Address
Eurydice Informationsstelle
Bundesministerium für Bildung
Abt. Bildungsstatistik und –monitoring
Minoritenplatz 5
AT-1010 Wien
Tel: +431 53120 4716
E-Mail: eurydice@bmb.gv.at
Website:
EU-Bildungsinformationnetz EURYDICE
2026
Establishment of a quota for applicants with an Austrian school leaving certificate for the master’s degree programme in psychotherapy, analogous to the degree programme in human medicine
Regulations and legislative document
Status:
Time frame: July 2025 – September 2026
Sources:
Description:
Implementation of a selection process combined with a quota for applicants with Austrian school leaving certificate in relation to other applicants with other European Union citizenships.
Objectives:
Controlling the numbers of (foreign) students seeking admittance to the Master study “Psychotherapy” in order not to outnumber Austrian applicants.
Expected Impact:
More Austrian students and graduates that help to meet the demand of the Austrian health system and to keep a favourable “psychotherapist – patient ratio” in Austria in the future.
Funding:
No additional funding necessary, only administrative procedures as part of the selection process.
Monitoring & involved bodies:
Waiver and refund of tuition fees for students of Ukrainian nationality in the summer semester of 2026
Regulations and legislative document
Status:
Time frame: July 2025 – September 2026
Sources:
Description:
Waiver and refund of tuition fees for students of Ukrainian nationality in the summer semester of 2026
Objectives:
Support for Ukrainian students
Expected Impact:
Support for Ukrainian students to complete their studies so that they can subsequently participate in the professional world
Funding:
Universities will get reimbursed for the loss of tuition fees by the Ministry of Women, Science and Research.
Monitoring & involved bodies:
Grants for study abroad
Regulations and Legislative document
Status:
Time frame: March 2026
Sources:
Description:
Students who receive study grants and complete one or more semesters abroad as part of their funded studies can receive an additional grant for studying abroad on top of the domestic study grant. Due to a new regulation on the amount of grants for studies abroad, new monthly grant amounts for studying abroad apply to study stays abroad starting from 1st March 2026.
This regulation is therefore based—instead of listing individual countries—on a classification of countries into three country groups. Group 1 includes the EEA countries (including Switzerland) with higher living costs, Group 2 includes EEA countries with medium and lower living costs, and Group 3 includes third countries (non-EEA countries). The amount of the grant for Group 1 is €450; Group 2 €250, and Group 3 €450.
Objectives:
Supporting students who receive study grants and complete one or more semesters abroad as part of their funded studies.
Measures:
New regulation of the system for granting study abroad and an increase in the study abroad grant.
Expected Impact:
Increase in the number of students studying abroad.
Funding:
The costs, amounting up to € 785.000 per year, will be covered by the Ministry of Women, Science and Research.
Monitoring & involved bodies:
Ministry of Women, Science and Research; Study Grant Authority
Travel Cost Allowance
Regulations and legislative document
Status:
Time frame: March 2026
Sources:
Description:
Recipients of a study abroad grant are entitled to a travel cost allowance, which covers part of the travel expenses incurred in connection with their study abroad programme. Starting 1st March 2026, new guidelines for travel cost allowances for recipients of study abroad grants will apply. From this date, the amount of the travel cost allowance will be determined based on the distance between the domestic place of study and the educational institution abroad.
Examples:
-
0 to 99 km: €56
-
between 3,000 km and 3,999 km: €785
-
8,000 km or more: €1.735
Objectives:
Supporting students who receive study grants and complete one or more semesters abroad as part of their funded studies.
Measures:
Simplification of the System for Granting Travel Cost Allowances to Recipients of Study Abroad Grants.
Expected Impact:
Increase in the number of students studying abroad.
Funding:
The costs, amounting up to € 433.000 per year, will be covered by the Ministry of Women, Science and Research.
Monitoring & involved bodies:
Ministry of Women, Science and Research; Study Grant Authority
2025
Students at Risk-Fund (StAR)
Regulations and Legislative document
Status:
Time frame: academic year 2025/26
Sources:
Directive (additional information)
Description:
The Students at Risk (StAR)- Fund was established by the Federal Ministry of Women, Science and Research (BMFWF) in cooperation with the Austrian National Union of Students (ÖH), and with operational support from OeAD – Austria’s Agency for Education and Internationalisation – in order to support students in need. Up to 50 students will receive support if they can provide evidence that their right to education at their home university has been denied due to their ethnic, sexual, or religious identity, or because of their political engagement. The aim is to support students at risk in pursuing and successfully completing their higher education in Austria.
The scholarship amounts to € 1,200 per month, is available for the academic year 2025/26, and is part of the “Perspectives Package,” through which the BMFWF supports researchers and students whose academic freedom is under threat or who are affected by severe measures in the United States of America.
Objectives:
Supporting students at risk to continue and successfully completing their higher education in Austria.
Measures:
Up to 50 students will receive support (€ 1,200 per month) for the duration of the standard study period (plus 2 tolerance semesters).
Expected Impact:
Up to 50 students manage to successfully finish their academic programs.
Funding:
The costs, amounting up to € 720,000, will be covered by the BMFWF.
Monitoring & involved bodies:
Ministry of Women, Science and Research, Austrian National Union of Students (ÖH) and OeAD – Austria’s Agency for Education and Internationalisation.
Facilitating the procedures for job opportunities for US-based scientists at Austrian universities
Regulations and Legislative document
Status:
Time frame: July 2025 – September 2026
Sources:
2025 legislation (Universitätsgesetz, Bildungsdokumentationsgesetz, Änderung (96 d.B.) | Parlament Österreich)
Description:
Implementation of a time-limited opportunity for universities to conclude employment contracts for academic and artistic staff without a tendering procedure, if the contracts are concluded with individuals whose main focus of research and teaching activity has been in the United States of America in the past 24 months.
Objectives:
EU-wide coordinated approach to the admission of US researchers.
Expected Impact:
Increase in the number of US-based scientists
Funding:
No additional funding necessary, only administrative procedures are facilitated
Monitoring & involved bodies:
Ministry of Women, Science and Research, Austrian public Universities
Improving financial aid for students – Annual valorisation of the limit on additional income for study grant claimants
Regulations and Legislative document
Status:
The additional income limit was increased from € 15 000 to € 16 455, on January 1, for 2024. From 2025, the limit will be adjusted annually, always on January 1, in line with inflation (valorisation).
Sources:
Description:
Due to an amendment to the Student Support Act, the additional income limit for student grants will be adjusted annually in line with inflation (valorisation). The additional income limit was increased from € 15 000 to € 16 455 for the calendar year 2024. From 2025, the limit will be adjusted annually, always on January 1, in line with inflation (valorisation).
Objectives:
Improving funding conditions for working students.
Improving the financial situation of working students.
Measures:
The additional income limit for student grants will be adjusted annually to inflation.
Expected Impact:
Increase in the number of recipients.
Improving the financial situation of working students.
Funding:
The amendment leads to additional costs up to € 39 million (2025-2029).
Monitoring & involved bodies:
Evaluation planned for 2030.
Involved bodies: Austrian Study Grant Department (Österreichische Studienbeihilfenbehörde), Federal Ministry of Women, Science and Research (Bundesministerium für Frauen, Wissenschaft und Forschung)
Improving financial aid for students – Annual study grant valorisation
Regulations and Legislative document
Status:
The first adjustment to the amount of the study grant was made in September 2023. The amount of the study grant will be adjusted annually, always on September 1, in line with inflation (valorisation).
Sources:
Description:
Due to an amendment to the student support (Federal Law Gazette I No. 174/2022) the amount of the study grant will be adjusted annually, always on September 1, in line with inflation (valorisation). The first adjustment to the amount of the study grant was made in September 2023, increasing it by 5.8 %. This led to an increase of the maximum amount of grant to € 11 724 (academic year 2023/24). The minimum amount is not affected by the amendment and remained € 60 per year. The most common amount for academic year 2023/2024 was € 7 511. The next adjustment to the amount of the study grant was made in September 2024, increasing it by 9.7%.
Objectives:
Improving the financial situation of students.
Measures:
The amount of student support will be adjusted annually to inflation.
Expected Impact:
Increase in the number of recipients.
Improving the financial situation of students.
Funding:
The amendment leads to additional costs up to € 22.5 million (2023) / € 29 million (2024) per year.
Monitoring & involved bodies:
Evaluation planned for 2025/2026.
Involved bodies: Austrian Study Grant Department (Österreichische Studienbeihilfenbehörde), Federal Ministry of Women, Science and Research (Bundesministerium für Frauen, Wissenschaft und Forschung)
2024
Institute of Digital Sciences Austria (Interdisciplinary Transformation University): founding complete
legal measures for a new university
Status:
completion of the second step: publishing the permanent law for the new university
Sources:
Description:
On 28 August 2020, the Federal Government announced the establishment of a new technical university. The purpose of establishing this new university - in addition to other measures taken by the federal government - is to ensure Austria's digital competitiveness. This law completes the second step in creating the necessary legal basis for the new university - beyond the duration of the founding process. With the entry into force of the Federal Act on the Institute of Digital Sciences Austria (Interdisciplinary Transformation University - IT:U) on 1 July 2024, the Founding Act will cease to apply.
Objectives:
- Secure Austria's digital competitiveness by training practice-oriented and innovative digitalisation experts and gaining additional qualified graduates
- Foster Inter- and transdisciplinary cooperation in the field of digitisation in scientific and artistic research and teaching
- Strengthen the integration of the social and socio-political significance of digitisation and digital transformation in research and teaching and
- Strengthen the transformative dimension of digitalisation in relation to the climate crisis, climate targets and other major issues.
.
Measures:
- The foundation of the new university offers the opportunity to create new agile structures, to work on new interdisciplinary and, above all, transdisciplinary fields of research and to implement innovative research, teaching, mediation and transfer methods. In doing so, the university will enrich the existing higher education landscape as well as art, cultural and research institutions in Austria and provide important impulses to the university sector, the economy and society as a whole.
- In terms of university policy, this federal law breaks new ground in order to introduce innovative impulses into the university system - adapted to the emerging field of activity and the size of the new university. The aim is to integrate far-reaching innovations without disrupting the existing university system as a whole.
- The courses offered by the new university will be developed gradually, with bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes being offered, as well as continuing education programmes. Continuing education is particularly important for social opening and acceptance.
.
Expected impact:
- According to current plans, the university aims for a student body of around 5,000 for the 2030/2031 academic year, with a particular focus on recruiting students from new target groups who have not previously been interested in traditional technical and scientific degree programmes. In order to minimise the existing gender gap in technical and scientific studies, special attention will be paid to interdisciplinary programmes with innovative forms of teaching and communication.
- The aim is to create an internationally attractive and innovative university where, according to the plans presented by the Council of Ministers on 17 September 2021, around 100 to 150 working groups will be established in the academic year 2030/2031, led by highly qualified experts from various disciplines and professional fields.
- Securing Austria's digital competitiveness
.
Funding: 1 billion until 2036
Monitoring and involved bodies:
- Federal Ministry of Women, Science and Research
- and affected stakeholders
.
Dedicated medicine study spots for purposes of public health care
Public health care initiative
Status: Implementation 2024, evaluation planned yearly
Sources:
- Information
- Legislation (planned): Amendment UG 2002, § 71c
.
Objectives:
- Of the 5% of medicine study spots not regulated by the EU quota, 85 spots are dedicated to the fulfilment of duties in the public interest.
- These will be used to train doctors for public health service, for understaffed specialties in provincial hospitals and practices, as well as for police and military doctors
..
Measures:
- Interested applicants go through a selection process with their future employer (public health provider) before entering the university admission process (MedAT admission test).
- Public need and fulfillment of public interest as a pre-requisite ensured by contract between applicant and employer (public health provider).
- Selected applicants have to participate in the MedAT. They do not have to compete against applicants in the EU- and Austria-Quota, but their test results must at least be in the top 75% to qualify.
.
Expected impact:
- Up to 85 students (per year) who are committed to working in the public health sector will be selected by and in contract with public health providers and (upon passing the MedAT) receive university medical education as well as dedicated on-the-job-training.
.
Funding: No designated federal funding.
Monitoring:
- Federal Ministry of Women, Science and Research
-
Austrian Federal Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection
- Austrian National Public Health Institute
Involved bodies: Same as monitoring, additionally:
- Affected stakeholders: other federal ministries, medical universities, federal provinces, public health providers.
Expanding federally funded UAS study places in STEM subjects
Implementing the University of Applied Sciences Development and Financing Plan 2023/24-2025/26
Status: Time frame 2023 - 2025
Sources: Brochure
Description:
Implementation of three calls for tenders for additional study places in accordance with the targets set in the University of Applied Sciences Development and Financing Plan 2023/24-2025/26.
Objectives:
- Continue the demand-oriented expansion of study places in the UAS sector.
- Strategic focus on digitalization and sustainability, addressing skills shortage: providing a sufficient number of highly qualified graduates, esp. in engineering and IT study programmes to tackle the challenges of the twin green and digital transition
- Increase the proportion of graduates in STEM subjects
- Increase the proportion of women amongst graduates in technical subjects
- Increase the number of study places in subject areas with a high demand of skilled graduates
.
Measures:
- Implementation of three calls for tenders: in total 1.050 additional study places have been allocated in study programmes in STEM in the planning period 2023/24-2025/26
- Additionally, from the academic year 2025/26, a further 449 study places will be funded in other study programmes in which there is a high demand of skilled graduates (e.g. social work, economic sciences)
.
Expected impact:
- Increase in the number of study places in STEM subjects
- Increase in the number of innovative study programmes providing skills to tackle the challenges of the twin and digital transition
- Increase in the number of graduates in STEM, esp. in engineering and IT programs (thus contributing to achieving the objectives of the federal government's RTI strategy (20 percent more graduates in STEM by 2030)
- Increase in the number of graduates in areas with high demand of skilled graduates (e.g. social work, economic sciences…)
.
Funding: € 30 Mio (2023-2025)
Monitoring and involves bodies:
Reform of Nursing
Regulation and legislative documents / national action plan
Time frame: transition period until 2024
Sources:
Description:
The amendment of the Federal Law on Nursing Professions including broad changes within the education and training and the scope of activities of the nursing professions was published on 1st August 2016.
Education and training for qualified nursing care will only take place within bachelor programmes at universities of applied sciences from 2024 onwards, at the same time special basic education and training in paediatric nursing and psychiatric nursing will expire in favour of a more generalistic education and training in nursing in general care.
The up to now one-year education and training as assistant nurse remains with a new professional title.
A new nursing profession “qualified assistant nurse” is introduced with a two-years’ education and training.
The present schools of nursing may be carried on as educational institutions for assistant nursing professions.
Involved bodies:
- Federal Ministry of Women, Science and Research
-
Austrian Federal Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection
.
.