EU/EEA students pay zero tuition at public universities (plus ÖH fee ~€26/semester). Non-EU/EEA students pay €726.72/semester (~€1,453/year) — a fraction of UK (£9,250+/year) or US ($20,000–$60,000+/year) fees. Students from OECD DAC least-developed countries are fully exempt. Private universities charge €3,000–€20,000+/year. Universities of Applied Sciences (FH): up to €363.36/semester for EU; up to full cost-covering fees for non-EU students.

Monthly student budget: €900–€1,200 total (Vienna/Salzburg higher; Graz/Innsbruck/Linz lower). Accommodation: €250–€450/month (dormitory €250–€350; shared flat €300–€450). Food: €200–€250/month (Hofer/Aldi most budget-friendly). Public transport: €30–€50/month (Vienna annual pass under €400). Health insurance: ~€50–€60/month. Students can work up to 20h/week during semester; Austrian minimum wage is one of the EU's highest (€1,805/month gross as of 2024).

Key funding sources: OeAD Government Scholarships (50+ countries, degree studies and research stays); Ernst Mach Grant (short research visits); university-specific merit/need-based awards at University of Vienna, TU Wien, WU Vienna; Leopold Figl Scholarship (Lower Austria); Austrian national student grant (Studienbeihilfe — for qualifying international students with EU long-term residence); ISTA full PhD funding (salary + health insurance + housing); Erasmus+ grants; FWF doctoral programmes.