TU Graz (Graz University of Technology) was founded in 1811 in Graz, Austria’s second-largest city, and Nikola Tesla was among its students. It had around 13,500 students at the end of 2024, about 27% of them international. In the QS World University Rankings 2027, published in June 2026, it was 409th in the world, up from 427th, and the fifth-highest-ranked university in Austria. It’s known for computer science and information security, electrical, mechanical and civil engineering, chemical and process engineering, and biomedical engineering, and it runs several science programmes jointly with the University of Graz under the name NAWI Graz.
TU Graz teaches its bachelor’s programmes in German, but most of its master’s programmes are taught in English. Here are 10 things you can do to give yourself the best chance, based on TU Graz’s own guidance and official Austrian information.
1. Choose your programme, and check its language
TU Graz’s bachelor’s programmes are taught in German, and some, including Computer Science, Software Engineering and Management, Information and Computer Engineering and Chemical and Process Engineering, also need English at level C1. Its English-taught master’s programmes include Computer Science, Data Science, Software Engineering and Management, Information and Computer Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Chemical and Process Engineering, Advanced Materials Science, Production Science and Management and Computational Social Systems. TU Graz: master’s degree programmes.
2. Expect an admission procedure for most English-taught master’s
Most of TU Graz’s English-taught master’s programmes, including Computer Science, Data Science, Software Engineering and Management, Information and Computer Engineering, Biomedical Engineering and Chemical and Process Engineering, have an admission procedure that takes place once a year. For the Computer Science master’s in 2027-28, you register and upload your documents between 15 October and 15 December 2026, and the selection commission publishes its ranking by 1 March 2027. It awards up to 25 points: up to 5 for your letter of motivation and up to 20 for your subject-specific competences. Check your programme’s own dates, as they can differ. See our 50 sample SOPs for help with your motivation letter. TU Graz: admission procedures.
3. Apply between 1 May and 15 August for other programmes
For bachelor’s programmes, and for master’s programmes without an admission procedure, non-EU applicants (third-country nationals and stateless persons) apply for the winter semester between 1 May and 15 August, and for the summer semester between 1 December and 15 January. EU and EEA citizens can apply for a master’s until 15 October. You send the complete application, with all documents in the original, by post to the Registrar’s Office or hand it in at Rechbauerstraße 12 in Graz: applications by email aren’t considered. Processing can take weeks to months, so apply as early as you can. TU Graz: master’s admission with an international degree.
4. Apply yourself, not through an agent
Under the Austrian Universities Act, applications may only be submitted by the applicants themselves or by someone who can represent parties professionally in Austria, and TU Graz rejects applications submitted in any other way, for example through an agency. For data protection reasons, the university also won’t give third parties information about the status of your application. So handle your application yourself, and keep copies of everything you send.
5. Do the competence check if you studied in Bangladesh, India or Pakistan
Since the 2026-27 academic year, applicants who completed their previous education in Bangladesh, India or Pakistan must take a competence check at VFS Global before they apply to TU Graz. It takes place in person at a VFS centre and checks your documents and your general competences; VFS then sends the results to the university. It doesn’t replace the university’s own review of your application or any entrance exam, so only book it once you’re sure you meet the admission requirements. At TU Graz, you pay a fee of around €100 directly to VFS Global, and you upload your confirmation of participation with your application. TU Graz: competence check at VFS Global.
6. Prove your English at C1
TU Graz asks for a higher level of English than many universities: you need level C1 for all English-taught master’s programmes. Accepted certificates, no more than two years old, include TOEFL iBT with 95 points, IELTS Academic with an overall band of 7.0, Cambridge C1 Advanced with at least 180 points (grade C) and PTE Academic with 76. A degree of at least two years taught in English in certain countries, such as the UK, the USA or an EU country, also counts. Practise with our free IELTS and TOEFL practice tests. TU Graz: proof of English.
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. Before each semester, TU Graz’s Registrar’s Office tells you how much you have to pay through the TUGRAZonline system. TU Graz: tuition fees.
8. Apply for a TU Graz High Potentials scholarship
TU Graz’s High Potentials programme, run with national and international companies, gives talented students from Austria and abroad scholarships of up to €8,800 for bachelor’s students and up to €17,600 for master’s students over two years. In 2026, the application period for bachelor’s scholarships ran from 5 May to 7 July, and you can apply for up to two scholarship programmes if you meet their requirements, although only one can be awarded. TU Graz gives preference to newly enrolled students. TU Graz High Potentials scholarships.
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 TU Graz 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. TU Graz’s career services can help you find internships and jobs. EU Immigration Portal: studying in Austria.
Applying for a PhD at TU Graz?
TU Graz’s doctoral programmes are organised in doctoral schools by subject, from computer science to physics and civil engineering. You’ll first need a supervisor who agrees to take you on, and many doctoral researchers are employed on research projects or as university assistants. 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 the University of Innsbruck. 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 TU Graz’s official admissions, fee and scholarship 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 TU Graz’s admissions website before you apply. StudyAbroadMarket is not affiliated with TU Graz.