Johannes Kepler University Linz
Johannes Kepler Universität Linz
A single-campus Austrian university with English-taught bachelor's in AI and quantum science and low non-EU fees.
- Students
- 27,000
- International
- 21%
- of students
- Tuition
- €1,453
- 2026-27
- Founded
- 1966
About JKU
Johannes Kepler University Linz (JKU) opened in 1966 as a college of social sciences, economics and business, added engineering and natural sciences in 1969 and law in 1975, and launched a Faculty of Medicine in 2014. It is named after the astronomer Johannes Kepler, who lived and worked in Linz. Today about 27,000 students are enrolled, more than 21% of them international from over 120 countries.
The university is organised into four faculties (Social Sciences, Economics and Business; Law; Engineering and Natural Sciences; Medicine) and six schools, including the Linz Institute of Technology and the Business School. Unusually for Austria, most institutes sit together on one park campus in the north-east of Linz, with a separate MED Campus opened in 2021.
Most bachelor's programmes are taught in German, but JKU offers English-taught bachelor's degrees in Artificial Intelligence, Quantum Science and Technology, International Business Administration, Biological Chemistry, Chemistry and Chemical Technology and Transformation Studies: Art x Science. Most programmes have no entrance exam, and non-EU tuition is €726.72 per semester, which makes JKU a strong option for students who want a technical or business degree in English at low cost.
Why students choose JKU
The English-taught Bachelor's in Artificial Intelligence (B2 English) covers machine learning, knowledge representation and AI and society, and JKU counts an AI Wittgenstein Award winner among its professors.
Non-EU students pay €726.72 per semester in tuition and EU/EEA students pay none within the standard study period plus two semesters.
International Business Administration is taught entirely in English and includes a mandatory semester abroad; JKU collaborates with over 170 universities worldwide.
Almost all institutes share one park campus with a pond, sports facilities and over 150 University Sports Institute classes a semester.
Admissions
Winter semester 2027/28 entry
Selectivity
JKU does not publish an acceptance rate. Most bachelor's programmes admit applicants with a recognised university entrance qualification and the required language level; some popular programmes, such as International Business Administration and Human Medicine, have an admissions procedure.
Typical entry requirements
| Foreign school-leaving certificate | General university entrance qualification equivalent to the Austrian Matura, with country-specific rules (e.g. 12 years of schooling and 70%+ for India; Bangladesh and Afghanistan need two years of university study) |
|---|---|
| English (English-taught bachelor's) | B2 for most English-taught programmes (e.g. Artificial Intelligence); C1 for International Business Administration |
| German (German-taught bachelor's) | Level set per programme (see the programme's info box); accepted certificates listed on JKU's German proficiency page |
| English language | IELTS 6.5 · TOEFL iBT 88 B2 level: TOEFL iBT 88 with at least 22 in each skill (tests until January 2026) or 4.5 on the new scale, IELTS Academic 6.5 with 6.5 in each skill, Cambridge FCE Grade B or CAE Grade C, PTE Academic 70. C1 level (International Business Administration): TOEFL iBT 100 with 25 in each skill, IELTS Academic 7.0 in each skill. |
Deadlines
- Non-EU/EEA applicants, summer semester 2027 Non-binding Next deadline · In 25 days6 September to 31 October 2026
For programmes that can be started in the summer semester.
- Non-EU/EEA applicants, winter semester 2027/28 Non-binding In ~6 months6 February to 31 March 2027
Non-EU/EEA citizens not treated as nationals must apply about six months before studies start.
- EU/EEA applicants, winter semester 2027/28 Non-binding In ~11 monthsEarly July to 5 September 2027
Applications can be submitted one month before the period opens; exceptional cases until 31 October.
JKU lists recurring admission periods rather than dated ones; the years shown apply them to the 2027 intake. From summer semester 2027, applicants from Bangladesh, India and Pakistan must complete a competence check at VFS Global.
How to apply
Create an applicant account and apply in JKU MyAdmission, choosing your programme and uploading your passport, secondary school certificates with all subjects and grades, language certificate and a photo. Applications are free and must be submitted by the applicant personally; applications via agencies are not processed. Programmes with an admissions procedure have extra steps.
What admissions looks for
- A secondary school leaving certificate that gives general university access, meeting any country-specific grade thresholds.
- The required language level for the programme: B2 or C1 English for English-taught programmes, German for German-taught ones.
- For programmes with an admissions procedure, success in that procedure before enrolment.
- A complete, legible application submitted personally and on time.
Tips for applying to JKU
- 1 Non-EU applicants must apply between 6 February and 31 March for a winter start, much earlier than EU applicants.
- 2 Check the country-specific rules: some national certificates, such as Bangladesh's HSC, are not enough on their own.
- 3 Apply yourself through MyAdmission: JKU rejects applications submitted by agencies, and applying is free.
- 4 Take the StEOP introductory courses in your first semester, as later courses build on them.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in EUR
Tuition is heavily subsidised: EU/EEA students pay no tuition within the tolerance period, and non-EU students pay €726.72 per semester, with some exceptions. JKU points students to scholarships listed on Grants.at and to its own scholarships page.
- None (applications are free of charge)
- Application fee
- €26.20 per semester (winter term 2026/27)
- ÖH student union fee
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters (winter and summer)
Artificial Intelligence (BSc)
Six semesters, taught in English (B2), covering machine learning and perception, knowledge representation, data science and AI and society; available in Linz with remote-learning options in Vienna and Bregenz.
International Business Administration (BSc)
Taught entirely in English (C1), with a mandatory semester abroad and an admissions procedure.
Quantum Science and Technology (BSc)
A six-semester, 180 ECTS bachelor's taught in English.
Human Medicine (BSc)
JKU was the first Austrian university to offer medicine in a bachelor's/master's structure; admission is by a selection procedure.
Transformation Studies: Art x Science (BA)
An English-taught bachelor's that combines art and science.
Mechatronics (BSc)
A German-taught engineering programme; alumna Michaela Benthaus studied mechatronics at JKU before working for the European Space Agency.
Research
- Two Wittgenstein Award winners: Prof. Widmer (artificial intelligence) and Prof. Sariciftci (renewable energies).
- 7 Christian Doppler Laboratories and 7 competence centres, plus 13 corporate holdings.
- The Johann Radon Institute for Computational and Applied Mathematics (RICAM) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences is based at JKU.
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Social Sciences, Economics and Business
- Faculty of Law
- Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences
- Faculty of Medicine
- Linz Institute of Technology (LIT)
- Linz School of Education
- Business School
- Kurt Rothschild School of Economics and Statistics
- School of Social Sciences and Humanities
- Linz Institute for Transformative Change (LIFT_C)
Student life
JKU's campus in the north-east of Linz is unusual in Austria because almost all institutes are in one place, set in a park with a pond and recreational areas, from Mensa parties to football. The University Sports Institute runs more than 150 low-cost sports and exercise classes each semester. International students get support from the International Welcome Center, and more than 21% of the student body comes from abroad. Medicine is taught on the separate JKU MED Campus, opened in 2021.
- Over 150 University Sports Institute (USI) classes every semester.
- A park campus with a pond and most institutes in one place.
- International Welcome Center for residence permits, insurance and life in Linz.
- Welcome Week for new students.
Location
Linz is the capital of Upper Austria. Johannes Kepler wrote his Harmonices Mundi there, which is why the university bears his name. The main campus is a park campus in the north-east of the city, and medicine is taught at the separate JKU MED Campus. More than a fifth of JKU's students come from abroad, and the International Welcome Center helps with residence permits, insurance and settling in.
Nearest airport: Linz Airport (LNZ)
Notable alumni
- VT Volker TürkUN High Commissioner for Human Rights since 2022; Master of Laws from JKU
- RM Reinhold MitterlehnerVice-Chancellor of Austria and minister of economy; doctorate in law from JKU (1980)
- MF Maria FekterAustrian Minister of Finance 2011-2013 and Minister of the Interior; Doctor of Law from JKU
- WM Wilhelm MoltererAustrian politician and later vice-president of the European Investment Bank; master's in social economics from JKU
- MB Michaela BenthausEuropean Space Agency engineer and first wheelchair user to travel to space; bachelor's in mechatronics from JKU
- HE Heinz EnglMathematician and former rector of the University of Vienna; diploma, doctorate and habilitation from JKU
Frequently asked questions
Does JKU offer bachelor's degrees in English?
Yes: Artificial Intelligence, Quantum Science and Technology, International Business Administration, Biological Chemistry, Chemistry and Chemical Technology, and Transformation Studies: Art x Science are taught in English. Most other bachelor's programmes are in German.
How much is tuition at JKU Linz for international students?
Non-EU/EEA students pay €726.72 per semester (about €1,453 a year) plus a €26.20 student union fee each semester. EU/EEA students pay only the union fee within the standard study period plus two semesters.
When is the JKU application deadline for non-EU students?
For a winter semester start, non-EU/EEA applicants must apply between 6 February and 31 March; for a summer semester start, between 6 September and 31 October.
What IELTS score does JKU require?
For B2 programmes such as Artificial Intelligence, IELTS Academic 6.5 with 6.5 in each skill or TOEFL iBT 88 (22 per skill). International Business Administration requires C1: IELTS 7.0 in each skill or TOEFL iBT 100.
Is there an application fee at JKU?
No. JKU says applications are free of charge and must be submitted by applicants themselves; applications through agencies are not processed.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
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