Financial matters

(except for mobilities to the United Kingdom. Information on this can be found here).

Students completing a study stay within the framework of Erasmus+ receive an Erasmus+ grant in addition to the exemption of tuition fees abroad. This is a partial grant to cover the additional costs due to the stay abroad.

For stays in the academic year 2022/23, the Erasmus+ grant will be paid exclusively by the International Office.

If you have any questions about the financial management of your Erasmus+ stay, please contact the Erasmus Stipendien team at the International Office (erasmus.stipendien@univie.ac.at).

On this page you will find information on financial support for your Erasmus+ stay:

Erasmus+ grant

The Erasmus+ period of stay consists of a part with financial support and a part without financial support (zero grant funding). The concrete duration of both parts is determined by the University of Vienna for each academic year based on the Erasmus+ budget available for the University of Vienna. For the academic year 2022/23, the financially supported period covers at least 3 months.

From the academic year 2022/23 onwards, students can apply for semester slots only (possible exceptions: Joint Programs). In case of a semester stay, the maximum duration of stay is 5 months (financial support and zero grant support). The Zero Grant funding allows students to benefit from the advantages of an Erasmus+ status (e.g. exemption from tution fees) even if the financial grant does not cover the whole period of stay.

The programme countries are divided into three country groups as defined in the European Commission's Programme Guide. The grant amounts to approx. 400 € per month depending on the host country (see list of grant amounts by host country for 2021/22). 

In general, you should take classes worth 30 ECTS credits per semester. The reimbursement threshold for the mobility grant depends on the duration of your stay. If you do not complete at least 3 ETCS per month of stay, the grant must be returned (only the ECTS recognised at the University of Vienna count here!). 

The Erasmus+ grant is paid in two instalments: 80% at the start of the stay and 20% after the stay.  

Recipients of the Austrian federal aid for students ("Studienbeihilfe") can apply for financial aid for studies abroad ("Auslandsbeihilfe") from the Study Grant Authority. 

Tuition fees

You are exempt from paying tuition fees at the University of Vienna and at the host university for the duration of your Erasmus+ stay. However, it is absolutely necessary to pay the students’ union fee (ÖH-Beitrag) within the deadline, even during your semester abroad, in order to ensure that you remain enrolled at the University of Vienna. Please note that some host universities also charge incoming Erasmus+students similar fees (comparable to the students’ union fee) – you cannot be exempted from these fees.

A leave of absence from the University of Vienna will not be granted during a semester abroad. For more detailed information, please have a look at the Teaching Affairs and Student Services website. However, if you are also enrolled in another degree programme at a different Austrian University you may be able to take a leave of absence from this degree programme for the duration of your Erasmus+ stay. Please contact the respective university for further information.

Students who have been admitted to study at several universities simultaneously must notify each one of these universities of their stay abroad if they wish to remain enrolled.

No additional semester ("Toleranzsemester") will be granted because of an Erasmus+ stay abroad, that is to say, students must remain within the prescribed minimum duration of study + 2 "semesters of tolerance".

Please note, however, that an Erasmus+ stay might entitle you to an additional semester of family allowance ("Familienbeihilfe").

Financial top-ups

In addition to the Erasmus+ grant, you can apply for additional financial support (top-ups):

  • Green Travel: travel expense support for environmentally friendly travel
  • Students with fewer opportunities: please note that you can only apply for this top-up once, even if more than one of the following categories apply to you:
    • Students receiving a federal scholarship (Studienbeihilfe)
    • Students travelling with their child(ren)
    • Students with disabilities, if this causes additional costs during your stay abroad (compared to the usual costs in Austria)
    • Students with a chronic illness, if this causes additional costs during your stay abroad (compared to the usual costs in Austria)
  • Inclusion support: if you have a disability or chronic illness, you can apply for inclusion support, in case the top-up for students with fewer opportunities should not be sufficient.

Further information on the top-ups can be found under the respective headline.

Top-up: Green Travel

Erasmus+ participants who travel to and from the host university in an environmentally friendly way can apply for a Green Travel top-up. This includes arrival and departure by bus or train. The application is submitted via Mobility Online.

Application deadline: one month before the start of your stay. Students will be informed as soon as the application for the top-up is possible.

Top-up: Those receiving federal aid for students

If you receive the Austrian federal aid for students ("Studienbeihilfe"), you can apply for the top-up for students with fewer opportunities, which amounts to 250 euros per month. The application is submitted via Mobility Online.

Application deadline: one month before the start of your stay. Students will be informed as soon as the application for the top-up is possible.

Additionally, you can apply for financial aid for studies abroad ("Auslandsbeihilfe") from the Study Grant Authority. From the academic year 2019/20 onwards it is possible to receive both "Auslandsbeihilfe" and the Erasmus+ grant simultaneously. Here you can find more information (in German) on the financial aid for studies abroad („Auslandsbeihilfe“) and the travel grant.

Please note that if you receive financial aid for studies abroad, you have to submit proof of performance (min. 3 ECTS per month of stay abroad), otherwise you will have to pay back the financial aid for studies abroad. However, this will not have an effect on the federal aid for students (“Studienbeihilfe”).

Top-up: Students with children

If you are going to take your child/children with you on your Erasmus+ stay, you can apply for the top-up for students with fewer opportunities which amounts to 250 euros per month. The application is submitted via Mobility Online.

Application deadline: one month before the start of your stay. Students will be informed as soon as the application for the top-up is possible.

Top-up: Students with disabilities or a chronic illness

Erasmus+ takes inclusion very seriously. Students with a disability or chronic illness can apply for the top-up for students with fewer opportunities which amounts to 250 euros per month. The application is submitted via Mobility Online.

Application deadline: one month before the start of your stay. Students will be informed as soon as the application for the top-up is possible.

Inclusion support

If you have a disability or chronic illness, you can apply for inclusion support instead of the top-up for students with fewer opportunities should this not be sufficient. The amount of this financial support is not fixed, but based on the actual additional financial costs caused by a student’s disability or illness.

Helpful links for outgoing students with physical, mental or health-related impairments

Data protection

Personal data are confidential and will only be processed in accordance with the applicable national laws insofar as this is necessary with regard to your application and participation in the Erasmus+ programme.