Then the question arises: how and where to realize one's dreams and desires, where to get high-quality and affordable education with the prospect of employment in a well-paid job? Is it really possible? Someone might wave their hand, but I will say that it is quite real. There are a number of states that offer free high-quality higher education. Austria is one of the countries that give the opportunity to make dreams come true.
Austria is a small cozy country located in the very heart of Europe. Most of its territory is occupied by the Austrian Alps. The eastern part of the country is orchards, amazing vineyards and luxurious green fields. Winter here is harsh, but summer is hot and sunny. The majority of the eight million population are Austrians. The native language is German.
Austria's undeniable appeal is created by its cultural values. The capital of the state, Vienna, is the largest musical center in Europe. Every year, thousands of music lovers from many countries come to Vienna and Salzburg for festivals. But Austria is famous not only for music. The intersection of many cultures over the centuries has left its mark on architecture. Vienna is a city of luxurious palaces, squares, and cozy streets. First of all, St. Stephen's Square with its famous cathedral is striking. The Hofburg, the imperial palace, is magnificent. And the Vienna Art Museum offers the largest collection of paintings by Bruegel, the Dutch painter. Salzburg is famous for the fact that the great composer Mozart was born here.
According to a study by the German magazine 'Spiegel', four faculties of three Austrian universities made it into the ranking of the best universities on the continent: in Vienna, Salzburg, and Graz. Law is best studied in Salzburg, economics in Vienna, and technical sciences in Graz. Higher education in Austria is provided by universities, colleges that train teachers and social workers, and higher schools. Universities, of which there are 12, are considered the most prestigious, and most students prefer to study there. Almost half of Austrian youth receive education in Vienna. Universities in Salzburg and Graz can also boast large numbers of students. In other cities, the number of students is significantly smaller.
All Austrian universities are public. Accordingly, tuition is free for Austrian citizens. But for foreigners - 726.72 euros per month. Fortunately, every rule has its exceptions: citizens of Ukraine (as well as Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan) have the entire tuition fee fully refunded within 10 days after payment.
The main condition for admission to an Austrian university is the presence of a certificate of maturity (Matura), which is received by graduates of Austrian gymnasiums. Applicants do not need to take entrance exams. However, a foreigner wishing to obtain higher education here and not having an Austrian certificate of maturity must, upon admission, present a certificate confirming that he is a student at an institute of a similar specialization in his home country, where he has completed at least two courses, and that his place of study will be retained in any case. In addition, you need to have a bank account, as well as successfully pass the German language exam (UniversitaetsSprachpruefung). Naturally, to study at an Austrian university you need to have a good command of the German language. If you have a weak level of German, you can improve it at language courses at the university. Currently, these courses are paid - 370 euros per semester. They last from six months to one and a half years, depending on the level of your knowledge at the time of admission to the university. All course participants receive student status, and therefore student benefits.
Austria is a beautiful and expensive European country. Accordingly, both the standard of living and prices are high there. A student needs 400-700 euros per month for living expenses. Scholarships for the full course of study are not provided for foreigners. The Austrian government allocates to foreign students only funds for an internship during the year and for attending summer German language courses. However, students have the right to work, which they receive from the office for foreign citizens. Working in a cafe or in the private sector, you can always earn 700-900 euros per month. Therefore, students in Austria can support themselves.
So, if you want to get a diploma of the international European standard in Austria, you need to have a higher education or complete at least two courses at a CIS university, gather all the necessary documents for admission and submit them to the university on time. If you want to start studying from the winter semester, documents should be submitted before September 1, and if from the summer semester - before February 1. It is important to note that you need to submit documents to the university in advance, taking into account the time for mailing and correspondence with it.
There is a lot of positive in Austria's higher education program: free tuition for a number of CIS countries, the right to work during studies, paid internship in Europe, language learning at courses at the university; and for young men, this program gives an automatic deferment from the army. The disadvantage of the program is that students are given too much freedom and, due to insufficient self-organization of students, the study may stretch over a longer period than originally planned. Therefore, you should understand that everything depends only on you - both the period of study, and grades in the diploma, and, finally, your future.