University of Graz: admission for international applicants

You apply to the University of Graz online in the application tool, inside a window set by your citizenship. For winter semester 2026/27, the latest cycle the University has published, that window ran from 15.06.2026 to 24.08.2026 for EU/EEA citizens and from 15.06.2026 to 13.07.2026 for non-EU citizens, for Bachelor's and diploma programmes without an entrance exam.

The University of Graz has not yet published Bachelor deadlines for entry in autumn 2027. The dates above are the most recent cycle, so treat them as the pattern and not as your date. The University describes the application as step one and enrolment as step two, and it accepts applications only inside the submission periods.

Is any Bachelor taught in English?

The University of Graz says it currently only offers Bachelor's programmes in German, and it calls all of its Bachelor's and Diploma courses German-taught. Economics and English and American Studies list "German, English" as the teaching language on their programme pages, but the admission rule for Bachelor's study is still German: proof of at least level A2 goes in with the application, and level C1 is needed to start. Some Master's programmes are taught in English and ask for an English certificate instead.

Rules that catch international applicants

• Your citizenship sets the deadline, not the country that issued your documents. An application sent outside the correct period is cancelled, and you are blocked from reapplying for 2 semesters.
• The German certificate goes in with the application. Without proof of at least A2 the application is rejected immediately, and an A2 certificate may not be older than 2 years.
• Legalisation must already be on your documents when you apply; documents without it cannot be considered.
• An agency may not apply for you. Such applications are rejected and you cannot apply to the University of Graz for the next two semesters.
• Incomplete documents lead to rejection, and you cannot reapply for the same programme in the same semester.

The University of Graz has taught students since 1585 and had over 30,000 students in winter semester 2025/26, but this page does not list an overall ranking position for it: the University publishes no QS, Times Higher Education, ARWU or U.S. News place on its own pages. What it does publish is its size, its student body and its partner network.

The University of Graz is organised in seven faculties, and the largest by headcount is Natural sciences, followed by Humanities. For an applicant, the useful signal is the mix: Law and Social and economic sciences are mid-sized, and Catholic Theology is small. Programme-level facts, with places, tests and fees, are in the chapters on admission and programmes.

Because there is no published position, the University of Graz is best judged on what it states about itself. When it describes its partners as "excellent" (German: exzellent), that is its own wording and not an outside assessment.

Size and student body

Of the students in winter semester 2025/26, 61.7 per cent are women and 20.8 per cent are international. The 4,928 beginners of the same semester include 31.8 per cent international students, a higher share than among all students. In academic year 2024/2025 the University counted 2,996 graduates, of whom 1,188 finished a Bachelor's degree.

The University employs 4,799 people (adjusted headcount, 2025), of whom 3,326 are academic staff. Its 2025 budget is 350.27 million euros; the federal block grant is 296.0 million and tuition fees contribute 4.3 million.

International network

• Bilateral cooperation with around 700 institutions worldwide, according to the University.
• Five strategic partners: Nanjing University, Universität Leipzig, University of Waterloo, University of Ljubljana and Montclair State University.
• Membership of the Arqus European University Alliance, a consortium of nine European universities.
• A university-wide focus on Southeast Europe, defined in 2000, and Erasmus participation since 1992.
• Shared teaching with Graz University of Technology in Molecular Biology, and a place in the inter-university research network "Brain and Behaviour" for Psychology.

The University of Graz does not publish an overall or international acceptance rate. For Psychology, the University reported 972 applicants for 300 places in July 2026, and every other programme without an admission procedure is open once you meet the entry requirements.

The University of Graz states that some programmes run an admission procedure and that the number of places in those programmes is limited. Its list of studies with an admission procedure for 2027 gives the places below. For Law, the registration deadline and the exam date are marked "to follow", so the University has not yet announced them.

What the 2026 procedures showed

In July 2026 the University held four entrance exams, for Psychotherapy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Psychology and Molecular Biology. Psychology drew the most interest: the University counted 972 applicants for 300 places, and 696 of them sat the written test on 14 July 2026.

On 9 July all 160 places in Pharmaceutical Sciences were allocated. On 16 July the University allocated 286 places in Molecular Biology, a number that follows the number of test takers. That figure is a separate fact from the 260 places on the list above, which is a standing figure per academic year. The University also reported that all places in Biology, Molecular Biology, Pharmaceutical Sciences and Psychology, in the Master's in Psychology and in Law for the academic year 2026/27 are allocated.

These are statistics about demand and places, not minimum scores. The University publishes no overall admit rate for these programmes.

Everything else: direct application

For all other programmes, you apply directly through the Studienabteilung (study administration) and UNIGRAZonline. The University lists more than 100 programmes in total, and for most of them enrolment was possible until 24 August 2026. With German at level C1, you can apply with a suitable language certificate and start studying once the application is complete.

Placement tests do not always mean a cap. Romance Studies, for example, states that the number of free places is not limited and that its placement test only confirms that students reach at least level A2 in the target language.

The University of Graz decides on your admission by checking two things: the legal and formal requirements (such as legalisations and language certificates) and the general university entrance qualification. It does not use a grade-point cut-off, because the law only requires that your foreign qualification is comparable to an Austrian school-leaving certificate.

You count as an international applicant if you completed the education required for your studies abroad. That includes an Austrian who graduated abroad: if you did not complete your Matura or degree in Austria, you are formally an international prospective student.

When a certificate is not comparable

The University of Graz grants admission under the regulations of the University Act, and individual cases are judged on the documents. A secondary school-leaving certificate is not comparable when any of these applies:

• schooling lasted less than 11 school years;
• the certificate does not entitle you to study at all higher education institutions in the country where you were educated;
• more than 4 supplementary examinations would be needed to establish equivalence.

Individual grades in the final certificate below 50% of the maximum grade, or a negative grade, also make it not comparable. For countries with a state university entrance examination, such as Greece, Kazakhstan and Cyprus, the same 50% limit applies to the state exam. In all other cases the University reviews the documents individually and may ask the Austrian Ministry for a recommendation, so there is no general answer.

If schooling lasted only 11 years, you must take 4 supplementary exams: mathematics, a language, a natural science subject and a humanities subject. These exams depend on your school-leaving certificate, not on the programme you chose.

A university degree instead of a school certificate

A completed university degree of at least three years (a Bachelor's or Diploma programme) is accepted as an alternative. You submit the degree diploma and a transcript of records or Diploma Supplement. In the application you select the entrance qualification with the code 31, "foreign post-second. educ. inst.". Studies you started but did not complete cannot be taken into account.

The admission letter

The University of Graz issues the admission letter only in German, because it is a legally binding document. If the admission requirements, such as the curriculum, do not change, you can still enrol one or two semesters after receiving it. Before a final decision you may get a Parteiengehör, an informational letter on the status of your application that lets you present further facts.

Rules you cannot work around

• Applications are possible only inside the submission period. An application sent in the wrong period is cancelled and you are blocked from reapplying for 2 semesters.
• An agency may not apply for you. Such applications are rejected and you cannot apply for the next two semesters.
• Incomplete documents lead to rejection, and you cannot apply again in the same semester.
• Once submitted, the application cannot be edited, and the number of programmes you can apply for in the application tool is limited.

Five fields at the University of Graz run an admission procedure: Biology, Molecular Biology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Psychology and Law. The procedure is held in German, takes place once a year and costs € 50 per degree course; registration for the academic year 2026/27 ran from 2 March to 4 May 2026. The University does not publish an SAT or ACT requirement for Bachelor admission.

The five procedures are independent of your application at the Academic Affairs Office, so you can apply before you take part in the procedure. Most of the time you complete an online part first and sit an exam if necessary. The procedure applies for the entire academic year and needs very good German (C1), so register in good time, even before you apply to study. Places per academic year are in the chapter on acceptance rates.

International applicants attending the preparation programme (Vorstudienlehrgang) should complete the admission process for the academic year in which they finish it.

SAT, ACT and other standardised tests

The University of Graz does not publish an SAT, ACT or other standardised-test requirement for Bachelor admission. Admission rests on whether your school-leaving certificate is comparable to the Austrian one, as the chapter on how admission works explains.

Language placement tests

A placement test is not an entrance exam. Several language programmes use one to place you in the right course, and they say you need a certain language level to attend all courses.

For English/American Studies, the test was held on 1 October 2026 in winter semester 2026/27. The international students page says the test also applies to English as a subject, while the institute lists no placement test for the teaching programme in Secondary Education, English (curriculum 26 W). Romance Studies waives the test if you show a written Matura grade at B1 level, no older than two years. For Transcultural Communication, proof of your level or a language test at the institute was due by 14 September 2026.

Teacher training and Sport

Teacher training has its own aptitude procedure, with an online part and an exam in July. Registration for 2026/27 ran from 2 March to 13 May 2026, with a second window from 1 July to 14 August 2026. After you pass, you enrol in the Studienabteilung. For Sport, a motor skills supplementary exam proves your sporting ability. Registration for winter semester 2026/27 ran from 4 May to 12 June 2026. The summer semester 2027 exam takes place from 1 to 3 February 2027, with registration from 30.11.2026 to 08.01.2027.

Competency check for some countries

Applicants educated in Algeria, Egypt and other listed countries must complete an in-person skills assessment with VFS Education Services before they apply, for a fee of around 100 euros. The page names Bangladesh, India and Pakistan as the countries where it is mandatory, so confirm your country with the University. You must reach at least 50% of the maximum marks, and applications without a positive result at the time of applying cannot be processed. The check does not replace the formal and content assessment, the admission procedure for restricted programmes or supplementary examinations.

You apply to the University of Graz in two steps: first an online application with all documents uploaded in the application tool, then, if you are accepted, enrolment by signing a form and paying the student union fee or tuition fee. Your citizenship decides the window; for winter semester 2026/27 it ran 15.06.2026 to 24.08.2026 for EU/EEA citizens and 15.06.2026 to 13.07.2026 for non-EU citizens, for programmes without an entrance exam.

In the account step, you select the entrance qualification that matches your school certificate: code 25 for a foreign secondary school-leaving exam and code 46 for an IB Diploma from abroad. Participants in the preparation programme (Vorstudienlehrgang, VGUH) are enrolled through the VGUH, not through the application tool.

The pages describe the enrolment form in two ways. The Internationals page says to sign it by mobile phone signature or by hand and send it by e-mail to the Studienabteilung, while the Admission page says to upload the signed form in the application tool.

Deadlines by citizenship

Deadlines depend on your nationality, not on the country where your documents were issued. An EU citizen who studied outside the EU follows the EU deadline, and a non-EU citizen who studied within the EU follows the non-EU deadline. If you completed your degree in Austria, you count as a national student. The University has published no Bachelor deadline for entry in autumn 2027 yet, so the winter semester 2026/27 windows are the latest cycle available. Non-EU windows close several weeks earlier than EU windows.

The application period is open for one semester at a time, so you cannot apply for a later semester. Deadlines may differ for programmes with an additional admission process.

Documents

• A filled-in, signed application form and a copy of your valid ID card or passport (only the pages with personal data and signature).
• Your secondary school-leaving certificate (Matura, Abitur or High School Diploma) and the school reports of your senior classes.
• Where your country has a state university entrance exam, its positive results: for example Greece (Panhellenic Exam), Indonesia (AKM), Japan (Common Test for University Admissions) and Spain (PAU). The University calls this list exemplary, so other countries may be affected.
• Alternatively, a completed university degree of at least three years with a degree diploma and a transcript of records or Diploma Supplement.
• A certified court-sworn translation into German or English for every document not originally in one of those languages, uploaded together with the original.

Upload scans of the original documents. Scans of copies or official copies are not possible, and you do not send anything by post.

Legalisation

The University distinguishes three types of legalisation: full diplomatic legalisation, an Apostille, or exemption. Documents from Algeria and Egypt require full diplomatic legalisation. Documents from the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, China, Turkey and Ukraine require an Apostille. Documents from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland and Romania are exempt. The legalisation must already be on the documents when you apply. Final IB Diploma documents and language certificates need none, and refugees can be exempted.

Processing

The University processes applications strictly in the order they arrive and cannot give an exact time frame. It recommends submitting early with all documents, because admission in your desired semester may not be possible. On missing documents the pages differ: the step guide says you can submit them within a given deadline, while the FAQ says incomplete documents lead to rejection and you cannot reapply for the same programme in the same semester.

You need German at level C1 to start a Bachelor or Diploma programme at the University of Graz, and a certificate of at least level A2 to apply, because the University states that all of its Bachelor's and Diploma programmes are taught in German.

The University of Graz writes that most of its degree programmes are in German and that all of the Bachelor's/Diploma courses are. The English chapter lists the Master's programmes taught in English. Two Bachelor programmes, Economics and English/American Studies, show "German, English" as teaching language on their programme pages, but the admission requirement stays German.

The C1 level is the rule in principle. The University adds that some degree programmes have different (higher) language requirements.

Certificates that prove C1

The University of Graz accepts these as German C1 proof:

• An Austrian secondary school-leaving certificate (Matura).
• An equal secondary school-leaving certificate with German as language of instruction on Matura level, for example the German Abitur or an Austrian or German school abroad.
• A completed study programme taught in German, with German as the language of instruction officially confirmed in the Diploma Supplement.
• The Ergänzungsprüfung Deutsch (EPD, supplementary examination in German) at the Vorstudienlehrgang der Grazer Universitäten und Hochschulen, or an EPD from another Austrian pre-study programme with C1 stated on the certificate.
• ÖSD C1, Goethe-Zertifikat C1, DSH2, DSD2, Telc C1 or Test DaF C1 (TDN 5).

The test certificates in that list must not be older than 5 years, and all examinations and parts must be passed at C1 level.

Certificates that prove A2 or higher

To apply with a level between A2 and B2, you need one of these certificates, each at A2 or a higher level: ÖSD, Goethe-Zertifikat, DSD1, ÖIF Test Neu or Integrationsprüfung; DTÖ, Telc or Test DaF; or a certificate about A2 level issued by an Austrian University Preparatory Programme (Vorstudienlehrgang). These certificates must not be older than 2 years.

Upload the proof with your application. Applications without proof of language proficiency (at least at the level A2) are rejected immediately, with no opportunity to remedy the application. It is not possible to submit proof of language proficiency at a later date, you cannot apply anew in the same semester, and there is no exception. A certificate at level A1 is not enough: you must submit at least an A2 certificate with your application.

The University does not run German courses for this certificate. The university itself does not offer any language courses, so you obtain the A2 certificate outside the University.

What happens after admission

With an A2 to B2 certificate you have to pass the EPD exam at the preparatory course (Vorstudienlehrgang, VGUH). No other C1 certificate can be handed in after being admitted. The German exam may only be taken at the preparatory course set up for this purpose, which in Graz is the Vorstudienlehrgang (VGUH). The preparation chapter covers the course itself.

When no German certificate is needed

The University of Graz requires a German certificate only if your previous education was not in German. It must be clear from the educational documents that German was the language of instruction, for example an Abitur from Germany or a Matura from South Tyrol. Citizenship does not replace proof: citizenship is not sufficient proof of language skills, and the University cites the Austrian Universities Act, which asks for German at Matura level or a recognised certificate no more than two years old.

If you apply with an IB Diploma, German completed at Higher Level (HL) fulfils the German requirements, and no further certificate is required. With German at Standard Level (SL), you must submit a C1 language certificate that is no more than 5 years old at the time of application. Without C1 proof uploaded with the application, your German proficiency for the SL level will be considered A2, and then you must take the German exam at the Vorstudienlehrgang (VGUH) before you can start your studies and cannot submit any other C1 certificate at a later date.

The University of Graz offers no Bachelor programme taught entirely in English: it currently only offers Bachelor's programmes in German. English matters in two places, in some Master's programmes taught in English and in two Bachelor programmes whose pages list German and English as teaching languages.

The Master's programmes in English that the Faculty of Natural Sciences (NAWI) lists are Environmental System Science: Climate Change and Environmental Monitoring, Geosciences, Mathematics, Physics and Technical Physics. For these, applicants must submit proof of English proficiency at least at the C1 level at the time of application, and you need no German.

If a programme is offered in both languages, state your preferred language of instruction in the application form, otherwise your application is automatically checked for a German language certificate.

English certificates that prove C1

Other proof also counts: a certificate of completion of an Austrian Vorstudienlehrgang course on English-C1 level; a school-leaving certificate with English as the language of education from Great Britain, Ireland, America, Canada, Australia or New Zealand; or a degree programme already completed in English, with English officially confirmed as the language of instruction in the Diploma Supplement. A confirmation from the university about the language of instruction is not an official document and will not be accepted.

The six test certificates above (TOEFL iBT, IELTS, Cambridge CPE and CAE, Telc C1, PTE) must not be more than 5 years old at the time of application. The scores are the minimum number of points required, and scores below this threshold cannot be considered for admission. Proof of C1 English is required in order to apply to an English-language programme.

English in the Bachelor programmes

Economics and English/American Studies both show teaching language German, English on their programme pages. Admission still needs German. For Economics the University adds that you should enjoy reading and studying in English, and be happy to write and make presentations in both German and English.

English and American Studies adds a language test: in the Bachelor's degree programme in English/American Studies and in English as a subject, you must take the placement test to prove that you have a B2 language level, and only then can you attend all courses. The test is completed within 73 minutes, and the score must be at least 75 points. The first test date of the winter semester 2026/27 was 1 October 2026. The teacher training Bachelor with English as a subject (Lehramt UF Englisch, 26 W) needs no placement test.

The University of Graz admits you to a Bachelor or Diploma programme if your school-leaving certificate is not significantly different from the Austrian Matura (Universities Act § 64 (2)): its indications are at least twelve years of schooling, six general subjects and more than 50% in each subject. It publishes minimum requirements, not a grade that guarantees a place.

The University of Graz sets out four indications that a foreign qualification is equivalent: it grants access to all sectors of higher education in the country of issue; the schooling lasted at least twelve years; the curriculum is predominantly general education, shown by six general education subjects (two languages, mathematics, one science subject, one humanities subject and one further general education subject) at upper secondary level; and a mark of more than 50% in each individual subject, which may be higher for countries whose school system differs significantly from Austria.

All subjects on the certificate must be passed. Failed subjects cannot be compensated for by supplementary examinations in Austria. Where a required subject is missing, the university may set a maximum of 4 supplementary examinations before the programme starts.

The law does not use a grade point average. It states that admission is only possible if the foreign qualification is comparable to an Austrian school-leaving certificate, but does not specifically refer to a grade point average. The University can only check your eligibility on the basis of a complete application, and it gives no preliminary assessment. Meeting these minimum requirements does not guarantee admission.

IB Diploma

The University of Graz regards the IB Diploma as proof of general university entrance qualification. The subject groups are a legal minimum: two languages, one humanities subject, a natural sciences subject, mathematics and a general education subject from any of the 6 groups. If these minimum requirements are not met, admission is not possible.

Below those totals, no authorisation can be granted. The IB qualification is only complete with the IB Diploma and the IB Certificate, and the University can only review your application if both documents are submitted. The IB documents are valid even without legalisation. If German was not completed at Higher Level you need a German certificate, which the German chapter explains.

Countries that require a national entrance exam

Some countries issue a school-leaving certificate that does not open university access on its own. For these the University asks for the positive results of the university entrance examination, and it calls its list exemplary, so other countries may also be affected. The list includes:

• Greece: the Panhellenic Examination, compulsory.
• Spain: the Pruebas de Acceso a la Universidad (PAU), or alternatively EBAU or EvAU, compulsory.
• Japan: the Common Test for University Admissions, five subjects with a total score of at least 450 out of 900 points.
• Turkey: ÖSYM / ÖSYS, compulsory.
• Brazil: the Exame Nacional do Ensino Médio (ENEM), compulsory.
• Indonesia, listed as state university entrance examination (AKM).

Other certificates have their own rules. For Germany, admission with a subject-specific university entrance qualification is only permitted for the courses specified in the certificate, and not with a university of applied sciences entrance qualification. For Egypt, admission is not possible with a school-leaving certificate from an Al-Azhar school or with a vocational school qualification. A qualification that opens only a university of applied sciences at home does not open a university in Austria either: anyone who is permitted to study at a university of applied sciences but not at a university in their country of origin cannot study at a university in Austria.

A-levels and other certificates

For the United Kingdom the University asks for four separate general education subjects: a language, mathematics, one of biology, physics or chemistry, and a humanities subject. At least three of the four must be passed at GCE Advanced Level and the fourth at GCSE or IGCSE, each graded at least A*, A, B or C.

The University of Graz does not publish a separate score rule for the US high school diploma, the Polish matura or the French baccalauréat. It names Matura certificate, Abitur and High School Diploma together as the secondary school-leaving certificate you upload, and the general rules above apply to them.

Extra subject proof for some programmes

Some Bachelor programmes require prior knowledge of Latin, Greek or biology. Prior knowledge of Biology, Latin or Greek is required before starting some Bachelor's programmes, and the curriculum states the timing. A supplementary examination is needed when your school did not cover the subject to the required extent; the Latin and Greek examination can be taken at the University after a two-semester course.

• Law (Diploma): evidence of Latin language skills, 10 hours per week in the sixth form or supplementary examination.
• Molecular Biology: if no admission examination is held, proof of a qualification in biology (4 hours per week in the sixth form or supplementary examination).
• English and American Studies: evidence of Latin language skills, 10 hours per week in the sixth form or supplementary examination.

The Bachelor programmes in Chemistry, Geosciences, Mathematics, Molecular Biology, Physics and Environmental Systems Science / Natural Sciences-Technology also need a supplement to the application for admission to the NAWI Graz degree programme.

The Vorstudienlehrgang der Grazer Universitäten und Hochschulen (VGUH, the Graz preparatory course) is a preparatory course that offers courses in cooperation with all universities in Graz, and you reach it only after the University of Graz has admitted you to a degree programme. It is not a degree programme, so you cannot apply directly to attend it.

The courses include German courses to establish the required C1 German language skills and specialist courses to establish the equivalence of an international school-leaving qualification with the Austrian Matura. Only students who have been admitted to a degree programme at a university in Graz may participate, and the course is only for international students who already have a secondary school-leaving certificate but do not yet have sufficient German or whose certificate is not equivalent to the Austrian one.

The VGUH does not replace the German certificate for your application. You can only attend if you meet all the requirements for a regular course of study, which means you must already have an A2 certificate before applying.

Supplementary examinations

The University can organise two types of supplementary examinations at the VGUH: a German examination to obtain German C1, and specialised examinations to establish the equivalence of the school-leaving qualification. The University checks whether and which examinations must be taken using the statutory regulations of the Austrian Universities Act (UG) when it reviews your application.

The examinations depend on your certificate, not on your programme: they are dependent on the school-leaving certificate and not on the study programme you applied for. If the duration of schooling is only 11 years, 4 supplementary exams must be taken, including mathematics, a language, a natural science subject and a humanities subject. A maximum of 4 supplementary examinations may be set by the university.

• German: with an A2 to B2 certificate you have to pass the EPD exam at the VGUH, and no other C1 certificate can be handed in after admission.
• Biology, Latin and Greek: a supplementary examination must be taken if the subjects were not covered to the appropriate extent at school, with Latin and Greek at 10 hours per week in the sixth form and Biology at 4 hours per week.
• Studies you started but did not finish cannot replace the supplementary examinations, which can only be waived if you have already completed a study programme at the time of application.

Course attendance is voluntary: it serves as preparation, and the university only requires positive certificates for the examinations taken.

For Latin and Greek, the examination can be taken directly at the University after a two-semester course, with external providers (subject to a fee) or at a school. The University of Graz states that the preparatory courses are reserved for regular students of the University of Graz and free of course fees (kursbeitragsfrei). The examination has two parts weighted equally, and at least 50% of the points in both parts are needed to pass.

Cost, duration and enrolment

The University of Graz does not publish a course fee for the VGUH. It says that questions on course fees and exam dates go to the VGUH directly, because the University of Graz is only a cooperation partner and cannot provide information on its behalf.

The time is fixed: an extension is not possible, and there is no legal entitlement.

To enrol, you register at the VGUH in person with your admission letter, and once registration succeeds and you have paid the course fee, the VGUH forwards your information to the University. Your enrolment takes place by e-mail once the University has received the information, and you do not have to come to the Admissions Office in person. If you attend the VGUH you must register as an irregular student, and the confirmation is accepted in Austria, for example, for visa matters or for insurance matters.

If you apply to a programme with an admission procedure, complete the admission process for the academic year in which you will finish the preparatory course. The German chapter explains why the German exam must be taken there: the University Act stipulates that you may only take the German language exam at the preparatory course set up for this purpose.

The University of Graz presents Bachelor programmes of 6 semesters (180 ECTS) and Diploma programmes such as Law, a 8 semester programme (240 ECTS, Mag. iur.). Psychology, Law and Molecular Biology limit places; Business Administration and Economics do not use an admission procedure. This chapter covers these five programmes.

The academic year at the University of Graz has two semesters, summer and winter. Bachelor admission needs German at C1 to start, even for the two programmes whose pages list "German, English" as teaching language. The German chapter has the details.

The University's phrase for programmes without an admission procedure is that for all other programmes you apply directly via the Studienabteilung (admissions office) and UNIGRAZonline. Your admission letter does not fix a start date: as long as the admission requirements do not change, you can still enrol one or two semesters after receiving the letter.

Psychology

Psychology at the University of Graz is a Bachelor of Science (BSc) of 180 ECTS. Entry to the programme is selective and you need to complete the admission process. The admission process takes place only once a year, and the University recommends starting in the winter semester, since the range of courses is limited in the summer. You need to complete the master's programme if you want a career as a psychologist.

Law (Diploma)

Law is a Diploma programme with the degree Magister/Magistra iuris (Mag. iur.), 240 ECTS, taught full-time in German over 8 semesters. The University of Graz says that the programme is in great demand and it has decided to restrict enrolment. The programme also needs Latin: you must show evidence of Latin language skills (10 hours per week in the sixth form or supplementary examination) to take the module "Vertiefung Privatrecht" in the 4th semester.

Molecular Biology and NAWI Graz

Molecular Biology is a BSc of 180 ECTS, taught full-time in German over 6 semesters. Entry is selective and you need to complete the admission process. If no admission examination is held, you need proof of a qualification in biology (4 hours per week in the sixth form or supplementary examination).

The programme is run with Graz University of Technology: you benefit from the combined expertise of the University of Graz and Graz University of Technology, through the facilities and teaching staff of both universities. NAWI Graz Bachelor programmes need a supplement to the application.

Business Administration and Economics

Business Administration is a BSc of 180 ECTS, taught full-time in German over 6 semesters. Its core content covers five key areas, accounting, finance, marketing, management, and production and logistics, as well as economics, mathematics and statistics. The programme has a particular emphasis on founding new businesses and entrepreneurship.

Economics is a BSc of 180 ECTS over 6 semesters with teaching language German, English. You should enjoy reading and studying in English, and be happy to write and make presentations in both German and English.

Diploma in Catholic Theology and teacher training

Catholic Theology is also a Diploma programme: Magister/Magistra of Theology (Mag. theol.), 300 ECTS. Teacher training is not run by the University of Graz alone: it is organised and provided jointly by eight institutions working on a collaborative basis in the South-East Development Network (EVSO).

The University of Graz does not publish graduate employment rates or salaries. What it publishes is a graduate count: 2,996 graduates in the academic year 2024/2025, of whom 1,188 finished a Bachelor. That is a count of degrees, not a measure of what graduates do next.

Psychology has one condition: you need to complete the master's programme if you want a career as a psychologist. The pages describe fields, not outcomes, so treat the table as a map of where the degree can lead.

Career services

The University of Graz runs a Career Center. It offers a wide range of advisory services and events on career prospects and applications. The one-day EXCELLENCE careers fair offers guidance and networking with potential employers, and a jobs portal lists a selection of jobs, internships and trainee programmes.

Working while studying

The University of Graz notes that many of its students hold down jobs alongside their studies, to varying degrees. Non-EU nationals require an Austrian visa or residence permit to study or work at the University of Graz.

The University of Graz does not publish a weekly work-hour limit for students from outside the EU/EEA, so check the conditions of your residence permit. One income limit it does publish applies to a different group: students who receive family allowance and want to remain eligible may earn a maximum of € 16,455 per calendar year in additional income.

After your studies, with a Residence Permit - Student you can apply for an extension that allows you to remain in Austria for up to 12 months to search for employment.

Students from third countries, meaning countries outside the EU/EEA, generally pay a tuition fee of €726.72 per semester plus the student union (ÖH) fee, while EU/EEA citizens pay €363.36 per semester once they are beyond the tuition-free period. The fee pages list these amounts without naming an academic year, so confirm them before you apply.

The tuition-free period for EU/EEA citizens is the minimum duration of study plus two grace semesters. During it, only the ÖH contribution is payable, and from the winter semester 2026/27 the ÖH contribution is €26.20. The University treats some people from other countries like EU/EEA citizens: the lower fee applies to students from an EU or EEA country as well as to students from other countries who are treated as EU/EEA citizens.

Third-country students pay every semester. It is irrelevant which semester you are in, as the amount must generally be paid every semester. There are, however, reasons for exemptions.

ÖH contribution and payment

The ÖH contribution must be paid every semester so that you can continue to be registered as a student. Exemption from this fee is not possible, and it is not refunded when a tuition reimbursement is approved. Your enrolment is completed with the payment of the ÖH or tuition fee.

A tuition exemption has its own deadline, separate from the application deadlines and from other fee deadlines: it must be applied for by 28/29 February for the summer semester and by 30 September for the winter semester, otherwise the prescribed fee must be paid by the deadline.

Programmes with an admission procedure add a fee: you pay a fee of € 50 per degree course.

Living costs in Graz

The University of Graz does not publish a monthly total for living costs. It gives these items:

• Housing: there is no accommodation on the campus, but many student dormitories are within walking distance, and a small apartment or room is available from about 300€ per month. Landlords may require a deposit, usually 3 months.
• Health insurance: ÖGK self-insurance for students costs about 67€ per month.
• Household insurance: usually not mandatory; in most cases the monthly costs amount to 10-30 euros.
• Transport: Uni Graz students can buy the Top-Ticket for students and use public transport throughout Styria; for students under 26 this probably is the best option.

For a residence permit you must show funds. Depending on your age, you must be able to prove at least around 8,700 euros (under 24 years) or 15,700 euros (over 24 years) for 12 months in advance. The residence permit chapter covers the permit itself.

You pay the lower EU/EEA tuition at the University of Graz if you are an EU/EEA citizen, a recognised refugee or a student from another country who is treated as equivalent to an EU/EEA citizen: during the contribution-free period these full-time students do not have to pay tuition fees. The tuition-free period is the minimum duration of your degree programme plus two additional semesters.

These are different procedures with different deadlines, so do not read one date as covering another.

Equal status with EU/EEA citizens

Equal status is not automatic: equality is not granted automatically, and if the application is approved only the ÖH contribution is payable during the fee-exempt period. If the tuition-free period is exceeded, students granted equal status pay tuition fees of €363.36 plus the ÖH contribution.

Your residence permit matters. Students with a residence permit other than a Student Residence Permit in Austria, for example EU long-term residence, family member or Red-White-Red Card, may be exempted from tuition fees or granted an equivalent exemption. For a student residence permit the rule is stricter: holders may only be exempted if they meet the criteria of the Group of Persons Regulation, such as a school-leaving certificate from an Austrian school abroad, or if the centre of their life interests has been in Austria for at least 5 years prior to their first admission to the University of Graz, or this applies to a person legally obliged to provide maintenance. The application must be submitted within the application deadlines, March 31st for the summer semester and October 31st for the winter semester.

British students are a special case: for British students who enrol for the first time from the summer semester 2021 onwards, or who resume their studies, the fee regulations for students from other countries apply.

Remission and reimbursement

The remission rules apply to full-time students who are nationals of an EU/EEA country and full-time students from other countries who are treated as equivalent. If you intend to apply for a remission, you do not need to pay the tuition fee before the deadline. The University names these grounds:

• A recognised disability of at least 50%, for the duration of the studies.
• Primary care of children up to their 7th birthday, for the duration of the care.
• Study or work placements as part of mobility programmes.
• Pregnancy or illness that prevents study for at least two months within a semester, for that semester.
• A student grant received in the previous semester or in the current semester under the Student Finance Act 1996.

Countries with reduced or no tuition

Students from the poorest countries pay only the student union fee: students from the countries listed in the appendix of the Tuition Fee Regulation only have to pay the student union fee (ÖH fee) each semester. The list of those countries is in that appendix, so check it for your country.

A separate refund exists for Southeast Europe. The Rectorate has decided to reimburse the tuition fee of € 726.72 already paid for full-time students from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia, Turkey, Ukraine and Belarus. You must show proof of at least 8 credit points from course examinations or 12 ECTS credits within a semester, or confirmation of good progress in the preparation of an academic thesis. There is no legal entitlement to the reimbursement, and the rule is dated April 2026 (subject to change).

The University of Graz states that it does currently not award scholarships to finance living expenses for international students. The one funding route it names for international students is a study grant, and that is open to students from EU/EEA countries with a low family income.

If you come from outside the EU/EEA, the University of Graz names no scholarship for your living costs. Check the conditions of each funder before you rely on it.

Where to look

The University points students to these places:

• Study grant: information on eligibility and the application procedure at the Austrian Study Grant Authority.
• A comprehensive database of scholarships and research promotion at www.grants.at.
• Promotional and merit scholarships: information at the Dean's office, with calls for awards, grants and scholarships stated in the University Gazette.
• The Welfare Office (Sozialreferat) of the students' union, which also offers help with financial questions.

The University also says that funding may be awarded for outstanding academic achievements, and there are some research scholarships for academic projects. Merit funding is limited by citizenship: it can be awarded on application to students with Austrian citizenship, EEA citizens, stateless persons and refugees.

Family allowance and working

Family allowance applies only if your family lives in Austria: if your parents live in Austria, they can be eligible for family allowance (Familienbeihilfe) up to the student's age of 24. Students who receive family allowance and want to remain eligible may earn a maximum of € 16,455 per calendar year in additional income.

Working is common: many students at the University of Graz hold down jobs alongside their studies, to varying degrees. The careers chapter covers the permit conditions.

The University of Graz does not provide housing: there is no accommodation on the campus, but many of the student dormitories are within walking distance. You find your own room, and the University advises you to start early.

The University of Graz has guest apartments, but they are not for you: the 3 guest apartments at Elisabethstraße 85 are for short stays of guests only, and students cannot book them.

Student residences

Spaces are limited in student residences in particular, and there are a number of registration formalities, so start searching early. You can move into a student residence with proof of university affiliation, such as your admission letter. The accommodation page lists student residences with their addresses, starting with the Afro-Asian Institute, the Bildungszentrum Geidorf and the Friedrich Schiller Student Residence.

Private flats

For a flat, the University suggests the list of student residences, Facebook groups or Willhaben. It also names Facebook groups such as "Provisionsfreie Wohnungen in Graz" and "Wohnungen in Graz ohne Makler", local newspapers such as Kleine Zeitung, Kronen Zeitung, Der Standard and die Presse, and campusboard.at.

Expect these conditions:

• For many apartments it is common to sign a lease for 1-3 years.
• Most long-term apartments are rented unfurnished, except for kitchen and bathroom furniture.
• Rental contracts are usually only issued in German.
• Landlords may require a deposit, usually 3 months.

The winter semester 2026/27 at the University of Graz runs from October 01, 2026 until February 27, 2027, and the summer semester 2027 from March 01, 2027 until September 30, 2027. These are the two semesters the University's academic calendar lists; it does not list autumn 2027. Graz is the second largest city in Austria with around 300,000 people.

Course registration opens before the semester: mid-September for the winter semester and mid-February for the summer semester. By then you should have completed the application process and be enrolled as a student.

Welcome Center

The Welcome Center gives an overview of the most important topics concerning your arrival as an international student. Its topics are visa and residence permits, housing, academic calendar, health insurance and German courses.

• A checklist for international applicants explains the admissions process step by step and helps you avoid common mistakes when applying.
• A checklist for new international students covers the key steps involved in starting your degree.
• For visa and residence permit applications, the Welcome Center supports you, and you fill out its registration form.

Living in Graz

In addition to four universities, several colleges and universities of applied sciences are located in Graz, which means that more than 60,000 students live in the city during the semesters.

Around the campus, the university district, especially the Zinzendorfgasse, houses numerous restaurants, bakeries and cafés, some of which offer good-value lunch menus and snacks. For getting around, the University calls the bike the fastest and most sustainable way to get around Graz, with the bus or tram as another good option.

The University of Graz gives no details on student societies or sport on its welcome pages for international students.

EU/EEA and Swiss citizens need no visa or residence permit for the University of Graz; if they stay in Austria for longer than 3 months, they only need to register with the immigration office after arrival. Non-EU nationals require an Austrian visa or residence permit to study, and every student living in Austria needs health insurance.

Mention your EU/EEA citizenship first when you deal with the authorities. For stays beyond three months, registration with the immigration office is the one step the University names.

Non-EU nationals: the student residence permit

A residence permit requires admission first: you can only apply if you can present a valid letter of admission from the university. Once admitted, you can apply for a Residence Permit - Student (AB-Student), which is typically valid for 12 months and can be renewed, provided all requirements are met. After successfully completing your studies, you can apply for an extension that allows you to remain in Austria for up to 12 months to search for employment.

Where to apply: the University recommends that you submit the initial residence permit application abroad at the competent Austrian embassy or consulate, which it says helps avoid waiting times in Austria. In certain cases it is possible to apply in Austria, for example for nationals who are allowed to enter visa-free, but approval is at the discretion of the competent authority.

Start early. The waiting times for embassy appointments are often long, and full diplomatic legalisation of documents can take several months. A permit from another Schengen country does not replace the Austrian one: with a valid residence permit from another EU/Schengen country you can usually enter Austria as a tourist and stay for up to 90 days, while studying is generally not permitted with this status.

You must also prove funds. Depending on your age, you must be able to prove at least around 8,700 euros (under 24 years) or 15,700 euros (over 24 years) for 12 months in advance.

Health insurance

Students living in Austria must have health insurance. The kind depends on where you come from.

• EU students: clarify with your health insurance provider in your home country whether the insurance can remain valid during your studies in Austria.
• Austrian public insurance: ÖGK self-insurance for students costs about 67€ per month, and you can take it out after arrival and successful enrolment in a study programme.
• Non-EU visa, up to 180 days: a Schengen travel health insurance valid in Austria with a coverage amount significantly higher than 30,000€.
• Non-EU residence permit, more than 180 days: you must prove a health insurance that covers all risks in Austria and is equal to Austrian social security coverage, which usually requires an Austrian insurance policy.

The University of Graz does not publish a rule for registering your address (Meldezettel).

The University of Graz suits you if you can study in German at C1 level: it currently only offers Bachelor's programmes in German, and EU/EEA citizens pay only the ÖH contribution during the tuition-free period, €26.20 from the winter semester 2026/27. No admission dates for autumn 2027 are published yet; the latest published cycle is the winter semester 2026/27.

Most programmes work without an entrance exam: for all programmes other than those with an admission procedure, you apply directly via the Studienabteilung and UNIGRAZonline. Economics lists teaching language German, English on its programme page, but Bachelor admission still needs German.

Who the University of Graz suits

It suits applicants who already have German or can reach it. With a suitable certificate at C1 you can start your studies once your application is completed. With A2 you are admitted to the preparation programme and learn German intensively, and once you have reached level C1 you can start your studies.

Who should be careful

• If your German is below A2: applications without proof of language proficiency (at least at the level A2) are rejected immediately, with no opportunity to remedy the application.
• If you aim for a capped programme: the admission procedure is held in German and needs a very good knowledge of German (C1). The registration window for the academic year 2026/27 was March 2 to May 4, 2026 for Psychology and Law among others.
• If you come from outside the EU/EEA: tuition is €726,72 per semester plus the ÖH fee, and the non-EU application window closes weeks earlier than the EU/EEA window.
• If you apply late: it may not be possible to be admitted in the desired semester.

Next steps

Processing takes time: it can take several weeks to months, and it is not possible to give an exact time frame. Also, the application period is open for one semester at a time, and you cannot apply for a later semester, so check the window as soon as the University opens it.

Official pages of University of Graz (Universität Graz), UCAS, gov.uk and the ranking publishers. Applicant reports, where shown, are self-reported and labelled.

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Photos: Main building of the University of Graz: photo C.Stadler/Bwag, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons