Vienna, Austria
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Austria

Vienna — repeatedly ranked the world’s most liveable city — with dependents allowed and a 12-month stay-back.

Language
EnglishFull degrees taught in English
Work during study
20 / 20Hours a week — UG / PG
After graduating
12Month job-search permit
Visa route
VFS ColomboAlso filed via New Delhi
Area
EU & SchengenTravel across 29 countries
01 — Overview

Why Sri Lankan students choose Austria

A small country with an outsized capital, and a specialism in precision industry.

Austria is compact, alpine and centred almost entirely on Vienna, a city that has topped global liveability rankings repeatedly and is unusually affordable for what it offers — largely because of a century-old social housing system that keeps rents down.

Austrian industry specialises in precision: micro-electronics, industrial automation, environmental engineering. It is a smaller economy than Germany’s, but it recruits from a smaller pool, and graduates of Austrian institutions are visible in it.

Students may work twenty hours a week during term, dependents may accompany you, and graduates get twelve months to find work.

  1. 01Vienna — consistently ranked among the world’s most liveable cities.
  2. 02A twelve-month job-search permit after you graduate.
  3. 03Dependents may accompany you during your studies.
  4. 04Twenty hours of permitted work a week during term.
  5. 05Micro-electronics and industrial automation sectors that hire technically.
  6. 06EU-recognised qualifications under the Bologna framework and the ECTS credit system.
  7. 07Schengen mobility across twenty-nine countries on your residence permit.
  8. 08Central European position — Prague, Budapest and Munich all within four hours by train.
02 — Institutions

The university we represent

MODUL University Vienna
Vienna · Featured

MODUL University Vienna

A private international university teaching entirely in English, specialising in tourism and hospitality management, international management, sustainability and new media technology.

Tourism & hospitalityManagementSustainabilityNew media
    03 — At a glance

    The facts, in one place

    Capital
    Vienna
    Language of instruction
    English
    Currency
    Euro
    Bachelor’s
    3–4 years
    Master’s
    1–2 years
    Credit system
    ECTS · Bologna
    Visa route
    VFS Colombo
    Dependents
    Yes
    Intakes
    On enquiry
    Work rights

    What you are allowed to work

    20
    Hours a week during undergraduate study.
    20
    Hours a week for postgraduate students.
    12
    Months to look for work after you graduate.
    Yes
    Dependents may accompany you during your studies.
    04 — Entry

    What Austria asks you for

    Requirements vary by institution and by programme. These are the documents every file needs.

    • Completed secondary education, or equivalent, for bachelor’s entry
    • A recognised bachelor’s degree for master’s entry
    • Academic transcripts, translated and attested
    • Evidence of English proficiency
    • Valid passport with sufficient remaining validity
    • Statement of purpose or motivation letter
    • Financial documentation for the residence permit
    • Health insurance valid in Austria
    Send us your transcripts We will tell you what is missing and which programmes you qualify for.
    05 — Costs

    What a year in Austria actually costs

    Vienna is cheaper to live in than its reputation suggests, and cheaper than Munich or Amsterdam.

    Tuition varies widely by field, and each university sets its own fees. Living costs depend on the city, on whether you take university accommodation or a private flat, and on how much you cook. The residence permit carries its own financial requirement, set by the migration authority and reviewed periodically.

    We prepare a written cost estimate for every student we work with. Tuition for your specific programme, realistic monthly costs for the city you will actually live in, the current requirement for the permit, and the scholarships you may be eligible for. Built around your circumstances rather than a generic table — and there is no charge for it.

    Request your cost sheet

    06 — Living

    Living in Vienna

    Austria

    Vienna holds around a fifth of Austria’s population and almost all of its international student life. The public transport system is comprehensive and the annual student pass is inexpensive; most students never need a car.

    Rents in Vienna are markedly lower than in comparable Western European capitals, a consequence of the city’s large publicly-owned housing stock. Student residences are plentiful and administered centrally.

    The Alps are two hours away by train, and Bratislava is an hour. English is widely spoken in the university sector and in the city, and the institution we represent teaches entirely in English.

    07 — Our work

    What we handle for Austria

    1. 01University and programme selection
    2. 02Application filing and follow-up
    3. 03Statement of purpose guidance
    4. 04Document preparation and attestation
    5. 05Financial documentation review
    6. 06Scholarship search
    7. 07Residence permit filing at VFS
    8. 08Accommodation support in Vienna
    9. 09Pre-departure briefing
    10. 10On-arrival registration support
    08 — Questions

    What students ask us

    Can I study in Austria in English?
    Yes. The institution we represent teaches entirely in English. German is not required for your degree.
    Where is the Austrian student visa processed for Sri Lankans?
    Austrian student residence permits for Sri Lankan applicants are submitted through VFS. We confirm at the outset whether your file goes through Colombo or New Delhi.
    Can I work while studying in Austria?
    Yes. Undergraduates may work up to 20 hours a week during term, and postgraduates up to 20 hours. Hours are counted across the academic year, and we will explain how that works for your programme.
    Can I stay in Austria after I graduate?
    Yes. Graduates can apply for a twelve-month residence permit to look for work in Austria.
    Is Vienna expensive?
    Less than most people assume. Vienna’s large social housing sector holds rents well below comparable Western European capitals, and student transport passes are heavily subsidised. It is not as cheap as Riga or Warsaw, but it is not Munich either.
    Can my spouse or family join me?
    Yes. Dependents can accompany you during your studies, subject to conditions we will go through with you.
    Are Austrian degrees recognised internationally?
    Yes. Austria is part of the Bologna Process and uses the ECTS credit system, so qualifications are recognised across the European Higher Education Area and transfer readily for further study or professional registration.
    Can I travel elsewhere in Europe on my permit?
    Yes. Austria is a full member of the Schengen area, so your residence permit allows short-stay travel across the zone without a separate visa.
    How much will it cost me in total?
    That depends on the programme, the university and the city, and a generic figure would mislead you. We prepare a written estimate for each student — tuition, living costs, permit requirements and any scholarships you qualify for — at no charge. Request yours here.

    Talk to someone who has filed this application before

    A free consultation at our Colombo or Kurunegala office, or online. Bring your transcripts and we will tell you where you stand.

    Book a consultation
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