Education, Studying, Youth mobility and research

Can I continue my studies in the UK?

Yes. According to the UK authorities, Austrian students studying at universities in England, Scotland, Wales and Norther Ireland - including those who started or will start their studies 2020/2021 - should pay the same student fees as UK students. This should be valid until the completion of the studies.

For the academic year 2021/22 these rules do not apply any more, except for students who already lived in the United Kingdom before 31 December 2020 and who will be registered under the UK Settlement Scheme until 30 June 2021.

For further information, please visit the websites of

Students who plan to start their studies in 2021 or later need a visa, which can be applied for online. 

Will I lose my student grant from Austria when I study in the UK?

Austria will offer mobility grants for a (complete) course of studies in the UK also after 31 December 2020.

I am a British citizen. Can I study at an Austrian university? Can I attend a school in Austria?

British citizens who have exercised their right to reside in an EU Member State in accordance with Union law prior to the end of the transition period and subsequently continue to live there must be treated in the same way as EU citizens.

British citizens who do not meet this residence requirement must be treated as third-country nationals from 1 January 2021. This has the following effects: 

British applicants have to possess not only the general university entrance qualification, but also the study-specific admission requirements. In addition, it must be proven that the applicant is entitled to immediate admission to study in the state issuing the document certifying the general university entrance qualification. It is not necessary to provide proof of a university place. If the course of study aspired to in Austria is not established in the state issuing the document, the study-specific admission requirements have to be fulfilled with regard to a course of study established in the state issuing the document which is most closely related to the course of studies aspired to in Austria in terms of course content.

The Austrian education law does not take account of citizenship with regard to access to education. As a consequence, the Withdrawal Agreement will not result in any changes in this field.

Will my degree awarded by a British university continue to be recognised in Austria? Will my professional qualification obtained in the UK be recognised in Austria?

Courses and academic degrees which are already recognised and were obtained at a British educational establishment will continue to be valid in Austria and the EU after the withdrawal date.

A regulated profession (e.g. teaching staff) recognised in the context of the exercise of the freedom of establishment before the end of 31 December 2020, will maintain its effects, including the right to pursue the profession under the same conditions as nationals.

The requirements of the EU Directive on the recognition of professional qualifications will also apply to applications for the recognition of a regulated profession up to and including 31 December 2020 (date of application) and to the decision on these applications.

However, after 31 December 2020, qualifications obtained at a British educational establishment can no longer be recognised as previously under EU law. From 1 January 2021 on this date, certificates from a British educational establishment granting access to a profession have to be validated as equivalent. Graduates of British educational establishments can apply for access to a regulated profession according to the Austrian professional regulations only after successful validation of their certificates.

Will my degree awarded by an Austrian university or my professional qualification obtained in Austria continue to be recognised in the UK?

Recognition of professional qualifications acquired for a regulated profession in the context of the exercise of the freedom of establishment before the end of 31 December 2021 will maintain its effects, including the right to pursue the profession under the same conditions as nationals.

The requirements of the EU Directive on the recognition of professional qualifications will also apply to applications for recognition of a regulated profession up to and including 31 December 2020 (date of application) and to the decision on these applications.

As a consequence, from 1 January 2021 on, the recognition of regulated professions (for example teaching staff) in the UK will be based on British. However, the British government agencies have promised on several occasions that there should be no disadvantages for EU citizens in this field.

I am a British citizen studying at an Austrian university. Will I have to pay higher tuition fees than before?

A distinction must be made here:

  • British citizens who exercised their right to reside in an EU Member State before the end of 31 December 2020 continue to be treated in the same way as EU citizens. This means that students who meet this requirement do not have to pay tuition fees as long as they finish their studies in the study period officially foreseen plus a period of tolerance. Afterwards a tuition fee of 363,36 Euro per semester needs to be paid.
  • British citizens who do not meet this residence requirement be treated as third-country nationals from 1 January 2021 on. Hence , these students will be subject to the provisions for third-country nationals (726,72 Euro per semester).

I am a British student frequenting an Austrian school. Are there changes as from 1 January 2021?

Due to the principle of free tuition at state schools, there will be no changes for pupils at schools.

Will I lose my educational grant (education allowance/study grant) as a British citizen in Austria?

If the application for a study grant is made on or after 1 January 2021, British citizens will in future only be entitled to student support and to school allowance and/or accommodation allowance if they enjoy equal treatment with Austrian citizens under Article 23 of the Withdrawal Agreement, have either acquired a permanent right of residence in Austria according to Directive 2003/109/EC or are entitled to equal treatment as family members of a Union citizen exercising his/her right to free movement.

With regard to education allowance, from 1 January 2021 school pupils will be entitled to receive school allowance and/or accommodation allowance in the absence of these requirements if at least 1 parent was liable for income tax in Austria for a minimum of 5 years and had the centre of his or her personal relationships in Austria during this period.

Will the UK remain part of Erasmus+, the European Solidarity Corps and Horizon 2020?

The United Kingdom will not be part any more of Erasmus+ from 1 January 2021. The EU-UK Trade- and Partnership Agreement foresees the participation of UK in the EU Research Programme Horizon Europe which follows the programme Horizon 2020 as well as in the Euratom-Research Programme and to ITER (provided UK will contribute financially to the EU-Budget).

In case a Horizon 2020 project continues after 31 December 2020, British organisations will continue to participate and benefit from funding until the end of the project. 

What will happen to my Erasmus+ project with an institution in the UK, or with my Erasmus+ application for a stay in the UK?

All Erasmus+ projects with partner institutions in the UK starting before 31 December 2020 will continue, and the UK partner institutions will be fully eligible to receive funding for the entire duration of the project.

As part of Erasmus+ mobility projects, people can be sent to the UK and people from the UK can be received in Austria. This applies to all mobility projects approved under the current Erasmus+ programme (2014 to 2020), even if the actual period abroad does not start until after 31 December 2020.