Highlight your future. Study in Austria.

Higher education & research: Over 360,000 students in Austria

The great importance of higher education and research in Austria is reflected, among other things, in the high number of more than 360,000 students (2022/23).

The attractiveness of Austria as a higher education location is also reflected in the high proportion of international students. 29% of students in Austria were international students in 2022/23.

As an agency for education and internationalisation, the OeAD acts as a reliable partner for Austrian universities in the realm of internationalisation. It supports their efforts to internationalise and globally orient their activities. The main goal of its activities is to position Austria as an attractive location for higher education, research, and science internationally. This includes managing scholarship and funding programmes at national, European, and international levels, representing Austria as a leading research and science location, and promoting the offerings of diverse study disciplines, teaching and research options, and cooperation opportunities worldwide.

The goals include:

• Enhancing the attractiveness of Austria as a higher education and science location;
• Strengthening Austria's position internationally and consolidating its image as an innovative provider of high-quality and internationally oriented study opportunities;
• Promoting scientific excellence and international networking by recruiting excellent international young researchers for research stays in Austria.

These are implemented through the following measures:

• Representing the Austrian higher education landscape at international university fairs and conferences in Europe, Africa, Asia/Australia, and North America;
• Globally presenting all Austrian higher education institutions and the diversity of their study programmes through webinars and other events;
• Supporting universities in the development and expansion of international networks and collaborations;
• Providing comprehensive information about the full spectrum of study opportunities across all higher education sectors.

In the implementation of its goals, the OeAD is supported by an advisory group, which is composed of representatives from the involved stakeholders, the umbrella organisations of the universities, and the individuals responsible for internationalisation at the universities.

This group was established in 2021 and serves as a discussion and exchange platform for the international orientation of the Austrian higher education landscape. It provides a framework for the presentation and critical evaluation of initiatives to identify opportunities, assess risks, and evaluate potential from both a professional and strategic perspective. Given the global developments and trends in international cooperation, it is necessary to continuously adjust Austria’s strategic orientation in the field of academic mobility.

Members of the support group for Austria as a location for higher education

Under the "Study in Austria" initiative, the OeAD participates both in person and virtually in a wide array of international university fairs and professional conferences across Asia, America, and Europe, including prestigious events such as APAIE, NAFSA, and EAIE. Its commitment is focused on providing detailed information about study and research opportunities in Austria, representing the diverse university locations, and initiating and deepening international cooperations.

In 2023, the OeAD represented the Austrian higher education landscape in 18 countries, including:

• 14 public fairs
• 3 international university fairs and conferences
• 7 webinars in cooperation with Austrian representative authorities abroad (WKO, embassies/cultural forums)

The complete list of our participations in previous or upcoming events can be found here.