Frequently Asked Questions

After the first two semesters, you must prove that you have successfully completed your studies in the amount of 30 ECTS credits that have been positively assessed.

If the proof of performance is not provided within the specified period (within the application period for the third semester, by December 15^th in a winter semester and by May 15^th in a summer semester), you must provide evidence of at least 15 ECTS credits in good time. Otherwise, the study grant received up to that point may be reclaimed.

If you drop out of the course for which you have already received study grant after the second semester, you must at least prove that you have at least completed your studies (15 ECTS credits), otherwise you will also be threatened with a refund.
If you change your degree after the first semester, after the second semester you have to achieve the favorable degree either half from both fields of study or fully from one of the two. It is also possible to present the full proof of performance after the first semester.

For a master’s degree, 20 ECTS credits are required after the second semester, for a doctoral degree, 12 ECTS credits are required after the first two semesters. At least half of these must be submitted to the scholarship office in good time to avoid a refund.

From the winter semester 2024, an additional performance record after the 8^th semester of 120 ECTS points will be introduced for bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

The summer semester 2020 is not counted in connection with the academic success. This applies to both family and study allowances.

Department for social affairs

The maximum student grant for students under 24 studying at or near their parents' place of residence is € 335 per month or € 4,020 per year.

For foreign students, orphans, students over 24, students with children and married students, the basic amount is € 585 per month or € 7,020 per year. For students over the age of 24, this amount will be increased by € 240 per month, and for students over the age of 27 by an additional € 30 per month. Students with children receive an additional € 120 per month and child. Additional supplements are possible for students with disabilities depending on the type of disability.

The grant for Selbsterhalter*innen is a maximum of € 891 per month (€ 10,692 per year) for students under 27 and € 923 per month (€ 11,076 per year) for students over 27. In addition, the increased amounts for students with children and for disabled students can be claimed.

The maximum annual student grant is reduced by:

• the reasonable maintenance payment of the parents (depends on their income, does not apply to Selbsterhalter*innen)
• the reasonable maintenance payment of the marriage or registered partner
• other training grants to which there is a legal entitlement (e.g. Bafög)

The annual amount determined in this way is increased by 8% and then divided by twelve. If the monthly study grant is at least € 5, it will be paid out. Study grants below this amount will not be awarded.

Your own income - if it exceeds the income limit - will only be taken into account retrospectively after the end of the year.

A precise calculation program can be found here:
Online-Stipendienrechner der AK (German)

1. You must be admitted to or continue with a regular course of study. An exception for non-degree students only applies with a notification of admission to the Studienberechtigungsprüfung (studying without secondary-school leaving certificate).
2. The course of study for which you are applying for a study grant must have started before the age of 33. An increase in this age limit to a maximum of 38 years is planned under certain circumstances for self-supporting students ("Selbsterhalter*innen"), for disabled students and for students with children. In most cases, starting a master's degree before the age of 38 is also considered to be in good time.
3. You must not have completed your studies yet. There are exceptions for a master’s degree that is attached to a bachelor’s degree and for a doctorate degree that follows a diploma or master’s degree.
4. Another requirement is social need. The income of your parents is decisive for this (exception: is not taken into account in the scholarship for "Selbsterhalter*innen"), your own income and, if applicable, the income of your marriage or your registered partner.
5. It is also important that you can prove that you have successfully completed your studies. Especially after the first year of study, there may even be a risk of repayment of the study aid received up to that point. In a later phase of the study, in the absence of success, further payment of the aid is merely stopped.
6. You must comply with the entitlement period, which generally includes the minimum period of study plus a tolerance semester. For diploma courses that are divided into study sections, one tolerance semester is provided for each study section. An extension of the entitlement period can be requested with the help of certain reasons. For candidates for the Studienberechtigungsprüfung, the entitlement period is a maximum of two semesters (depending on the number of prescribed individual examinations).
7. If you change courses, please note that you can only change your course twice and that each change must take place after the second semester of your previous course at the latest.
8. In order to be entitled to a study grant for a subsequent degree or a subsequent phase of study, the specified maximum duration of study must not be exceeded.

Austrian citizens and foreigners and stateless persons who have the same status according to § 4 StudFG can receive study grants:

• Those entitled to asylum are treated the same as Austrians (this does not apply to those entitled to subsidiary protection!)
• Foreigners from an EU/EEA country are treated the same as Austrian citizens if they worked in Austria before starting their studies or if they work here during their studies. In some cases, the course of study must represent a further training measure in the sense of the (previously practiced) profession (e.g. a nurse studies human medicine). If there is a right to permanent residence or after attending school or completing a degree in Austria, there is also equality. Furthermore, children or partners of EU/EEA citizens can receive study grants if at least one parent or partner lives and works in Austria.
• Non-EU/EEA citizens (third-country nationals) are only entitled to study grants if they have a permanent residence permit for Austria ("permanent residence EU") or are family members of EU migrant workers in Austria or of Austrian citizens.
• The same criteria apply to stateless persons as to third-country nationals.
• British citizens are considered EU/EEA citizens if they were already in the EU before January 1^st, 2021. Otherwise, they are considered third-country nationals.

In order to be entitled to family and study allowances as well as to the health insurance for students, the degree program may not be changed more than twice. In addition, the previous degree should not have lasted longer than two semesters. A timely change of degree program must therefore take place after the second semester of the previous course at the latest.

The summer semester 2020 is not counted when changing courses. This applies to both family and study allowances.

According to § 8 (2) of the Statutes of the University of Vienna, examination dates are to be set in the semester in which the course is held after the end of the course, as well as at the beginning, in the middle and at the end of the next semester of the course.

The ÖH operates its own platform for people looking for accommodation. There you will also find information about student dormitories and various jobs:

Schwarzes Brett - Wohnungsplattform der ÖH

You have the right to look at your examination documents after you have passed the examination if you request this within six months of the announcement of the assessment. § 79 (5) of the Universitätsgesetz also entitles you to make copies or photos of your exam, as long as these are not multiple-choice questions.

Get the current canteen sticker for summer semester 2023!

With the canteen sticker of the ÖH Uni Vienna you get a € 1 discount on every canteen menu. Simply pick it up at the advice center, stick it on your student ID and show it every time you eat in the canteen.

ÖH canteen bonus with ATM card

After linking, you can use the discount with your ATM card in all canteens of the canteen network throughout Austria. In other restaurants that have canteen contracts with us, your canteen sticker is of course still valid. Activation via the ATM card works very easily and is anonymous: First, as before, get the Mensa sticker from the ÖH, then between 11 am and 2 pm go to the cash deesk with your canteen sticker and your ATM card to activate it. The ÖH bonus is then automatically deducted when you present your ATM card during the payment process (whether in cash or by card).

Addresses of the canteens

Academy of Fine Arts Vienna
Michele*, 9., Schillerplatz 3

Canteens in the "Unizentrum"
M-Café UZA 2, 9., Josef-Holaubek-Platz 2

University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna (Vetmeduni)
Mensa VMU, 21., Josef-Baumanngasse 1
M-Cafe VMU, 21., Josef-Baumanngasse 1

Medical University of Vienna
AKH Betriebsrestaurant*, 9., Währinger Gürtel 18-20
(only for students of the Medical University)

GMS Gourmet - Universitätszahnklinik

University of Economics and Business Vienna (WU)
Eurest*, 2., Welthandelsplatz 1
(only for students of the WU)

* Canteens where activation is not necessary.

Status 08/2023