Study Grant: Everything You Need to Know as a Student

Written by: Helene Ausserwöger, 04.09.2025

Being a uni student is one of the most exciting periods of life for many, but unfortunately, it also comes with financial burdens. Rent, food, public transport, university materials and the occasional coffee or drink with friends – it all adds up.

Especially when parents earn less and the financial support from home is limited, it can become a lot to handle. Luckily, in Austria, there is a possibility to receive a study grant. It is financial support offered by the government to make student life a bit easier. In this article, you’ll find out who is eligible, how to apply, and what else you should keep in mind.

Table of Contents:

What is a study grant in Austria?

The study grant is the most important financial support from the government for students in Austria that cannot afford to finance their studies on their own. It should ensure that everyone has the same chances of getting a higher education, regardless of their parents’ income. 

Whether you receive it (and how much), depends in most cases on your parents’ income, because it is tied to what’s known as social need. But there are exceptions: If you supported yourself and worked regularly for several years, earning a certain minimum income, then you can apply for the self-support study grant. This option is independent of your parents’ income and is more based on your own life situation. 

Special life circumstances can also affect the amount of the grant. For example, if you have children of your own or live with a disability. The entire process is handled by the study grant authority, which is also responsible for applications, deadlines etc.

Important: The study grant is not a reward for good grades, like many scholarships are. Instead, it supports those that need it the most, to ensure that the financial situation won’t stand in the way of a university education. You can find additional options for financing your studies here! 

Study grant eligibility: Are you entitled to financial support?

Whether you are eligible for a study grant depends on various factors. But don’t worry, often students already unknowingly fulfil  the criteria. Here are the most important requirements:

Who can receive the study grant?

  • You have Austrian citizenship or are considered equal, for example, as an EU/EEA citizen or a third-country national with a permanent residence permit.
  • You are formally enrolled, meaning you are enrolled in a regular degree program at a university, university of applied sciences (FH), or university college of teacher education (PH). Individual courses or non-degree programs do not count.

Age limit

  • You started your bachelor’s degree prior to your 33rd birthday
  • For master’s programs, the age limit is 38 years. Exceptions apply if, for example, you worked before starting your studies, are caring for your own children, or have a recognized disability.

Social need

  • Usually your parents´ income is taken into  account. The less they earn, the higher the grant will be.
  • If you are a self-supporter (meaning you worked for several years before starting your studies), the amount of the grant is not dependent on your parents’ income. 

Academic performance & study duration

  • You must provide proof of academic achievement latest by the end of your 2nd semester (usually 30 ECTS).
  • You must complete your degree within the minimum duration of your program + 1 tolerance semester. 
  • You are not allowed to have already completed an equivalent degree program. 
  • You are only allowed to change your program twice and only up to the end of your 2nd semester.

Grant duration, proof requirements & reporting obligations

You don’t automatically receive the study grant for the entire duration of your studies. It is tied to certain conditions. Here you can see how long you are eligible, which documents you need to provide, and what changes you should report to the authority:

Grant duration

The entitlement period for the study grant is generally based on the standard duration of the degree program plus one additional tolerance semester. For example:

  • Bachelor’s degree with a minimum duration of 6 semesters: entitlement period is 7 semesters
  • Master’s degree with a minimum duration of 4 semesters: entitlement period is 5 semesters

This period can be extended in special cases such as illness, pregnancy, or disability.

Proof of academic performance

In order for you to keep receiving the study grant, you have to regularly provide proof of academic performance. This means:

  • You will have to do exams and collect a certain amount of ECTS credits (it’s usually 30 ECTS within two semesters, depending on the degree program)
  • If you only received the study grant for the first semester and the dropped out or interrupted your studies, you must provide proof of at least 7 ECTS credits (equivalent to four semester hours) within the application period of the following semester to avoid having to repay the grant.
  • If you received the grant in the first two semesters, you must show half of the required academic progress (15 ECTS credits) within the application deadline of the next semester to continue receiving support.
  • There are different proof requirements for master’s and doctoral studies (e.g., 10 ECTS or 6 ECTS respectively).

This proof is mandatory and needs to be submitted to the study grant authority on time.  If you’re unable to meet a deadline, there may be a grace period that allows you to submit your documents later.

Reporting obligations

It is very important to report any changes to the study grant authority immediately, as they can affect your eligibility. These include, among others:

  • Dropping out of or interrupting your studies
  • Completion of studies (including any parallel degree programs)
  • Changing your field of study or place of study
  • Changes in marital status (for you or your parents)
  • Starting military, training, or civilian service
  • Changes in income
  • Change of address

How much is the study grant? What you can expect to receive

The amount of your study grant depends on several factors and is calculated individually. As a guideline: The basic amount is €404  per month (as of 2025). The maximum amount is €923  per month. Depending on your life situation this amount can be increased or decreased: 

  • Parents’ income: The lower their income, the higher the grant. If the study grant authority assumes that your parents could provide financial support, then the grant is reduced accordingly. Even if they do not actually pay anything. If you already have your own income, you are allowed to earn up to €17.212  per year (as of 2025) without it affecting your grant. Any income above that will be deducted from your grant.
  • Family status: Additional allowances are available for half-orphans, students with children, or those in a registered partnership or marriage.
  • Living situation:  If you have to move out of your parents’ home because commuting to university would be unreasonable, you receive a monthly housing allowance.
  • Age: The older you are, the higher your grant. From age 24, you receive an additional €290 per month; from age 27, an extra €36 on top, making it €326  per month. 
  • Disability: Students with a recognized disability may also be eligible for additional financial support.

Tip: The exact amount can best be calculated using the official study grant calculator from the BMBWF.

Student grant application: How to apply step by step

The student grant application is easier than you would think. Even if you aren’t sure if you are eligible, it is still worth a try. Here a few steps that you should consider when applying for the study grant:

Where do I apply and when’s the deadline?

You have to re-apply for each academic year, ideally at the beginning of the semester. The deadlines are:

  • Winter semester: 20th September until 15th December
  • Summer semester: 20th February until 15th May

if you miss the deadline, you can still submit a late application. But, in that case, you will only receive the grant starting from the month you applied and not from the start of the semester on.

What documents do you need for the application?

For a bachelor’s program, the most important documents are:

  • Application form (online or as a PDF)
  • Confirmation of enrolment from your university
  • Proof of academic performance (if you are not in your first semester)
  • Birth certificate (for first-time applicants)
  • Proof of your parents’ income (or your own, if applying as a self-supporting student)

Here you can find a complete list of all possible required documents!

Working while receiving a study grant: How much are you allowed to earn?

A part-time job is generally not a problem as long as you stay below the annual additional income limit. For 2025, this limit is €17,212 gross per year. It does not matter when you earn the money, but how much you receive over the entire calendar year. So summer jobs or intensive work periods during the holidays are allowed, as long as you stay under the limit.

Important: If you don’t receive the grant for the full year, for example only during the summer semester, the income limit will be reduced accordingly. And if you exceed the limit, you’ll have to repay the excess amount in full, so it’s best to keep track.

If you worked continuously for at least four years before your studies and earned at least €11,000 gross per year, you can apply for the self-supporting student grant, which does not take your parents’ income into account. This is especially beneficial for students who start later or have already lived independently for a longer time. Student jobs or flexible part-time positions in hospitality, for example, are a good way to combine work and studies. Here you’ll find more tips on jobs for students.

Tip: If you’re not eligible for the regular study grant but are employed during your studies, the graduation scholarship might be interesting for you. You can find all the details about it here.

Study grants for master’s, distance learning & Erasmus programmes

The study grant is not just relevant for your bachelor’s degree, because you can also receive financial support during your master’s or while studying abroad. Here is a brief overview:

Study grant during your master’s

If you continue your studies directly after your bachelor’s degree, you’re also eligible for a study grant during your master’s. The key requirements are:

  • You must start your master’s within 30 months after completing your bachelor’s
  • You must not be older than 38 at the beginning (exceptions apply for self-supporting students, students with children, or those with a disability)
  • You must not have completed an equivalent degree already

Distance learning and part-time studies

Even if you’re enrolled in a distance learning or part-time study program, you can still receive the grant, as long as it’s a regular degree program at a recognized Austrian institution. What matters most is that you are formally enrolled as a regular student.

Erasmus and semesters abroad

If you want to spend one or two semesters abroad, Erasmus stays can easily be combined with the study grant. In addition, you can apply for a mobility scholarship. However, it’s important that you submit the application before going abroad.

In many cases, you’ll receive not only the domestic study grant and the mobility scholarship but also an additional foreign study grant. You have to apply no later than three months after the start of your studies abroad.

Study grant repayment: When do you have to pay it back – and why?

In certain cases, you might have to repay the study grant partially or in full. This can happen, for example, if you exceed the additional income limit, meaning you earn more than is allowed. False information on your application, such as incorrect income details or study status, can also lead to a repayment. The same applies if you drop out of your studies without reporting it in time.

If you have not made enough academic progress, you might also be required to repay the grant. But this repayment is waived if you continue your studies and submit the proof of academic achievement required to keep receiving the grant, by the application deadline of the fifth semester (from the start of your studies).

Usually you’ll receive a letter from the authority requesting the repayment. It will state the amount and the until when you have to pay.

Even though the requirements may seem a bit complicated at first glance, it’s almost always worth applying for the study grant. Many students meet the criteria without even realizing it, and even if your application is denied, there are no disadvantages.
 So it’s definitely worth applying because you might qualify for financial support you weren’t expecting.

Here you’ll also find more tips on how to save money as a student, or maybe a student loan could be an option for you!

Questions?

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