Bachelor's Degrees in English in Austria: Where They Are and What They Cost
Fee figures: catalogue of 6 October 2026.
Austria teaches most of its bachelor's degrees in German, and English-taught programmes are a minority. They are worth knowing about for two reasons: many of them sit at Fachhochschulen (universities of applied sciences) with modest fees, and public tuition in Austria is low by European standards, even for students from outside the EU.
How many there are
Our catalogue lists 87 bachelor's programmes taught fully or partly in English, out of 776 bachelor's and Diplom programmes in Austria. More than a third of them also list German as a teaching language, so a programme marked "English" may still have German-taught modules. Read the curriculum before you apply.
The full list of English-taught programmes shows the language, the institution and the fee for each one.
Where they are
- Vienna has about a third of all English-taught bachelor's programmes, spread over public universities (the University of Vienna, WU, TU Wien), Fachhochschulen and private universities such as Modul University Vienna, Webster Vienna Private University and Central European University.
- Krems an der Donau and Graz come next. In Krems most programmes are at IMC University of Applied Sciences Krems; in Graz they are at FH JOANNEUM, CAMPUS 02 and Graz University of Technology.
- Smaller cities matter more than you might expect: Klagenfurt (University of Klagenfurt), Dornbirn (FHV Vorarlberg), Kufstein (FH Kufstein Tirol), Linz (Johannes Kepler University) and Villach (Carinthia University of Applied Sciences) each have several programmes.
Most English-taught programmes are at public institutions, which in Austria include the Fachhochschulen. The rest are at private universities.
Which subjects
Business and management dominate by a wide margin: international business, tourism and hospitality management, marketing and similar degrees make up the largest group. Engineering is second, followed by languages and humanities (including English and American studies), the natural sciences and mathematics, and the social sciences, such as international relations, economics and psychology. Computing, health and the arts have only a handful of programmes each, and our catalogue has no English-taught degree in medicine.
What they cost
Fees depend on the type of institution and on your citizenship. For English-taught programmes in our catalogue:
| Lowest | Typical | Highest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU/EEA students, per year | €0 | €727 | €24,068 |
| Non-EU students, per year | €0 | €1,453 | €24,068 |
The free programmes are at public universities (free for EU students within the standard length of the degree) and at FHV in Vorarlberg, which currently charges no tuition. The typical EU figure reflects the Fachhochschulen, which may charge €363.36 per semester. For non-EU students the typical fee is the legal fee at public universities, €726.72 per semester. The top of the range is private: Webster Vienna Private University charges the same high fee to everyone.
Every student also pays the ÖH student union fee each semester. Details are in how much it costs to study in Austria.
How to get in
There is no national portal. You apply directly to each institution, and the rules differ:
- Public universities admit to most bachelor's programmes without selection if your school certificate qualifies.
- Fachhochschulen always select, usually with a written test and an interview, and their deadlines can be months earlier.
- Private universities run their own application, interview or test.
Your school certificate must give access to the same kind of programme in the country where you got it, and documents from outside the EU usually need legalisation. See how to get into a university in Austria and document recognition for Austria.
English requirements
Each institution sets its own proof of English. Some accept IELTS, TOEFL or Cambridge certificates; others test you themselves. IMC Krems, for example, assesses the English of its bachelor's applicants at the admission interview and asks for no separate certificate. Check the programme page, and see IELTS and TOEFL for European universities for the tests.
Do you need German?
Not for an English-taught degree. For everyday life, though, German helps a great deal: dealing with the residence authority, renting a flat and, above all, finding a part-time job or an internship outside international companies. Many students take German courses alongside their degree. If you later want to switch to a German-taught programme, you will need to prove your German, often at C1. See German language exams: TestDaF and DSH.
Where to look next
- English-taught programmes in Austria
- How to get into a university in Austria
- How much it costs to study in Austria
- Student visa for Austria
- Scholarships and part-time work in Austria
Official sources
- Study in Austria (OeAD): application and admission
- Universities Act § 91: legal tuition fee
- FHV: tuition and ÖH fee
- IMC Krems: admission requirements
Always check current information on the official website of the university before you apply.