University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria

About University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria

FH Upper Austria is one institution distributed across four schools rather than a single university located only in Linz. Hagenberg hosts the School of Informatics, Communications and Media; Linz the School of Medical Engineering and Applied Social Sciences; Steyr the School of Business and Management; and Wels the School of Engineering. This structure makes the prospective student’s program choice inseparable from campus choice. The institution traces its establishment to 1993, with its first degree programs beginning in Hagenberg and Wels in 1994. It is a public university of applied sciences governed by Austria’s University of Applied Sciences Act. Its official organizational information says the Province of Upper Austria owns 98%, with the four campus communities holding the remaining shares. The educational model emphasizes applying academic knowledge. Curricula draw on input from professional practice, while projects with research, scientific and industry partners give students opportunities to use classroom learning in realistic settings. FH Upper Austria also maintains a substantial research operation alongside teaching; its latest facts page reports 547 current research-and-development projects and 553 academic publications for 2024. Official 2025/26 figures report 5,525 students when the pre-entry course is excluded, distributed across all four schools. For a prospective student, the practical decision is therefore not simply whether FH Upper Austria fits, but which subject-focused campus, study format and language of instruction match the intended degree.

Applications for bachelor’s and master’s programs are submitted through FH Upper Austria’s online portal. Applicants may select up to two programs and indicate their priority. Formal eligibility is checked first; qualified applicants are then invited to a counselling and admissions interview. Some programs additionally require an assessment or portfolio, so requirements must be checked on the selected program page. Bachelor’s admission normally requires a university entrance qualification acquired or recognized in Austria. Master’s applicants need a completed bachelor’s degree or an equivalent or higher qualification from a recognized institution. International educational documents may require legalization. Applicants must also demonstrate the language proficiency specified for their program; the university does not accept a general medium-of-instruction statement or app-based records such as Duolingo as substitutes where an official certificate is required. For 2026/27, the general deadline was June 30, 2026 for applicants with EU/EEA citizenship, a valid residence permit or visa-free entry. The special deadline for applicants requiring a visa was May 31, 2026. Some programs continued accepting eligible late applications through August 31, 2026 subject to space, but multiple programs had already closed and one used a different deadline. Applicants should therefore treat the current program-level application page as authoritative and apply early, particularly when immigration processing is required.

FH Upper Austria offers bachelor’s and master’s education across informatics, communications and media; medical engineering and applied social sciences; business and management; and engineering. Its prospective-student page describes more than 70 programs across the four schools. Students must inspect individual program pages because availability, campus, teaching language and format differ. The standard duration stated by the university is six semesters for a bachelor’s program and four semesters for a master’s program. Degree-seeking study follows a structured curriculum and may include lectures, integrated courses, projects, examinations, an internship, and a bachelor’s or master’s thesis. Attendance requirements and the ability to combine study with employment depend on the format. In addition to full-time and part-time options, selected dual programs divide learning between the university and a partner company; these require a separate company application alongside the university application. Practice orientation is central to the academic design. The university says curricula incorporate professional expertise and connect teaching with research. Students can apply academic material through projects involving partners from science and industry. Libraries, e-learning, the LEVIS course-information system and campus academic services support study. Although the database records German as the institutional language of instruction, the university also offers English-taught bachelor’s and master’s options and courses in English. Applicants should verify the exact language and certificate requirements for their selected program rather than assuming that every degree is available in either language.

Key Highlights

• Public university of applied sciences operating under Austrian higher-education law
• Four subject-specialized campuses in Hagenberg, Linz, Steyr and Wels
• 5,525 students in degree-level study, excluding the pre-entry course, in 2025/26
• Founded in 1993; the first degree programs began in 1994

Student Life & Environment

Student experience is organized locally around the four campuses. Each degree program offers introductory activities at the start of study, which may include campus tours and orientations to laboratories, studios and tools. University and student-organized events provide opportunities to meet classmates outside scheduled teaching, while sports and leisure activities vary by location. Core services available through the campus structure include libraries, IT support, International Offices, Career Centers and administration. Students also have access to the Austrian student representation, an e-learning environment, the LEVIS study-information system and support for students who are uncertain about continuing their studies. Career fairs, a university job portal and an alumni club connect academic life with internships, thesis opportunities and employment. Housing is not automatically assigned by the university. Students arrange their own rooms or apartments, using campus-specific listings for halls of residence, shared accommodation and private rentals. Because the institution operates in four different communities, housing supply, social life and daily routines are campus-specific. Prospective students should research the relevant city after choosing a degree rather than treating Linz as the location for every program.

Location & Surroundings

FH Upper Austria’s database record names Linz, but the university operates system-wide across four Upper Austrian locations within an approximately 45-kilometre radius of Linz. Linz is the provincial capital and hosts medical engineering and applied social sciences. Hagenberg is the base for informatics, communications and media; Steyr for business and management; and Wels for engineering. The institution’s central contact address is in Wels. This distribution has practical consequences. A student’s regular campus is determined by the chosen program, so applicants should evaluate accommodation and local services in that campus community. Housing options are listed near all four campuses and include student residences, shared apartments and private rentals. The university notes that Linz has the widest selection, while options are also available near Hagenberg, Steyr and Wels. International students should choose their residence carefully because the responsible residence-permit authority depends on the city of residence, and processing times can differ. Campus-specific International Offices can assist students who encounter difficulty locating accommodation.

Costs & Career Outcomes

The university’s current FAQ lists tuition of €363.36 per semester for EU and EEA students and €726.72 per semester for students from other countries. It also lists a compulsory Austrian Student Union contribution of €26.20 per semester. Tuition must be paid in full and generally cannot be refunded after early withdrawal. Limited reductions or waivers apply only in defined circumstances, so students should not budget on receiving one. FH Upper Austria estimates living expenses at approximately €600–€850 per month, depending on lifestyle and location. Its housing page says dormitory rent starts around €300 per month excluding meals, while an illustrative accommodation range including heating and electricity is €350–€500. Students must arrange housing themselves and should allow for food, transport, insurance, study materials and personal expenses. These are institutional estimates visible in August 2026, not guaranteed prices. Career preparation is embedded in the applied model through projects, internships and thesis work. Campus Career Centers and career fairs complement the Career Zone, where students can search for internships and thesis topics and graduates can find job listings. Because fields and employer connections differ among the four specialized schools, prospective students should compare the internship structure and career services of their intended program rather than relying on institution-wide employment claims.