Applying for a Klagenfurt Scholarship

Prospective students interested in a Master’s degree programme offered by AAU may apply for the award of a scholarship provided that

• they fulfil the requirements necessary for admission to the Master’s programme and their completed Bachelor’s programme was completed no more than three years ago.
• they have not yet reached the age of 30 at the beginning of the Master’s programme.
• they have Austrian nationality or the nationality of an EEA member state or are persons who are treated as such.
  • Third-country nationals are treated the same as Austrian citizens, provided that they have resided in Austria “continuously and lawfully” for a sufficiently long period (presentation of the permanent residence card).
  • Stateless persons are treated the same if they have been subject to income tax in Austria for at least five years together with one parent before starting their studies (proof: an official registration form and a statement of insurance data from the national insurance agency or a certificate from the tax office).
  • Refugees as defined in Article 1 of the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, Federal Law Gazette No 55/1955, are treated in the same way as Austrian citizens; proof shall be furnished by means of a passport or a notice of asylum.

The execution of the selection process lies within the responsibility of the University of Klagenfurt.

Financial: 300 Euros a month for the duration of a Master’s degree prorgamme (standard period of study, 2 years).

Non-monetary and individual: Intensive cooperation in the form of project and research work, internships, mentoring etc.

The scholarship amounts to 300 Euros per month and is granted for no more than the standard period of study of the Master’s degree programme (four semesters). The payment of the scholarship begins with the first month of the first semester of admission and continues during periods when no courses are being taught and during any study periods spent abroad. It is not possible to extend the scholarship payments beyond the approved four semesters. Cases of hardship, such as illness, pregnancy, long-term care responsibilities, are assessed on a case-by-case basis and taken into account if deemed justified.

A committee headed by the Vice-Rector for Education at the University of Klagenfurt decides on the award of the scholarships.

That’s not a problem. According to the guidelines for the “Klagenfurt Scholarship” (item 5.2), the Bachelor’s certificate can be submitted by 31 October of the first semester.

Scholarships are awarded on the basis of the applicants’ past performance:

• Outstanding academic achievements: Final grade in the completed Bachelor’s degree programme.

Particular attention will be given to the following:

• Social involvement: Regular involvement in societal, political, social and church organisations/groups or institutions
• Challenging personal and family circumstances: Among other things, health problems and disabilities, care of children (especially as a single parent), care of relatives, a so-called “educationally disadvantaged” parental home (where neither parent has a school leaving certificate)

Yes, the Klagenfurt Scholarship is paid in addition to other benefits (e.g. study grant, scholarship for individuals earning their own livelihood, etc.).

At the end of each academic year, scholarship holders have to prove that they have achieved 60 ECTS credits in the previous academic year, with the possibility of gaining surplus credits.

The academic year runs from 1 October to 15 December of the following year. The grade point average of all completed examinations in the academic year may not be poorer than 2.0.

The grade point average is calculated by multiplying the grade of each individual academic achievement relevant for the calculation by the ECTS credits, adding the values thus obtained and dividing the result of the addition by the sum of the ECTS credits.

The scholarship fund is financed by means of a sponsorship or free donations. The number of scholarships awarded depends on the resources of the scholarship fund which are raised through sponsorships, and is capped by the annual funding provided by the City of Klagenfurt.

The selected Klagenfurt scholarship holders will first receive a written notice of award together with further details on funding, payment and important legal information. Furthermore, they will receive their scholarship certificate in person at a formal reception.