Austria, with its developing healthcare sector and organized nurse education system, is fast becoming one of the preferred study destinations for international students wishing to study nursing in Europe. If you are looking for 100% funded nursing scholarship in Austria, this guide will explain exactly how nursing education is structured in the country, what funding routes are open to international applicants, what the eligibility criteria are, how to apply and when.
In Austria, there are few dedicated large scale scholarships specifically and only for international nursing students, as is the case in engineering or business. Instead, nursing students are funded through a mix of general international scholarships available to all fields of study, university specific merit and need based awards at schools of nursing, and, for those who are already residents of Austria, national workforce stipends designed to address the country's nursing shortage. This guide honestly and clearly pulls all of these routes together so you know exactly what is realistically available before you apply.
How Nursing Education Works in Austria
Before looking at funding, it helps to understand how a nursing qualification is actually structured in Austria, since this affects both your eligibility for certain scholarships and the language requirements you will face.
- Bachelor level nursing: the standard entry qualification into the nursing profession in Austria is a Bachelor's degree in Health and Nursing Science, known locally as Gesundheits- und Krankenpflege, delivered at Universities of Applied Sciences, referred to as Fachhochschulen or FH institutions.
- Master's level nursing science: students who already hold a nursing related Bachelor's degree can progress to a Master's in Nursing Science or Advanced Nursing Practice, offered at institutions such as certain medical universities and specialised health science universities.
- Clinical placement requirement: nursing degrees in Austria combine classroom study with substantial supervised clinical placements in hospitals and healthcare facilities, which means direct patient contact and communication skills in German are almost always required.
- Language of instruction: because nursing is a patient facing profession, the large majority of nursing programs in Austria are taught in German rather than English, unlike many engineering or business master's programs. International applicants should expect to demonstrate German proficiency, often at an upper intermediate level, before or shortly after starting their studies.
Funding Routes for International Nursing Students in Austria
1. The Ernst Mach Grant (OeAD)
The Ernst Mach Grant, administered by OeAD, the Austrian Agency for Education and Internationalisation, is the main scholarship route open to non-European students across all fields of study, including nursing and health sciences, at both master's and PhD level.
- What it covers: a monthly stipend of roughly 1,050 euros for master's level recipients, health insurance, and in most cases a waiver of tuition fees at public Austrian institutions.
- Duration: grants typically run for four to ten months and generally cannot be extended or awarded a second time to the same student.
- Who it is for: master's and PhD students from outside the European Union or European Economic Area who have already secured an acceptance letter or a confirmation of supervision from an Austrian host institution.
- Relevance to nursing: this grant is not nursing specific, but nursing science and health science master's applicants are fully eligible to apply, provided they meet the general academic and nationality requirements.
2. University Specific Scholarships at Nursing Focused Institutions
Austria's main Universities of Applied Sciences offering nursing and health science programs, including FH Kärnten, FH Campus Wien, FH Gesundheit Tirol, FH JOANNEUM, and FH St. Pölten, generally run their own merit based and need based scholarship schemes, open to both domestic and international students enrolled on their programs.
- These awards are usually smaller than a national grant, often covering a partial tuition contribution or a modest one off payment, but they can meaningfully reduce your overall cost of study.
- Eligibility is typically based on strong academic performance during your first year of study, financial need, or a combination of both, and is confirmed directly through each university's student services or financial aid office.
- Because these scholarships are awarded to enrolled students rather than incoming applicants, you generally need to have already been admitted to the nursing program before you can apply.
3. Austrian Nursing Workforce Stipends
Austria faces a well documented nursing shortage, and in response, the Austrian Public Employment Service, together with individual federal states, funds a nursing stipend known locally as the Pflegestipendium. This program pays a fixed monthly amount, in some regions worth several hundred euros, to people undertaking an approved nursing or care related qualification.
It is important to understand this program accurately before assuming it applies to you. The Pflegestipendium is primarily designed for people who are already living in Austria, including career changers, unemployed individuals, and residents receiving certain labour market support, rather than students applying directly from abroad on a standard student visa. If you are already resident in Austria through another route, such as a family connection, EU citizenship, or an existing residence permit, it is worth checking your specific federal state's current rules, since eligibility criteria and required residency status vary by region. For most first time international applicants moving to Austria purely to study nursing, this route is unlikely to apply immediately, but it becomes relevant once you have established Austrian residency.
4. Erasmus Plus Mobility Grants
Students already enrolled in a nursing program at a university with an exchange partnership with an Austrian institution may be able to access Erasmus Plus mobility funding to complete part of their studies or a clinical placement in Austria. This is not a route for starting a full nursing degree in Austria from scratch, but it is a genuine funding option for students at partner universities who want international clinical exposure as part of an existing nursing qualification.
5. General Development and Regional Scholarship Programs
Beyond the routes above, OeAD periodically manages broader scholarship calls aimed at students from specific developing regions across various fields of study, sometimes including health and nursing sciences. These calls change from year to year in terms of eligible countries and available places, so it is worth checking the OeAD scholarship database directly for the current academic year rather than relying on older lists.
Comparison of Nursing Related Funding Options in Austria
The table below summarises the realistic funding routes covered in this guide. Always confirm current terms directly with the relevant institution or agency before applying, since availability and amounts can change from year to year.
| Funding Program | Typical Coverage | Who It Is For | Typical Application Window |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ernst Mach Grant (OeAD) | Monthly stipend, health insurance, tuition waiver | Non-EU/EEA master's and PhD students in any field, including nursing science | Around 1 February each year |
| University specific merit or need based scholarships | Partial tuition contribution or one off payment | Enrolled nursing and health science students, domestic and international | Varies by institution, generally once per academic year |
| Pflegestipendium (nursing workforce stipend) | Fixed monthly payment during approved nursing training | Primarily people already resident in Austria undertaking approved nursing training | Ongoing, applied for before training begins through the relevant regional office |
| Erasmus Plus mobility grants | Travel and living cost contribution for a mobility period | Students already enrolled at a partner university with an Austrian exchange link | Varies by home institution's exchange calendar |
| OeAD regional scholarship calls | Varies by call, sometimes tuition and stipend | Students from specific eligible countries, varies by year | Check current call on the OeAD scholarship database |
General Eligibility Criteria for Nursing Funding in Austria
- Academic qualification: a relevant secondary school qualification for Bachelor level nursing applicants, or a completed nursing related Bachelor's degree for Master's in Nursing Science applicants.
- Language proficiency: German language ability is generally essential for Bachelor level nursing programs because of the clinical placement requirement, while some Master's level nursing science programs may offer partial English language delivery, so this should be confirmed on a program by program basis.
- Nationality: the Ernst Mach Grant and several OeAD administered programs specifically target students from outside the European Union and European Economic Area, while university specific scholarships are often open more broadly.
- Health and background checks: because nursing involves supervised clinical practice with patients, most programs require a health clearance and, in many cases, a police clearance certificate before you can begin clinical placements.
- University acceptance: as with other fields, several scholarships require you to have already secured an offer of admission from an Austrian institution before a scholarship application can be considered.
Documents You Will Typically Need
- A valid international passport
- Academic transcripts and certificates, translated into German or English where required
- Proof of German language proficiency, and English proficiency where relevant to your specific program
- A letter of acceptance from your chosen Austrian nursing school or university, where required by the scholarship
- A motivation letter explaining your interest in nursing and your career goals
- Academic or professional reference letters
- A health clearance certificate, generally required before clinical placements begin
- A police clearance certificate, often required for programs involving direct patient contact
General Application Procedure
- Decide on your study level. Confirm whether you are applying for a Bachelor's in nursing at a Fachhochschule or a Master's in Nursing Science, since entry requirements and available funding differ between the two.
- Research German language requirements early. If your target program requires German, begin language preparation well ahead of your intended start date, since reaching the required level can take a year or more if you are starting from scratch.
- Apply for admission to your chosen nursing program. Submit your academic transcripts, language certificates, and any required entrance exam or interview documentation directly to the Austrian institution.
- Secure your acceptance letter. Many scholarships, particularly the Ernst Mach Grant, require this before you can begin the scholarship application itself.
- Identify which funding routes apply to you. Check your eligibility for the Ernst Mach Grant, your target institution's own scholarship scheme, and, if you already hold Austrian residency, the regional Pflegestipendium.
- Complete the relevant scholarship application. For OeAD administered grants, this means registering on the official OeAD scholarship portal and uploading your documents before the stated deadline.
- Prepare for clinical placement requirements. Arrange your health clearance and police clearance certificates in good time, since these are usually needed before your first clinical placement begins.
- Apply for your student visa or residence permit. Once your place and any funding are confirmed, apply for the relevant Austrian visa or residence permit well ahead of your intended start date.
When to Apply: Annual Timeline
- Twelve or more months before your intended start: begin German language preparation if your target nursing program requires it, since reaching the necessary proficiency level takes considerable time for most learners.
- Six to nine months before your intended start: apply for admission to your chosen Austrian nursing program, since Fachhochschulen often have earlier application windows and limited places compared with general universities.
- September to February: if you are eligible and have already secured an acceptance letter, submit your Ernst Mach Grant application within the window that typically closes around 1 February for study beginning in the following academic year.
- After enrolment: check your specific institution's own scholarship announcements, since many university specific merit and need based awards for nursing students are only announced once you are already registered.
- If applicable, after establishing Austrian residency: if your personal circumstances change and you gain Austrian residency through another route, research the current Pflegestipendium rules in your federal state, since eligibility and payment levels vary by region and change periodically.
Tips to Strengthen Your Application
- Start building your German language skills as early as possible, since strong language ability will help both your application and your later clinical placements.
- Contact your target institution's international office directly to confirm current entry requirements and any nursing specific scholarship schemes, since these change frequently and are not always listed on general scholarship aggregator websites.
- Keep translated and certified copies of your academic documents ready well in advance, since translation and certification can take time.
- Highlight any healthcare, caregiving, or volunteer experience in your motivation letter, since this can strengthen both your university application and any scholarship consideration.
- Apply for admission and scholarship funding in parallel rather than sequentially where possible, since some scholarships have earlier deadlines than you might expect.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Assuming nursing programs in Austria are widely taught in English, when the majority require German due to the clinical, patient facing nature of the profession.
- Relying on scholarship aggregator websites for exact figures and deadlines without confirming details directly with the awarding institution or agency.
- Believing the Pflegestipendium is automatically available to new international applicants, when it is primarily designed for people already resident in Austria.
- Leaving German language preparation until the last few months before your intended start date, when it typically requires a much longer runway.
- Overlooking smaller university specific scholarships in favour of only pursuing large national grants, when smaller awards can still meaningfully reduce your costs.
Step by Step Summary
- Choose between a Bachelor's in nursing or a Master's in Nursing Science based on your current qualifications.
- Begin German language preparation early if your target program requires it.
- Apply for admission to your chosen Austrian nursing institution well ahead of your intended start date.
- Secure your acceptance letter and check your eligibility for the Ernst Mach Grant and university specific scholarships.
- Submit your scholarship applications before the relevant deadlines, ideally a few days early.
- Arrange your health and police clearance certificates ahead of your clinical placement start date.
- Apply for your Austrian student visa or residence permit once your place and funding are confirmed.
- Once resident in Austria, review any regional nursing workforce stipends you may become eligible for.
Ready to check current funding calls? You can explore open scholarship opportunities directly through the official OeAD scholarships and grants overview.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a scholarship specifically for international nursing students in Austria?
There is no single large scale scholarship created only for international nursing students. Instead, nursing applicants typically combine general funding routes such as the Ernst Mach Grant with university specific scholarships offered by their chosen Austrian nursing school.
Do I need to speak German to study nursing in Austria?
Yes, in most cases. Because nursing involves substantial supervised clinical placements with direct patient contact, the majority of nursing programs in Austria are taught in German, so proficiency is generally required before or shortly after enrolment.
Can I get the Ernst Mach Grant for a nursing science master's degree?
Yes. The Ernst Mach Grant is open to non-EU and non-EEA master's and PhD students across all fields of study, including nursing science, provided you meet the general eligibility criteria and have secured an acceptance letter from an Austrian institution.
What is the Pflegestipendium and can international students receive it?
The Pflegestipendium is an Austrian nursing workforce stipend administered through the Public Employment Service and individual federal states. It is primarily designed for people already resident in Austria, so it is not typically the first funding route for students applying directly from abroad, though it may become relevant later if you establish Austrian residency.
How long does it take to prepare for a German taught nursing program?
Reaching the German proficiency level required for most nursing programs can take a year or more for learners starting from scratch, so it is important to begin language preparation well before your intended application date.
Are university specific nursing scholarships available to international students?
Yes. Many Austrian Universities of Applied Sciences that offer nursing programs run their own merit based or need based scholarships open to both domestic and international enrolled students, though these are usually applied for after you have already secured your place.
Do I need a police clearance certificate to study nursing in Austria?
In most cases, yes. Because nursing training involves direct patient contact during clinical placements, a police clearance certificate is typically required alongside a health clearance before your clinical training can begin.
When should I start applying for a nursing program in Austria?
It is best to start researching and applying at least six to nine months before your intended start date, and to begin German language preparation even earlier if your target program requires it, since language proficiency generally takes the longest time to secure.