# Fachhochschulen in Austria: All 21 Universities of Applied Sciences (2026)

> Up to €363.36 a semester, free admission tests and a mandatory internship: all 21 Austrian Fachhochschulen, compared with universities.

Updated: October 12 2026 · By Jules de Bruin · URL: https://www.how-to-austria.com/education/universities-of-applied-sciences

Austria has **21 Fachhochschulen**, universities of applied sciences with fixed cohorts and a **mandatory internship** in every bachelor. Each one selects its intake through an **Aufnahmeverfahren**, which is free and can be retaken without limit. An FH may charge up to **€363.36 a semester** from the first semester, plus the **€26.20 ÖH fee**. A public university is cheaper if you finish on time, but an FH gets you through in **6 semesters**.

On a **§ 64 NAG** student residence permit, an FH may charge **cost-covering fees** instead of the **€363.36** cap. **IMC Krems** lists **€6,900 to €9,500 a semester**, so a six-semester bachelor can cost over **€41,000**, against **€4,517.52** at a public university. Compare each FH's own fee rules first. You may work up to **20 hours a week** with an AMS permit.

## Which Are the 21 Fachhochschulen in Austria?

| Fachhochschule | Location | Focus | English-taught programmes |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Hochschule Campus Wien](https://www.hcw.ac.at) | Vienna | Health, social work, engineering, construction | Not verified |
| [FH Technikum Wien](https://www.technikum-wien.at) | Vienna | Engineering and IT only | Several master's programmes (the FH names no list on its English landing page) |
| [FHWien der WKW](https://www.fh-wien.ac.at) | Vienna | Management, communication, real estate | Corporate Communication BA (part-time), Executive Management MA, Urban Tourism & Visitor Economy Management MA |
| [Hochschule für Wirtschaft & Gesellschaft des BFI Wien](https://www.fh-vie.ac.at) | Vienna | Business, finance, project management | Not verified |
| [Lauder Business School](https://www.lbs.ac.at) | Vienna | Business only, small cohorts | All programmes: International Business Administration BA, Strategic Finance & Business Analytics MA, International Management and Leadership MA |
| [FH Wiener Neustadt](https://www.fhwn.ac.at) | Wiener Neustadt, Wieselburg, Tulln | Business, engineering, health, food technology | Business Consultancy International BA, Computer Science BA, Aerospace Engineering MA, Global Business Leadership MA |
| [USTP St. Pölten](https://www.ustp.at) | St. Pölten | Media, IT, security, digital health | Creative Computing BA, Creative Media Production BA, Cyber Security and Resilience MA, Digital Innovation and Research MA |
| [IMC Krems](https://www.imc.ac.at) | Krems, Mistelbach, Horn | Business, health, life sciences | Over half of its bachelor and master programmes, by its own count |
| [Ferdinand Porsche FERNFH](https://www.fernfh.ac.at) | Wiener Neustadt (distance learning) | Distance learning with few campus days | Not verified |
| [FH für angewandte Militärwissenschaften](https://www.bundesheer.at) | Wiener Neustadt, Vienna | Officer training, entry only via the Bundesheer | Not verified |
| [Hochschule Burgenland](https://hochschule-burgenland.at) | Eisenstadt, Pinkafeld | Business, energy and environment, health, IT | Not verified |
| [CU Hochschule Kärnten](https://cu-hochschule-kaernten.at) | Villach, Klagenfurt, Spittal, Feldkirchen | Engineering, business, health and social | Digital Marketing & Sales BA, Intercultural Management BA, Network Engineering BSc, Medical Engineering BSc, Applied Data Science MSc, among others |
| [FH Oberösterreich](https://www.fh-ooe.at) | Hagenberg, Linz, Steyr, Wels | Informatics, engineering, business, health and social | AI-Driven Computer Science BA, Electrical Engineering BA, Global Sales and Marketing BA, Medical Engineering MA, Sustainable Energy Systems MA, among others |
| [FH Gesundheitsberufe OÖ](https://www.fhgooe.ac.at) | Linz, Ried, Steyr, Vöcklabruck, Wels | Health professions: nursing, therapy, midwifery | Not verified |
| [FH JOANNEUM](https://www.fh-joanneum.at) | Graz, Kapfenberg, Bad Gleichenberg | Engineering, health, media and design | Not verified |
| [FH CAMPUS 02](https://www.campus02.at) | Graz | Business and technology, mainly part-time | Not verified |
| [FH Salzburg](https://www.fh-salzburg.ac.at) | Salzburg (Urstein), Kuchl, Schwarzach | Tourism, wood technology, design, media, IT | Innovation and Management in Tourism BA and MA, Human-Computer Interaction MA, MultiMediaArt MA, among others |
| [HOK Hochschule Kufstein Tirol](https://www.hok.ac.at) | Kufstein | Business, sports and event management, data science | Not verified |
| [MCI \| Die Unternehmerische Hochschule](https://www.mci.edu) | Innsbruck, Lienz | Management, social work, engineering, life sciences | Bachelor: Business & Management, Entrepreneurship, Tourism & Leisure Business, Business Administration (online) |
| [fhg Zentrum für Gesundheitsberufe Tirol](https://www.fhg-tirol.ac.at) | Innsbruck | Health professions | Not verified |
| [FHV Vorarlberg](https://www.fhv.at) | Dornbirn | Engineering, business, design, social work and health | Not verified |

Source: [Fachhochschul-Konferenz member list](https://www.fhk.ac.at/ueber-uns/institutionen) and each FH's website, checked 12 October 2026. "Not verified" means the FH's own site did not state the teaching language where we looked; search [studienwahl.at](https://www.studienwahl.at) by language.

The **Fachhochschul-Konferenz (FHK)** lists **21 Fachhochschulen** as of **October 2026**. **Five** are based in **Vienna**, and each of the **nine states** hosts at least one. **FH Oberösterreich** alone lists **77 degree programmes** on four campuses, and **IMC Krems** teaches **over half** of its programmes in English. **AQ Austria** accredits every FH and each of its programmes.

Several FHs renamed themselves recently, which trips up older lists. **FH Kärnten** is now **CU Hochschule Kärnten**, **FH St. Pölten** is **USTP**, **FH Kufstein** is **HOK**, and **FH Campus Wien** is **Hochschule Campus Wien**. Two FHs train only for health professions: **FH Gesundheitsberufe OÖ** and **fhg Tirol**. The **FH für angewandte Militärwissenschaften** admits only officer candidates of the **Bundesheer**, so civilians cannot apply.

The English column is deliberately strict. It names a programme only where the FH's own website marked it as **taught in English** on **12 October 2026**. Third-party portals publish counts per FH, but they disagree with each other and with the FHs. A programme with an English title is not always taught in English: **FHWien der WKW**, for example, runs its Management & Entrepreneurship bachelor **bilingually**.

## Should You Choose a Fachhochschule or a University?

| If what matters most is | Winner | Why |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Finishing in 3 years | Fachhochschule | Fixed curriculum in a fixed cohort; the bachelor internship does not extend the 6 semesters (§ 3 FHG) |
| Getting a place without competing | University | Many university programmes are open-entry; every FH programme has fixed places and ranks applicants (§ 11 FHG) |
| Work experience before graduating | Fachhochschule | A Berufspraktikum is mandatory in every FH bachelor |
| Studying while employed | Fachhochschule | Many FHs run berufsbegleitend (evening and block) tracks; universities teach mostly full-time |
| Lowest fees, EU student on time | University | €0 within the standard duration plus 2 semesters, against up to €363.36 at an FH from semester 1 |
| Lowest fees, third-country student | University | Statutory €726.72 everywhere; an FH may charge cost-covering fees, €6,900 to €9,500 at IMC Krems |
| An English-taught bachelor | Fachhochschule | Several FHs list English bachelors; university bachelors are mostly German-taught and need C1 |
| A research career or PhD | University | Only universities award doctorates; an FH master gives access, possibly extended (§ 6 FHG) |

Our assessment from the Fachhochschulgesetz, UG 2002 and the fee pages cited on this page, October 2026.

Choose a **Fachhochschule** when structure and speed matter more than freedom. An FH bachelor runs as a **fixed timetable** in a **small cohort**, carries a **mandatory internship**, and ends after **6 semesters**. Choose a public **university** when you want to change subject, set your own pace, aim for a **doctorate**, or pay the least as an EU student who finishes on time.

Passport changes the money row more than any other. An EU student pays **€0** at a university within the tolerance window but up to **€363.36** at an FH from the first semester. A third-country student on a **§ 64 NAG** permit pays a flat **€726.72** at every public university, while an FH sets its own rate. Our [university vs Fachhochschule table](/education/public-universities#uni-vs-fh) compares the governing laws, quality assurance and private universities as well.

Illustration of a graduation cap, a book, and a university building, for studying at Austrian universities.

## How Much Does a Fachhochschule Cost?

| Student and institution | Per semester incl. ÖH | 6-semester bachelor |
| --- | --- | --- |
| EU student, public university, on time | €26.20 | €157.20 |
| EU student, FH charging the full cap | €389.56 | €2,337.36 |
| Third-country student (§ 64 NAG), public university | €752.92 | €4,517.52 |
| Third-country student, IMC Krems business or health | €6,926.20 | €41,557.20 |
| Third-country student, IMC Krems science and technology | €9,526.20 | €57,157.20 |

Method: semester fee plus the €26.20 ÖH fee for WS 2026/27, times 6 semesters, assuming no fee change. University rates from UG 2002 § 91; FH cap from [FHG § 2 (2)](https://www.ris.bka.gv.at/NormDokument.wxe?Abfrage=Bundesnormen&Gesetzesnummer=10009895&Paragraf=2); IMC Krems rates from its [study fees page](https://www.imc.ac.at/en/study/application/study-fees/), which marks them "fee status 2024". Checked 12 October 2026.

[Fachhochschulgesetz § 2 (2)](https://www.ris.bka.gv.at/NormDokument.wxe?Abfrage=Bundesnormen&Gesetzesnummer=10009895&Paragraf=2) caps the fee for regular students at **€363.36 a semester**. For third-country students on a **§ 64 NAG** student residence permit who are not covered by the **Personengruppenverordnung**, an FH may charge **cost-covering fees** instead. The cap also does not apply to programmes run entirely abroad. This wording is in force since **2 July 2026**, after the amendment in **BGBl. I Nr. 48/2026**.

Each FH sets its own rate in its fee rules, so the same degree can cost very different amounts. **IMC Krems** charges EU students the full **€363.36** and third-country students **€6,900** a semester for business and health, or **€9,500** for science and technology. Over a six-semester bachelor, that third-country student pays **9 to almost 13 times** what the same student pays at a public university. Non-EU applicants covered by the **Personengruppenverordnung** pay the EU rate.

Two smaller rules protect your budget. **FHG § 2 (4)** bans **flat fees** for materials, supplies and routine services that a programme needs to run; only other actual costs may be billed individually. And the public-university tolerance window does not exist at an FH: if your FH charges the cap, you pay from **semester 1**, not only after running late.

### Third-country applicants: ask for the fee rules first

The **€363.36** figure on most comparison sites does not bind an FH for a **§ 64 NAG** student. Before you apply, download the FH's fee regulation (Beitragsordnung or study fees page) and check the rate for your programme and passport.

## How Does the FH Admission Procedure Work?

| Rule | What the law says | Section |
| --- | --- | --- |
| When it runs | Whenever applicants outnumber the places | § 11 (1) FHG |
| Criteria | Performance-based, with interviews where organisationally possible, documented so it can be checked | § 11 (1) FHG |
| Fee for the procedure | None | § 11 (2) FHG |
| Inspecting your result | Within 3 months of the result, except personal-suitability questions | § 11 (3) FHG |
| Retaking it | Without limit | § 11 (4) FHG |
| Doubtful foreign certificate | The FH may check it and take a deposit of up to €500 | § 4 (5a) FHG |

Source: [FHG § 11](https://www.ris.bka.gv.at/NormDokument.wxe?Abfrage=Bundesnormen&Gesetzesnummer=10009895&Paragraf=11) and [FHG § 4](https://www.ris.bka.gv.at/NormDokument.wxe?Abfrage=Bundesnormen&Gesetzesnummer=10009895&Paragraf=4) on RIS, read 12 October 2026.

Every FH programme has a **fixed number of places**, and [FHG § 11](https://www.ris.bka.gv.at/NormDokument.wxe?Abfrage=Bundesnormen&Gesetzesnummer=10009895&Paragraf=11) requires an **Aufnahmeverfahren** whenever applicants outnumber them. The FH ranks applicants on **performance-based criteria**, usually a written test plus an **interview**. The procedure is **free**, you may inspect your assessment within **3 months**, and you may retake it **without limit** in a later intake.

Entry to a bachelor needs the **general university entrance qualification** (Matura or an equivalent foreign certificate) or a **relevant professional qualification**, under [FHG § 4 (4)](https://www.ris.bka.gv.at/NormDokument.wxe?Abfrage=Bundesnormen&Gesetzesnummer=10009895&Paragraf=4). Professionally qualified applicants may have to pass **additional exams**, normally before the **second year**. In bachelor procedures, applicants are grouped by prior education, and at least one group is reserved for people with a professional qualification. A master needs a relevant bachelor of at least **6 semesters**.

Deadlines are set by each FH, and visa holders apply earlier. **FH Oberösterreich** opened applications for **2027/28** on **1 October 2026**, with a general deadline of **30 June 2027** and **31 May 2027** for applicants who need a visa ([FH OÖ: application](https://www.fh-ooe.at/en/application)). Places go to the ranked list, so applying early helps. **IMC Krems** asks non-EU applicants for a **€300 registration fee**, credited to the first tuition payment if admitted.

Third-country applicants should plan backwards from the visa. The first [student residence permit](/visa/student-visa) is filed at the Austrian embassy before arrival and costs **€218** in 2026. You need the FH's admission letter for it, plus proof of funds such as a [blocked account](/blocked-account), so a June deadline leaves little slack for a September start.

## Is the Internship Mandatory, and Can You Do a PhD After an FH?

Yes, the internship is mandatory in every FH bachelor. [FHG § 3 (2) Z 3](https://www.ris.bka.gv.at/NormDokument.wxe?Abfrage=Bundesnormen&Gesetzesnummer=10009895&Paragraf=3) requires a **Berufspraktikum** as a training-relevant part of the degree, and it **does not extend** the standard duration. A bachelor is **180 ECTS** over **6 semesters**; a master is **60, 90 or 120 ECTS**. A PhD is possible too, but only at a **university**, because a Fachhochschule awards **no doctorate**.

The placement length differs by programme. **FH Wiener Neustadt** sets at least **15 weeks** in the sixth semester of its English-taught Business Consultancy International bachelor, at a company in Austria or abroad. Because the placement is built into the curriculum, the FH helps find and approve it. A paid placement is still employment, so third-country students should confirm the permit position with the FH's international office before signing.

The doctoral route is written into the law. Under [FHG § 6 (4)](https://www.ris.bka.gv.at/NormDokument.wxe?Abfrage=Bundesnormen&Gesetzesnummer=10009895&Paragraf=6), an **FH master** entitles you to a matching **doctoral programme at a university**. If your FH master was shorter than the comparable university master, the doctorate is **extended by the difference**, and the ministry regulates the details by ordinance. For a research career, a university master is the shorter path.

## Can FH Students Work While Studying?

| Question | EU / EEA / Swiss | Third-country (§ 64 NAG) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Permit | None | Beschäftigungsbewilligung, applied for by the employer at AMS |
| Hour cap | None | 20 hours a week |
| Labour market test | Not applicable | None up to 20 hours (AuslBG § 4 (7) Z 2) |
| Marginal work | Free | Permit still required |
| After graduating | Free labour market access | Permit renewable once for 12 months to job-hunt, then the Rot-Weiß-Rot-Karte for graduates |

Source: [AuslBG § 4](https://www.ris.bka.gv.at/NormDokument.wxe?Abfrage=Bundesnormen&Gesetzesnummer=10008365&Paragraf=4) on RIS and [migration.gv.at: graduates](https://www.migration.gv.at/en/types-of-immigration/permanent-immigration/graduates/), October 2026.

**EU, EEA and Swiss students** work without a permit and without an hour cap. **Third-country students** need their employer to get a **Beschäftigungsbewilligung** from **AMS**. Under [AuslBG § 4 (7) Z 2](https://www.ris.bka.gv.at/NormDokument.wxe?Abfrage=Bundesnormen&Gesetzesnummer=10008365&Paragraf=4), there is **no labour market test** for student jobs up to **20 hours a week**. The permit is needed **even for marginal work**, so a few shifts a week still need the paperwork.

A fixed FH timetable leaves less room for a job than a university course plan does, especially in full-time programmes with daytime attendance. The renewal of a student permit also needs proof of progress, **16 ECTS** in the previous academic year. After graduating, a third-country student can renew the permit **once for 12 months** to look for work, then switch to the **Rot-Weiß-Rot-Karte for graduates**, which has **no points test**.

## Which Laws and Authorities Govern Fachhochschulen?

| Law | [Fachhochschulgesetz (FHG)](https://www.ris.bka.gv.at/NormDokument.wxe?Abfrage=Bundesnormen&Gesetzesnummer=10009895&Paragraf=2), BGBl. Nr. 340/1993, last amended by BGBl. I Nr. 48/2026 |
| Accreditation | [AQ Austria](https://www.aq.ac.at) accredits each FH and its programmes |
| Neutral tool | [studienwahl.at](https://www.studienwahl.at), the ministry's programme database, searchable by language and institution type |
| Your right | Fee cap of €363.36 a semester for regular students (§ 2 (2)), and a free, unlimited Aufnahmeverfahren (§ 11), in force as of 2 July 2026 |

The **Fachhochschulgesetz (FHG)** governs all **21 Fachhochschulen**, while public universities run under the **Universitätsgesetz 2002**. **AQ Austria** accredits each FH and its programmes, the federal science ministry **BMFWF** funds most FH places through its development and financing plan (**§ 2a FHG**), and the **Fachhochschul-Konferenz (FHK)** represents the sector. Under **§ 2 (1) FHG**, an FH can be run by the federal state, another public body, or a private-law entity whose main purpose is running the FH.

An FH degree is a full Bologna degree. A **bachelor** carries **180 ECTS**, a **master** **60 to 120 ECTS**, and both are equal to university degrees. The difference lies in the doctorate, which only universities award. For international students, the **OeAD** also runs an **Ernst Mach Grant** for study at a Fachhochschule, open to students from universities outside Europe, with applications from October to **1 February**.

## How We Checked This

The legal rules come from the consolidated **Fachhochschulgesetz** and **Ausländerbeschäftigungsgesetz** on the federal legal information system [RIS](https://www.ris.bka.gv.at), read on **12 October 2026**. The list of 21 FHs comes from the **Fachhochschul-Konferenz**. Fees, deadlines and English-taught programmes come from each FH's own website, never from a comparison portal, and anything we could not confirm there reads "Not verified". 

We left out student numbers per FH and counts of English programmes per FH. The figures in circulation are estimates that disagree by source and year, and a wrong number in a directory is worse than an empty cell. We are independent of every institution named here. Spotted a change? Tell us and we will recheck it against the source.

## Related Guides

[Public Universities: Tuition, waivers, entrance exams and the top public universities](/education/public-universities)

[Private Universities: English-taught alternatives with unregulated tuition](/education/private-universities)

[Student Visa: Residence permit for non-EU students](/visa/student-visa)

[Blocked Account: Proof of funds for the student permit](/blocked-account)

> On this page

Getting Started

- [All 21 FHsStart hereLocation, focus, English](#directory)
- [FH vs universityWho wins when](#fh-vs-university)

Costs

- [FH feesSix-semester totals](#fees)

Apply

- [AdmissionAufnahmeverfahren, deadlines](#admission)
- [Internship and PhD§ 3 and § 6 FHG](#internship-phd)
- [Work rights20 hours for non-EU](#work-rights)

Help

- [Laws and authoritiesFHG, AQ Austria](#legal-basis)
- [Frequently asked questionsQuick answers](#faq)
- [MethodSources and dates](#method)
- [Related guidesWhere to read next](#related-guides)

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How many Fachhochschulen are there in Austria?

There are 21. The Fachhochschul-Konferenz (FHK) lists 21 member institutions as of October 2026, from Hochschule Campus Wien and FH Technikum Wien to FHV Vorarlberg in Dornbirn. One of them, the FH für angewandte Militärwissenschaften, only trains Bundesheer officers and has no civilian application route.

### How much does a Fachhochschule cost in Austria?

Fachhochschulgesetz § 2 (2) lets an FH charge regular students up to €363.36 a semester, plus the €26.20 ÖH fee. For third-country students on a § 64 NAG student residence permit, an FH may charge cost-covering fees instead: IMC Krems lists €6,900 a semester for business and €9,500 for science and technology. Flat fees for routine materials are not allowed.

### Do Austrian Fachhochschulen charge a fee for the admission test?

No. Fachhochschulgesetz § 11 (2) says applicants pay no fees for the Aufnahmeverfahren. Separate charges exist: an FH may take a deposit of up to €500 to check a foreign certificate it doubts (§ 4 (5a)), and IMC Krems asks non-EU applicants for a €300 registration fee that it credits to the first tuition payment.

### Can I retake the FH admission procedure if I am rejected?

Yes, as often as you like. Fachhochschulgesetz § 11 (4) makes the Aufnahmeverfahren repeatable without limit. You may also inspect your assessment records if you ask within three months of the result, except for the parts about personal suitability (§ 11 (3)).

### Can I do a PhD after an FH master's degree in Austria?

Yes, but at a university. A Fachhochschule awards no doctorate of its own. Fachhochschulgesetz § 6 (4) entitles FH master's graduates to a matching doctoral programme at a university. If the FH master was shorter than the comparable university degree, the doctorate is extended by the difference.

### Is the internship mandatory at an Austrian Fachhochschule?

In bachelor's programmes, yes. Fachhochschulgesetz § 3 (2) Z 3 requires a Berufspraktikum as a training-relevant part of every FH bachelor, and the internship does not extend the standard study duration. At FH Wiener Neustadt, the Business Consultancy International bachelor sets at least 15 weeks in the sixth semester.

### Which Fachhochschulen teach bachelor's degrees in English?

Lauder Business School teaches everything in English. Other FHs list English-taught bachelor's degrees on their own websites, including FH Wiener Neustadt (Business Consultancy International, Computer Science), FH Oberösterreich (AI-Driven Computer Science), CU Hochschule Kärnten (Digital Marketing & Sales), MCI (Business & Management) and USTP St. Pölten (Creative Computing). IMC Krems says over half of its programmes are taught in English.

### Can non-EU FH students work part-time in Austria?

Yes, up to 20 hours a week. Their employer needs a Beschäftigungsbewilligung from AMS, and under AuslBG § 4 (7) Z 2 there is no labour market test for student jobs up to 20 hours. The permit is needed even for marginal work. EU, EEA and Swiss students need no permit and have no hour cap.

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Source: https://www.how-to-austria.com/education/universities-of-applied-sciences
Last updated: Updated: October 12 2026
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