Master's Programme

Deadlines and Admission periods
Admission and documents required for admission
Tuition fee
Forms
Contact & Information

Master’s programmes are standard study programmes that require students to have completed a relevant bachelor’s programme at a university or university of applied sciences or an equivalent study programme. They comprise 120 ECTS-Credits, which is equivalent to a study period of two years (four semesters). Master’s programmes are designed to deepen and extend the knowledge and skills provided during the bachelor’s programme. Graduates are awarded the academic title “Master” in line with the respective curriculum.

>> Full range of study programmes

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Deadlines and Admission periods

Dates and Deadlines »

During the general admission period you can:

be admitted to a standard study programme if you are studying at university for the first time, changing from one study programme to another, or re-commencing a study programme that you had already started
apply online to a master’s programme (for non-EEA citizens)
pay the tuition and/or Austrian Students’ Union fee (incl. insurance)

From the start of the general admission period until the end of the extension period you can:

apply online to a master’s programme and in person for admission (for EAA citizens)
be admitted in person to a master’s programme with the necessary documentation confirming your eligibility for admission ("Letter of Acceptance"; for non-EEA citizens)
apply for leave of absence (in principle before the start of term) - for more information on this please see here
be admitted to a non-degree programme (e.g. to attend individual lectures as preparation for university entrance qualification examinations, continuing education courses)
be admitted as a student of another Austrian university to also study at the University of Innsbruck
be admitted to continue a study programme at the University of Innsbruck after having paid the tuition and/or Austrian Students’ Union fee at another Austrian university

Exceptions to the general admission period:

study programmes with an admission process and supplementary examinations for admission;
persons completing civil service, military service or a year of voluntary work: persons completing civil service, military service or a year of voluntary work can be admitted to a study programme during the extension period under the condition that by 31 August/31 January: a) the period of service/work has been completed; or b) the person has been conscripted but has not started service, or the service is interrupted/terminated before the end of the extension period.
unforeseeable/unavoidable event: persons with credible evidence that an unforeseeable or unavoidable event arising through little or no fault of their own prevented them from applying for admission during the general admission period can apply for admission during the extension period.
work, internships: persons able to prove that work or an internship prevented them from applying for admission during the general admission period can apply for admission during the extension period.
stays abroad: persons able to prove that a stay abroad that was absolutely necessary prevented them from applying for admission during the general admission period can apply for admission during the extension period.

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Admission and documents required for Admission

EEA¹Citizens:

If you want to start a Master's Programme you must apply online. Besides of personal data, also required documents are uploaded. The online application for the winter semester is possible to 5 September and for the summer semester to 5 February.

Please take care not to submit the application for a Master's Programme shortly before the end of the admission period, as admission in the same semester cannot be guaranteed due to the processing time of the applications.

If you have already completed a relevant study programme at the University of Innsbruck you can apply for admission via the online student platform LFU:online.

Required documents for the online application of EEA¹ Citizens:

Notice ("Bescheid") confirming awarding of Bachelor's Degree
Bachelor's Certificate
Academic Transcript
Diploma Supplement
curriculum Vitae
if necessary proof of German or English language ability
valid passport or personal identification
Passport photograph
E-Card (if available)

Foreign-language documents require translation into German or English – if applicable with proper certification – and must be uploaded.

Non-EEA Citizens and Stateless Persons:

If you want to start a Master's Programme you must apply online. Besides of personal data, also required documents are uploaded. The online application for the winter semester is possible by 15 May and for the summer semester by 15 October.

For an application for a Master's Programme taught in German, proof of skills of German at a level of at least A2 (according to CEFR) must be submitted already at the time of application (Regulation of the Rectorate relating to the proof of German language skills acc. to §63 para 10b Universities Act).

For beeing admitted to a Master's Programme taught in German, a passed German examination at the level B2 (acc. to CEFR) is required (University Preparation Programme).

For an application for a Master's Programme taught in English, proof of English skills at level B2 must be submitted already at the time of application (more information on language skills can be found here).

It is expressly pointed out that the application documents can only be processed with documents proofing the conclusion of the studies. Intermediate certificates or confirmations, temporary transcripts etc. are not accepted.

Full applications will be reviewed by the Admission Department in the order of arrival. Please take care that the processing of the applications may take some time. In the case of a positive decision, you will get a notice, which you need for enrolling during the admission period.

Prospective students must enrol in Person at the Admission Department during the admission period with the notification of the selected study Programme and the original required documents and copies thereof.

Different admission modalities apply and different documents are required, depending on the nationality of the prospective students and the origin of the proof of the general university entrance qualification:

Required documents for the online applications of Non-EEA¹ Citizens or Stateless Persons:

Notice ("Bescheid") confirming awarding of Bachelor's Degree
Academic Transcript
Diploma Supplement
curriculum Vitae
if necessary proof of German or English language ability
valid passport or personal identification
Passport photograph

Foreign-language documents require translation into German or English – if applicable with proper certification – and must be uploaded.

Information for students with a foreign school-leaving certificate can be found here.

¹ The EEA (=European Economic Area) comprises the Member States of the EU (= European Union) – Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden – and the signatory states of the EFTA (European Free Trade Association) – Liechtenstein, Iceland and Norway.

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Tuition fee

Amendments to § 91 Universities Act means that from the summer semester 2013 there are new rules governing tuition fees at the University of Innsbruck.

There are several different rules that apply to students enrolled in standard study programmes. The criteria used to decide which of these rules is to be applied are the nationality of the person, his/her residence entitlement in Austria, and any connections to Austria according to the Austrian Regulation on Eligible Groups of Persons (“Personengruppenverordnung”).
Non-degree programme students who are enrolled in individual lectures must pay a standard tuition fee of €363.36 per semester.

All students must pay the Austrian Students’ Union fee.

Degree programme students¹ exempted from paying tuition fees for a designated period:

EU/EEA citizens (automatically exempted for paying tuition fees for the regular duration of study),
students with permanent residency (proof required - online application),
students from third countries who are deemed to have a connection to Austria according to the Austrian Regulation on Eligible Groups of Persons (“Personengruppenverordnung”) (proof required - online application),
students from third countries who are neither covered by the Austrian Regulation on Eligible Groups of Persons (“Personengruppenverordnung”) nor have a student residence permit (proof required).

Students in any of the abovementioned categories who exceed the regular duration of study by more than two “tolerance semesters” must pay a tuition fee of €363.36 per semester. In individual cases a tuition fee waiver may be granted, meaning that students who have exceeded the regular duration of study by more than two “tolerance semesters” remain exempted from paying the tuition fee.

¹ Degree programme students

Degree programme students¹ from third countries

Degree programme students from third countries who are not covered by the Austrian Regulation on Eligible Groups of Persons (“Personengruppenverordnung”), are not subject to an international agreement and are in possession of a residence permit according to § 64 Settlement and Residence Act (NAG) must pay a tuition fee of € 726.72 starting from their first term at university. No reduction of the tuition fee will be granted to these students, even if the tuition fee is paid before the end of the extension period.

¹ Degree programme students

Degree programme students¹ from Least Developed Countries

Degree programme students from least developed countries (according to the DAC List of ODA Recipients) are automatically exempted from paying the tuition fee. These students do not need to apply for an exemption. However, please be aware that any change of nationality must be communicated to the university without delay.

¹ Degree programme students

Non-degree programme² students (regardless of nationality)

Non-degree programme students admitted to attend individual lectures in scientific fields must pay a tuition fee of €363.36 per month, regardless of their nationality. There is no increase in this fee, even if payment is not completed before the end of the extension period.

² Non-degree programme students

Tuition fee waivers and reimbursement

In order for tuition fees to be waived or reimbursed, students must prove that their case fulfils the relevant legal requirements (e.g. working income below the marginal earnings threshold, main person responsible for childcare) and must respect certain deadlines.
Application for tuition fee waiver: by 31 October for the winter semester and by 31 March for the summer semester.
Application for reimbursement: by 31 March for the winter semester and by 30 September for the summer semester.
Information about grounds for granting waivers and reimbursements

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