The University of Innsbruck (Universität Innsbruck) was founded in 1669 in Innsbruck, the capital of Tyrol, in the heart of the Alps. It had around 27,400 students in 2024-25, more than half of them international. In the QS World University Rankings 2027, published in June 2026, it was 333rd in the world, up from 350th, and the fourth-highest-ranked university in Austria. It’s known for physics, especially quantum physics, the mountain and climate sciences, chemistry, computer science, economics and management.
The University of Innsbruck teaches all its bachelor’s programmes in German, but around 20 of its master’s programmes are taught entirely in English. Here are 10 things you can do to give yourself the best chance, based on the University of Innsbruck’s own guidance and official Austrian information.
1. Choose a programme, and check its language
The language of instruction for all Innsbruck’s bachelor’s and diploma programmes, and most of its master’s and doctoral programmes, is German. Its master’s programmes taught in English include Physics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Software Engineering, Information Systems, Chemistry, Atmospheric Sciences, Environmental Meteorology and Climate Physics, Banking and Finance, International Management, Strategic Management and Innovation, Marketing and Branding, Organization Studies, Experimental and Empirical Economics, and Peace and Conflict Studies. Check each programme’s page for its language and admission requirements. University of Innsbruck: programmes.
2. Get your German to B2 for a German-taught programme
For German-taught programmes, you need German at level A2 when you apply and level B2 when you’re admitted (C1 for the master’s in Translation Studies), which is a lower requirement than at some other Austrian universities. Accepted proofs include the ÖSD, Goethe-Institut, TestDaF, telc and DSH certificates, generally no more than two years old. If you can only prove A2, you’ll have to pass a supplementary German exam in a University Preparation Programme before you start. University of Innsbruck: language certificates.
3. Apply between 1 April and 15 May if you’re not from the EEA
Non-EEA citizens and stateless persons have a short, early application period. For the winter semester 2026-27 it ran from 1 April to 15 May 2026, and for the summer semester 2027 it’s 1 September to 15 October 2026. EU/EEA citizens can apply until 5 September for the winter semester. Expect similar dates for 2027-28, and check the deadlines page before you apply. If you’re accepted, your admission period for the winter semester runs from mid-July to 5 September. University of Innsbruck: application and admission deadlines.
4. Check the rules for your country’s qualifications
If your school or university documents are from a non-EEA country, they must be legalised and, if they aren’t in German or English, officially translated by a sworn translator. Innsbruck has specific rules for some countries: for example, it doesn’t accept school leaving certificates from Afghanistan or Bangladesh on their own for bachelor’s admission, and it reviews applications for master’s programmes based on bachelor’s degrees from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and several other countries individually, often only for four-year degrees. University of Innsbruck: information on third countries.
5. Register early for programmes with an admission procedure
The University of Innsbruck says that, with a few exceptions, there are no admission restrictions, so most programmes accept everyone who meets the requirements. Programmes with an admission or selection procedure, including teacher training, have their own registration period, and there’s no registration for them in the summer semester. Check whether your programme has one, as missing the registration means waiting a year.
6. Prove your English
English-taught programmes ask you to prove your English, usually with IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic or a Cambridge English qualification, although some applicants who studied in English may be exempt. Book your test early so your results are ready when you apply. Practise with our free IELTS and TOEFL practice tests. For English-taught programmes at Innsbruck, you need English at level B2 when you apply, for example IELTS Academic 6.5, TOEFL iBT 87, PTE Academic 62 or Cambridge B2 First, with results no more than two years old. The master’s in English and American Studies needs C1.
7. Understand the fees
At Austria’s public universities, students from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland pay a tuition fee of €726.72 a semester, plus the Austrian Students’ Union (ÖH) fee, which is €26.20 a semester in 2026-27, so about €1,506 a year. EU/EEA and Swiss citizens pay only the ÖH fee for the standard length of their programme plus two extra semesters. Citizens of the least developed countries on the official list, such as Bangladesh, Nepal and Ethiopia, pay only the ÖH fee, and non-EU students with some other Austrian residence permits, such as permanent residence, are treated like EU students. Holders of a student residence permit don’t qualify for this. At Innsbruck, the fees for each semester must be paid by 31 October for the winter semester and 31 March for the summer semester. University of Innsbruck: tuition fee and financial support.
8. Look for scholarships
The University of Innsbruck has some financial support for students in difficulty, such as its “Helping Hand” social fund, and local organisations such as the Rotary Club Innsbruck offer scholarships for highly talented students. For other scholarships, search the OeAD’s scholarship database, grants.at, and check what your own government and organisations in your home country offer.
9. Apply for your residence permit early
EU/EEA and Swiss citizens don’t need a visa or residence permit to study in Austria, but they must register their address after they arrive. If you’re from outside the EU/EEA and will stay for more than six months, you need a “Residence Permit – Student” (Aufenthaltsbewilligung – Student). In most cases you apply for it in person at the Austrian embassy or consulate in your country once the University of Innsbruck has sent your letter of admission. For 2026 you must show €722.58 a month if you’re under 24, or €1,308.39 a month if you’re 24 or older, for twelve months in advance, plus extra if your rent is more than €386.43 a month. You’ll also need proof of accommodation, health insurance and a police clearance certificate, and the application fee is €218. The authorities have 90 days to decide, so Austria’s agency for education and internationalisation (OeAD) advises applying at least three months before you travel, and six months ahead if you can. Once your permit is approved, you get a D visa to enter Austria and collect it. It’s issued for 12 months, and to renew it you must show academic progress of at least 16 ECTS credits a year. OeAD: Residence Permit – Student.
10. Plan for work during and after your studies
With a student residence permit you can work up to 20 hours a week, but your employer must first get a work permit for you from the Public Employment Service (AMS), which is granted without a labour market test. Many part-time jobs need German, so don’t count on them to pay all your costs. After you graduate, you can extend your stay by twelve months to look for a job or set up a business, as long as you apply before your student residence permit expires, and if you find a job that matches your qualifications you can apply for a Red-White-Red Card. The University of Innsbruck’s career services can help you find internships and jobs. EU Immigration Portal: studying in Austria.
Applying for a PhD at the University of Innsbruck?
To apply for a doctoral or PhD programme at Innsbruck, you need a bachelor’s and a master’s degree, legalised and translated if needed, and, depending on the programme, a concept for your dissertation. Find a supervisor first, and look out for funded “prae doc” positions. See our 50 sample SOPs and free GRE practice tests.
Be ambitious, but apply to a balanced list
Apply to more than one university to give yourself options. Read our guides to the University of Vienna, TU Wien, Central European University and TU Graz. Our guide to studying in Austria explains how the Austrian system works, and our free study abroad assessment can help you build a shortlist.
Information was taken from the University of Innsbruck’s official admissions, language and fee pages, the OeAD, the EU Immigration Portal and the QS World University Rankings 2027, and checked in October 2026. Admissions rules, deadlines, fees and immigration rules can change, so always confirm the details on the University of Innsbruck’s admissions website before you apply. StudyAbroadMarket is not affiliated with the University of Innsbruck.