Educational Options in Austria — Without an IB Diploma or Matura

For internationals who have relocated to Austria and want to study here.

Not having an Austrian Matura or an IB Diploma does not shut you out of higher education in Austria. There are several well-established, legal routes into a university (Uni), a university of applied sciences (Fachhochschule / FH), or a university college of teacher education (Pädagogische Hochschule / PH). This page gives you the overview so you can see what’s realistic for your situation and decide where to dig deeper.

Please read this first — this page is an orientation, not the final word. Rules differ by institution, by degree, and sometimes by your nationality and residence status. Deadlines, fees, and requirements change. Always confirm the details directly with the institution and the official links below before you make a decision or a payment. When in doubt, book a free counselling session (see Who to talk to first).

German is important — plan for it early

For most Austrian study routes, German is not optional. The majority of Bachelor programmes at public universities and FHs are taught in German, and several of the routes below (the Studienberechtigungsprüfung, the Abendmatura, most FH preparatory courses) are conducted entirely in German.

Practical takeaways:

  • If your German is not yet strong, treat learning German as step one, in parallel with everything else. Aim for at least B2 for study purposes; some programmes ask for C1.
  • A small number of routes let you start in English and build German alongside (see the International Foundation Programme and English-taught / private universities). These can be a good bridge — but German will still help you enormously for daily life, part-time work, and later study choices.
  • Free and low-cost German courses exist through the AMS (see below), adult-education centres (Volkshochschule / VHS), and the ÖIF (Austrian Integration Fund). Ask about funding.

Before you start: check what you already have

Because you’re an international, your existing school-leaving certificate might already be recognised as equivalent to the Matura — in which case you may not need any of the routes below at all. Have your qualifications assessed before assuming you need a workaround.

  • Ask the admissions office of your target university/FH whether your certificate grants direct access.
  • For formal recognition of foreign qualifications, contact ENIC-NARIC Austria / OeAD: https://www.oead.at

If your certificate is not sufficient, the routes below are your options.

The routes into higher education

1. Studienberechtigungsprüfung (SBP) — direct access to a specific field

The Studienberechtigungsprüfung is a set of exams (usually five) that gives you access to one specific study field at a university, FH, PH, or Kolleg. You prepare for and sit exams tailored to your chosen subject — for example, physics for a technical degree.

Requirements (typical): at least 20 years old, EU/EEA citizenship or equivalent status, and relevant prior education or experience connected to your intended subject. The institution decides what counts and sets the exact exams, so requirements vary.

  • Good if: you already know exactly what and where you want to study, and you want a fast, focused, low-cost route.
  • Keep in mind: it only qualifies you for that one field / field-group — switching to an unrelated subject later can mean sitting another SBP. Conducted in German.

Recommended if you want to study at JKU (Johannes Kepler University Linz): talk to JKU directly. They run their own preparation courses and exams, and there’s staged state financial support available.

2. Berufsreifeprüfung (BRP) — the “full” qualification, if you’ve done a vocational training

If you have completed (or are completing) a vocational first education — an Austrian apprenticeship (Lehre), a berufsbildende mittlere Schule, a nursing/health-care school, etc. — the Berufsreifeprüfung gives you the full, unrestricted university entrance qualification, legally equivalent to the Matura. It has four exams: German, Mathematics, a living foreign language, and a specialist field tied to your training.

  • Good if: you want to keep all study options open (any subject, any institution), not just one field.
  • Keep in mind: you need a qualifying vocational background first; it takes longer than an SBP; you must be at least 19 at the final exam. Conducted in German. For many, this becomes relevant after first working in Austria (see route 6).
  • Info: https://erwachsenenbildung.at/bildungsinfo/zweiter_bildungsweg/berufsreifepruefung.php

3. FH preparatory course / Vorbereitungslehrgang (German) — bridge into an FH

Many Fachhochschulen offer a preparatory course for people without a Matura, often combined with an einschlägige berufliche Qualifikation (relevant vocational background) plus supplementary exams (Zusatzprüfungen, typically Mathematics, English, German). Once you qualify and complete the FH Bachelor, you can stay at the FH or transfer to a university for a Master’s afterwards — an FH Bachelor is a full, internationally recognised degree.

  • Good if: you want a practice-oriented, employment-focused degree and a structured path in.
  • Keep in mind: these courses and exams are usually in German, and the qualification is often specific to that FH/programme — check whether it’s recognised elsewhere.
  • What to do: contact your target FH’s admissions office and ask about their Vorbereitungslehrgang / Zusatzprüfungen. As one example, FH Wiener Neustadt runs a “Vorbereitungslehrgang Bachelor”: https://www.fhwn.ac.at/blog/studieren-ohne-matura

4. International Foundation Programme (IFP) at FH Wels — start in English

The International Foundation Programme at FH Upper Austria (Wels campus) is a two-semester, English-taught preparation programme. It brings you up to the entry level in Mathematics, Physics and English, lets you improve German alongside, and on completion gives you a study qualification for a Bachelor at FH Upper Austria (or partner universities). From there you can stay at the FH or transfer to a university for further study.

  • Good if: your English is solid but you don’t yet meet entry requirements, and you want to begin without German at C-level.
  • Keep in mind: it is a fee-based programme (roughly EUR 5,700+ per year — confirm current figure), with early application deadlines (Non-EU applicants typically by 30 April; EU / valid-residence-permit applicants by 31 August). It’s mainly geared toward English-taught Engineering and Business Bachelors. Living costs are not included.
  • Details & application: https://fh-ooe.at/weiterbildung/lehrgaenge/international-foundation-program

5. English-taught and private / international universities

Some private and international universities in Austria set their own admission criteria and may admit students without an Austrian Matura or an IB Diploma — often on the basis of a high-school diploma plus their own assessment or interview. Several also teach in English.

  • Good if: you want to study in English and/or your prior schooling fits a private university’s own entry rules.
  • Keep in mind: private universities usually charge tuition fees (often substantial). Admission policies differ from one institution to the next — verify each one’s exact requirements directly. Also check that the degree and accreditation match your goals.
  • What to do: shortlist a few institutions and contact their admissions offices. Ask specifically: “Can I be admitted without a Matura or IB Diploma, and what do you require instead?”

Getting a school-leaving qualification (if you’d rather do that)

6. Work first via the AMS — then, optionally, the Berufsreifeprüfung later

You can also start working, get established, and revisit studying later. The AMS (Austrian public employment service) can advise on jobs, apprenticeships, training, and funding — and this is often the natural on-ramp to the Berufsreifeprüfung (route 2) once you have a vocational qualification.

  • Good if: you need income now, want to integrate through work, or aren’t sure yet what to study.
  • Keep in mind: this is a longer game; the study qualification comes later.
  • AMS youth portal: https://jugendseite.ams.at/home.html

We strongly recommend contacting the AMS early to discuss your options — the counselling is free.

7. Abendmatura — earn the real Matura once your German is ready

Once your German is good enough, you can obtain the full Austrian Matura on the “second educational path” through an evening school (Abendgymnasium), a Maturaschule, or an Externistenreifeprüfung. Public Abendgymnasium attendance is usually tuition-free; private Maturaschulen charge fees.

8. Online schooling: iGCSE and A-Levels (British system) by distance

Several institutes offer the British curriculum — iGCSE and A-Levels — via distance/online study. A-Levels are widely recognised and can serve as a route into higher education (in Austria they’d typically need to be checked for equivalence).

  • Good if: you want a flexible, English-language, internationally recognised school qualification you can do remotely.
  • Keep in mind: you’ll need to confirm recognition of the specific qualification with your target Austrian institution / OeAD before relying on it, and distance study requires discipline.

Who to talk to first

Quick comparison at a glance

Route Language Access it gives Best for
Studienberechtigungsprüfung (SBP) German One specific field You know exactly what/where you want to study
Berufsreifeprüfung (BRP) German All subjects (full Matura equivalent) You have a vocational qualification and want options
FH preparatory course / Zusatzprüfungen German A specific FH programme A practice-oriented FH degree
International Foundation Programme (Wels) English FH (then Uni possible) Starting in English, building German
Private / international university Often English That institution’s degrees Studying in English, own entry rules
Work first + BRP later German Later, all subjects Needing income and integration now
Abendmatura German All subjects (full Matura) The most widely recognised qualification
IB Diploma (int’l school) English Broad, international School-age students, higher budget
iGCSE / A-Levels (online) English Broad (check equivalence) Flexible, remote, English-language

This overview is provided for general orientation only and is not legal or official educational advice. Requirements, fees, and deadlines change and vary by institution and personal circumstances. Please verify all details through the official links above and directly with the relevant institution before acting.