The best universities in Austria: Ranking 2025
Table of Contents
- Higher education in Austria
- The best Universities in Austria 2025
- The best Public Universities in Austria: Ranking
- The best Universities of Applied Sciences in Austria: Ranking
- Austria as a Study Destination
Higher education in Austria
In Austria, there are 3 primary categories for higher education institutes - Universities, Universities of Applied Sciences (Fachhochschulen), and private Universities. The first two are usually owned by the state, with some exceptions.
1. Universities (Universitäten): Traditional public universities in Austria offer 3 and 4 year Bachelors and Masters degree programs encompassing a broad range of subjects such as STEM, arts, and medicine. These universities receive public funding and are also home to excellent research facilities, doctoral & post-doctoral programs.
2. Universities of Applied Sciences (Fachhochschulen): The focus is more on practical education and learning, generally designed for a key area of focus. Students receive training for particular professions such as engineering, health and nursing, and social sciences. Examples include FH Salzburg, FH Campus Wien, and MCI Management Center Innsbruck.
3. Private Universities (Privatuniversitäten): Privately funded institutions occupy a smaller share of the higher education landscape in Austria and in other German-speaking countries such as Germany and Switzerland. Private universities are sought after by students who already have a few years of work experience and are pursuing programs tailored to industry backgrounds. A good example is a MBA.
The total number of students in higher education programs in Austria in 2023 was at 400340, recording a 1.8% jump since 2022. About a fourth are international students with the latest recorded number being 106000.
|
academic institutions |
type of students |
total students |
|---|---|---|
|
total (no multiple counts) |
regular students and students of courses of study (Lehrgang) |
400 340 |
|
public universities |
regular students |
262 427 |
|
public universities |
students of courses of study (Lehrgang) |
17 307 |
|
private universities |
regular students |
16 637 |
|
private universities |
students of courses of study (Lehrgang) |
4 917 |
|
universities of applied sciences |
regular students (sum of studies) |
59 136 |
|
universities of applied sciences |
students of courses of study (Lehrgang) (sum of studies) |
16 360 |
|
university colleges of teacher education |
regular students (sum of studies) |
21 580 |
|
university colleges of teacher education |
students of courses of study (Lehrgang) (sum of studies, without courses of study for training) |
18 263 |
|
schools of theology |
regular students |
234 |
|
schools of theology |
students of courses of study (Lehrgang) |
13 |
Source: STATISTICS AUSTRIA, University Statistics. Compiled on 18th July 2024.
The best Universities in Austria 2025
The following list contains the top public universities in Austria for the year 2025, ranked in descending order. The ranking adheres to the three following mandates:
- being chartered, licensed, or accredited by the appropriate higher education-related organization in Austria
- offering at least 3-year bachelor's degrees, postgraduate master's, and doctoral degrees
- delivering courses predominantly in a traditional, non-distance format
|
Rank |
University |
Town |
|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Universität Wien |
Vienna |
|
2 |
Technische Universität Wien |
Vienna |
|
3 |
Universität Innsbruck |
Innsbruck |
|
4 |
Technische Universität Graz |
Graz |
|
5 |
Universität Graz |
Graz |
|
6 |
Johannes Kepler Universität Linz |
Linz |
|
7 |
Alpen-Adria-Universität Klagenfurt |
Klagenfurt |
|
8 |
Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien |
Vienna |
|
9 |
Medizinische Universität Wien |
Vienna |
|
10 |
Universität für Bodenkultur Wien |
Vienna |
|
11 |
Paris Lodron Universität Salzburg |
Salzburg |
|
12 |
Universität für Weiterbildung Krems |
Krems an der Donau |
|
13 |
Veterinärmedizinische Universität Wien |
Vienna |
|
14 |
Institute of Science and Technology Austria |
Klosterneuburg |
|
15 |
FH Joanneum |
Graz |
|
16 |
Medizinische Universität Graz |
Graz |
|
17 |
mdw - Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Wien |
Vienna |
|
18 |
FH Oberösterreich |
Wels |
|
19 |
Montanuniversität Leoben |
Leoben |
|
20 |
Universität für Künstlerische und Industrielle Gestaltung Linz |
Linz |
The above list includes both universities and universities of applied sciences.
The best Public Universities in Austria: Ranking
The table below contains data based on the latest reports by Edurank. We have segregated top universities according to discipline, for ease of comprehension and relevance.
|
Industrial Engineering |
Computer Science |
Business |
Medicine |
Mathematics |
Economics |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1. TU Wien |
1. Uni Vienna |
1. Uni Vienna |
1. Medical Uni of Vienna |
1. TU Wien |
1. Uni of Vienna |
|
2. Johannes Kepler University Linz |
2. TU Wien |
2. TU Wien |
2. Uni Vienna |
2. Uni of Vienna |
2. WU Vienna |
|
3. Uni Vienna |
3. TU Graz |
3. WU Vienna |
3. Medical Uni of Innsbruck |
3. JKU Linz |
3. TU Wien |
|
4. TU Graz |
4. Uni Innsbruck |
4. JKU Linz |
4. Uni Innsbruck |
4. Uni Salzburg |
4. Uni Innsbruck |
|
5. WU Vienna |
5. JKU Linz |
5. Uni Graz |
5. Medical Uni of Graz |
5. WU Vienna |
5. Uni Graz |
The best Universities of Applied Sciences in Austria: Ranking
The list of the best Universities of Applied Sciences in Austria is as follows:
| Institution Name |
|---|
|
FH Joanneum |
|
FH Technikum Wien |
|
Salzburg Uni of Applied Sciences |
|
IMC University of Applied Sciences Krems |
|
Vorarlberg University of Applied Sciences |
|
FH St. Pölten |
|
University of Applied Sciences Wiener Neustadt |
Austria as a Study Destination
Austria is quickly turning into a premier study destination for students pursuing higher education across Europe and the rest of the world.
Best Student Cities 2026
Vienna in Austria is 10th on the list of best student cities in the world, as ranked by QS for the year 2026. With an overall score of 90.8 (out of 100), Vienna scores high across most criteria - student view (89.9), student mix (86.5), desirability (92.7), and employer acitivity (77.9). Affordability is scored 54.9, which makes Vienna a far more reasonably priced and sustainable alternative to other top student cities like Zurich, Paris, and London.
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