International Office

Short-term grants abroad (KWA)

If scientific work (e.g. laboratory work, field studies, research in archives, libraries, academic collections, etc.) is necessary within the scope of your diploma/master's thesis or dissertation, you can apply for a short-term grant abroad (KWA).

  • Key facts

    • Target group: master's, diploma, PhD
    • Duration: 2 weeks - 3 months
    • Possible countries: worldwide
    • Funding for research conducted abroad within the scope of a diploma/master’s thesis or dissertation (e.g. laboratory work, fieldwork, or work in archives, libraries, and academic collections) worldwide.
    • No funding is available for: countries subject to travel advisories, attendance at conferences or congresses, study visits (e.g. summer schools, seminars, courses), traineeships, or duplicate funding within the university

  • Application deadlines

    Applications may be submitted during the following periods:
     

    • 15 January – 15 February
    • 15 April – 15 May
    • 15 September – 15 October

    The research stay must not have been completed by the application deadline.

    The documents must be submitted before the start of the stay abroad.

  • Funding

    • The grant consists of:
      • Monthly allowance
        EUR 650 - 1,050 depending on the country
      • Travel allowance
        EUR 200 - 900  depending on the country
    • Exemption from tuition fees at the University of Vienna if your stay abroad lasts for more than half the semester.
      If you have already paid the tuition fee: submit a request for a refund.
    • The Students' Union (ÖH) fee must be paid

Quick guide

  • 1. Criteria for selection

    The following aspects will be given particular consideration when assessing the research project:
     

    • Necessity of a stay abroad in in order to complete the dissertation
    • Proof of the practicability of the planned activities abroad and preliminary work performed
    • Quality of the research project (detailed research proposal and timetable)
    • Very good academic achievements to date (duration and grades)
    • Scientific value
    • In cases where there are several equally qualified applicants, applications for participation in already existing research collaborations or existing collaboration between the supervising persons/departments will be given preferential treatment.

  • 2. Documents

    Language: German or English

    Upload as a PDF via the application tool:

    • Research Proposal (Template & Checklist)
    • CV including a list of publications
    • Transcript of records (“Sammelzeugnis”) from the University of Vienna and certificates of study from other universities as appropriate
    • Proof of acceptance of the proposed subject and supervision of diploma/master/doctoral thesis (stamped and signed)
    • Written confirmation of the planned duration of stay and of the supervision arrangements abroad (issued by the foreign institution or the supervising person)
    • If interviews need to be conducted, proof of consent from the proposed interviewees

    By email directly by the supervisor

    • Signed letter of recommendation from your academic supervisor at the University of Vienna containing a detailed discussion of why the proposed research visit is necessary

  • 3. Application

    • Please apply via the link below in the Mobility Online tool:
      Log in for first-time application
      Please submit your application before the start of your stay.

      Log in to continue processing the application

    • Funding is awarded through a selection process on the basis of reviews by expert jurors according to competitive criteria
    • Applicants will be informed via e-mail of the results of the selection procedure immediately (approximately 6-8 weeks after the deadline).
    • If you have been awarded a grant, please fill in the “declaration of acceptance” (“Annahmeerklärung”) attached to the notification of award and upload it to Mobility Online by the deadline.
    • The grant will be paid out once the declaration of acceptance has been received.

  • 4. After your stay

    Not later than one month after termination of the stay abroad, the following documents must be uploaded via Mobility Online:
     

    Online form: 

    • Financial reporting

    Upload: 

    • progress report and personal experiences
      • 1-2 pages
      • no template
    • confirmation of stay (“Aufenthaltsbestätigung”) signed by the host institution(s)
      • no template

    Log in to continue processing the application

Any questions?

kwa(at)univie.ac.at
+43 1-4277-17322

Personal consultations are available during opening hours by appointment.

Personal consultation opening hours 

to the International Office location maps 

derknopfdruecker.com

Experience reports

derknopfdruecker.com

Target group

Requirements for application: 

  • Degree students of all disciplines at the University of Vienna, max. 4 years after starting a Master's programme / max. 4 years after starting a doctoral programme (the age limit is extended by two years per child)
  • who have been admitted to a diploma/master’s/doctoral or PhD programme
  • The subject of the diploma/ master’s/doctoral thesis has already been approved by the administrative body responsible for study matters (“Studienpräses”) or by the directorate of studies
  • Successful presentation of the doctoral thesis project at the faculty (only applies to PhD students)
  • Grants can be awarded for one stay during the MA course and one stay during the PhD course

Duration of stay

  • 2 week minimum; 3 months max.
  • Funding period: The scholarship must be used within 9 months of being awarded.
  • Research visits can, of course, be extended at the applicant’s own expense. The applicant is free to make use of any other financial assistance that may be available to him/her. PLEASE NOTE: Parallel funding by the University of Vienna is not permitted! 

Restrictions

  • The International Office reserves the right to block grants, at short notice if necessary, for regions which are deemed high-risk (level 3 or higher as defined by the BMEIA). This may occur even after the deadline for application has passed. You can find more information on travel advisories on the website (german only) of the Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (BMEIA)
  • KWA grants will not be awarded for
    • Participation in conferences or congresses
    • Internships or study visits (e.g. attendance at seminars, lectures, courses or summer/winter schools)
    • Stays organised under the ERASMUS+ mobility scheme
  • A grant through the KWA programme is not possible if similar funding for a visit abroad is available to you in connection with your appointment as a PhD student or if you have already received funding or a grant for the same research visit abroad from another body of the University of Vienna.

Grant

Depending on the host country, the scholarship amount is € 650 - € 1,050 per month + a travel allowance of € 200 - € 900. You can find the list of country rates on the website Stipendiensätze (german only).

The scholarship amount, calculated according to the length of stay and host country, is transferred as a total amount. 

Please note:

  • The KWA scholarship does not cover all costs but serves as a subsidy to help with the increased expenses associated with a stay abroad.
  • Eligible costs are costs for accommodation, travel and transport costs as well as study-related costs. Food costs are not eligible! Any parts of the scholarship that are not used for their intended purpose will be reclaimed.
  • Double funding by the University of Vienna is not permitted (this also applies to travel grants).
  • A grant through the KWA programme is not possible if similar funding for a visit abroad is available to you in connection with your appointment as a PhD student or if you have already received funding or a grant for the same research visit abroad from another body.
  • During their stay abroad, recipients of grants are not permitted to carry out any additional salaried work at the institution where they are undertaking their research.
  • Recipients of grants are obliged to work full-time on their research work and to be present at the location in question. 

Exemption from tuition fees

If the duration of the research stay lasts longer than half a semester, students are exempted from tuition fees at the University of Vienna. However, the student's union fee must still be paid in order to stay enrolled.

After your nomination, you will be automatically exempted from the tuition fees. Please do not apply for a remission of your tution fees at the admission office.

If you have already paid your tuition fees before you were nominated for a short-term grant abroad, you will need to  apply for a refund. Please read the Information on applying in connection with this. If you have any questions regarding your application for reimbursement, please contact the admission office directly.

Checklist Research Proposal

The research proposal contains the following elements:

  • Use this template (.docx) 
  • Detailed description of the research project:
    topic, methodology, information concerning preparation already carried out and justification of the need to carry out the proposed research abroad (3 A4 pages max.)
  • task- and time schedule (1 A4 page max.)
  • bibliography (1 A4 page max.)
  • where necessary, a questionnaire for interviews or surveys

Please check whether your research proposal meets these criteria:

  • Is the project sufficiently specific and scientifically/academically justified? 
    The topic should not be too general or comprehensive. A clear objective and theoretical basis must be defined. The themes and issues which direct the research should be elucidated such that they address a specific problem as far as possible and they should have an academic/scientific justification.
  • Was sufficient research undertaken in advance in Austria? 
    What literature on this topic has already been published in Austria? What is to be added to by the research abroad? The need for the research visit abroad should be underpinned by the theoretical preparation already undertaken.
  • Does the project seem feasible? 
    Does the candidate have sufficient competence in the language of research? Is appropriate supervision available on site? Does the political situation in the host country allow a visit there?
  • Is the research project clearly structured and comprehensible? 
    Is the form and content of the project clearly structured? Does the research plan make sense from a scientific/academic point of view?
  • Is the duration of the research visit abroad realistic? 
    What period was chosen and why? Are the planned research activities set out clearly in the timetable?
  • Why is the stay abroad necessary for the completion of the dissertation? 
    Why can the research not be carried out in Austria? 
     

To top

Compliance with the formal requirements for application does not confer any legal right to financial support. Grants will be awarded on the basis of competitive criteria and according to the availability of funds. There is no right of appeal. The KWA grants are funded from public funds as well as by the funding body, the Allgemeine Hochschulstipendienstiftung für Wiener Hochschulen.