{"id":15687,"date":"2022-04-13T11:33:01","date_gmt":"2022-04-13T09:33:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.home4students.at\/?p=15687"},"modified":"2023-03-22T10:16:28","modified_gmt":"2023-03-22T09:16:28","slug":"tuition-fees-austria","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.home4students.at\/en\/tuition-fees-austria\/","title":{"rendered":"Do I have to pay tuition fees in Austria?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A pricy issue that nobody wants to deal with \u2013 and a big topic for all students before the new semester starts: tuition fees. When I first started studying in Austria<\/a>, I wanted to look into the complex topic of study fees and many questions came into mind: Do students even have to pay tuition fees in Austria? If so, how much do they have to pay per semester? What\u2019s the difference between tuition fees and the \u00d6H-fees, the Austrian Student\u2019s Union membership fee? What do incoming students have to pay if they want to study in Austria? I took a deep dive and proudly present to you everything I found out about tuition fees in Austri<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What are tuition fees?<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s start at the beginning. Tuition fees are those payments, which allow students to study at a certain institution of higher education. The amount varies depending on the country in which you live and study and the individual institution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Financing your studies<\/a> can be tricky at times and many students have to work a student job next to their studies to come by. In the US, more than half of all students work \u2013 that\u2019s not surprising considering that tuition fees in the US are the highest worldwide. It is also very common to work a student job in Austria<\/a>, with almost half of all students being employed as well. But are the tuition fees as high as in the US?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fees for studying in Austria<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The tuition fees in Austria are actually relatively affordable compared to those in other countries. There are two separate payments, which we have to distinguish. On the one hand, there are the tuition fees and on the other the \u00d6H-fees for the Austrian Student\u2019s Union membership. Which of those two payments is higher and how do I know, whether I have to pay them?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Student<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Tuition fees<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In general, all students who study in Austria are obliged to pay tuition fees, amounting to \u20ac 363,36 per semester. However, students of regular study programmes only have to pay them once they have exceeded the standard period of study and the tolerated additional semesters. Sounds complicated? I\u2019ll give you an example: If I study psychology in the bachelor\u2019s programme, I have six semesters to finish my bacherlor\u2019s within the standard period of study. I am allowed to take two additional semesters, so eight in total, without paying tuition fees. The same principle applies to master\u2019s and PhD programmes \u2013 the standard periods of study may vary. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are enrolled for more than one programme, the tuition fees are due as soon as you\u2019ve exceeded the allowed number of semesters in one of your studies. Concerning teacher\u2019s programmes with subjects that differ in the standard period of study, the subject with the longer standard period is the deciding factor in paying or not paying tuition fees.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Non-degree programme students<\/strong>
Non-degree programme students, so called \u201cau\u00dferordentliche Studierende\u201d, are students who are only admitted to individual lectures and courses, without being enrolled for a study programme. These students have to pay tuition fees from their first semester onward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Students at Universities of Applied Sciences<\/strong>
In Austria, students at 17 out of 20 Universities of Applied Sciences are charged tuition fees. Only a few UAS have decided against tuition fees, amounting to roughly 37 % of UAS students who don\u2019t have to make the payments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Students at private universities<\/strong>
Because private universities follow the private law, they may decide individually whether they want to charge tuition fees or not and how much they want to charge. These regulations are then fixed in a written tuition contract, which students have to sign at the beginning of their studies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Caution<\/strong>: Everyone, who has to pay tuition fees in Austria, should be aware of the respective deadlines. If you don\u2019t pay in time, the amount might be increased by 10 % or you might even be exmatriculated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The \u00d6H-fee for the Austrian Student\u2019s Union membership<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The \u00d6H-fee covers your membership at the Austrian Student\u2019s Union, the so called \u201c\u00d6sterreichische Hochsch\u00fcler_innenschaft, \u00d6H\u201d. Their services include the independent representation of all Austrian students. An accident and a liability insurance are also covered, providing security for Austrian students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Caution<\/strong>: Each semester, there is also a deadline for paying the \u00d6H-fee. In case you happen to miss it, you\u2019ll have to pay a slightly higher amount within the grace period. If you miss this deadline as well, you might be exmatriculated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Sparschwein<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Which fees do I have to pay at my institution of higher education?<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ll find detailed information on the fees you have to pay at your university, UAS or other institution of higher education on their official websites, including all relevant deadlines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do incoming students have to pay tuition fees in Austria?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Third-country nationals have to pay double the amount of tuition fees in Austria. The \u00d6H-fee is added to those 726,72 \u20ac per semester. Other third-countries besides Switzerland are those which aren\u2019t members of the EU or the EEA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In some cases, the tuition fees of incoming students are paid back. Simply contact the Austrian Student\u2019s Union, \u00d6H, or the responsible department at your university for further information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reasons for being exempted from tuition fees in Austria:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n