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Last modified: 2026-09-30

# Studying in Austria in English: Bachelor's and Master's Programmes, Language Requirements and Costs

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You can study in Austria in English, but the choice depends heavily on the level. At master's level there are hundreds of options: according to OeAD, the studienwahl.at database lists around 580 English-taught programmes, and at the large public universities English-taught master's programmes clearly outnumber bachelor's. English-taught bachelor's programmes at public universities are individual cases: one at the University of Vienna, BBE at WU, and six each at JKU Linz and the University of Klagenfurt. The language does not change the public-university fee — $830 (€726.72) per semester for non-EU students in 2026/27 — and English is proven with a B2 or C1 certificate.

This guide shows where to find programmes, how to avoid mistaking a bilingual programme for an English-taught one, which English proofs work for applicants from Russia and Kazakhstan, and why German still matters.

The Library and Learning Center on the Vienna University of Economics and Business (WU) campus. Photo: P e z i / [source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Campus_WU_LC_D1_TC_DSC_1440w.jpg), [CC BY-SA 3.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0).

## The short answer by level {#section-1}

| Level | Public universities | Universities of applied sciences (FH) | Private universities |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Bachelor's | A handful of programmes; most are in German | About 80 of roughly 640 FH programmes are fully in English (bachelor's and master's combined) | Often English, higher fees |
| Master's | Wide choice: 38 at the University of Vienna alone, 26 at TU Wien, 23 at TU Graz | English-taught options with competitive entry | Available, including MBAs |

## English-taught bachelor's programmes at the main public universities {#section-2}

To save you searching, these programmes were taught entirely in English on 30 September 2026 at the four public universities with the most notable choice.

University of Vienna. Mathematical Foundations of Data Science; admission requires English at B2.

WU Vienna. Business and Economics (BBE). WU planned 240 places for 2026/27. Selection runs once a year: registration for 2026/27 ran from 2 March to 19 May 2026 with a $57 (€50) registration fee, and the written exam was taken in person in Vienna on 30 June. WU plans to publish details of the 2027/28 procedure in mid-November 2026.

JKU Linz.

| Programme | English required |
| --- | --- |
| Artificial Intelligence | B2 |
| Biological Chemistry | B2; taught in Linz and České Budějovice (Czech Republic), two degrees |
| Chemistry and Chemical Technology | B2 |
| International Business Administration | C1; a mandatory semester abroad and a second foreign language from B1 |
| Quantum Science and Technology | B2 |
| Transformation Studies: Art x Science | B2; first intake winter 2027/28, applications in January 2027 via the University of Applied Arts Vienna |

University of Klagenfurt. Digital Media, Culture, and Communication; Information and Communications Engineering; International Business and Economics; Robotics & Artificial Intelligence; Social Sciences; Worlds of English. See our [University of Klagenfurt](https://www.studyu.org/en/university-klagenfurt) profile.

For more English-taught bachelor's options, filter FH and private-university programmes by language of instruction on studienwahl.at. How Austrian bachelor's programmes work, and what applicants from 11-year school systems should expect, is covered in [bachelor's degrees in Austria](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-bachelors-in-austria).

## The bilingual-programme trap {#section-3}

The University of Vienna distinguishes programmes taught entirely in English from multilingual ones. Bilingual bachelor's programmes — International Legal Studies, Economics and Physics, for example — are taught in German and English and require German. Applicants who see an English title often assume the programme is English-only and discover the German requirement only in the admission decision.

Check two lines on the programme page: the language of instruction and the required qualification. If German is listed as an admission requirement, the programme is not an option without German, even if half the courses are in English.

## English-taught master's programmes: where the choice is widest {#section-4}

| University | Programmes fully in English | Strong fields |
| --- | --- | --- |
| University of Vienna | 38 | Economics and finance, data science and computer science, natural sciences, cognitive science |
| TU Wien | 26 | Informatics, mathematics, engineering, physics, chemistry |
| TU Graz | 23 | Computer science, biomedical engineering, chemistry and materials; some run jointly with the University of Graz |
| University of Klagenfurt | 11 | AI and cybersecurity, management, media, mathematics |
| WU Vienna | 9 | Finance, marketing, economics, supply chain management, CEMS |

Deadlines, degree requirements and the difference from fee-based professional programmes are covered in [master's degrees in Austria](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-masters-in-austria).

## How to prove your English {#section-5}

Each university publishes its own list of accepted certificates. The University of Vienna is a useful benchmark:

| Level | Certificates accepted by the University of Vienna |
| --- | --- |
| B2 | TOEFL iBT 94+, IELTS Academic 6.5, Cambridge First (B2) or Advanced at B2, a B2 exam from a university language centre in the EU/EEA, Switzerland, the UK, the USA, Canada, Australia or New Zealand |
| C1 | TOEFL iBT 110+, IELTS Academic 8 (at least 7.5 per component), Cambridge Advanced grade A, Cambridge Proficiency grade C or higher |

Certificates must be no older than three years at the time of application. The university also accepts other proofs, with conditions that matter for applicants from the CIS:

- a school-leaving certificate with an English final exam counts only if the school is in the EU/EEA, Switzerland, the UK, the USA, Canada, Australia or New Zealand; a Russian or Kazakh certificate does not qualify;
- a university degree counts if the full-time programme lasted at least two years, was taught entirely in English and was completed in one of those same countries;
- an IB Diploma with English is accepted.

So a graduate of a Russian university, even from an English-taught programme, will most likely need a test certificate.

## What it costs {#section-6}

The language of instruction does not change public-university fees, but without German you are more likely to end up at an FH or a private university.

| Where | Fee per semester for non-EU students, 2026/27 (Modul University Vienna: rates from 1 January 2026) |
| --- | --- |
| Public university, any programme | $830 (€726.72) + ÖH fee $30 (€26.20) |
| FH Technikum Wien (third-country students on a student permit) | $3,410 (€3,000) + ÖH fee |
| Modul University Vienna, bachelor's | $10,220 (€9,000) |
| Modul University Vienna, MSc | $7,950–9,080 (€7,000–8,000) |

Living costs are the same whatever language you study in. For the student residence permit in 2026 you must show $820 (€722.58) per month under age 24 and $1,490 (€1,308.39) from age 24, more if your rent exceeds $440 (€386.43) a month. See [cost of studying in Austria](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-cost-of-studying-in-austria).

## Why German still matters {#section-7}

Residence permit. OeAD does not list German among the requirements for the "Residence Permit – Student", so you can come for an English-taught programme without it. OeAD does, however, recommend submitting foreign documents in German translation, and tenancy agreements and correspondence with authorities are usually in German.

Work during studies. The student permit allows up to 20 hours of work a week, with the permit obtained by the employer. Jobs that require only English are fewer than those requiring German. See [working while studying in Austria](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-working-while-studying-in-austria).

Work after graduation. Graduates can stay 12 months to look for work and receive a Red-White-Red Card with a job in their field at the usual graduate salary. B1–B2 German by the end of your studies widens the range of employers you can approach.

Language centres offering German courses operate, for instance, at the University of Vienna and the University of Klagenfurt; if you are starting from zero, build German into your plan from the first semester. For accepted exams, see [German language tests: TestDaF, DSH, Goethe and ÖSD](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-german-language-tests-testdaf-dsh-goethe).

## How to search, step by step {#section-8}

1. Open studienwahl.at and filter by language of instruction and level. It is the official database of programmes at public and private universities, universities of applied sciences and university colleges of teacher education.
2. For each result, check the language and admission requirements on the university's own programme page: the database gives an overview, the programme page decides.
3. Drop bilingual programmes if you have no German.
4. Match the English threshold and certificate validity to your application date.
5. Note the non-EU application window: at FHs and selective programmes it is often in spring, at universities often in summer.

For an overview of institutions, see [universities in Austria for international students](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-universities-in-austria-for-international-students); for the procedure, [applying to universities in Austria](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-applying-to-universities-in-austria); and for everything else, our [Study in Austria](https://www.studyu.org/en/country-austria) hub.

## Common mistakes {#section-9}

- Mistaking a bilingual programme for an English-taught one and learning about German only from the admission decision.
- Relying on school English from a Russian certificate instead of a test certificate.
- Taking IELTS too early: the University of Vienna does not accept certificates older than three years at the time of application.
- Looking for English-taught bachelor's programmes only in Vienna and missing Linz and Klagenfurt.
- Aiming for B2 when the programme requires C1, as International Business Administration at JKU does.
- Counting on part-time work without German as your main source of income.

## FAQ {#faq}

### Can I study in Austria in English without German?

Yes, if the programme is fully English-taught: admission requires English at B2 or C1, and OeAD does not list German among the requirements for the student residence permit. You will still need German for everyday life, part-time jobs and the job search after graduation.

### Are there English-taught bachelor's degrees at Austrian public universities?

Yes, but few: Mathematical Foundations of Data Science at the University of Vienna, BBE at WU, six programmes at JKU Linz and six at the University of Klagenfurt. The rest are offered by FHs and private universities.

### How much does it cost to study in Austria in English?

At a public university, the same as in German: $830 (€726.72) per semester plus the $30 (€26.20) ÖH fee in 2026/27. Third-country students at FH Technikum Wien pay $3,410 (€3,000) a semester, while Modul University Vienna bills $10,220 (€9,000) a semester for a bachelor's.

### Which IELTS score do Austrian universities ask for?

For B2 the University of Vienna accepts IELTS Academic 6.5; for C1 it asks for 8 with at least 7.5 in each component. Other universities set their own thresholds, so check the programme. The certificate must be no older than three years at the time of application.

### Will my Russian university degree count as proof of English?

Probably not. The University of Vienna accepts a degree instead of a certificate only if the full-time programme lasted at least two years, was taught entirely in English and was completed in the EU/EEA, Switzerland, the UK, the USA, Canada, Australia or New Zealand.

### Can I work in Austria while studying in English?

Yes. A student residence permit allows up to 20 hours of work a week, with the permit obtained by the employer. The language of your programme does not affect that right, but without German the choice of jobs is much narrower.

### Can StudyU help me pick an English-taught degree?

Selecting English-taught programmes for your profile, checking language and academic requirements, preparing documents and support through the residence permit are provided under an agreement with StudyU. Only the university can admit you, and only the Austrian residence authority can grant the permit, so we cannot predict either outcome.

## Sources {#section-11}

- [OeAD / Study in Austria: study programmes in English and the studienwahl.at database](https://studyinaustria.at/en/study/find-your-programme-1-1), [universities of applied sciences](https://studyinaustria.at/en/study/institutions/university-of-applied-sciences) — checked 30 September 2026
- University of Vienna: [degree programmes in foreign languages](https://studieren.univie.ac.at/en/degree-programmes/degree-programmes-in-foreign-languages/), [English language proficiency](https://studieren.univie.ac.at/en/admission/english-language-proficiency/), [tuition fee](https://studieren.univie.ac.at/en/tuition-fee/amount-tuition-fee/) — checked 30 September 2026
- WU Vienna: [BBE selection procedure](https://www.wu.ac.at/en/programs/bachelors-programs/business-and-economics/overview/selection-procedure-bbe-1/), [English-taught master's programmes](https://www.wu.ac.at/en/programs/masters-programs/) — checked 30 September 2026
- [JKU Linz: degree programmes and language of instruction](https://www.jku.at/en/degree-programs/) — checked 30 September 2026
- [University of Klagenfurt: list of English-taught programmes](https://www.aau.at/en/international/international-profile/degree-programmes-in-english/) — checked 30 September 2026
- [TU Wien: English-taught master's programmes](https://www.tuwien.at/en/studies/studies/master-programmes/english-taught-masters-programmes), [TU Graz: list of master's programmes](https://www.tugraz.at/en/studying-and-teaching/degree-and-certificate-programmes/masters-degree-programmes/overview-masters-degree-programmes) — checked 30 September 2026
- [FH Technikum Wien: fees for third-country students](https://www.technikum-wien.at/en/student-guide/tution/), [Modul University Vienna: tuition fees](https://www.modul.ac.at/study-at-mu/tuition-fees) — checked 30 September 2026
- [OeAD: Residence Permit – Student](https://oead.at/en/to-austria/entry-and-residence/residence-permit-student-no-mobility-programme), [Migration.gv.at: graduates](https://www.migration.gv.at/en/types-of-immigration/permanent-immigration/graduates/) — checked 30 September 2026
- Euro amounts are shown in dollars at the ECB rate of 29 September 2026: €1 = $1.1355

[During the free initial consultation, we clarify your goal, profile, timing, and budget and identify the next realistic step.](https://www.studyu.org/en/apply)

## Next steps

- [University of Klagenfurt (Universität Klagenfurt, AAU)](https://www.studyu.org/en/university-klagenfurt)
- [Bachelor's Degree in Austria for International Students: Formats, Language, Full Cost and Timeline](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-bachelors-in-austria)
- [Master's Degree in Austria for International Students: Degree Requirements, English-Taught Programmes, Deadlines and Costs](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-masters-in-austria)
- [Studying in Austria for international applicants](https://www.studyu.org/en/country-austria)
- [Cost of Studying in Austria in 2026/27: Tuition, the Preparation Year and Living Costs](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-cost-of-studying-in-austria)
- [Working While Studying in Austria: the 20-Hour Rule, the AMS Permit and What Needs No Permit](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-working-while-studying-in-austria)

Updated: September 2026