lectures. These courses will also prepare you for any of the English-language tests that universities require.

English-language tests

There are over 200 English-taught programmes in Austria.

Universities in Austria will want to see proof that you have good English-language skills, so that you can easily succeed in their courses. Almost all Austrian universities accept these official English exams:

PTE Academic

IELTS

TOEFL

C1 Advanced