Costs, Federal Aid for Students, and Grants

The costs for bachelor and master degree programmes at the St. Pölten University of Applied Sciences are as follows:

• Tuition fees: EUR 363.36 per semester¹ 
• Austrian Students’ Union (ÖH) fee: EUR 24.70 per semester
• Bachelor: EUR 150 (copy costs), EUR 30 (Campus Card fee)
• Master: EUR 100 (copy costs), EUR 20 (Campus Card fee)

¹ Exception: students from third countries

Depending on the degree programme, additional costs for

• required personal study material (e.g., subject-specific literature)
• additional courses (e.g., excursions, study trips, optional subjects)
• conferences and symposia

may arise.

Costs for further education offers can be found on each programme’s web page.

Further Costs

• Housing costs in St. Pölten start from EUR 250 per month
• Costs for food and drink amount to approx. EUR 250 per month

• The St. Pölten UAS also offers a voluntary sports programme
  • The UAS sports club membership fee amounts to EUR 15 per semester
  • An additional fee of EUR 15 to EUR 50 per semester is charged for each sport

For the summer semester 2025 or winter semester 2025/26, we have decided to facilitate the admission procedure for applicants with Ukrainian nationality and admission documents:

• Waiver of the deposit in the amount of EUR 200.00 for the review of documents
• Lack of proof of German language proficiency (B2) - if the applicant has knowledge of German, the level can be determined within the framework of the admission procedure
• Proof of a valid residence permit in Austria has to be submitted by the beginning of the first semester.
• If the applicant has a valid residence permit for “Vertriebene” (displaced persons), the general application deadlines apply instead of the deadlines for third-country nationals.

Federal Aid for Students, Financial Aid for Self-Supporting Students

The Austrian Grant Authority offers information, consultation and services on grants, financial aid, studying with children, studying abroad, etc.

www.stipendium.at

AK Niederösterreich-Bildungsbeihilfen

(Funding for educational measures by the Chamber of Labour Lower Austria)

Information and consultation on funding for studying, educational leave, educational part-time employment, the university entrance qualification examination, and the certificate of secondary vocational education (Berufsreifeprüfung).

More information on the AK Niederösterreich-Bildungsbeihilfen (in German)

NÖ Top Stipendien (Top Grants Lower Austria)

Students of universities and universities of applied sciences may apply for a number of funding options for various target groups.

More information on the NÖ Top Stipendien (in German)

Funding by the Province of Lower Austria

Grants and financial aid for the university entrance examinations and the certificate of secondary vocational education, students, etc.

More information on funding by the province of Lower Austria (in German)

Higher Education Atlas NÖ

Information about the study programmes in Lower Austria.

More information (in German)

Family Allowance

Financial support for students up to age 24

More information on family allowance (in German)

Funding for Persons with a Migration Background

The Austrian Integration Fund (ÖIF) offers grants for organisations and talented people with a migration background in various fields.

More information on funding for people with a migration background (in German)

Funding for Students with Physical or Mental Impairments

Students with physical or mental impairments of at least 50 per cent are entitled to an extension of their subsidised study period.

More information on funding for students with impairments (in German)

Merit-Based Scholarships by the St. Pölten UAS

Merit-based scholarships are awarded for exceptional academic performance according to the criteria by the Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research. The call for applications is made by each study programme individually.
For detailed information, consult your study programme administration.

• Call for application for merit-based scholarships 2023/24 (PDF)
• Further information:  bmbwf.gv.at

Additional Merit-Based Scholarships for International Degree-Seeking Students with Higher Tuition Fees (Third-Country Nationals)

Tuition fee waiver for the study programmes Creative Computing, Cyber Security and Resilience, and Digital Innovation and Research

• In the study programmes Creative Computing, Cyber Security and Resilience, and Digital Innovation and Research, the best 20% of students of each semester receive a refund of the increased tuition fee.
• In case several students have the same grade average, the amount is distributed between them.
• Submission period: 01/10 – 31/11 once a year for both the winter and summer semesters; the refund is made per semester
• For detailed information, please contact the study programme administration:
  • Bachelor Creative Computing: Anna Lettner-Seisl, E: anna.lettner-seisl@fhstp.ac.at
  • Master Cyber Security and Resilience and Master Digital Innovation and Research: Barbara Friedl, E: barbara.friedl@fhstp.ac.at

Grants for the Degree Programmes Media Technology, Digital Design, Digital Media Production, and Interactive Technologies

Each semester, selected project teams of the degree programmes Media Technology, Digital Design, Digital Media Production, and Interactive Technologies are awarded grants. The department of Media and Digital Technologies provides support in the realisation of student projects by offering financial aid and equipment.

For detailed information, consult your study programme administration:

• Brigitte Hagenauer, MA Department Assistant
• E-mail: brigitte.hagenauer@fhstp.ac.at

Lower Austrian Bonus - Semester Ticket

Travel subsidies of up to EUR 100 per semester on the Lower Austrian Bonus - Semester Ticket

More Infos (in German)

Austrian Students’ Union (ÖH) Social Fund

Student members of the Austrian Students’ Union facing severe financial difficulties may apply for a one-time support payment out of the Social Funds every twelve months.

More information on the Austrian Students’ Union Social Funds (in German)

Cities and Municipalities

Some cities and municipalities award grants to students who have their principal residence there.

Further information: city administration or municipal authority

Degree Completion Grant (SAS)

Working students heading towards the end of their studies may apply for a degree completion grant (Studienabschluss-Stipendium).

More information (in German)

Austrian Database for Scholarships and Research Grants

grants.at is Austria's largest online database for scholarships and research grants in all academic disciplines. Funding possibilities for students, graduates and researchers range from traditional scholarships, subsidies, and prizes to comprehensive national, European and international research grant programmes.

More information

The "Komme-Was-Wolle" (Come What May) loan for (further) education

A loan by a building and loan association (Bauspardarlehen) offers financial flexibility.

More information (in German)

Under certain circumstances, students may file an application for a tuition fee waiver / the return of tuition fees. These include:

• a confirmed degree of disability of at least 50 per cent (in case of regular degree studies)
• a (severe) illness that spans over a longer period of time and impedes the continuation of studies
• other unforeseeable similar reasons, such as caring obligations for close relatives

The application may be filed with the CSC (please submit the necessary evidence).

Application for a tuition fee waiver / the return of tuition fees (download PDF here)

Educational Leave

Educational leave is an offer granting employees leave from work for the purpose of (further) education for a certain period of time without terminating the employment relationship.

More information (in German)

Unpaid Leave

For private-sector employees.

More information: responsible regional office of the Austrian Employment Service (AMS) (in German)

Educational Part-time Employment

Educational part-time employment enables employees to reduce their working hours for the purpose of obtaining (further) education.

More information (in German)

Tax Deductions for Further Education Costs as Advertising Expenses

Education expenses can be declared as advertising expenses in the employee tax assessment (Arbeitnehmerveranlagung) if the training or the education is completed in a related profession or is deemed a comprehensive retraining. Persons receiving unemployment benefit can also deduct (further) education expenses or retraining costs from taxes.

The following expenses can be deducted:

• Actual course costs (course fee)
• Expenses for study materials
• Expenses for work equipment (e.g., pro rata costs of using a computer, etc.)
• Travelling expenses
• Daily allowances if applicable (for the first five days, if the course is not held at the place of residence or the place of work)
• Overnight accommodation expenses

The expenses are to be deducted in the year in which they were paid. Applications may only be made for the difference of (further) education or retraining expenses that is made up of the sum of the expenses minus all subsidies.

More information (in German)

NEW Lower Austrian Educational Funding

Requirements:

• Private-sector employee, or those returning to work after leave who are not eligible for unemployment benefit, or craftspeople employed in public service
• Principal residence in Lower Austria for at least six months
• Profession-related further education at a certified and authorised education provider
• At least 75 % presence during the further education programme or evidence of positive completion
• The monthly gross income may not exceed the upper limit.
• Funding only covers the expenses that were actually made by the applicant, i.e. minus costs covered by the employer or through other sources.
• During a period of three years from the first application, a maximum of EUR 2,500 in total may be claimed. The payment is made in two instalments. 30 % is transferred after the receipt of the application and payment confirmation, and 70 % after receipt of the confirmation of participation or the evidence of positive completion.

More information (in German)

Educational Part-time Employment

Requirements:

• At least six months of employment with the same employer
• Consent of the employer and entitlement to unemployment benefit
• Reducing working hours by a minimum of 25 % and a maximum of 50 %
• Employment relationship of at least 10 hours per week, regardless of the reduction of working hours
• The extent of the further education measures must amount to at least ten hours per week or a comparable workload in terms of hours worked

A total of 24 months of educational part-time employment can be consumed over a period of four years. There are no requirements as to how the 24 months are to be distributed. The educational part-time employment payment amounts to EUR 0.82 for each hour reduced by the employee and is paid out by the Public Employment Service Austria (AMS).

More information (in German)

Educational Leave

Requirements:

• At least six months of employment with the same employer
• Consent of the employer and entitlement to unemployment benefit
• Reducing working hours by a minimum of 25 % and a maximum of 50 %
• The extent of the further education measures must amount to at least ten hours per week or a comparable workload in terms of hours worked

A period of minimum two and maximum twelve months of educational leave can be consumed over the course of four years. Employees may agree to consume these 12 months of educational leave at once or in parts. Each part must amount to at least two months. The aforementioned four-year framework period commences with the beginning of the educational leave or the first part of the educational leave.

More information (in German)

Offices of the Austrian Study Grant Authorities in Other Provinces

For more information, consult the offices in Graz, Innsbruck, Klagenfurt, Linz and Salzburg.

More information

Information on studying abroad can be found here (in German).

Eligibility for Federal Aid for Students

The eligibility criteria for receiving federal aid for students for a consecutive master degree or PhD programme may differ from those that apply at the beginning of a degree (bachelor or diploma degree programmes). A short summary of the most important special regulations for master degree and PhD programmes can be found here (in German).

Funding for Bachelor, Master, and Diploma Theses by the Chamber of Labour Lower Austria

Students of universities of applied sciences, universities, and pedagogical universities may apply for funding of their bachelor, master, or diploma thesis by the Chamber of Labour Lower Austria (in German).

Lower Austrian Social Grants

There are a number of funding possibilities for students of universities and universities of applied sciences who have their principal residence in Lower Austria who can provide evidence of social need.

Information on the Lower Austrian Social Grants (in German)

Johann Böhm Fund

The Johann Böhm Fund (in German) provides funding for research topics relevant to employee representation. Each year, the Austrian Trade Union Federation (ÖGB) awards grants of up to EUR 5,000, depending on the individual research focus.

netidee.at

netidee (in German) is Austria's largest internet grant programme, funded by the Internet Foundation Austria (IPA). The foundation promotes transparency, freedom and added value for society through the internet and provides financial support for Open Source or Open Access/Creative Commons endeavours. Each year, up to EUR 10,000 are awarded to students of Austrian study programmes for their theses on the topic of the internet (EUR 5,000 for diploma and master theses).

talent.awards

talent.awards (in German) offers students, graduates, researchers and founders an extensive range of national and international possibilities for submissions to competitions and calls.

Austrian Integration Fund (ÖIF) Research Prize

By awarding the ÖIF Research Prize for completed diploma, master and PhD theses on the topic of integration of migrants and refugees, the Austrian Integration Fund (ÖIF) (in German) promotes a targeted research focus on this core topic of today's society.

Grants by the Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW)

Various grants for PhD students and young researchers (in German)

Lower Austrian Educational Funding - Special Programme Certificate of Secondary Vocational Education (Berufsreifeprüfung)

The following groups of people can apply for funding under specified circumstances: private-sector employees subject to full compulsory insurance, public service employees and people returning to work after a period of leave who are not eligible to receive unemployment benefit (persons receiving childcare allowances, persons returning from parental leave).

More information (in German)

Educational Bonus Special – Certificate of Secondary Vocational Education

Funding for the completion of individual modules of the Certificate of Secondary Vocational Education (Berufsreifeprüfung).

More information (in German)

Preparatory Courses for Universities of Applied Sciences/Colleges/Aufbaulehrgang

Funding for preparatory courses (at least 10 teaching units) for universities of applied sciences, colleges or Aufbaulehrgänge (courses for graduates of secondary technical and vocational schools to acquire a school-leaving certificate). For members of the Chamber of Labour Lower Austria.

More information (in German)

Nostrification, Recognition, Accreditation

Funding of expenses incurring for issuing a decision or an assessment for nostrification in relation to secondary education and tertiary education, recognition, or accreditation (e.g., administrative fees). For members of the Chamber of Labour (AK) Lower Austria.

More information (in German)

Funding by the Trade Union

In general, the trade unions provide funding for profession-oriented training. Each trade union has different guidelines for the contents of the training measures or the education provider offering the training.

 More information (in German)

Applies to Applications from Persons outside the EU / EEA Area

Please note: Study applicants who:

• are nationals of a third country AND
• have obtained the necessary admission requirements in a third country

are required to pay a deposit in the amount of EUR 200.

Process: You are sent a payment request via e-mail or a message in the online application tool. We will only evaluate your application documents after receipt of the full deposit.

Please note: Complete the online application process in due time in order to be able to finish all necessary steps (including the transfer of the deposit) by the end of the application period (28 February). We recommend doing this at least 2 weeks before the deadline.

 

Please also refer to the deposit regulations in the Terms and Conditions (download PDF).