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Fact-checked · 2026 edition

The Austria Student Handbook

The whole journey in seven chapters — from your first apostille to permanent residency. Every figure verified against official Austrian sources for 2026.

  1. University Admission in Austria: Documents, Legalisation & Entrance Qualification
    01
    Chapter 1 9 min read

    University Admission in Austria: Documents, Legalisation & Entrance Qualification

    How to qualify for an Austrian university in 2026 — document legalisation (apostille), the Studienplatznachweis, country-specific requirements, language levels, and the VWU preparation programme.

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  2. Austria Student Residence Permit: 2026 Rules, Fees & Financial Proof
    02
    Chapter 2 10 min read

    Austria Student Residence Permit: 2026 Rules, Fees & Financial Proof

    The Aufenthaltsbewilligung Student in 2026 — the two-step embassy process, the €218 fee, exact financial thresholds (€722.58 / €1,308.39), the excess-rent rule, and the 16-ECTS renewal requirement.

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  3. Your First 5 Steps After Arriving in Austria as a Student
    03
    Chapter 3 7 min read

    Your First 5 Steps After Arriving in Austria as a Student

    The mandatory first-weeks sequence for international students in 2026 — Meldezettel in 3 days, SIM card, bank account, final enrolment (€726.72 + ÖH fee), and ÖGK insurance at €78.84/month.

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  4. Student Budget in Austria: Housing, Food & Transport at 2026 Prices
    04
    Chapter 4 8 min read

    Student Budget in Austria: Housing, Food & Transport at 2026 Prices

    What student life in Austria really costs in 2026 — dorm and WG rents by city, deposit rules, grocery strategy, the €1,050 youth KlimaTicket, and Vienna's new €294 annual youth pass.

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  5. Working While Studying in Austria: 2026 Rules, Permits & Wages
    05
    Chapter 5 8 min read

    Working While Studying in Austria: 2026 Rules, Permits & Wages

    The 2026 employment rules for non-EU students in Austria — the 20-hour week, the AMS work permit your employer must get, the €551.10 marginal-employment cap, the €13,539 tax-free threshold, and 13th/14th salaries.

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  6. Staying in Austria After Graduation: Job-Seeker Year & Red-White-Red Card
    06
    Chapter 6 8 min read

    Staying in Austria After Graduation: Job-Seeker Year & Red-White-Red Card

    The 2026 pathway from Austrian degree to permanent residency — the 12-month job-seeker extension (bachelor's included), the Red-White-Red Card for Graduates with no points or labour-market test, RWR Plus, and EU long-term residence after 5 years.

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  7. Scholarships in Austria: grants.at, Ernst Mach & University Stipends
    07
    Chapter 7 8 min read

    Scholarships in Austria: grants.at, Ernst Mach & University Stipends

    How scholarship funding really works in Austria in 2026 — the official grants.at database, Ernst Mach grants (Dec 1 deadline), the Helmut Veith Stipend, ISTA PhD salaries, and the no-means-test Leistungsstipendium.

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Prefer task-sized reading? The same ground is covered step by step in our guides.