Studying Medicine and Dentistry in Austria: Universities, Access and Costs
11.09.2026
Last reviewed: August 2026.
The Admission System for Medicine in Austria: An Overview
Austria has no numerus clausus in the German sense. There is no top-grades quota, no waiting semesters, and no role for the school-leaving grade in the actual selection process. Access to the four state medical universities is decided by a single admission test. The grade on the certificate does not count for admission itself — it only becomes relevant again afterwards in day-to-day study.
Because the process is purely test-based, a nationality quota additionally applies. It was introduced after a large share of places went to German applicants over the years, who were avoiding the strict German NC by studying in Austria.
| Quota | Share of Places | Who Qualifies |
|---|---|---|
| Austria quota | 75% | Applicants with an Austrian Matura |
| EU/EEA quota | 20% | EU and EEA citizens with a foreign school-leaving certificate, e.g. the German Abitur |
| Third-country quota | 5% | Applicants from non-EU countries |
The percentages are not fixed quotas, however, but only upper limits per group. If too few applicants in a quota reach the required test result, the remaining places are allocated to the other quotas. In practice, this means: those competing through the EU quota need, at some locations — especially Innsbruck — a better result than an applicant with an Austrian Matura.
How Tight the Competition Really Is
The numbers say more than any description of the system. In 2026, 16,880 people competed for 1,950 human medicine study places — a ratio of approximately 1 to 8.6. In dentistry it is similarly tight, with around 1,100 candidates for 150 places.
What makes this harder than the ratio alone suggests is the rhythm. Everything hangs on a single test day per year. Whoever is ill that morning, or simply has a bad day, waits twelve months for the next opportunity — and the year in between is gone. That is a lot of life to stake on one morning.
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Where Else You Can Study — and Where We Can Place You Reliably
We deliberately publish no checklists, requirement lists or dates here. They differ from country to country and from year to year, and what was accurate last spring is quietly out of date by the next round. What counts is your profile.
Send us your school certificate, any proof of semesters you have already completed, and the countries you would consider. We look at it personally and tell you at which university in which country we can place you with exactly that profile — and where we can get you in reliably, instead of leaving you to wait out another year for one test date.
Behind that stands the largest network of official partner universities for medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, nursing and veterinary medicine. For students who are already partway through a degree, we always check the highest possible entry point; entry into the final two years is frequently achievable. If Austria is genuinely your best route, we will say so. If somewhere else gets you into a lecture hall sooner, we will say that too — best in a free study consultation.
The author's view
What surprises me about the Austrian system is how many German applicants misjudge the Austria quota: they hope that a 20 percent EU contingent automatically means easier chances — in reality, competition within this quota is often tougher, because it draws exclusively strong international applicants.
A single test day per year is also a risk that many underestimate: those who are ill on that one day, or simply have a bad day, wait twelve months for the next chance. That is precisely why I frequently advise in counselling sessions to look abroad in parallel — not as a plan B, but as an equally valid option from the outset. Twelve months are worth more than most people realise at eighteen.
Summary
- 4 state universities (Vienna, Graz, Innsbruck, Linz) and 4 private universities train doctors in Austria.
- Access to the state universities is decided by a single admission test per year; the school-leaving grade plays no role in the selection itself.
- A nationality quota reserves 75% of places for the Austria quota, 20% for EU/EEA, and 5% for third countries.
- In 2026, 16,880 applicants competed for 1,950 human medicine study places — a ratio of approximately 1 to 8.6.
- At state universities, virtually no tuition fees are charged, only the student union contribution of 24.70 euros per semester.
- Private universities charge between around 124,000 and over 178,000 euros for the complete programme.
Conclusion
Austria is a demanding route: one test day a year, a quota system that puts German applicants in the tighter group, and a private alternative that costs six figures. None of that says anything about whether you would make a good doctor.
Send us your school certificate, any academic records and the countries you would consider. We will tell you at which university in which country we can place you and where we can get you in reliably, drawing on our network of official partner universities for medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, nursing and veterinary medicine. For anyone already partway through a degree, we check the highest possible entry point — frequently into the final two years. The first step is a free study consultation.
Further Reading
- Studying Medicine in Germany: comparison with the neighbouring country, which uses a top-grades quota rather than a test.
- University Lexicon: detailed profiles of individual faculties with key data.
- Cost Comparison: Abroad and Germany: how the costs of different countries compare.
- Licensure and Recognition: what happens with an Austrian degree in Germany.
- Studying Medicine in Hungary: the plannable NC-free neighbouring location without a quota system.
Frequently Asked Questions About Studying Medicine in Austria
How do I find out where I can realistically study medicine?
By sending us your profile. Requirements, documents and dates differ from country to country and from year to year, which is why we do not publish lists of them. We look at your school certificate, any academic records and the countries you would consider, and tell you at which university in which country we can place you and where we can get you in reliably. Our partner network covers medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, nursing and veterinary medicine — it starts with a free study consultation.
What is the Austria quota and how does it affect applicants?
75% of study places are reserved for applicants with an Austrian Matura, 20% for EU/EEA citizens with a foreign school-leaving certificate, and 5% for third-country nationals. Those competing through the EU quota need a better test result at some locations than those in the Austria quota — which is why Austria is a harder route for German applicants than it looks from the outside.
How competitive is a state study place in Austria?
In 2026, 16,880 people competed for 1,950 human medicine places, a ratio of roughly 1 to 8.6; in dentistry, around 1,100 candidates faced 150 places. Everything is decided on a single test day per year, so a bad morning costs a full year.
What does a medical degree at a state university in Austria cost?
Within the standard study period plus two semesters, no tuition fee is charged, only the student union contribution of 24.70 euros per semester. After that, 363.36 euros (EU) or 726.72 euros (third countries) per semester are due.
What does a medical degree at a private university in Austria cost?
Depending on the university, between around 21,000 and just under 30,000 euros per year, making around 124,000 to over 178,000 euros over the full course of study.
Is dentistry also possible at state universities?
Yes, at the Medical Universities of Vienna, Graz, and Innsbruck. Linz does not currently offer an independent dental programme.
What if the Austrian route does not work out for me?
Then it is worth looking wider rather than waiting another year. Send us your profile and we will tell you at which university in which country we can place you and where we can get you in reliably — across state and private partner universities in Europe and beyond, for medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, nursing and veterinary medicine.
Does Medschool Experts place students at Austrian state universities?
No. Our strength lies elsewhere: we have the largest selection of official partner universities and we tell you, based on your profile, where we can get you a place reliably rather than leaving it to a single test day.
What students say about Medschool Experts
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About the author
Marcel Kloos
Swiss-licensed dentist and founder of Medschool Experts
Marcel Kloos founded Medschool Experts while studying abroad; since then, over 500 study places have been secured. The Stuttgart-born dentist studied dentistry from 2015 to 2021 in Sofia and holds a Swiss dental licence.
Today he lives in Bern and runs Medschool Experts full-time as its owner.
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