Would you like to study in Austria without IELTS? You are not alone. Every year, thousands of international students go to Austria for short courses, bachelor’s degrees, master’s programs and PhDs. And a large chunk of them do not take an English test.
Interestingly, funding is what you need to worry about and not you despairing over passing the IELTS. The excellent part is that Austria supports a wide variation of scholarship programs, and a number of them do not require IELTS scores at all, as long as you can prove your past studies were in English. This guide explains 10 real scholarships in Austria for 2026 with no IELTS requirement and how to apply for them.
Why Austria Keeps Winning Over International Students
Austria has much more than alps and historic buildings. International students from South America and Africa often place this country on top of their study abroad destination list as its universities are rated among the best in Europe. However, for many of those students, IELTS often gets in their way, and that’s just not because the exam’s hard. The registration fee runs well over a hundred euros, and the pressure of a timed exam puts plenty of strong students off applying at all.
The part that surprises most people is that Austria cares more about where and how you studied than a single test score. A long list of scholarships, from government grants to university-run awards, will take you without IELTS. Some fund PhD research, others fund tourism diplomas or private master’s degrees, and a few are open to almost any subject. Whatever you’re bent on studying, one of the ten below is probably worth your time.
Can You Really Get Admitted Without IELTS?
Can you get admitted to Austria without IELTS? Yes, and it’s more common than most students expect. Many Austrian universities accept an English Proficiency Certificate (EPC) instead, and it works for degree admission and most scholarship applications too.
What An English Proficiency Certificate Actually Covers
What is an EPC and how do you get one? If your last degree or final two years of high school were taught in English, ask that school for a letter confirming it. That’s your English Proficiency Certificate. The document must clearly state that English was the medium of instruction, printed on official letterhead and signed by a registrar or an academic dean.
Once you have that letter, upload it instead of an IELTS or TOEFL score on almost every application in this guide. It saves you the exam fee and the stress of a test day. It doesn’t waive every language requirement everywhere, so check what each program asks for, but for the ten scholarships below, it’s usually all you need.
Just keep in mind that with a strong academic record and proof your education happened in English, IELTS doesn’t have to hold you back. Austria surely has a scholarship built for you. Let’s get into the ten worth applying for.
Looking for fully funded opportunities closer to home too? You may also want to check the Whetstone Scholarship, a dedicated fully funded route for Appalachian Ohio students pursuing their education.
1. OeAD Ernst Mach Grant
The OeAD is Austria’s national scholarship agency, funded by the government and the Scholarship Foundation of the Republic of Austria. Its flagship award, the Ernst Mach Grant, funds research stays for master’s, PhD, and postdoc applicants from almost any country. IELTS isn’t required if your prior education was in English.
Benefits:
- Monthly stipend of roughly €1,050 to €1,300, by level
- Health insurance included
- Travel allowance up to €1,000
- Tuition waived at public universities
How to apply
- Search Grants.at for the call matching your country.
- Line up a supervisor at an Austrian institute.
- Prepare a research proposal or study plan.
- Upload your English Proficiency Certificate under language skills.
The worldwide grant deadline is around March 1.
🔗 Official Application Link: Austrian Government (OeAD) Scholarships
2. ISTA Fully Funded PhD Program
ISTA (the Institute of Science and Technology Austria) runs a fully funded PhD program for students set on research careers in science and math. IELTS isn’t required at all. Instead, the graduate school checks your English through your interview, since every course and lab conversation happens in English. Fields include biology, computer science, physics, math, and data science.
Benefits:
- Five-year employment contract with a competitive, internationally benchmarked salary
- Full social security coverage and health insurance
- Tuition and research expenses covered
- No need to secure a supervisor before applying
How to apply
- Watch for the call, which usually opens in October and closes in January.
- Submit transcripts, a CV, and a statement of purpose.
- Sit an online interview, where they’ll assess your spoken English and research fit.
- You pick your lab after admission, not before.
🔗 Official Application Link: IST Austria PhD Scholarship (Fully Funded)
3. Helmut Veith Stipend for Women in Computer Science
The Helmut Veith Stipend backs women heading into a two-year computer science master’s at TU Wien, named for the late Austrian scientist Helmut Veith. If tech is your field with a solid math background, this one’s worth a look, and IELTS won’t stop you.
Benefits:
- €7,000 a year for up to two years
- Full tuition waiver at TU Wien
- Aimed at boosting women in computer science
How to apply
- Apply for admission to an eligible English-taught master’s at TU Wien first.
- Submit the Helmut Veith Stipend application alongside it.
- Write a motivation letter tied to Veith’s research areas, like logic or verification.
Funding is confirmed once admission is unconditional. Deadline: November 30.
🔗 Official Application Link: Helmut Veith Stipend for Females in Computer Science
4. Austrian Development Cooperation Scholarship at ITH Salzburg
The Austrian Development Cooperation funds diploma places at Salzburg’s Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management for students from developing and ADC priority countries. It’s practical training, not a research grant, covering hospitality, tourism, entrepreneurship, and teacher training, and IELTS isn’t part of the checklist.
Benefits:
- Full tuition coverage
- Monthly pocket money of around €250
- Shared accommodation, meals, and health insurance for the program year
How to apply
- Apply directly through ITH Salzburg’s admissions portal.
- Show you’re from an ADC priority or developing country.
- Attach your EPC and any work experience certificates.
🔗 Official Application Link: Austrian Development Cooperation (ADC) Scholarship
5. Webster Vienna Private University Scholarship
Webster Vienna Private University runs an American-style curriculum, and its scholarships knock a real chunk off tuition for strong applicants in business, international relations, media, psychology, and management. If your prior schooling was in English, IELTS isn’t required.
Benefits:
- Distinction award: up to €12,000 a year (bachelor’s), €8,000 (master’s)
- Merit award: up to €7,000 a year (bachelor’s), €5,000 (master’s)
- Partial, renewable tuition reduction, not full funding
How to apply
- Secure an admission offer from Webster Vienna first.
- Submit the scholarship application with your GPA, essay, and references.
🔗 Official Application Link: Webster Vienna Private University Scholarship
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6. Scholarship Foundation of the Republic of Austria
The Scholarship Foundation of the Republic of Austria funds short research stays for students writing a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral thesis at an Austrian institution. It’s a narrower pool than most expect, aimed at descendants of forced labourers under the Nazi regime and applicants from countries that suffered badly under it, but it’s real money and IELTS isn’t required.
Benefits:
- Monthly grant of roughly €1,040
- Paid for up to four months
- Covers a research or thesis-writing stay, not a full degree
How to apply
- Register through grants.at, under OeAD’s international scholarships.
- Submit a project plan, CV, and two recommendation letters.
- Attach a letter of acceptance from an Austrian supervisor.
- Include your EPC instead of IELTS.
🔗 Official Application Link: Republic of Austria Foundation Scholarship
7. Vienna BioCenter PhD Programme
The Vienna BioCenter PhD Programme pools four top research institutes, IMP, IMBA, GMI, and Max Perutz Labs, into one life sciences PhD track. IELTS and TOEFL scores are optional. Admissions rely on your interview to judge your English, since the whole program runs in it anyway. Expect molecular biology, genetics, biochemistry, and bioinformatics.
Benefits:
- Gross annual salary of roughly €39,000 to €42,900, plus tax
- Full health, pension, and accident insurance
- Tuition-free, with travel and visa support included
How to apply
- Apply through the VBC PhD Programme portal, usually in the autumn call.
- Submit transcripts, a CV, and a statement of motivation.
- List two or three academic referees.
- Interview with potential supervisors before your final placement.
🔗 Official Application Link: Vienna International Postdoctoral Program
8. Klaus Liebscher Economic Research Scholarship
The Klaus Liebscher Economic Research Scholarship, run by Austria’s central bank (OeNB), isn’t a degree program. It’s a paid consultancy for postdoctoral economists who want to work inside the OeNB’s research department for a few months. IELTS isn’t requested; your published research does the talking.
Benefits:
- Consultancy fee of up to €10,000 for the scholarship period
- Access to the OeNB’s research staff and seminars
- A 3 to 6 month research placement in Vienna
How to apply
- Hold a PhD with published research.
- Email your application to scholarship@oenb.at with a CV and research proposal.
Deadline: end of October.
🔗 Official Application Link: Klaus Liebscher Economic Research Scholarship
9. Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Scholarship
Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s degrees send you to two or three European universities for one integrated program, and Austrian universities sit in plenty of these consortiums. Fields span climate change, robotics, cybersecurity, and public policy. No GRE, no IELTS mandate, and open to every nationality.
Benefits:
- Monthly stipend of €1,000 to €1,400
- Full tuition coverage across all partner universities
- Travel and installation allowance, up to €33,600 total over 24 months
How to apply
- Browse the Erasmus Mundus Catalogue for programs with an Austrian partner.
- Apply directly through that program’s consortium website.
🔗 Official Application Link: Erasmus Mundus Scholarship
10. University of Graz Go Styria Grant
Graz has a reputation as Austria’s ultimate student city, affordable and lively at once. The University of Graz doesn’t run a general scholarship for every international applicant, but its Go Styria program funds students from South-Eastern Europe, and IELTS isn’t part of the ask.
Benefits:
- €600 a month for master’s and PhD students
- €900 a month for postdoctoral researchers
- Tuition fee waiver at the University of Graz, plus a German course
How to apply
- Confirm you’re from an eligible South-Eastern European country.
- Apply through the university’s Go Styria scholarship page, alongside your admission application.
🔗 Official Application Link: University of Graz Grants
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