Are you planning to pursue a degree with us? If you earned your secondary school certificate or university degree outside of Austria and want to study at FH Salzburg, you’re in the right place. This page is designed to guide you through every step of your journey as an international, degree-seeking student. You’ll find essential information about how to apply and meet the requirements, what to prepare before arriving, and what to expect once you’re here.
Welcome to Fachhochschule Salzburg!
At FH Salzburg, everything revolves around connection. You’ll join a vibrant student community with people from across Austria and around the world. Through excellent, hands-on teaching and research, you’re connected to the forefront of Austrian and European industry.
When you’re not studying, the unique FH Salzburg campuses connect you to the incredible Alps and outdoors, and some of the world's most iconic stages for world-class culture.
Here at FH Salzburg, you belong. You belong here.
Page Overview
Before Applying
Before you start your application to FH Salzburg, it’s essential to prepare carefully. Make sure you understand the admission requirements, deadlines, and necessary documents to ensure a smooth process. This section provides all the key information you need to submit a successful application to FH Salzburg.
Details on the necessary documents can be found at the website page Admission and Application at the study programme, you are interested in. Please be aware, that these informations in detail may only be provided in German language, if language of instruction of the choosen study programme is German.
How to Apply as an International Applicant
In this section, you’ll find clear instructions on how to prepare your documents, submit your application, and follow up on the process. These steps are designed to help you apply with confidence and ensure that nothing is overlooked.
Deadlines for applicants who do not have citizenship of an EU Member State, the EEA, or Switzerland, ordo not have an entrance qualification or university degree from one of these countries.
Students can apply through the application portal, which opens on 30. October each year, for a start in the Winter Semester the following year.
Deadlines for a Winter Semester start
- 28th February (Human-Computer Interaction programm only)
- 1st April (all other programs)
Deadlines for a Summer Semester start (Nursing program only! Application portal opens in August)
- 1st November
All required documents, including those for which a translation and/or legalisation are required, must be uploaded in the application portal before the above-mentioned deadline. Please note that your application cannot be processed if your certificates do not meet the requirements.
Deadlines for applicants who have citizenship of an EU Member State, the EEA, or Switzerland, or have an university entrance qualification or university degree from one of these countries.
Students can apply through the application portal, which opens on 30. October each year, for a start in the Winter Semester the following year.
Deadlines for a Winter Semester start
- Please consult the webpage of your study programme of interest for the final application deadline, as they vary from programme to programme
Deadlines for a Summer Semester start (Nursing program only! Application portal opens in August)
- 31st January
10 Steps to studying at FH Salzburg
- Select your study program using the FH Salzburg Study Finder
- Review the entry requirements for your desired programme (see step one to find your programme).
- Apply for the programme (applications are only accepted during the application period, see Dates and Deadlines above).
- Upload application documents (these vary for each study programme) .
- If required, pay tuition deposit.
- Wait for the study program office to review your application.
- If your application is selected, you will be invited to interview.
- Notification of results.
- Accept offer from the FH and sign the FH Salzburg student contract (page 10 for English).
- Apply for student housing, if necessary a residence permit, and travel to your new home in Salzburg!
General Application Requirements for International Applicants
To apply as an international degree-seeking student, you must meet specific admission criteria. This includes academic qualifications, required documents, and proof of English or German language proficiency. Review these essentials carefully to ensure a smooth application process.
According to Austrian Law (§ 4 FHG) admission to a bachelor's programme is granted on the grounds that the secondary school leaving certificate is equivalent to an Austrian one. Admission can also be granted if an applicant has already completed a bachelor's programme of at least 3 years' duration (180 ECTS) at an accredited institution in or outside Austria.
Please note that the final decision rests with the degree programme head and that in some cases additional exams will be prescribed to fulfil the access requirements for a specific degree programme. Every case will be evaluated individually and you will be notified, if any additional requirements have to be fulfilled.
According to Austrian law (§ 4 FHG), admission to a master's programme is granted on the grounds that an equivalent bachelor's programme of at least 3 years duration at a state-accredited, post-secondary educational institution in- or outside Austria has been completed. Additionally, an applicant must demonstrate that they have fulfilled general university entrance requirements in their country.
Please note that the final decision rests with the degree programme head and that in some cases additional exams will be prescribed to fulfil the access requirements for a specific degree programme. Every case will be evaluated individually and you will be notified, if any additional requirements have to be fulfilled.
All applicants whose university entrance qualifications (like high school, A-levels, etc.) or bachelor's degree were completed outside of Austria are potentially required to have the following documents legally certified and if necessary, legally translated, depending on the country where the education was completed (see Certification and Legalization of Application Documents, below):
- Secondary school diploma or certificate
- Secondary school transcripts and / or school exit exam
- University entrace exam or equivalent (if applicable)
- Depending on the country of secondary school completion, additional documents may be requests during the application phase
for master's programmes:
- Bachelor's Diploma or equivalent diploma (must be a completed program Bachelor's Program of at least three years, at a state-accredited, post-secondary institution)
- Trancripts from Bachelor's (or Bachelor's equivalent) program
If the above documents (or other final documents, if applicable) were not issued in either the German or English language, they must be translated into either English or German, by a sworn and court certified translator.
The FH Salzburg is not responsible for the follwing information. For the most accurate and current information, please refer to the Certification Rules of the Federal Ministry of Education of the Republic of Austria.
Apostille
If your document(s) were issued from an institution in one of the following countries, then the document(s) need only an apostille.
| Translation | If the relevant documents were not officially issued in German or English language, then they will first need to be translated by a sworn and officially certified translator. |
| Country | Albania, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Australia, Bahamas, Bahrain, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China (Sonderverwaltungsgebiete Macau und Hongkong), Costa Rica, Colombia, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Fiji, Georgia, Grenada, Greece, Guatemala Guyana Honduras, India, Ireland, Iceland, Israel, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea (Republic), Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malta, Marshall Islands, Morocco, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mozambique, Namibia, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niue, Oman, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Rwanda, Russia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saint Christopher and Nevis, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Swaziland, Switzerland, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela |
| Certification |
|
Full Diplomation Legalisation
If your document(s) were issued from an institution in one of the following countries, then the document(s) require a full diplomatic legalisation.
| Translation | If the relevant documents were not officially issued in German or English language, then they will first need to be translated by a sworn and officially certified translator. |
| Country | Algeria, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cambodia, Central African Republic, China (except Macao SAR and Hong Kong SAR), Egypt, Ethiopia, Dominican Republic, Djibouti, Eritrea, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Holy See, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cuba, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Kiribati, Kosovo, Kuwait, Laos (People's Democratic Republic of), Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Yemen, Sovereign Order of Malta, Mauritania, Federated States of Micronesia, Mongolia, Nauru, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestinian Authority, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Solomon Islands, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Zambia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Syria, Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Taiwan, Tanzania, United Republic, Thailand, Timor-Leste (East Timor), Togo, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam, Uzbekistan, Zimbabwe. |
| Certification | All documents from the countries listed above require full diplomatic legalization because these countries do not have agreements with Austria. The legalization must be present on the original document.First, the document must complete the local legalization process in the country where it was issued. This process varies by country, but it must end with certification by that country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. After that, the document must be legalized by the competent Austrian authority in that country.Necessary steps:
|
Legal Translation Only
If your document(s) were issued from an institution in one of the following countries, then the document(s) do not require any legal processing. They may, however, still require a translation.
| Translation | If the relevant documents were not officially issued in German or English language, then they will first need to be translated by a sworn and officially certified translator. |
| Country | Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Germany, Finland, France, Italy, Croatia, Liechtenstein, North-Macedonia, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Sweden, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Hungary |
| Certificaiton | The countries listed above have a bilateral agreement with Austria that exempts their documents from legalization. This means none of the required documents for the application need to be legalized. The agreement also applies to documents issued before the agreement took effect. |
More information: Certification rules
English Language Requirements
For our English study programmes, a proof of english language skills level B2 is required. Furthermore, for most German-language degree programmes, a proper level of English is also an entry requirement for study, depending on each study programme curriculum.
The following certificates are generally accepted as proof of sufficient knowledge of the English language:
- TOEFL: at least 87 score points
- IELTS Academics: Overall Band Score: 6.5 score points
- Cambridge English First Certificate (FCE): Result Level B2
- Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE): Result Level B2
- Language competence certificate of a university language center on level B2
- IB Diploma with school subject English
- Successful completion of the "Studienberechtigungsprüfung", Supplementary or Additional examination with regard to English Level B2 (recognised adult education institutions)
- Degree certificate and Transcript of Records/Diploma Supplement of an English-language bachelor's or master's degree programme at a recognized post-secondary educational institution (also called a Method of Instruction certificate)
In justified individual cases, the assessment of language skills can be carried out by the responsible study program during admission procedure.
German Language Requirements
The following certificates are generally accepted as proof of sufficient knowledge of the German language (if level B2 is required):
- Highschool certificate from a German-speaking school (with German as the language of instruction and examination) respectively an Austrian or German school abroad.
- Successful completion of the "Studienberechtigungsprüfung", Supplementary or Additional examination with regard to German (pre-study course at Austrian universities, recognised adult education institutions)
- "ÖSD Zertifikat B2" of the Austrian Language Diploma German
- "TestDaF" - Test of German as a Foreign Language - at least level TDN 4 in all partial exams
- "Goethe-Zertifikat B2" of the Goethe-Institut
- telc Deutsch "telc Deutsch B2" or "telc Deutsch B2 + Beruf" (German + profession)
- German Language Diploma of the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs DSD (second level)
- German Language Examination for University Admission of Foreign Study Applicants (DSH-2)
- ÖIF Certificate B2 (Austrian Integration Fund)
In justified individual cases, the assessment of language skills can be carried out by the responsible study program during admission procedure.
Tuition and Costs
This section provides detailed information about tuition fees, additional expenses, and available financial support options.
The Salzburg University of Applied Sciences charges tuition fees of 363,- Euros per semester. This amount is payable at the start of the programme (time limit for payment according to the tution fee guideline).
The statutory student union fee of 25.20 Euros per semester is additional.
Please see our Fees and Scholarships page for further details.
Deposit on the tuition fee for interested students with previous education outside the EU, EEA, or Switzerland country
The FH Salzburg collects a deposit on the tuition fee from interested students with previous education from a third-country (all states except EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland). This does not apply to those interested in the joint study programs (HCIE-M - Human-Computer Interaction or AISEM – Applied Image and Signal Processing) established with the Paris-Lodron-University Salzburg (PLUS). Prospective students who take up studies at the FH Salzburg will have the deposit credited to the tuition fee (tuition fee and student union fee/ÖH fee) for the first semester.
If your application is not accepted, the deposit will be refunded to the account from which it came.
All further regulations can be found in the Guideline for the deposit on the tuition fee [PDF].
Explore the resources below to determine if you qualify to apply for one of the many scholarships:
Before Arriving in Salzburg
Preparing for your move to Salzburg and your studies at FH Salzburg is essential for a smooth start. Make sure you organize accommodation, plan your travel, and gather all necessary documents before departure. Proper preparation helps international and local students settle in quickly and begin their academic journey with confidence.
In late July and early August, the International Office will host an online Q and A session, to prepare you for your arrival and residence in Salzburg.
Dates for the event will be sent directly to your email (after a successful application and acceptance to FH Salzburg!)
Topics discussed include:
- Austrian Residence Permit Application
- Student Housing Options
- Health Insurance Coverage
- Banking
- Rail Passes
- FHS Account/Login/Apps
- Tuition and Fees
- …and more!
- Students are responsible for organizing their own housing accomodation for the duration of their studies at FH Salzburg.
- Accomodation and housing is managed by private organizations and persons throughout the region. The FH Salzburg does not offer any accomodation directly.
- After a successful application and acceptance to FH Salzburg, students are provided with detailed information about options for student housing.
- Most dorm rooms include a bed, desk, and wardrobe for clothes. They do not include bedding (sheets/pillow) nor items for cooking. Some housing, like the OeAD offer bedding packages as an additional purchase.
Please be aware that on many websites for private housing listings, there are many scams. Below are some helpful tips.
Campus Urstein
Campus Kuchl
Salzburg City or elsewhere in the region
- OeAD Student Housing
- https://www.oejab.at/studierende-jugend/studierendenwohnheime/strubergasse
- https://www.akademikerhilfe.at/de/schwarzes-roessl/19
- https://www.home4students.at/wohnheime-ubersicht/wohnheime-salzburg/glockengasse/
- https://www.egger-lienzheim.at/
- https://www.studentenheimesalzburg.at/
- https://studentenheim.techno-z.at/startseite/
- https://www.tritos.at/
- https://boersen.oeh-salzburg.at/boersen/wohnungsboerse
SCAMS
Here are some tips on how to recognise fraud. FH Salzburg accepts no liability for this:
🚩Common Red Flags
- Too Good to Be True
- Rent is significantly below market value for the area.
- Gorgeous photos of a fully furnished place at a suspiciously low price.
- Landlord Is “Out of Town”
- Claims they can’t meet you because they’re abroad, sick, or away for work.
- Offers to mail you the keys after receiving a deposit.
- Pressure to Act Quickly
- Pushes you to send money immediately.
- Says other renters are ready to pay so you should act fast.
- No In-Person Viewing
- Refuses or avoids scheduling a tour.
- Sends pre-recorded video tours only, often with excuses.
- Asks for Money Before Anything Else
- Requests deposit, first month’s rent, or application fee before you’ve signed a lease or seen the place.
- Weird Payment Methods
- Asks for wire transfers, gift cards, cryptocurrency, or apps like Zelle or Cash App with no formal agreement.
- Suspicious Listings
- Poor grammar or spelling in the listing.
- No address or vague location.
- Copy-pasted content or stock images (reverse image search can help).
✅ How to Protect Yourself
- Always view the apartment in person (or through a live virtual tour, though scammers have also been known to provide virtual tours as well).
- Use legitimate rental platforms with tenant protections
- Trust your instincts—if something feels off, it probably is.
Whether you need to apply for a visa, residence permit, or both will depend on your citizenship (which passport(s) you hold).
To help you determine which visa or residence permit is required for you, as well as to obtain a check list of all the documents you need to apply (including the amount of proof of financial means), please visit:
Austrian Agency for Education and Internationalisation's entry and residence page.
Once your are accepted to the FH Salzburg, you will receive a Letter of Acceptance from your study program. This letter will be sent by the beginning of August, at the latest.
Check the letter for the date of the start of your program as well as dates of welcome orientation.
Non-EU/EEA/CH citizens: Should you be required to get an Austrian Residence Permit (see “Obtaining a Visa and Student Residence Permit,” above), you will be required to obtain a health insurance plan that is recognized by the Austrian authority.
There are many options for health insurance--here are the two most commonly selected by FH Salzburg international students, both of which fulfill the requirement for the Austrian Student Residence Permit:
- Austrian National Public Health Insurance (ÖGK)
- Feel Safe Student Health Insurance (Privat Insurance Plan
EU/EEA/CH citizens:
You can theoretically use your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) in any EU country, including Austria. We strongly recommend you obtain an S1 form from your home health insurance provider and submit it to the ÖGK (the Austrian health insurance provider). With this form, ÖGK will issue you an Austrian e-card, which gives you access to the same medical services as Austrian residents. If you rely only on your EHIC, the range of services available in Austria may be limited.
Your Arrival in Salzburg
Arriving in Salzburg marks the beginning of your exciting journey at FH Salzburg. To make your first days stress-free, it’s important to know what to expect upon arrival. From campus directions to student live we want to helps you settle in quickly.
Student life
ÖH Salzburg: This is the offical FH Salzburg Student Union and details the services they provide all students of the FH. Be sure to check out the ÖH FH Salzburg instagram page for the latest events and activities.
ESN Salzburg: Here you can connect with the thousands of international students studying at the various universities in Salzburg
Working and Studying
Your ability to work in Austria as a non-Austrian will be regulated by the type of residence permit you hold.
If you are a citizen of the EU or EEA, please be sure to review the regulations of working in Austria, detailed here: https://www.migration.gv.at/en/types-of-immigration/mobility-within-the-eu/
If you are a citzen from a non-EU or EEA country, and have a student residence permit, you are considered a “temporary resident.” please be sure to read details about permissions and restrictions regarding labor laws, here: https://www.migration.gv.at/en/types-of-immigration/temporary-residence/
What our students say
If you still have questions, be sure to check out the International Students FAQs. Otherwise, feel free to free to contact Student Advising Services: study@fh-salzburg.ac.at.