Universities in Austria ^New

Explore the uniRank League Table and University Ranking of 73 Universities in Austria

The Republic of Austria is divided into 9 states (German: Länder). The majority of higher education institutions that meet the uniRank selection criteria are located in Vienna, the national capital and state situated in the northeastern part of the country. Vienna is the most densely populated state and city in Austria and the smallest in terms of area. The following uniRank sub-rankings and league tables consider all states with at least one Austrian higher education institution that fulfill the uniRank selection criteria.

Burgenland (2)  
Carinthia (4)  
Lower Austria (11)  
Salzburg (6)  
Styria (9)  
Tyrol (8)  
Upper Austria (8)  
Vienna (23)  
Vorarlberg (2)  

Unlock your University's potential: spotlight your Institution on UniRank for leads, local recognition and branding. Enquiry now to feature your University here.

Overview of Austrian Universities

Austria's higher education system features public universities, private universities and universities of applied sciences (Fachhochschulen). Governed by the Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research, Austrian universities emphasize research, innovation and internationalization. Public institutions receive state funding and offer tuition-free education to EU/EEA students, while private universities set independent fees. Austria's universities combine historic institutions dating back to the 14th century with modern specialized schools, providing education in German and increasingly in English. Bologna-process compliant degrees include Bachelor's, Master's and Doctoral programs across comprehensive and specialized institutions.

Top 10 Austrian Universities

1. University of Vienna (Universität Wien, UNI WIEN)
   Ranked #1 in Austria, #101 globally. Located in Vienna, established 1365. Public research university. Comprehensive institution offering humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, theology, law, business and computer science programs at bachelor's, master's and doctoral levels.
2. Vienna University of Technology (Technische Universität Wien, TU Wien)
   Ranked #2 in Austria, #164 globally. Located in Vienna, established 1872. Public research university. Specialized in engineering, natural sciences and technology programs at bachelor's, master's and doctoral levels.
3. University of Innsbruck (Universität Innsbruck, LFU)
   Ranked #3 in Austria, #322 globally. Located in Innsbruck, Tyrol, established 1669. Public research university. Comprehensive institution offering humanities, natural sciences, social sciences, theology, law, education and engineering programs at bachelor's, master's and doctoral levels.
4. Graz University of Technology (Technische Universität Graz, TU Graz)
   Ranked #4 in Austria, #504 globally. Located in Graz, Styria, established 1874. Public research university. Specialized in engineering, technical sciences and computer science programs at bachelor's, master's and doctoral levels.
5. University of Graz (Universität Graz, Uni Graz)
   Ranked #5 in Austria, #527 globally. Located in Graz, Styria, established 1585. Public research university. Comprehensive institution offering humanities, natural sciences, law, business, social sciences and theology programs at bachelor's, master's and doctoral levels.
6. Johannes Kepler University Linz (Johannes Kepler Universität Linz, JKU)
   Ranked #6 in Austria, #629 globally. Located in Linz, Upper Austria, established 1966. Public research university. Comprehensive institution offering law, business, engineering, social sciences, natural sciences and medicine programs at bachelor's, master's and doctoral levels.
7. University of Klagenfurt (Alpen-Adria-Universität Klagenfurt, AAU)
   Ranked #7 in Austria, #704 globally. Located in Klagenfurt, Carinthia, established 1970. Public research university. Comprehensive institution offering humanities, social sciences, economics, technical sciences and interdisciplinary studies at bachelor's, master's and doctoral levels.
8. Vienna University of Economics and Business (Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien, WU Wien)
   Ranked #8 in Austria, #720 globally. Located in Vienna, established 1975. Public research university. Specialized in business administration, economics, statistics and law programs at bachelor's, master's and doctoral levels.
9. Medical University of Vienna (Medizinische Universität Wien, MedUni Wien)
   Ranked #9 in Austria, #789 globally. Located in Vienna, established 2004. Public research university. Specialized in medicine, dentistry and health sciences programs at bachelor's, master's and doctoral levels.
10. University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (Universität für Bodenkultur Wien, BOKU)
    Ranked #10 in Austria, #804 globally. Located in Vienna, established 1872. Public research university. Specialized in agricultural sciences, forestry, biotechnology, environmental management and food sciences at bachelor's, master's and doctoral levels.

Analysis of University Types

Austria hosts 73 recognized universities. Austrian public institutions dominate the landscape with 46 universities (63% of total institutions), while private universities account for 27 institutions (37%). This distribution reflects Austria's strong tradition of publicly funded higher education alongside growing private sector participation in specialized fields.

Global Ranking and Standing

Two Austrian universities rank among the world's top 200 institutions (2.7% of national total), while 10 universities place within the global top 1,000 (13.7% of Austrian universities). This demonstrates Austria's competitive higher education sector, with over one-eighth of its universities achieving elite global recognition.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Are tuition fees charged at Austrian public universities?
A: EU/EEA students study tuition-free at public universities, paying only a nominal student union fee (approx. €20-25 per semester). Non-EU students typically pay €726-1,500 per semester.

Q: What is Austria's oldest university?
A: The University of Vienna, founded in 1365, is Austria's oldest and largest university, ranking among Europe's most historic academic institutions.

Q: Do Austrian universities offer English-taught programs?
A: Yes, especially at master's and doctoral levels. Over 300 English-taught programs are available across Austrian universities, particularly in STEM, business and social sciences.

Q: How does Austria's university system differ from German-speaking neighbors?
A: Austria maintains a stronger separation between traditional universities and universities of applied sciences (Fachhochschulen), with limited crossover in degree offerings. Admission processes are generally less restrictive than Germany's NC (Numerus Clausus) system.

Q: What is the academic year structure?
A: The academic year runs October-June, divided into winter semester (October-January) and summer semester (March-June), with examination periods in February and June-July.

Since 2005, UniRank provides original research, valuable information and resources to help you explore and make informed decisions about Austrian universities and their online presence.

• Oldest Universities in Austria
  Explore the most traditional and long-established Austrian post-secondary institutions according to uniRank's original research.
• A-Z Universities in Austria
  Search for Austrian higher education institutions listed alphabetically from A to Z.
• Austrian Universities by Town
  Look for tertiary institutions located in a particular Austrian town or city.
• Top Public Universities in Austria
  Discover Austrian public higher education institutions with potentially lower tuition fees.
• Top Private Universities in Austria
  Find out about Austrian private higher education institutions.
• Top Non-Profit Universities in Austria
  Explore Austrian not-for-profit higher education institutions that may offer lower tuition fees.
• Top For-Profit Universities in Austria
  Look for Austrian for-profit higher education institutions.
• Top Austrian Universities on Facebook
  See which tertiary institutions in Austria have the most followers on Facebook, according to uniRank's original research.
• Top Austrian Universities on Twitter
  Discover the Universities in Austria that are most followed on Twitter, based on uniRank's original research.
• Top Austrian Universities on Instagram
  Find out which post-secondary institutions in Austria are the most followed on Instagram, according to uniRank's original research.
• Top Austrian Universities on YouTube
  Explore the Universities in Austria with the most subscribed channels on YouTube, based on uniRank's original research.