University of Vienna

Key facts

Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 7 November 2026.

About the University of Vienna

The University of Vienna (Universität Wien) was founded in 1365 and calls itself Austria’s largest research institution and its largest educational institution.^[1] It has about 87,000 students, around 11,000 employees and 20 faculties and centres.^[1] Wikipedia describes it as the oldest university in the contemporary German-speaking world and gives the foundation date as 12 March 1365.^[5]

The university celebrated its 650th anniversary in 2015, and the physicist Anton Zeilinger, for many years a professor there, received the Nobel Prize in Physics in autumn 2022.^[1]

How is the University of Vienna ranked?

In the QS World University Rankings 2027, published in June 2026, the University of Vienna is 140th (previous year: 152nd). It is the best-ranked Austrian university, ahead of TU Wien at 191st.^[2]

In the Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2027 it is 95th, the only Austrian university in the top 100. News.at, an Austrian magazine, reports that the Shanghai ranking places it in the group 101–150.^[6] The university itself says it ranks in the top four per cent of universities worldwide.^[1] Rankings differ by publisher and method, so treat one position as one view. How we compile rankings.

What can you study at the University of Vienna?

The university offers 188 degree programmes, which it describes as the most diverse range of studies in Austria.^[1] Bachelor’s, diploma and master’s programmes are listed in the university’s programme finder.^[8]

Most programmes are taught in German. Examples taught in English or bilingually are the English-instructed bachelor’s programme in Mathematical Foundations of Data Science and the bilingual bachelor’s programme in International Legal Studies; the university also has master’s programmes instructed in English.^[4] Each programme has a study profile page with the language of instruction and the admission rules.^[8]

Some bachelor’s and diploma programmes require additional exams in Latin, Greek or descriptive geometry, for example Classical Philology and Egyptology; the university lists them by programme.^[9]

How much does the University of Vienna cost?

These amounts are per semester, in euros, as published by the university when we checked on 7 November 2026 (winter semester 2026/27). The page does not name an academic year, so confirm the amount in u:space, the student portal, before you pay.^[3]

The stipulated duration is 6 semesters for a bachelor’s (tuition from the 9th semester), 4 for a master’s (from the 7th) and 6 for a doctorate (from the 9th).^[3]

Who pays less?

• Designated developing countries: citizens of the countries listed on the university’s fee page (for example Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Uganda) have the tuition fee remitted for the full duration of their studies and pay only the Students’ Union fee.^[3]
• Equal status with EU/EEA citizens: you can apply if you are enrolled in a degree programme and either belong to a group under the Austrian regulation on groups of persons or hold a residence permit other than “Student”.^[3]
• Ukrainian citizens: the tuition fee is waived automatically; only the Students’ Union fee is due.^[3]

Tuition is only part of the cost of living in Vienna; see the Austria guide and Study in Austria.

How do you apply to the University of Vienna?

You apply for admission to a degree programme through u:space, the university’s student portal, and upload all required documents. Start with the study profile of your programme, which links to the admission information and, for master’s programmes, to the Master Access Guide.^[8]

International applicants should check the list of country-specific requirements for their previous education and whether documents must be legalised and translated.^[10] Some programmes have an entrance exam or selection procedure. The university gives no fixed deadline here; deadlines differ by programme and citizenship, so use the deadlines page of the university.^[8]

Preparatory courses

Applicants who need supplementary examinations can prepare for and take them in the University Preparation Programme of the Vienna Universities (VWU). The VWU is not part of the University of Vienna, and you do not apply to it directly: you apply for a degree programme at the University of Vienna.^[10]

Which language level do you need?

For bachelor’s and diploma programmes taught in German, you need proof of German at level A2 (or higher) with your application and proof of level C1 to be admitted. Level C1 is the “advanced” level on the CEFR scale, the European scale from A1 to C2. The same two steps apply to master’s programmes taught in German, with one exception: for German as a Foreign and Second Language, C1 is already needed at application.^[4]

Multilingual master’s programmes also require A2 at application and C1 at admission, plus an additional language described in the Master Access Guide. A few master’s programmes (Philosophy and some geography programmes) accept A2.^[4] For all master’s programmes instructed in English you need proof of English instead of German.^[4] The English-instructed bachelor’s programme in Mathematical Foundations of Data Science needs English at B2 and no German proof.^[4]

Only the certificates listed on the university’s page are accepted. Applicants whose previous education was in Bangladesh, India or Pakistan must take the German online placement test (onSET) at VFS Education Services where A2 proof is required.^[4]

More about studying in Austria

• Austria: best universities
• Study in Austria: complete guide
• Cost of Studying Abroad
• International Student Scholarships
• University Ranking Methodology

More university profiles in Austria

• Medical University of Vienna
• TU Wien
• University of Graz
• University of Innsbruck